These are my personal experiences in coming to the decision to buy the R-15
Was looking for a commuter bike that would suit my requirements and also give me some pizzaz. Test drove the pulsar 220, pulsar 200, pulsar 180, honda unicorn, and of course, the R-15.
By far, the feeling of confidence while riding the R-15 was unmatched. the vehicle is very stable, has enough oomph(i have tried city riding so far, will update once I have done a bit of riding on the highway), has reasonable looks(well, beauty does lie in the eye of the beholder), and delivers a strong midrange kick. The superb braking is perhaps noteworthy, and a big factor behind my choice. I think other vehicles are powerful too, and they deliver good performance, however, to me, this vehicle is a combination of power, ride quality and safety a dealclincher combination.
I have read a lot about the technology components of this bike- which to me translates to performance, ride quality and safety. And yeah, it does feel good to be riding a vehicle which is in a different generation of technology.
folks say tyres look too small for the bike etc, my point is, how I feel when I ride is much more important to me than what others on the road are looking at when they see me- I guess I am beyond the point in life when I need to impress someone with my vehicle.
After my Rx100, which I gave away 10 years ago after 12 years with it, (yeah, I know I am old), I think I have found a bike that is enjoyable enough for me to do my work commute, and generally minimise my car driving, which, though fairly enjoyable, does not even come close to riding a bike.
Also, because it is a fairly expensive bike, public around u does not notice the fact that you, as an exec and all that blah do not come in a car- which, to me, is a bit of a perk, I would think(tackling bangalore traffic in a car is an experience of mythical proportions).
For me, the crescendo is the grin this puts on my face after the ride.