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Ride – Yamaha R15 V2 (Phoenix)
Trip commenced on – 19th Nov, 2011, 9:30pm
Trip finished off on – 21st Nov, 2011, 12:30pm
Distance: 600kms.
Route Taken:
I had booked an R15 (V1) on 15th Nov 2010 but just before delivery, got unofficial news of the upgrade and hence kept my delivery on hold and finally after a painful wait of 1yr and 2days got my hands on Version 2.0 on 17th Nov 2011. Before booking, I had taken a test drive of V1 but out of nervousness couldn’t drive it at a speed of more than 13km/hr and to add to it, I couldn’t drive it in a straight line too and consequently the mechanic behind me told me to take an FZ and not R15. I told to him (in my thoughts), “When somebody tells me NO for something, then all my thoughts converse on only point and that is to do what I have been told NOT to do.” So I booked the R15 only.
After I took the delivery, I was a bit nervous as V2 was totally unknown to me; the bike looks so big in flesh. Just didn’t have any idea of how it would perform in traffic. But to my surprise, the bike handled itself very well and I could effortlessly manoeuvre my way through evening traffic of lower parel to my place near kalbadevi.
Delivery day.
First Ride – Mitesh B.
My turn to take the handle
I wanted to complete my running-in as quickly as possible so made a plan for a trip to Surat as I felt that was the best route for smooth ride without any ghat. I drove in city on Thursday & Friday upto 120kms staying below 3.5k rpm all the time. The bike was pulling itself quite nicely in the traffic at lower gears and lower rpms. Though it is nowhere near to FZ but I can safely say that this bike is definitely NOT a No-City/Traffic bike. I didn’t face any problem driving it in jam-packed traffic also. The engine is quite smooth. I got oil changed on Saturday. The workshop people were hell bent on talking me out of oil change so early. Looking at their conviction, I called up Ketan N. to confirm with him and he too reiterated the fact that it would be in best interest of the bike to change the oil irrespective of what those representatives say. So I got the oil changed. Went home to have dinner. I had scheduled to leave at 10:30pm but out of excitement couldn’t hold back and left at 9:30 pm only. Filled petrol and was at the Western Express Highway in no time. The bike is so responsive that I was literally fighting myself to keep it below 3.5k rpm and not go further. Owner’s manual tells me to keep it below 5k during first 1000kms but since seniors had advised me to keep it below 3.5k, I was doing so. NH8 is not in a good condition till Vasai creek. Unimaginabe potholes and uneven road surface. Once I crossed Mira-Bhayandar Khadi, climate got darn chilly. It was amazing to ride in that cold. I kept taking a 10 minute break every 45-50 minutes to avoid engine overheating. But as soon as kms increased in trip meter my back started getting from bad to worse. I wasn’t able to drive even 15 mins also properly so my 45-50 mins breaks reduced to every 20-25mins. By then drowsiness also added more to my misery. I started feeling very sleepy. At around 150 kms on the trip meter, I started considering of returning back home but then I thought if I had to drive 150km to home then why not drive 150 km to Surat only. So tried singing songs but my besurapan was adding more to drowsiness so I stopped singing and kept taking halts at very short intervals to keep concentration above average while driving. Slowly slowly I munched kilometres after kilometres and reached outskirts of Pipalghaban village at around 6:30 am where I saw sunrise and then started the first photoshoot of phoenix. Thanks to the photoshoot opportunity, sleepiness went away like I had just woken up after a good night’s sleep. Reached Surat by 8:30am. But by the time I reached Surat, my back pain had reduced considerably and it was as normal like it would’ve been, had I driven 300 kms on an FZ. Also my right ankle cramped up a lot probably because all the while I’d kept it above the brake lever (without applying any pressure on it when not required). It pained to bend it when I got down at Surat.
Some pics taken en route to Surat
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I had gone for my cousin’s daughter’s first birthday so whole day went into the function. Didn’t get to sleep or rest at all and finally left for home at 12:30 am from Surat.After I crossed 500 kms on the odo I took the bike to 80 kmph by a slow and gradual twist of the wrist. It reached so swiftly at 5.5k rpm that I got really desperate to complete running-in and see its true colours. I came down to 3.5k rpm as soon as I touched 80. I did it just to apply pressure on the engine enough for it to blend in even deeper. After 500 km, I increased my rpm limit and kept driving within 3.5k to 4k rpms and after 750km, further increased to 4k-4.5k rpm with occasional touches to 5k rpm. The bike is darn fun to ride even in 4-5k rpm as well. The engine pulls up quite nicely. Just wondering what it will be higher up.
Following is the speed at 5th and 6th gears:
At 3k rpm
5th gear – 40kmph
6th gear – 50kmph
At 3.5k rpm
5th gear – 45kmph
6th gear – 55kmph
At 4k rpm
5th gear – 50kmph
6th gear – 60kmph
At 5k rpm
5th gear – 60kmph
6th gear – 72kmph
I took a halt to have tea at a dhaba just 50 kms before Manor. It was sunrise time. The vista then onwards was quite amazing. Such a treat to the eye that I found myself taking a photo break every 10 minutes. I'll let the pics do the talking. The pics are a compilation of return journey.
