New Yamaha MT15 naked streetfighter is all set to be launched in India by March 2019. Some Yamaha dealers have already started accepting booking amount, ranging from Rs 2k to Rs 10k – depending on the dealer. This booking amount is fully refundable, in case you decide to cancel the booking later.
India-spec Yamaha MT15 is different than the international spec. Though it carries forward a similar looking LED headlight in the front, there are parts that have changed / replaced in order to save costs.
For example, Indian MT15 misses out on the the USD forks in the front, and instead gets regular telescopic forks. Yamaha India has already applied this strategy on the R15 V3. MT15 is the naked version of R15 V3.
Coming back to MT15, the fuel tank design has changed as it has less sculpting and fewer extensions. The digital instrument cluster is borrowed from the R15 V3. It does not get bluetooth connectivity. Yamaha India will launch bluetooth connected digital cluster in a few months.
Yamaha MT15 sits on wheels measuring 100/80 R-17 at the front and 140/70 R-17 at the rear rear. Braking is via 282 mm front disc and 220mm rear disc. Dual ABS is expected to be as standard. Riding ergonomics are accentuated due to rear set foot pegs, wider handlebars and a longer seat.
Internationally, Yamaha MT15 is presented in color options of Grey-Black, Blue-Black, All-Blue and All-Black. It measures 1,969 mm in length, 800 mm in width and 1,065mm in height while wheelbase measures 1,335mm. Seat height is at 810mm and ground clearance at 155mm while kerb weight stands at 133kgs. It is seen with a 10 liter capacity fuel tank and comes in with turning circle of 2.4 mtrs.
Yamaha MT15 for India is powered by a 155cc, liquid-cooled single cylinder motor with ‘Variable Valve Actuation’ engine from the R15 V3. This engine produces 19 bhp power at 10,000 rpm and 15 Nm torque at 8,500 rpm. It is mated to a 6 speed transmission with slip and assist clutch.
As far as competition is concerned, though a 155 cc machine, the Yamaha MT15 will take on bikes in the 200 cc segment in India. It will compete with Hero Xtreme 200R, Bajaj Pulsar NS 200, etc. Prices are expected to be in the Rs 1.2 lakh region.
