Yamaha set to launch MT-15 in India
Modified On Mar 20, 2019 01:29 PM By Benjamin Noel Gracias for Yamaha MT-03
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Sources indicate Yamaha could launch the MT-15, a street naked based on the R15 v3.0, in India soon
Sources close to Yamaha have informed us that the Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer is looking at introducing small capacity naked motorcycles by next year. The first of these bikes could be the 2019 MT-15, which was recently unveiled in Thailand. It is likely to be followed by the MT-03, which is essentially a naked version of the Yamaha R3. The flagship MT-10 naked bike is also expected to come here as well.
Like the MT-03, the MT-15 is based on its faired sibling - the R15 v3.0. The new one carries an aggressive design inspired by the larger MT-09 and MT-10 naked bike. It gets a digital instrument console similar to the R15 V3.0 but features blue backlighting with yellow fonts instead of the white backlighting and black fonts.
Its 155cc liquid-cooled single cylinder motor too comes from the R15 and gets similar features like variable valve timing (VVT) and slipper clutch. It generates 19.3PS of power and 15Nm of torque. The MT-15 is expected to perform better than the R15 given that it will be lighter thanks to the absence of a fairing.
The underpinnings, too, come from the R15. The MT-15 has a deltabox frame that should help improve handling. While the Thai-spec MT-15 gets upside down front forks, we might get conventional forks to keep costs in check. We might also get the same MRF tyres the R15 v3.0 come shod with. Braking is via 282mm front and 220mm rear disc. If launched here, we can expect the bike to come with ABS as standard now that the government has made it mandatory for all new bikes above 125cc to be equipped with the essential safety net.
While Yamaha might stick with a single-channel ABS unit to keep costs in check, we still expect the MT-15 to be priced around Rs 1.18 lakh, which makes it more expensive than other 160cc motorcycles sold in the country. The MT-15 is expected to be launched early next year along with the MT-10, while the MT-03 is expected to follow later.
Image Source: tmcblog.com