The Mounting points are the same but the Yamaha R15 v3 gets bigger disc brakes in front going from 263 mm to 282 mm on the V3. The rear still has a 220mm disc. ABS has NOT been included, but braking is still smooth & the slipper clutch helps for sure. Yamaha say they will put an ABS on the R15 by 2019, since by then laws making it mandatory will have come into place. Both brakes have more than enough bite. One thing’s for sure, it stops much faster than the V20. Gripping surfaces too have increased Yamaha have given both Tyres the upsize treatment. The front end gets a 100-80/17 tyre while the rear makes use of a 140-section shoe, identical to the R3. MPM sprocket are in stock. This is the set up that we used on the track and the grip was phenomenal throughout.
The front end gets a 100-80/17 tyre while the rear makes use of a 140-section shoe, identical to the R3. At 139 kgs the Yamaha R15 v3 is just 3 kgs heavier than the v2. Despite being longer, wider and taller than its predecessor! Sharper handling masks even this additional load. On the downside of the Yamaha’s R15 v3’ exceptional styling is the fact that the tank loses a litre of fuel and range. Not a big miss but a downer for those looking to tour with the new 11 litre tank.
The Yamaha R15 v3 gets fatter suspension upfront with 41mm dia shocks replacing the 33mm shocks from the V2. The rear swingarm is stiffer too. No USDs even as an option though. Although when we did ask Yamaha why this exclusion was made, they said that while USDs look great on paper they don’t perform a lot better than the standard shock absorber in a bike this small. As far as we are concerned the R15 might seem like a bit too track focused when compared even with the v 2.0. Over all since Yamaha have stressed so much on the fact that the R15 is part of the venerable R family, the R15 needed that bite. And now it does.
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