The Yamaha R15 V3 may have started off slowly in India but eventually it managed to attract young and experienced riders alike, thanks to its sprightly engine and delightful handling characteristics. Yamaha India is now be exploring the idea of introducing the R15’s naked sibling, the MT15, in a bid to offer the prospective customers more choice.
Yamaha MT15 looalike test mules have now been spotted testing in India for the first time. The motorcycle share its chassis and other mechanicals with the R15 V3. The styling is heavily inspired by the bigger MT range of street fighters which are known for an aggressive and raw character.
Yamaha MT15 would be a great option for riders who love the premium appeal of the R15 V3 but would like a slightly more relaxed riding posture and a more compact package. The compact naked motorcycle sports mean-looking twin LED headlamps, edgy fuel tank with minimal extensions, a sporty tailpiece with a stepped seat, and meaty tyres.
The Thai version of the MT-15 is equipped with upside-down telescopic front fork like its fully faired sibling. Just like the R15 V3, which gets USD in international market, but gets regular telescopic forks in India to save cost – same is the case with MT15. India-spec MT15 is devoid of USD in the front. The monoshock rear unit is universal. Apart from the missing USD, there are many more styling changes done to keep costs low. For eg, fuel tank is slightly diff, alloys are diff, tailpiece has less body work, belly pan is simpler and so on.
The Yamaha MT15 is powered by the same 155 cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled fuel-injected engine that does the duty in R15. The power and torque figures are not released yet. On board the R15, the motor produces 19.3 PS and 15 Nm of torque. The motor is mated to a 6-speed gearbox by means of a slip assist clutch.
The Yamaha MT15 would be priced very close to the R15 V3 which retails at Rs 1.27 lakhs for the non ABS variant and Rs 1.39 lakh for the dual ABS variant (ex-showroom). Expect the MT15 to be only offered with dual ABS in India. This puts it right in the middle of 200 cc motorcycles like the KTM Duke and Bajaj Pulsar NS 200. However, with a better power-to-weight ratio, the naked Yamaha would make a strong case of itself. Take a look at the international spec MT15 in the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psKtxOxgGDI
