Re: Yamaha r15, still a sensible buy?

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Depends entirely on what sort of bike you are looking for. A naked, then it depends on your budget, A200 or D200. A faired, then the R15 is a perfect bet, even the RS200 is surprisingly good. You can even check out the Gixxer SF

Re: Yamaha r15, still a sensible buy?

I have never driver a RS200, personally, The bike looks good.

I am also a new owner of R15s. Just 4 days old and covered almost 180 kms. I am developing shoulder pain as I am not used to this super sport like riding position. I am hoping this will fade away as time passes by.

If you are already aware of the aggressive seating position, then this bike is a bliss to ride inside city. I rode it in Highway for a good 80+ kms and handles perfectly on straights, I haven' t tested the corner carving ability ( I am scared actually in doing knee down , I dont mind having chicken-strips on my tires either)

I dont know much about the CBR. RTR 200v is a good bike, enough low end power and torque to keep the city activities going on. I did take a TD, its sooper comfort seating position is nice and bike has a indeed a big-bike look. Nothing more to add on this as i couldnt get myself a longer TD on highways.

Re: Yamaha r15, still a sensible buy?

Yup, worth every penny. I am owner of a 2.5 year old R15 V2. Done around 20k kms on it. Never regretted the decision.
Since you like the R15, you would be knowing all the tech details of the bike, so let me just tell how it is to live with on daily basis.

Handles like a dream, I have been riding for about 9 years and nothing comes close to the telepathic handling of a R15.

Ample power to keep you happy. I know 17 Hp is not much but R15 never feels stressed, be it city riding or highway touring. I tour on mine. Do about 350-400 kms round trip every month or so. The bike is rock solid even at triple digit speeds.

It is fun to redline, if you want adrenalin rush, it can dash past 100 in seconds and still keep going.. but can cruise at 85 kmph at 6k rpm, with engine humming peacefully if you want to settle down to a cruise.

Reliable : nothing ever goes wrong in it. So apart form petrol and regular servicing, no extra cost to bear. The first 6 free services cost around 800-900 Rs depending on the taxes in your state, the paid ones cost around 1500 - 1700 Rs. Of course if you crash - the parts are expensive compared to Indian bikes.

It gives a magical mileage of 50+ if you have correct riding habits, even more if you ride on highways on 6th gear. The uncles in my colony still think I am trolling them when they find out that my outrageous looking expensive bike gives more mileage than their Activas.

The rear seat is bloody useless (in R15 V2. R15s is okey I guess. never ridden). You can take a pillion on short city rides of 10-20 kms, anything more than that and you will have terrible pain in your wrists and shoulders. Coz every time you touch the brakes, all the weight of the pillion is transferred to your shoulders and wrists.

Oh yes, the paining wrists for the first few weeks. Yes, it will happen because of the aggressive seating position, but once you get used to the seating position and learn to transfer your weight every few minutes from Shoulders and wrists to knees and legs (cycle this every few minutes), you can ride all day without any problem (Trust me on this, I tour a lot).

Finally yes there are a lot of more powerful bikes out there, but none as complete a package as R15.
Take test rides and choose the one suits you the best.

Re: Yamaha r15, still a sensible buy?

Honestly speaking depends on what you want and what you are willing to compromise.
If you knee down handling good braking and awesome quality parts( mine is 1 lakh kms in last 4.5 years) but are willing to sacrifice the punch and grunt and willing to dance on the gear lever R15 is an option.
If you can compromise a wee tiny bit on quality and handling (theoretical handling real world handling is same in all the three bikes) then you can be happy with RTR 200 /Rs200.
Still the plus points of getting a new R15 have decreased after recent launches.

CHEERS.

Re: Yamaha r15, still a sensible buy?

Exactly what I am thinking about. The plus point of the R15 have decreased after recent launches. That's what is holding me back from buying the bike.

Re: Yamaha r15, still a sensible buy?

well brother i am not sure about other but i used R15V2 bought in december 2013,,,,, and gave away for Thunderbird 500 in this january,,,,,,,


i rode the bike for 55k kms in those 2 years,,,, and had to change just chain sprocket disk pads and tyres other than that nothing i had to do,,,,the bike never got crashed
and it was as smooth at 55000km as when it was at 55 km ,,,, trust me this machine is kind of bulletproof for me engine is so refined that it gives me hint of an electric one,,,
handling and braking is exceptional,,,,,, aerodynamics and balance are superb on this bike as it could be ridden at 135 km/hr by just one hand and i did numerous times and maneuvering wudn't compromise at all on above mentioned conditions,,,,,, a worth every penny kind of bike,,,,,,,,yeah but take out the comfort statics please,,

Re: Yamaha r15, still a sensible buy?

The R15 is a solid piece of machinery. I had actually ridden my previous R15 more in a year than my Duke for the past two years. The riding position may take a while to get used to, but nothing to worry much. You can even go on long tours as long as you are in the right posture. Very reliable, although there was this one time where my engine coolant somehow leaked/overflowed, but I guess that's a one off issue. I was even doing the last two hundred kms without any coolant, I doubt any other bike would have taken such a beating. And it worked just as usual after I refilled the coolant. Frankly if Yamaha were to launch an abs model, I would get it again

Re: Yamaha r15, still a sensible buy?

Dear Biker,

You are stuck in a classic dilemma of Heart Vs Brain.

The more you wait, The more there will be bikes that offer better for the buck you pay.

The fact that you are swerving Back to R15 every now and then, or comparing each and every bike TO AN R15, indicates that You Love This Bike.

There's never a Not Good Bike. If This Bikes makes you happy, Go For It. Anything else will leave you glancing at other R15s each time one passes you by.

The more you wait the more confusing it will seem. KTM DUKE 200 which is the other bike you are leaning towards, too is a Stunning bike which will leave you smiling each time you ride it. Both the bikes are in a different class. Take long TDs of both.... It'll either help you make your mind or clear your mind back to the R15

CBR 150r is different in dimensions than the 250 version and has a short gear box to keep it revvy.

Your heart seems set on R15.

Some one once said, If it makes you happy and if you can afford it, Go For It!

Re: Yamaha r15, still a sensible buy?

i owned R15V1 for 6 years and done 68,000 km , as one user said only things i changed is chain spoket,tyres,battery and clutch plates in these many years , Done kashmir to kanyakumari , leh and all other rides , still its best bike your money can get and 100% trouble free.
Now i own R15S again. you won't go wrong with the bike.

On the other note, if its not urgent purchase then , hold on a bit , from next year most bikes has to comply with 2 things - ABS and BS-IV standard , so there is chance that new version of R15 might come and also lot of other bikes will be available to choose from.

Re: Yamaha r15, still a sensible buy?

You struck a chord there! :P there's still some time before I buy one.. But I think I'm still gonna go with the R15. I'll take a TD of both the R15 and R15S and decide later. Maybe they'll launch some new colors coz i really liked the ones they had on offer before