What a wonderful 155 cc segment machine this is! Since I have crossed 2 years of ownership, I am getting the urge to do a Stage 1 (or 2) tune.
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20,000 km update
As of 12-May-2024, it was 2 years and 22 days with my R15 v4. The journey (ownership) with R15 has been a lot of ups with a little bit of downs. After all, life is full of ups and downs, right! In this post, I will pen down few positives and negatives (which can be subjective) about this beautiful machine which is engineered for perfection and youngsters like me.
Positives:
- Fuel economy: Considering the purpose of this machine, it has returned me on average of 42-45 kmpl since Day 1, except during the break-in period during which I even got a higher fuel economy on a full tank. The drop in fuel economy is in decimals with continuous revving the engine on highways at triple digit speeds, still it returns good FE.
- Refinement: Encountered a speed bump? R15 can easily come out in 2nd gear without much fuss around. Crusing on a good highway at triple digit speeds? The handlebars, visor and footpegs does not give you the fatigue on any part of your body. Every part is neatly placed where it is supposed to be. No jiggles or rattles on any body part (except for the tail light in my case).
- Range: With a 11 L fuel tank and an average FE of 45 kmpl, you can easily travel long distances without worrying about frequent fuel breaks.
- Capability to perform long rides: This aspect is a positive side for me because I have made this a reality on a faired bike. The Modpacs can be fit in a way that you won’t need any extra bungies. Slick handling comes in handy at intersections where the locals are in their own world: riding/driving slowly, not giving way and being rude at times. On highways, the bike sticks on to the ground with ease.
Negatives:
- Logistics of Yamaha Parts: This is a negative because I have seen how worst the Yamaha service centers in smaller cities deal with acquiring a part. It is due to the norms set by Yamaha India or the service center, I do not know! To give you an idea, I had ordered one of the dual horns in the month of Nov-2023 (before the India Bike Week Ride) to replace my defective horn under warranty. Surprisingly, the Yamaha Kasaragod service center calls me in Jan-2024 saying that the part has arrived. However, just before the IBW ride, I had already paid ₹220/- for the part and got it fixed from Yamaha Mangaluru because horn is very much required during long rides.
- Stock MRF Tires: Stock 100/80 (F) and 140/70 (R) MRF Zapper tires are the worst IMHO. I never had the courage to lean when on stock tires. Why should I risk myself with a product which I am not at all comfortable!? If you have the budget, go for Apollo Alpha H1 or Michelin Road 5 during the delivery day for added ride quality & wet road grip.
- Rust & Wiring: The quality control by Yamaha India on a premium motorcycle like this should be of Japanese standard! There should be no signs of rust and exposed wires. If not, then reduce the price by a certain amount. I hate rust, especially if its on any vehicle that I own.
- Lack of beans (power): This is since recent few months where-in the bike runs butter smooth for the initial 2000 km after any periodic service involving oil and filter change. After this, my R15 has started to give sluggish attitudes upon opening the throttle. I feel like it is the time to replace the spark plugs with new ones. Need to check this with the Vinayak Yamaha folks at Bangalore, who just takes care of my R15 like its their own!
What a wonderful 155 cc segment machine this is! Since I have crossed 2 years of ownership, I am getting the urge to Stage 1 (or 2) tune my R15 from reputed place like Race Dynamics or Code6 Racing. For this, I need to start allocating a separate budget which I need to think about. Also, need to learn more about how tuning can effect the bike, especially the pistons, crankshaft and the exhaust. Suggestions or feedbacks from an expert on this regard is very much appreciated!
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