Just a question, how do you know the ABS is amazing? it's inactive unless the wheels are about to lock, it's not really a pleasant experience, especially the first time.

Nothing wrong with the pillion set up, it's how sports bikes are, the pillion just needs to hold onto the rider, which is safer for both, this sideways sitting that we have here, is fairly ignorant and dangerous anyway, the pillion should also wear riding gear like the rider, if you want a commuter style bike, a splendour would work well for you.

I am not giving any suggestion as to which bike you should buy. But since you have considered the P220 as well and I own one, I decided to stick to answering your questions with respect to the P220.
1. Killer Looks- Subjective, so no comments.
2. Great Performance- Oh yeah!! The strong point of this bike, good performance with and without pillion in every part of the rev range.
3. Safety- Any bike is only as safe as the rider chooses it to be.
4. Handling- I believe handling is subjective. Every R15 owner cannot push a 220 hard into the corners, similarly I can go fast through a corner on my 220 but not on an R15. So it depends considerably on your riding style.
5. Fuel Economy- If you go easy on the throttle, 35-40kmpl is guaranteed.
6. City ride - Its decent but not the best. But since you say your commute will be on city roads and highways, then the 220 will stand you in good stead.
7. Pillion Comfort- From personal experience as long as you have pretty girl/gf/wife as your pillion who is willing to hold you tight, you have no problem But again if you have to give a hirsute friend a lift then you really wouldn't want him to be holding you tight As long as pillion is 5'5" getting on and off the bike is no problem. Shorter than that, the pillion does get irritated!

Hope this helps, just trying to give a positive and negative of the bike. The choice is yours.

Cheers!

I've read somewhere about engine efficiency which goes like that TVS 13.2 - Bajaj 13.5 - Honda 13.9 - Yamaha - 14.2. I dont know if same goes for the build quality as well.

r15 is leading the poll results.
Surprisingly no one has recommended it in the thread.

Hello guys.

I'd like to buy a new bike and consufed between Yamaha R15 V2.0, Pulsar 220DTSi and RTR 180ABS. I've read a lot and also driven both of the P220 and RTR180 ABS. However, I am waiting for the Feedback on the new R15 V2.0.

I am basically more of a city rider than an occasional tourer. My daily city ride is around 50 KM and includes City roads and highway as well. I am looking for a decent bike with killer looks, great performance, safety/handling and a little bit Fuel economy.

Initially I shortlisted P220, but then heard about the ZMR being launched and postponed the 220. However, somehow I am not fully satisfied with the ZMR as its just a cosmetic upgrade from ZMA. Still it lacks the killer looks and performace of New R15. I also took TD of new RTR 180 ABS and pretty much impressed with its performance. The ABS is amazing and its the main reason for my interest towards this bike. As you know in Indian roads you can never predict when you'll come across some lazy idiots crossing the road like they are roaming in a garden. However, the bike vibrates after 65Kph, and there are some reliability issues after 2-3 years, and I am planning to keep it for more than 2-3 years. Same is the case with P220, I heard from many people that it will start giving trouble after 2-3 years.

So I was in a big dilema as to which bike I should go for (220 or RTR180) This was the time when I heard about new R15. Again postponed the Idea of buying and waited for it. Finally it was launched yesterday. The bike has surely got good looks with excellent rear and side looks. Unfortunately, there is no performance upgrade in terms of power, but it seems like they have tuned it to get more low end tourque, which for me is a great move. Considering that most of the people will not ride it on track or take it on a long highway ride everyday and it will still be used mostly inside the city traffic. So the low end will certainly help in signal to signal drag race and to overtake those lazy BEST buses and Learning drivers.

However, what I didn't like in it is the rear seat. It looks like Yamaha doesn't want us to take our wives or GF's with us (Forget about aunties as its almost impossible to ride sideways). From what I saw a picture with pillion, it looks like in case of a sudden braking, the pillion will go fly past the bike like a superman. To add to that there isn't a grab rail to keep the pillion seated.

As I'll take my wife for occasional rides so it looks little dangerous to me. With regards to the top end and real performace including cornering with those 130 rear tyres is yet to be tested in real life. So I am still in Dilema as to which Bike....

Any help and suggestions will be appreciated.

I didn't understand these figures. Could you please elaborate.

Thanks.

Without confusing you much, here are my 2 cents. I would just like to mention that it has been more than 2 years since I bought the RTR. May be this(3rd) year, it will fall apart. But till now, not a single glitch!

...and a good pillion comfort. Above all, you get the reliability of Honda. And then is the CBR name! Some might say it isn't worthy enough of the CBR tag but at the end of the day, it's known as the CBR only.