Yamaha YZF-R15 Version 3.0 starts reaching dealerships; bookings open unofficially

India-spec Yamaha YZF-R15 Version 3.0 will miss some features to keep the price in check.

2017 Yamaha R15, Yamaha R15 Version 3.0, Ymaha R15 V3 — 2017 Yamaha YZF-R15 Version 3.0Yamaha

Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer Yamaha is inching closer to the launch of new YZF-R15. Likely to be named the YZF-R15 Version 3.0, the motorcycle has been snapped while testing in Indian roads last month. Now images of a new YZF-R15 have been snapped at a dealership in India suggesting the launch can happen anytime soon.

A report in Rushlane claims launch of the YZF-R15 Version 3.0 will take place in January 2018. Though the company has not officially started bookings for the new bike, selected dealers have already started accepting bookings, the report adds.

Yamaha had launched the third generation of the popular supersport motorcycle in Indonesia in January 2017. However, the India-spec model is expected to feature some differences over the international-spec to keep the price in check.

The R15 V3.0, which is spotted in India, is running in conventional front forks in place of the premium upside-down (USD) front forks seen in the Indonesia-spec. It looks like the omission of the USD forks up front will help India Yamaha Motor to reduce the price of the motorcycle. In addition, the bike spotted in India is fitted with MRF tyres and not the IRC ones seen on the Indonesian-spec bike.

2017 Yamaha R15 — 2017 Yamaha YZF-R15Yamaha

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) will be another major omission in India-spec model. Though it's not an inviting move, Yamaha will be forced to omit this to keep the price in check. Upcoming regulations in India will make ABS mandatory to all new bikes above 125cc launching in India from April 2018.

New Yamaha YZF-R15 is powered by an all-new 155.1cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled four-stroke SOHC engine with fuel injection in place of the 149cc mill. The new mill develops 19.7bhp of power 10,000rpm and the peak torque is 14.7Nm at 8,500rpm. The power of the YZF-R15 Version 3.0 has gone up by 3bhp from the outgoing model. The engine comes mated to a six-speed transmission and is now equipped with a slipper clutch for clutch-free up-shifts.

Source: Rushlane