Yamaha MT15

Yamaha India has updated price of their street motorcycle MT15
BS6 compliant Yamaha MT-15 has now undergone another price hike, which makes it the second one in a short while. A smile price revision was first announced in May 2020, following which, MT-15 was dearer by Rs 1,000, and listed at a price of Rs 1,38,900 for Black and Blue colour options, whereas the Vermillion colour cost Rs 1,39,900.

This time, price has been further increased by Rs 1,000. With this second increment, MT-15 is now offered at a starting price of Rs 1,39,900 for base variant, whereas top-spec variant costs Rs 1,40,900.
While no reason has been cited for price increase, it can be attributed to quickly changing market conditions, economic factors, and increase in input costs which have been closely effected since launch of the BS6 compliant bike in March 2020.

In its latest iteration, Yamaha MT-15 features a side-stand engine inhibitor, which prevents the engine from starting when side stand has not been pulled up, ensuring added safety. A rear radial tyre is standard offering. The BS6 compliant bike isn’t altered for design from its pre-updated version. Signature bi-functional LED headlamps make for a prominent front face. LED tail lamps complement the light in design element.
Features
A beefy fuel tank, and muscular body panels further accentuate the bike’s ‘badass’ element. Side-mounted exhaust pipe enhances sportiness. Equipped with a fully digital instrument cluster with negative display, MT-15 is offered with a single-channel ABS and a box-type swingarm. Braking duties are carried out by a 282mm disc in front, and 220mm disc at the rear. MT15 features a dual-channel ABS and an aluminium swingarm.
There are no changes in specifications or features of the naked street motorcycle. MT-15 continues to derive power from a 155cc single-cylinder engine coupled with a 6-speed gearbox and assist and slipper clutch. Capable of producing 8.5 PS of power at 1000 rpm and 13.9 Nm of peak torque at 8500 rpm, output figures saw a minuscule drop in comparison to its BS4 predecessor. In related news, Yamaha India has started online sales of the MT15, along with R15, FZ25, FZ FI and FZS FI.
MT-15 Limited Edition

2020 Yamaha MT 15 Limited Edition
The Limited Edition Yamaha MT-15 has been showcased at Bangkok Motor Show a few weeks earlier. It sports new liveries with an interesting teal blue paint job, accompanied by a neon yellow finish for the wheels. Apart from paint job updates, it doesn’t vary from the standard variant. In India, Yamaha MT-15 directly competes with KTM Duke 125, which is offered at a price tag of Rs 1,42,266 (ex-sh). More

Image – Abhinav Bhatt
The BS4 Yamaha MT15’s USD forks-swap required only a few extra brackets to hold the headlamp assembly

Yamaha Motor India introduced the MT15 back in March 2019. Earlier this year, the naked-sports or streetfighter motorcycle was updated to BS6 emission norms alongside subtle additions. It is essentially a naked version of the Yamaha YZF-R15 sportsbike. Prices currently start at roughly Rs 1.39 lakh ex-showroom.
With no direct rivals but several sports-commuter alternatives, the Yamaha MT15 boasts of class-leading equipment such as Variable Valve Actuation (VVA), Assist & Slipper Clutch (ASC), deltabox frame, etc. Indian motorcycle enthusiasts were a bit disappointed at the fact that it (and the R15) lacked USD forks even when the lesser KTM 125 Duke sported them. The Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer might have omitted the feature to cut costs.
Abhinav Bhatt (@abhinavbhatt19 on Instagram) has shared a suspension swap done on his friend Vetrivel’s BS4 Yamaha MT15, using a pair of 43mm ‘WP’ USD forks (including upper and lower triple-trees) sourced from a second-gen KTM Duke 390. The entire conversion project (dubbed ‘Project 15’) was done at home at a cost of roughly Rs 10,000. Abhinav states that the modification comes with significant advantages and a few non-dealbreaker disadvantages.

Image – Abhinav Bhatt
Starting with the merits, the motorcycle offers a noticeable bump in comfort while being more ‘stable and predictable’ at high speeds and corners. Furthermore, road undulations are better absorbed than on stock setup. On the downside, the front-end became heavier by just over 1kg (hardly noticeable). There is a slight increase in turning radius as well.
Since the components were sourced from a different manufacturer, a minor alteration was done to fit the headlamp assembly. For this, Vetrivel only had to fabricate three extra brackets. Although the MT15 wears the 390 Duke’s Bybre axial calliper, wheel and rotor remain stock. Most importantly, the motorcycle looks really good from the front quarter.

The 2020MY Yamaha MT15 BS6 is powered by a 155cc liquid-cooled SOHC single-cylinder engine making 18.25bhp @ 10,000rpm and 13.9Nm @ 8,500rpm. This is mated to a 6-speed transmission. The previous Yamaha MT15 BS4 (as the example shown) churned out a marginally better 19.03bhp and 14.7Nm at similar rev ranges.
Changes in the BS6 version are limited to a new colour choice (Ice Fluo Vermillion or dual-tone white + red), engine side-stand cut-off and a 140mm-section radial rear tyre. It gets the same single-channel ABS unit, coupled to a 282mm front disc brake (220mm at back). The motorcycle rides on 100/80R17 and 140/70R17 tubeless tyres. More