Biggest disadvantage of a solo trip - Nobody to take pics of myself.
Finally got someone to take my pic.
Finally I reached home at 12:30pm. Traffic was worse from Malad to my home so it took a lot of time to get through it.
Brakes of the bike are the best I have ridden with till date. I know I am talking about brakes of a new bike but I have ridden a brand new P220 and FZ also but these brakes are way ahead of what they were on those new bikes. I have checked sudden braking (combined with downshifting) from a speed of 60 and trust me, the bike comes in control within a flash. I would love to see their performance at high speeds.
During the ride some sound always kept coming from the engine even at 3.5k-4k rpm, like it comes when we are riding at lower rpms in higher gears. It remained so all throughout the ride. I am hoping that it gets fine at first service. Gear shifting is very tight specially going from 1st-2nd-3rd and vice-versa but its the most difficult for going from 2nd to 1st so hoping/expecting for it to get fine as well after first service.
Head lights are good. I would rate them 6 out of 10. The main focus (while on high beam) is straight ahead. In your lane you can clearly see ahead upto 15-20ft but the adjacent areas are quite less lit so if there is an obstacle in your path you will be able to see it quite in advance but you wont be able to see properly in the adjacent lanes to decide whether to change the lane and drive past the obstacle. When I was ALONE on the road, I tried swaying little bit left and right (very little) at a low speed (40kmph) and I was able to see properly the whole lane so in that way if any obstacle would’ve come in my way, I would’ve been able to easily decide whether to go from left or right.
Pillion seat is quite uncomfortable as told to me by people sitting behind me in the city. I would appreciate if somebody suggests a better way to attach something to hold without compromising the looks of the rear.
During return trip also, back problem got very bad mid way and improved quite considerably by the end of the trip. I guess it is R15’s way of telling me to always take her on longer drives and not shorter drives. No cramping of ankle during return. Other than back problem, I didn’t face any other physical problem. I am an average 5ft 10in guy. Dont go to gym but last month I used to do suryanamaskar regularly so because of that no wrist problem or any other problem. One thing I would add here is that I already had a bad break before I took the delivery of the bike. Delivery was right after my last paper and due to bad benches, I was not being able to sit properly during exams also. So seating position of R15 did aggravate my backache but I guess that due to the exercises, it was actually mitigated and hence under control.
All in all this is one of my most special trip. It was my first solo trip, first interstate trip and first trip on my OWN bike. As far as R15 is concerned, I am further in love with it. A perfect masterpiece by Yamaha. Hats off to Yamaha.
Trip commenced on – 19th Nov, 2011, 9:30pm
Trip finished off on – 21st Nov, 2011, 12:30pm
Distance: 600kms.
Route Taken:
I had booked an R15 (V1) on 15th Nov 2010 but just before delivery, got unofficial news of the upgrade and hence kept my delivery on hold and finally after a painful wait of 1yr and 2days got my hands on Version 2.0 on 17th Nov 2011. Before booking, I had taken a test drive of V1 but out of nervousness couldn’t drive it at a speed of more than 13km/hr and to add to it, I couldn’t drive it in a straight line too and consequently the mechanic behind me told me to take an FZ and not R15. I told to him (in my thoughts), “When somebody tells me NO for something, then all my thoughts converse on only point and that is to do what I have been told NOT to do.” So I booked the R15 only.
After I took the delivery, I was a bit nervous as V2 was totally unknown to me; the bike looks so big in flesh. Just didn’t have any idea of how it would perform in traffic. But to my surprise, the bike handled itself very well and I could effortlessly manoeuvre my way through evening traffic of lower parel to my place near kalbadevi.
Delivery day.
First Ride – Mitesh B.
My turn to take the handle
I wanted to complete my running-in as quickly as possible so made a plan for a trip to Surat as I felt that was the best route for smooth ride without any ghat. I drove in city on Thursday & Friday upto 120kms staying below 3.5k rpm all the time. The bike was pulling itself quite nicely in the traffic at lower gears and lower rpms. Though it is nowhere near to FZ but I can safely say that this bike is definitely NOT a No-City/Traffic bike. I didn’t face any problem driving it in jam-packed traffic also. The engine is quite smooth. I got oil changed on Saturday. The workshop people were hell bent on talking me out of oil change so early. Looking at their conviction, I called up Ketan N. to confirm with him and he too reiterated the fact that it would be in best interest of the bike to change the oil irrespective of what those representatives say. So I got the oil changed. Went home to have dinner. I had scheduled to leave at 10:30pm but out of excitement couldn’t hold back and left at 9:30 pm only. Filled petrol and was at the Western Express Highway in no time. The bike is so responsive that I was literally fighting myself to keep it below 3.5k rpm and not go further. Owner’s manual tells me to keep it below 5k during first 1000kms but since seniors had advised me to keep it below 3.5k, I was doing so. NH8 is not in a good condition till Vasai creek. Unimaginabe potholes and uneven road surface. Once I crossed Mira-Bhayandar Khadi, climate got darn chilly. It was amazing to ride in that cold. I kept taking a 10 minute break every 45-50 minutes to avoid engine overheating. But as soon as kms increased in trip meter my back started getting from bad to worse. I wasn’t able to drive even 15 mins also properly so my 45-50 mins breaks reduced to every 20-25mins. By then drowsiness also added more to my misery. I started feeling very sleepy. At around 150 kms on the trip meter, I started considering of returning back home but then I thought if I had to drive 150km to home then why not drive 150 km to Surat only. So tried singing songs but my besurapan was adding more to drowsiness so I stopped singing and kept taking halts at very short intervals to keep concentration above average while driving. Slowly slowly I munched kilometres after kilometres and reached outskirts of Pipalghaban village at around 6:30 am where I saw sunrise and then started the first photoshoot of phoenix. Thanks to the photoshoot opportunity, sleepiness went away like I had just woken up after a good night’s sleep. Reached Surat by 8:30am. But by the time I reached Surat, my back pain had reduced considerably and it was as normal like it would’ve been, had I driven 300 kms on an FZ. Also my right ankle cramped up a lot probably because all the while I’d kept it above the brake lever (without applying any pressure on it when not required). It pained to bend it when I got down at Surat.
