India Yamaha Motor has started accepting the bookings for the upcoming new MT-15, ahead of its launch on March 15. Select dealerships had begun taking the reservations unofficially in February. Potential buyers could reserve a unit of the MT-15 for INR 5,000, an amount that could be fully refunded in case of cancellation. While the company has commenced the bookings process, prices would be announced at the launch on March 15.
Also read: 7 useful official accessories launched for the Yamaha FZ V3.0
IAB’s interaction with Yamaha dealerships revealed in the past that the MT-15 could arrive close to the INR 1.60 lakh (on-road) price range.
Last week, Yamaha teased its upcoming naked roadster via its YouTube channel, revealing many details such as the headlight, tail lamp, fuel tank, saddle, pillion grab rail, MRF Zapper tyres and conventional front forks among others. Another YouTube video caught the motorcycle at a dealership somewhere in the southern part of the country.
Several spy images, an official teaser video and the sighting of the motorcycle at the dealership confirms the hardware specifications that will feature conventional telescopic forks instead of upside-down forks, a box-type swingarm with a linkage-type rear mono-shock and alloy wheel design that would be shared with the Yamaha R15 V3.0.
While the features mentioned above are cost-cutting measures to keep the final prices competitive, a strategy that Yamaha had previously used on the YZF-R15 V3.0, all other styling cues and mechanical specifications have been retained from the international model. Thus, buyers would get bug-eye shaped LED projector headlight, muscular fuel tank with radiator guards and an MT-09 inspired tail section. The Deltabox frame would underpin the MT-15.
The motorcycle would draw power from the same motor that also propels the YZF-R15 V3.0. The 155 cc, SOHC liquid-cooled, 4-valve, fuel-injected engine, featuring VVA (variable valve actuation), develops 19.1 bhp of maximum power and 14.7 Nm of peak torque and comes mated to an assist-slip clutch equipped six-speed gearbox. Stopping power comes from disc brakes on both ends while the safety net of dual-channel ABS, like in the YZF-R15 V3.0 ABS, would be available as standard.
Also read: Turbocharged Yamaha YZF-R15 hits 180 km/h [Video]
The MT-15 would appeal to buyers who desire the performance of the Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0 in a more comfort-friendly package that benefits from upright ergonomics. The upcoming MT motorcycle would face competition from the likes of the KTM 125 Duke, 200 Duke, and TVS Apache RTR 200 4V among others.
