While Yamaha would like to draw your attention towards all the
technological updates, they pale in comparison with the way the YZF-R15
V3.0 handles. Even though this was my first experience with the R15 on
track, the bike had me in my groove in no time. Even the smallest shift
in weight and counter steer was enough to tip the bike into corners. The
steering is well weighed and the reaction to inputs is instantaneous.
Even when you are crouched over, the handlebar positioning allows you to
make quick direction changes or corrections with the lightest of
effort. This also means that riding doesn’t feel tiring at all and you
can spend more time on the track rather than sitting in the pits
wondering why you didn’t spend more time in the gym.
The front suspension felt a little soft for the track, a compromise
made to keep it street-friendly. There were a couple of instances where I
took the bumpy line through C1 and even though the front wobbled, the
bike didn’t veer off the line. And once you have hit the apex, you can
whack open the throttle without getting overwhelmed by the power. The 19
horsepower engine gives you a spirited drive and has enough power
low-down even if you enter the corner a gear higher. Through the kinks
and straight between C3 and C4, I managed to hit 134kmph, which is not
bad for a stock 150cc motorcycle.
Even the brakes have a good progression and feel. There is no
shortage of stopping power, and the bike kept encouraging me to brake
later into the corner. However, a sharper initial bite would have been
much appreciated, especially considering that the rest of the package is
put together so well. But then, this is again a compromise made to keep
the bike street-friendly, especially with ABS not even on the options
list.
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