Yamaha WR 155R: Bikes We’d Like To See In India

The Yamaha WR 155R dual-purpose dirt bike is exactly what's missing from the rapidly maturing Indian motorcycle market

The two-wheeler sector in India is one of the largest in the world, not surprising then that most brands based overseas have tweaked their portfolio to suit the India market. Despite that, several motorcycles haven’t found their way here yet. One such bike is the Yamaha WR 155R, a dual-purpose motorcycle based on the YZF-R15 Version 3.0’s heart. It’s currently available in the Indonesian market for IDR 36,900,000 (around Rs 1.87 lakh), on-road Jakarta, which is IDR 825,000 (around Rs 4,200) more than the faired sportbike.

Why does it make business sense?

Since the delta between the R15 V3 and the WR 155R is rather small in Indonesia, it begs the question, could it possibly be launched in our country? Interestingly enough, sources suggest it will. 

Using the same engine to power bikes catering to different market segments makes sense for Yamaha as it reduces manufacturing and R&D costs. That said, though the bike shares the same 155cc single-cylinder engine seen on the R15 V3, it’s been detuned by a fair margin. The WR 155R makes 16.7PS at 10,000rpm instead of 19.3PS. Peak torque also takes a minor dip -- from 14.7Nm to 14.3Nm, but it arrives in 2000 revs earlier, at 6500rpm. Similarities also extend to the gearbox where the WR 155R uses a 6-speed transmission like the R15 V3.0, with a slipper clutch.

What makes the WR 155R special?

The difference lies in the WR 155R's hardware, which is equipped to handle both tarmac and off-road sections. The dual-purpose bike employs a semi-double-cradle frame with a box-section swingarm rather than the R15’s Deltabox-aluminium swingarm configuration. It features long-travel 41mm telescopic forks and a linked gas-charged monoshock, which is preload adjustable.

Further highlighting its off-road prowess are a pair of 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoke wheels wrapped in dual-purpose tyres. Bringing the bike to a halt in such conditions requires good braking hardware. This comes in the form of petal-type discs on both ends measuring 240mm up front and 220mm at the rear. Weirdly enough, there's no ABS on offer, even as an option. But that may change if the bike is offered in India. Expect at least single-channel ABS to come as part of the standard kit if not the slightly more sophisticated switchable dual-channel ABS setup.

A proper off-roader?

The WR 155R looks like a dirt bike that complies with road-regulations. Essentially, you could use one for your daily commute without having the cops stopping you at every signal. Consequently, the bike features a headlight, tail light, turn indicators, and even rearview mirrors. The fenders have been raised in typical off-road fashion with a high-mounted exhaust for better water wading capabilities. 

Feature list: 

The bike features a fully digital instrument cluster, which reads out average fuel consumption apart from the usual information. Longer suspension travel means the bike also sits tall with a generous 245mm ground clearance. This also affects the seat height, measured at 888mm -- a huge problem for vertically challenged riders. That's 73mm taller than the R15's seat and 65mm taller than the Hero XPulse 200’s saddle. In a bid to keep the weight low for better agility, the fuel tank size has been reduced to accommodate only 8.1 litres.

The WR 155R sure looks like a promising proposition that will help Yamaha tap into the budget-friendly adventure segment dominated by the Royal Enfield Himalayan and the Hero XPulse 200. The bike may be underpowered compared to its rivals, but it weighs just 134kg and packs a ton of equipment to help you make the most of dirt roads.