Call it the harbinger of supers port bikes in India or the motorcycle manufacturer that has said enough is enough let's go back to our performance roots but Yamaha has, as promised, rolled out its swash buckling YZP-R15. Its more evocative stablemates include the hot YZP - Rl that produces 189bhp from 998cc and hits a top whack of close to 300kph. Also the YZP - R6 131bhp, 599cc which can
barrel you at 250kph towards that important meeting you're late for. But compared to its hugely empowered brethren, the YZP - R15 develops only 17bhp from 149.8cc. Is the latest Yamaha in India only cashing in on the potent R-factor to boost sales without delivering the goods or is there'more to the R15 than meets the eye? Does this bike have what it takes to uphold the family name, possibly even restore Yamaha's reputation as a performance bikemaker in India.

The YZP-R15 flaunts best-inclass looks and seems a scaleddown version of the legendary YZP-Rl. It is macho, muscular, yet compact with every excess kilo trimmed away to offer a healthy power-to-weight ratio. But the flip side is that the tyres look skinny and out of place on this beefY-looking motorcycle. Yamaha knows its bike achieves sufficient traction without burdening itselfwith the higher mass and drag that accompany larger, better-looking tyres.



Available in either blue or black, and coming soon in red, this Yamaha is fully faired, deploying night-shredding twin headlights within its Rllook a like face, Its cockpit - typical of contemporary sports bike kit sits just beneath a conical windscreen visor. There's a legible white backlit tachometer redlined at 10,500rpm, and surrounded by a bold digital speedometer, fuel gauge as well as the usual telltale lamps.

This console provides twin trips, but regrettably lacks a beacon that really should e found place on so focused sportsbike. Attention to detail on the test Yamaha is of the highest er, with well-engineered ors rising on adjustable from the front fairing . While neatly turned out clip-on dlebars end in a pair of etive bar-end weights, we uld have preferred the chgear to have worked with crisper feel. This Yamaha comes with perfect-feeling palm grips, and comfortable clutch and brake levers . The stylish fuel tank is ergonomically designed to accommodate a rider's thighs in comfort and the R15 uses a lightly stepped seat with adequate padding.Theres plentyofal this bike and the. pillion foot rear brake and geati!Jbift use this JightweigbtPlateriaJ. But our big-footed tesret with his size 11 shoes sawthe side-stand occasionally foul with his gearshift foot.