Oct 27, 2008 03:20 PM
7034 Views
Given that my decision to buy the vehicle was heavily influenced by the information I absorbed from the net, I thought it was my responsibility to put down my exact impressions of the bike, in as honest and unbiased a manner - I owe that much to my fellow r15 enthusiasts and would-be owners.
Start Up:I cannot get over how awesome this bike's startup sequence looks. The white LCD, the clear tachometer, and the way the systems do the self-check with the needle swinging up to 12k rpm and back make my heart race. Displays are crisp, clear and give you exactly the information you require. I would have loved it if Yamaha had provided a gear indicator as well. The headlights are clear, not the brightest in the land, but practical enough.
Pick Up:As I’m on my run-in period, I've been quite careful not to over-rev the engine. However, 1st gear revs much faster than I would like (I feel the engine screaming much faster than the rate of initial acceleration), so I have to up shift to 2nd gear quite quickly. Pickup is still pretty great; it's not half as bad as I thought it would be. It's more than enough for Mumbai traffic - if you're ok with quick gear-shifting. Once you're on 3rd gear, you can rev the engine more freely. I find the acceleration quite satisfying right now, and can't wait to open her up to the 6500 plus power band.
Speed & Riding Experience:Let's face it. Any guy with half a testicle probably bought this bike to rip it on the roads. I admit I broke the run-in period rule a couple of times and took her up to 6500 rpm for about 6-second periods each. And both times, I touched 90 kmph, once with pillion, once alone. It felt awesome. Truly awesome. Someone else on this site had said that even at 120 kmph, you dont feel like your going fast. I beg to differ. At a humble 90 kmph, I felt like a fricking EAGLE. The world whizzing past, the engine screaming, the wind tearing at my face, it's fantastic. It's even better because the bike is ROCK solid, no vibrations, stuttering, or shakes - Just pure unadulterated speed and adrenaline. That's when you realize, screw the 1 lakh deficit in my bank account, this is WORTH IT!. I cant WAIT to get past the run-in and let her burn the road. The gear shift is butter smooth from 2nd to 6th, but between 1st and 2nd, I've encountered a couple of false neutrals. Nothing big , but a point to be noted. Bottom-line - it's all about speed, and this bike is delivering in spades, even under 6000 rpm.
Cornering & Handling:At low speeds, it IS a bit tough to twist and turn in traffic. Once she's in motion, it's much easier. I will admit, I'm a fledgling biker, and quite a sissy - so really low leaning corners are NOT for me. I did try a set of 30 degree turns, at about 40 kmph - It felt great, but not 100% safe. That could still be my inhibitions speaking and not the bike, but if everyone else has said such awesome things about the handling and the 'Delta box' frame, I'm sure it's a bomb. All you experienced riders out there will be able to cut corners like Rossi, but I personally would like to avoid that as far as possible - until maybe I grow a pair of oversized nuts :-D. Handling is perfect after 30 kmph, no complaints what-so-ever. She turns when I want her to, and goes where I want her to. Enough said.
Riding Posture & Comfort:Some good, some bad. It’s a mini super bike after all, so it’s got an aggressive riding stance. By aggressive, I mean rigid backed, 45 degree forward lean. If you tuck your legs into the tank grooves, it feels like dynamite. Like a rocket under your crotch! But this posture puts a lot of weight on your wrist and palms. They start to ache a bit within 15 mins of riding the bike. It could be because I’m just getting used to the bike right now, and I’m sure it will disappear as we get to know each other better. It has lessened progressively with each ride. However, get a pillion behind you, and you’re screwed. I mean it. I’ve taken my fiancé with me for a couple of rides, and after about 20 mins, I wanted to cry. It could also be because she was leaning tight against me and holding on, which I love of course (what man in his senses wouldn’t). But my wrists were screaming bloody murder. And my crotch – let’s just say after 40 minutes, I wondered if I would have children.
The Engine:The engine – Ah, those Japanese nerds, Buddha bless them. It’s a dream. Just reading about it on paper makes my mouth water. Liquid Cooled, SOH Cammed, Aluminum pistoned, 17 PSed, SCREAMER MILL. Keep her in idle and she just hums there constantly at 1500 rpm. Ride her for 5 days and you realize that every 1000 rpm, the engine note changes. The 1st day, I kept checking the tacho, to make sure I didn’t cross 4000 rpm. Now I can tell with the sound of the engine. If she’s purring, I’m idle, If she’s growling, I’m in the safe zone, and If she’s roaring , I’m going overboard. Also, I’ve read a lot on the internet about a possible ECU remapping, which could increase power output from 17 to 22 Ps. I’ve confirmed with the Yamaha dealer that this is utter nonsense and not happening; so don’t wait for it either. I admit I too would have LOVED to know that my bike churned out 22 ps, but I’m ok with 17. But still, 22 is nice J. But not happening.
Looks:I’ll be honest. I wouldn’t have noticed this bike if she didn’t look this good. I’m shallow. Even if she had 40 BHP and was nitrogen cooled, I wouldn’t have noticed. The front is great, the side is even better, the rear – well we all know about the rear, and the tires. Ok – first things first. If you do want to change the tires, you CANNOT go higher than 120/80. The frame is constructed such that it won’t allow it. I took a look at the back, and the gap between the swing-arm and the rear tire is the width of my middle finger. Even if you put in a 120/80 –There might be abrasion against the swing arm. Second, for all the guys who said ‘Don’t switch the tires, Yamaha had them specially made, you’ll screw the bike, you can’t corner, etc’ – I agree partially. Yamaha built this machine for speed and cornering, so every extra kilo matters. Keeping the weight down to a minimum DOES have an effect on the load on the engine, and consequently – on acceleration and top speed. However, If you’re not into mad cornering at 100 kmph, and you tend to drive pretty safe, except for a few straight-line bursts, I don’t think you’ll go wrong by switching tires. Get yourself a couple of Pirellis or Michelin soft compounds, and you should be sorted. I think they’ll make up for the MRFs. Having said that, I don’t think I’m going to change the tires anytime soon. Why ? Because I don’t have a Ph.D in Motorcycle Engineering, but the Japs at Yamaha do. And do you really think that the guys who designed the R1, the R6 and the R125 with their fat tires, didn’t think about slapping those tires onto this bike? Obviously they kept it out for a reason. Ride this bike and you will understand the ‘Humachine Perfect Riding Experience’ that Yamaha talks about. When it’s just you and the bike, you feel as ‘One’. Corny. Mushy. But True. Everything just fits.
On mileage, I’m still on my 1st tank, but I imagine it would be about 35-40 kmpl. I honestly couldn’t care a damn. I didn’t buy the bike for mileage :-).
