I bought Yamaha R15 recently. It is a wonderful piece of machine. It looks much better than the photos. Engine is extremely good and smooth. There is absolutely no vibrations even at maximum RPM. Even at top gear(6th) there is no jerks even when we at very low speeds (<20kmph). I drove upto 100 kmph. It drives like a car. Unless you see the speedometer we don’t realize we are at 100. Breaking is excellent. This bike refuses to go below 70-80kmph even at normal rides. We wont realize when it has reached 70kmph. One person whom I know has driven upto 120 kmph with same good experience. Its maximum speed is 125. Riding position is comfortable & good for even short people.
Engine sound is normal. Not like R1, since it has single cylinder. Engine is supposed to last forever, as its piston & casing is made of a special racing alloy, & has a counter balance to prevent vibrations. Engine is liquid cooled like cars (not oil cooled). Radiator is bigger than pulsar 200.
Pick up is good. We cant except better than this for a 4 stroke bike. Mileage is 40-42kpl in worst possible conditions. In ideal conditions it gives 45-47kpl. Some have got 50kpl on long, slow rides.
Blue colour looks outstanding. Black is dull. Red is ok. Twin headlight Illumination is excellent at night. It is definitely a crowd attracter.
Tyres may look lean for its body size, but it performs very well. You can bend upto 45 degrees. It does not require a fatter tyre. If you carefully observe the tyres have road contact for more than 80%. Fatter tyres only look fat, but road conact percentage is less. Its a tubeless tyre & hence very safe.
I have driven karizma, pulsar 200 & 220.These are nowhere in front of R15 quality & performance. In short R15 has the soul of R1. R1 is 1000cc and R15 is 150cc. The technology, quality, reliability is similar to R1. R1 obviously performs better than R15.