BS6 Yamaha R15 V3.0 Launched In India

The new motorcycle gets cosmetic updates and a BS6-compliant motor

• The BS6 motorcycle costs around Rs 6,000 more than the BS4 iteration. 
• Updated motor sees a 0.7PS and 0.6Nm drop in performance over the BS4 variant. 
• New features include rear radial tyre, side stand engine cut-off switch and dual horn setup.
• Gets new colour options. 

After launching the BS6 FZ-FI and FZS-FI, Yamaha has now launched the BS6 version of its flagship R15 V3.0 in India. Prices for the new BS6 motorcycle start at Rs 1,45,900 (ex-showroom Delhi) -- a hike of around Rs 6,000 over the previous BS4 iteration. Apart from an updated BS6-compliant motor, the R15 V3.0 also gets cosmetic and feature updates. The new motorcycles will be available across Yamaha dealerships from the 3rd week of December. 

Also read: 2018 Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0 Road Test Review

The R15 gets three new colours -- Racing Blue, Thunder Grey and Darknight -- with new graphics. The new features are a side stand engine cut-off switch and dual horn setup. While the previous motorcycle got an optional rear radial tyre, the new one gets it as standard fitment now. Weight remains the same at 142kg. 

Also read: KTM RC 125 vs Yamaha R15 V3.0: Road Test Comparison

The BS6-compliant 155cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder motor now delivers 18.6PS at 10,000rpm and 14.1Nm at 8500rpm. That’s less compared to the BS4 variant’s 19.3PS and 14.7Nm. However, the new motor could offer better fuel-efficiency than the current BS4 variant. Like the previous version, this one too gets a six-speed gearbox with slipper clutch. 

With all two-wheeler manufacturers having to update their products for BS6 compliance, higher pricing is inevitable. Yamaha has done well in that regard by keeping the price increase at a minimum. The new motor, however, loses out on performance and it remains to be seen how much the deficit is in the real world. We will be testing out the new motorcycle soon. Stay tuned for a proper road test review.