Yamaha YZF R2 Review: Likes And Dislikes

Yamaha launched the Yamaha YZF-R2 in India as a bigger alternative to the Yamaha R15. It starts at Rs 2,30,500 (ex-showroom). We spent a full day riding it on a racetrack, and we found a few things we liked and a few we didn't.

This article covers them in short, so if you don't have time for our full expert review, you can scan everything we found here:

What We Liked

• Past 6,000rpm, we found the engine pulled strongly and smoothly all the way to its redline, which is over 10,000rpm. The sound and buzz at high revs felt engaging, and they reminded us of the original R15. It easily crossed 130kmph on the track. The quickshifter added to the fun, with seamless upshifts at 9,000 to 10,000rpm.

• We found the riding position more relaxed than the R15's. The clip-on handlebars sat higher, and the footpegs were set further back, so there was less strain on shoulders and back. That should suit daily commutes and longer rides. The suspension was tuned for comfort too. 

• The R2 has got a design inspired by the flagship R9. The golden USD forks and aluminium swingarm gave it a big-bike feel, and we found no uneven panel gaps or rattles. Every variant gets a 5-inch TFT screen with Bluetooth connectivity, dual-channel ABS, traction control, and three riding modes: Street, Sport and Rain. The mid and top variants also get a bidirectional quickshifter.

• We found the steel-tube diamond frame light and flickable. The bike felt easy to handle through corners, even for riders with limited track experience. It was easy to brake hard, tip into a corner, and power out with stability.

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What We Didn't Like

• Below 6,000rpm, we found the motor took its time to build speed. We had to drop a gear or two for a quick overtake, which could feel a bit sluggish in slow traffic. 

• We found the R2 wasn't as quick to change direction as the R15. In tight, technical sections, the R15 still felt like the better tool. The R2 made up for it on long straights and fast corners.

• This bike is missing tyre pressure monitoring, cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control. These aren't essential on a 200cc bike, but tyre pressure monitoring would have helped commuters spot a slow puncture. Also, expert riders would’ve appreciated the option to switch off ABS on Sport mode, which isn’t possible. 

• At over Rs 50,000 more than the R15, we felt the R2 could be hard to justify for some buyers. If you mostly ride in slow traffic, you'd rarely use the extra power, so here the R15 makes more sense.

Verdict

The Yamaha R2 is all about performance and a real race-bike feel. It's at its best above 6,000rpm, where few bikes at this price can match the thrill. It's also more comfortable and practical than the R15, and it doesn't skimp on tech. If you want more power, a stronger road presence, and a bigger top-end rush, then yes, it's simply more fun when you ride fast.

It's also a good first big bike. It has the character of a race bike; it's easy enough to learn on, and it has enough power to keep you excited for a long time.