The Yamaha R15 has always been that one bike that feels like a baby superbike. It’s built to thrill but without breaking your wallet. Now, with the New Yamaha R15 2025, Yamaha has made it even sharper, more feature-rich, and surprisingly more comfortable. If you’ve ever dreamt of track-style riding on city roads, this is the bike you’ll want to look at. Let’s go deep into what’s changed, what stayed, and why the R15 continues to dominate its class.
Sporty Design
At first glance, the new R15 looks even more aggressive. The fairing is sharper. The side panels are redesigned with more angular cuts. The new air vents near the tank not only help cooling but give it that MotoGP-style vibe.
The headlamp has changed again. It now gets a bi-functional LED unit that’s slimmer but brighter. DRLs sit on either side, forming a piercing look. Tail lamps are sleeker too, giving a proper race-bike finish.
Yamaha has also introduced two new color schemes. One is a stealthy black with golden alloy wheels. The other is a GP Blue with bold decals and contrasting white elements. Both variants look premium.
Digital Display
The fully digital LCD instrument cluster is now Bluetooth-enabled. You can pair your phone using the Y-Connect app. It shows calls, messages, phone battery status, and even last parked location.
There are two display modes now. Street mode shows regular ride info. Track mode brings lap timer, gear position, and rpm bar more prominently. The display auto-adjusts brightness depending on the light conditions.
You can also track fuel economy, service alerts, and ride analytics via the app. These tech bits might sound like extras, but they do come in handy over time.
Riding Position
Here’s where Yamaha made subtle but smart changes. The handlebars are still clip-ons, but they are now slightly raised. Foot pegs have been moved back just a bit. The seat height stays at 815 mm, but cushioning feels better.
This combination has improved city riding comfort. You no longer feel cramped in traffic. On open roads, you still get that leaned-in sporty feel. It’s the best of both worlds now.
For riders around 5’6” to 6 feet, the posture feels tight yet natural. You can tour on this bike without constant wrist pressure now.
Engine and Performance
The engine is the same 155cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder setup. It produces 18.4 PS at 10,000 rpm and 14.2 Nm at 7,500 rpm. Sounds familiar, right? But Yamaha has done minor tuning to improve throttle response.
It still gets Variable Valve Actuation (VVA), which kicks in around 7,400 rpm. You feel that instant boost in power once you cross that mark. City cruising feels smooth, but once you twist the throttle past midrange, the real thrill starts.
The 6-speed gearbox now gets a new shift sensor that makes upshifts feel crisper. And yes, you still get a slipper and assist clutch that helps during aggressive downshifts and avoids rear-wheel lock.
Ride and Handling
The frame is the tried and tested Deltabox. It’s light but stiff. Which means the R15 still corners like a dream. You can flick it through gaps in city traffic or carve corners on mountain roads.
The front gets a USD fork setup, now in golden finish, which looks premium and adds better feedback. Rear monoshock remains tuned for sporty handling. It’s firm but not back-breaking.
Tyres are 100-section up front and 140-section at the rear. Both are MRF radial units, grippy enough for spirited rides. If you want even more grip, many owners opt for stickier aftermarket rubber.
Braking duties are handled by a 282 mm front disc and 220 mm rear disc with dual-channel ABS. It’s not over-aggressive, which is good. You can brake hard without fear of lockups.
Mileage and Efficiency
Even though it’s a sporty bike, mileage is decent. In city conditions, you can expect around 40–45 kmpl. On highways, if you ride steadily, it can touch 48–50 kmpl.
Fuel tank capacity is 11 liters. That gives you a range of 450–500 km on one tank if you’re easy on the throttle.
The engine remains BS6 Phase 2 compliant and is E20 fuel-ready. This means it can run on petrol blended with 20% ethanol, which is becoming the new norm.
Features You’ll Notice
Apart from the Bluetooth dashboard and dual riding modes, Yamaha has added a quickshifter in the R15M and MotoGP edition. It works only on upshifts, and above 4,000 rpm, but it does its job well.
There’s also a side-stand engine cut-off switch. If the stand is down, the bike won’t start. A safety feature that also prevents embarrassment in public.
You get a kill switch, engine start/stop button, hazard lights, and a pass light. These might sound basic, but they are neatly laid out and easy to access even with gloves on.
Variants and Colors
Yamaha R15 2025 comes in multiple variants:
- Standard R15 V4
- R15M
- MotoGP Edition
- Racing Blue Edition
Each one has small differences in color, decals, and features. For example, only the R15M and MotoGP get quickshifter and metallic tank finish.
Here’s a list of popular colors available:
- Racing Blue
- Metallic Grey
- Dark Knight (Matte Black)
- MotoGP Edition (with Monster Energy graphics)
- Silver with Blue (R15M only)
Pricing and Value
The R15 2025 is priced between ₹1.82 lakh and ₹1.98 lakh (ex-showroom). Depending on the variant and city, on-road pricing crosses ₹2 lakh.
It might feel steep for a 155cc bike. But when you factor in the tech, the ride quality, the engine refinement, and Yamaha’s racing DNA, it feels justified.
No other bike in this segment offers the combination of VVA, quickshifter, USD forks, and this level of handling finesse.
Who Should Buy
The R15 is not for someone looking for a relaxed ride. It’s for those who love cornering. For those who enjoy wringing out every bit of performance. For college riders, young professionals, or even older enthusiasts who want a weekend thrill without moving to bigger bikes.
It’s also a great choice for beginners who want to learn riding dynamics before stepping up to bigger displacement motorcycles.
You can use it for daily commute, short tours, or track days. And now, with the small comfort tweaks in 2025, it’s easier to live with than ever before.