The Yamaha R15 has been a huge success in the Indian market. However, not everyone can ride a motorcycle that has such a committed riding posture. This is where the MT-15 comes into the picture. It shares the same underpinnings but is meant to do city duties instead of track days. Where the R15 is a sports bike, the MT-15 is a streetfighter. It is sold in two variants and six colour options. The price of the Yamaha MT-15 starts at Rs 1.67 lakh and goes up to Rs 1.73 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom.
Yamaha MT-15 derives its design language from the more powerful MT range of motorcycles. It gets twin LED Daytime Running Lamps and a projector headlamp. There is a muscular fuel tank and a slim rear section. Depending on the variant, the brand offers coloured alloy wheels as well. Then there are the front forks finished in golden that add to the streetfighter look of the motorcycle. The colour schemes on offer are Dark Matte Blue, Metallic Black, Cyan Storm, Ice Fluo-Vermillion, Racing Blue and Monster Energy MotoGP Edition.
In terms of features, the MT-15 comes with a digital instrument cluster that supports Bluetooth connectivity via the Y-connect mobile application. Other than this there is a dual-channel anti- lock braking system and side stand engine kill function. Yamaha also offers traction control which cuts off the power when it detects that the tyres are slipping.
Power on the Yamaha MT-15 comes from the same 155 cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that is doing duty on the R15. It puts out 18.14 bhp at 10,000 rpm and a peak torque output of 14.1 Nm at 7,500 rpm. It comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox with a slip-and-assist clutch. It is important to note that Yamaha is not offering the quickshifter with the MT-15 but it is available on the R15. The engine also features Variable Valve Actuation that ensures that the power is distributed throughout the rev range equally.
Yamaha is using a Deltabox frame with an aluminium swingarm that has replaced the box swingarm that was offered earlier. The motorcycle is equipped with 37 mm up-side down forks in the front and a monoshock at the rear. Braking duties are performed by a 282 mm disc brake in the front and a 220 mm disc at the rear. The alloy wheels measure 17 inches in size and are wrapped in a 100/80-section tyre in the front and a 140/70-section radial tyre at the rear.
The seat height of the MT-15 is 810 mm while the wheelbase measures 1,325 mm. The MT-15 measures 2,015 mm in length and, width of 800 mm while the height is 1,070 mm. The ground clearance is rated at 170 mm and the fuel tank capacity is 10 litres. The kerb weight of Yamaha MT-15 is 141 kg.
The MT-15 sits in a special segment where there are not a lot of rivals. It only has to compete against the Bajaj Pulsar NS200, Honda Hornet 2.0, KTM 125 Duke and TVS Apache RTR 200 4V.