Launched in March this year, Yamaha MT15 has had a good start, as far as sales are concerned. Yamaha MT15 is a hyper-naked version of Yamaha YZF R15 V 3.0 and the duo share several commonalities such as the same engine, Deltabox frame, variable valve actuation (VVA), and assist & slipper clutch. The idea was to create an offshoot of R15, rather than launching an entirely new segment with MT15. The two bikes with their unique packaging cater to a wider audience.
In the month of its launch, Yamaha MT15 sold 5,203 units whereas in April, sales were 3,823 units. This translates into average sales of more than 4,500 units per month, which is quite good for a 150 cc bike that costs Rs 1.36 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). However, the auto sector is currently experiencing a slump, so it remains to be seen if MT15 can sustain its sales momentum in the coming months.
Yamaha R15 sales have declined from 9,503 units sold in March 2019 to just 4,975 units sold in April 2019. Best selling two wheeler for Yamaha last month, was the FZ, which recorded sales of 19,709 units. 2nd in the list is Fascino scooter, which has posted sales of 14,873 units. This was followed by Ray scooter with 10,336 units sold. In all, Yamaha sold 60,781 units last month.
Yamaha MT15 is created to make heads turn and its design is inspired by the sinister looking mask of a Samurai warrior. The aggression is clearly evident in the bike’s Bi functional LED headlight, sculpted tank, front winglets, upright forks, radiator side fins and short rising tail.
The naked beast gets its power from a 155 cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine that generates 19.3 hp of max power at 10,000 RPM and 14.7 Nm of max torque at 8,500 RPM. Although this is the same unit that is used on R15 V 3.0, performance is more responsive, as Yamaha has made relevant changes to the ECU. Engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission and comes integrated with assist & slipper (A&S) clutch, which ensures smooth gearshifts during rapid deceleration.
Built on Deltabox frame, Yamaha MT15 is lightweight and offers superior balance and handling. However, some features such as aluminium swingarm and USD forks that are offered in international spec MT15 are not available here. The other thing missing is dual-channel ABS, which is offered as standard with R15. Yamaha MT15 comes with single channel ABS, something that users would like the company to change in future upgrades.