Some pics taken en route to Surat
[IMG]
[/IMG]I had gone for my cousin’s daughter’s first birthday so whole day went into the function. Didn’t get to sleep or rest at all and finally left for home at 12:30 am from Surat.After I crossed 500 kms on the odo I took the bike to 80 kmph by a slow and gradual twist of the wrist. It reached so swiftly at 5.5k rpm that I got really desperate to complete running-in and see its true colours. I came down to 3.5k rpm as soon as I touched 80. I did it just to apply pressure on the engine enough for it to blend in even deeper. After 500 km, I increased my rpm limit and kept driving within 3.5k to 4k rpms and after 750km, further increased to 4k-4.5k rpm with occasional touches to 5k rpm. The bike is darn fun to ride even in 4-5k rpm as well. The engine pulls up quite nicely. Just wondering what it will be higher up.
Following is the speed at 5th and 6th gears:
At 3k rpm
5th gear – 40kmph
6th gear – 50kmph
At 3.5k rpm
5th gear – 45kmph
6th gear – 55kmph
At 4k rpm
5th gear – 50kmph
6th gear – 60kmph
At 5k rpm
5th gear – 60kmph
6th gear – 72kmph
I took a halt to have tea at a dhaba just 50 kms before Manor. It was sunrise time. The vista then onwards was quite amazing. Such a treat to the eye that I found myself taking a photo break every 10 minutes. I'll let the pics do the talking. The pics are a compilation of return journey.
Biggest disadvantage of a solo trip - Nobody to take pics of myself.
Finally got someone to take my pic.
Finally I reached home at 12:30pm. Traffic was worse from Malad to my home so it took a lot of time to get through it.
Brakes of the bike are the best I have ridden with till date. I know I am talking about brakes of a new bike but I have ridden a brand new P220 and FZ also but these brakes are way ahead of what they were on those new bikes. I have checked sudden braking (combined with downshifting) from a speed of 60 and trust me, the bike comes in control within a flash. I would love to see their performance at high speeds.
During the ride some sound always kept coming from the engine even at 3.5k-4k rpm, like it comes when we are riding at lower rpms in higher gears. It remained so all throughout the ride. I am hoping that it gets fine at first service. Gear shifting is very tight specially going from 1st-2nd-3rd and vice-versa but its the most difficult for going from 2nd to 1st so hoping/expecting for it to get fine as well after first service.
Head lights are good. I would rate them 6 out of 10. The main focus (while on high beam) is straight ahead. In your lane you can clearly see ahead upto 15-20ft but the adjacent areas are quite less lit so if there is an obstacle in your path you will be able to see it quite in advance but you wont be able to see properly in the adjacent lanes to decide whether to change the lane and drive past the obstacle. When I was ALONE on the road, I tried swaying little bit left and right (very little) at a low speed (40kmph) and I was able to see properly the whole lane so in that way if any obstacle would’ve come in my way, I would’ve been able to easily decide whether to go from left or right.
Pillion seat is quite uncomfortable as told to me by people sitting behind me in the city. I would appreciate if somebody suggests a better way to attach something to hold without compromising the looks of the rear.
During return trip also, back problem got very bad mid way and improved quite considerably by the end of the trip. I guess it is R15’s way of telling me to always take her on longer drives and not shorter drives. No cramping of ankle during return. Other than back problem, I didn’t face any other physical problem. I am an average 5ft 10in guy. Dont go to gym but last month I used to do suryanamaskar regularly so because of that no wrist problem or any other problem. One thing I would add here is that I already had a bad break before I took the delivery of the bike. Delivery was right after my last paper and due to bad benches, I was not being able to sit properly during exams also. So seating position of R15 did aggravate my backache but I guess that due to the exercises, it was actually mitigated and hence under control.
All in all this is one of my most special trip. It was my first solo trip, first interstate trip and first trip on my OWN bike. As far as R15 is concerned, I am further in love with it. A perfect masterpiece by Yamaha. Hats off to Yamaha.
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