Yamaha YZF R15 V3.0 versus Yamaha YZF R3

When my bike, my trusted ride for ten years, decided to hang her boots one day, I began the lookout for a brand new motorcycle. The avid biker that I am, my bike was more than just a machine that helped me travel from one place to another. In fact, it was akin to a close and a reliable friend. It was the only bike I ever owned. Though it was certainly difficult for me to come to terms with letting her go, I had to move on with my life and look for a new machine. After accepting the fate of my old bike, I began the search early, with an aim of narrowing down to the bike of my choice well before Diwali. I had taken to browsing numerous online bike review websites, flipped through different bike magazines and also asked my close-knit friends and relatives for recommendations. I finally had my heart set on two Yamaha models, one being the Yamaha YZF R3 and the other one being the Yamaha YZF R15. My city is certainly a hub for bike enthusiasts, so I knew there is certainly no dearth of Yamaha motorcycle dealers in Bangalore.

Yamaha is certainly a popular brand and hugely popular with bike enthusiasts. It has a stellar collection of racy-looking motorbikes that instantly stand out from the crowd. Before shortlisting the bike I was going to own, I decided to do a head-to-head comparison between these two models. I did this keeping in mind the specifications, design, features, the test run expereince and the budget. The three Yamaha bike dealers in Adyar I located through Justdial really helped me make a sound and well-informed decision.

1. 

   Yamaha YZF R15 3.0

   Yamaha YZF R15 V3.0This 3^rd generation model has pretty impressive specifications, in my opinion. A really good piece of technology to say the least.
   Design:
   In terms of features, this bike looks quite race-worthy with sharper looks. I liked that there is a split headlamp along with LED units. I noticed that the shape of the fuel tank has changed a bit from the previous versions. What I also liked is that this version has a fully digital instrument cluster. On the downside, the fuel tank capacity has gone down by a litre to 11 litres. The pillion seat seems to be welcoming.
   
   Specifications:
   It has a 155 cc single cylinder, 4-stroke and 4-valve engine tied to a 6-speed transmission. The engine uses the fuel injection system to produce 19.5 PS of power and 14.7 Nm of torque. It imbibes Yamaha's Variable Valve Actuation system.
   
   After The Test Run:
   During the test run, I was a little surprised to notice no ABS or the anti-skid braking system, which is perhaps the most important safety features in today's vehicles. The improved ground clearance and the aggressive seating posture for the rider were the definitive pluses for me.
   
   Budget:
   With a price tag of approximately INR 1.25 lakh, Yamaha definitely targets the young, college crowd through this bike. This model was certainly within my price range.
   

2. 

   Yamaha YZF R3

   Yamaha YZF R3This motorbike is a more recent version as compared to the Yamaha YZF R15. This is how I found it:
   Design:
   One look at the bike and I found it to have a very edgy and sharp design. It has the works, twin cat-like halogen headlamps, a sporty tail section, clip-on handlebars as well as semi-digital instrument cluster. The blue-coloured model appealed to me better than the matte black one.
   
   Specifications:
   It has a powerful 312 cc liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder, 4-stroke and 8-valve motor tied to a 6-speed gearbox. It produces 42 PS of peak power and 29.6 Nm of torque. The fuel tank capacity stands at 14 litres. The front brake has a 298mm disc while the rear comes with a 220 mm disc.
   
   After The Test Run:
   Unlike the Yamaha YZF R15, this motorbike has the much needed ABS. It also facilitates a log of grip in the corners. I found this bike to be very capable in easily navigating in Bangalore city's traffic. I was told the speed can go up to 188 kmph.
   
   Budget:
   Priced at INR 3.48 lakh approximately this bike certainly seems to be a more expensive option than the Yamaha YZF R15. Sadly, it was way out of my budget.
   

The options were in front of me and I had to take a call. It had to be the Yamaha YZF R15 V3.0. After I shortlisted this Yamaha bike, the dealership's representatives wasted no time in processing the purchase along with other formalities. I'm was also offered lucrative options for financing my bike. What's more, it was also heartening to know that they had a service centre. This assured me that my bike was in good hands. I'm glad I found one of the reliable Yamaha motorcycle dealers Bangalore has for my bike buying and servicing needs.