2019 Yamaha MT15: What we got and what we missed out on

Yamaha MT 15 | The Yamaha MT 15, just like its bigger siblings, the MT 07 and the MT 09 is known for handling and performance on the streets. It even received the Bike of the Year Award in the 160cc category at the Bike India Awards 2020. Powering the bike is a 155cc engine that makes 18.5 PS and 13.9 Nm.

Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha is set to launch the MT-15 in a couple of weeks. While essentially a stripped down R15 V3, the naked roadster has some tweaks and changes for the Indian market. These changes set it apart from its faired sibling as well as its international counterpart, which was launched a year ago.

One of the primary differences is the absence of Upside Down (USD) forks, as the India-spec MT-15 gets the conventional telescopic setup. It also misses out on the aluminium swingarm present in the V3 and gets a box type swingarm in its place.

The bike retains its aesthetics and bodywork from its international counterpart, albeit with certain Indian touches. It gets a saree guard which is mandatory in India, as well as a splatter guard on the rear wheel. The Indian MT-15 is also expected to borrow its alloys from the V3, as opposed to a completely new set found internationally. It also swaps the IRC tyres with MRF ones.

The MT-15 is expected to be priced around the Rs.1.20 lakh mark (Ex-showroom). It will compete with KTM Duke 125, Suzuki Gixxer and TVS Apache RTR 200 4V among others.