yamaha r15

After whittling down the competition on racetracks, Yamaha's superlight cornering machine hits the mountains to soak in some Himalayan sights!
More in this Article
Page 2 : Aching wrists and satisfied souls
Hard left, cement banking - easy right, easy left, hard right: caution valley outside, medium left, easy right... The rally style pace notes have been ringing in my subconscious for four hours now, non-stop. By the time the bikes roll back into the hotel parking lot, my wrists, arms and legs don't feel as strong as they usually do, but deep inside, there is a warm, satisfied buzz. What roads, what a bike, and what an experience!
Those who have experienced the prowess of the Yamaha R15 on the racetrack now know beyond doubt that it is one of the most sublime and stellar handlers we have here in India. Questions have been periodically raised about the relevance of such a focused machine on everyday streets and highways though, and with a view to rest these once and for all, Yamaha India had us go on a two-day long journey to the foothills of the Himalayas to ride and grasp the bike's abilities in extended real world conditions. And boy, was it a blast!
Related Links
Yamaha India back into road-racing
Yamaha YZF-R15: Profile
Yamaha YZF-R15 Calendar

On the crisp Tuesday morning when the ride around Nainital began, it was clear that the lightweight R15 would be on song in the tight and technical twisties. Chasing Yamaha's lead rider Fahad was a true pleasure as the bike allowed itself to be flicked with absolutely no trouble in the narrow switchbacks. It took us a little time to get used to the high-rev powerband in the mountains though - initially and in the uphill, there were corners in which we felt lack of drive because we were exiting in too low a gear. As soon as we learnt to keep the revs well above 7000rpm, leaving corners behind was a point-and-shoot affair.
What struck us with severity was how much this baby spoils you and your habits. Trail braking deep into corners, going over bumps leant over, whacking open the throttle without rolling on the gas gently - all moves that would've gotten us into a whole lot of trouble had we been on any other Indian bike. The R15 took all of them in its stride as if it was perfectly fine, screaming on as if nothing had happened. Braking feedback was exceptional and in conjunction with the Deltabox frame, there was a feeling of complete control irrespective of how hard we were braking into corners. Suspension setup was spot-on too, with little and progressive dive on the front under braking, but enough space for it to soak up all the bumps that came its way.
Sum all this up and it really opens your eyes to just how easy it is to ride the R15 fast. The semi-supersports posture doesn't mean that this bike is best ridden in a full race-tuck or with odds and ends hanging off the seat through every corner. Whether you're an advanced rider who is happiest listening to the sound of plastic knee sliders scrape away on the tarmac, or someone who would rather have both parts of one's derriere secure on the seat at all times, the R15, especially on the streets, welcomes every riding style with the utmost of ease, and allows one to carry some serious speeds through corners