All-New Yamaha MT-15 Unveiled In Thailand

Could we expect the R15 V3.0-based MT-15 naked streetbike to hit Indian shores?

The Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer has unveiled the MT-15 in Thailand which will replace the manufacturer’s entry-level 150cc M-Slaz launched back in 2015. The MT-15 which is a naked streetbike is essentially an R15 V3.0 underneath. However, styling cues have been borrowed from its elder sibling, the Yamaha MT-09.

Similarities to the MT-09 run right from the aggressive looking LED headlight, a chiselled fuel tank along with sharp tank shrouds and a stubby tail section. It gets a twin-LED headlight setup reminiscent of the MT-09 along with a single projector lamp placed at the bottom. Apart from these changes, the MT-15 gets a fully digital instrument console, along with all the mechanical components found on the Thai-spec Yamaha R15 V3.0.

Powering the bike is the same 155cc engine as the R15 V3.0. It’s a single-cylinder, liquid-cooled motor that produces peak power of 19.3PS at 10000 rpm and 15Nm of torque at 8500rpm. It comes mated to a 6-speed transmission assisted by a slip-and-assist clutch. The engine also features Variable Valve Action (VVA) which improves fuel efficiency and adds bottom- and top-end grunt.

Suspension components for the Thai-spec MT-15 consist of gold painted upside-down forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear. Braking equipment seems to be the same dual-disc setup carried over from the R15 V3.0 - a single 282mm disc brake coupled with a four-piston caliper at the front and a single 230mm disc mated to a two-piston caliper.

So, will Yamaha bring the MT-15 down to India? Well, it seems highly unlikely. But if, by any chance it does, we could expect the same kind of treatment that was given to the R15 V3.0 when it was launched in India. That basically means the bike will trade in the sporty upside-down forks for conventional forks up front. And while the R15 V3.0 misses out on ABS, the MT-15 will need to be launched with at least a single-channel unit as per the recent government mandate making ABS compulsory for bikes above 125cc from April 2019. This could push the pricing of the MT-15 a bit over Rs 1.18 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) just shy of its elder sibling, the FZ25. While the high price might work against the bike, its comfortable riding dynamics and sprightly performance might have takers who found the R15 V3.0’s track-focused ergonomics a little too uncomfortable for everyday use.

Images source: tmcblog.com