Yamaha MT-15
After spending some time with Yamaha’s new MT-15 on the racetrack a couple of months ago, it’s now time to hit the streets
The smallest offering in Yamaha’s famous MT street-naked line put to the test
This striking streetfighter is Yamaha’s premium offering in the 150-cc naked segment and brings together the minimalistic Mt design language in a compact and affordable package. it was back in 2014 that Yamaha introduced this look with the launch of the twin-cylinder Mt-07 and Mt-09 triple to kick off their “Dark side of Japan” campaign. the bikes were characterized by sharp lines, aggressive styling, and a shadowy semblance. this same DnA is now carried forward in the most accessible Mt.
this is definitely an eye-catching motorcycle with tight, compact dimensions ideal for slaying city traffic. the angular tank, stubby, unadorned tail section, and that unmistakable, almost robotic face all come together to create a strong identity that unceasingly turns heads when cruising around town. the scalloped seat is broad and supportive and, at 810 mm off the ground, should keep newer riders comfortable.
the Mt-15 fires up without hesitation and settles into a smooth idle, and the first thing i notice as i set off is that my feet are somewhat sportily positioned — higher up and a little further
back than i expected on a 150-cc streetbike. this makes it extremely easy to get into an aggressive, forward-biased riding position that works well with the bike’s nimble handling, giving you a peek at the Mt’s mischievous side. it is ever-ready to change direction and the tractable, point-and-squirt nature of the liquid-cooled single had me making a nuisance of myself as i cut through traffic and across lanes, dodging past cars and through swarms of commuter motorcycles.
the exhaust note, smooth and refined at low revs, gets deeper and gruffer as the engine spins beyond 6,000 rpm. the little Mt actually sounds quite good at full chat, just before the bright white shift light prompts you to snick the next gear just short of 11,000 rpm. sixty km/h from a standstill comes up in just under five seconds, while the triple-digit mark is dispatched in just under 15 seconds.
Under the minimalistic skin the Mt-15 is essentially an r15 V3 with different styling and a comfortably positioned wide handlebar in place of those supersport clip-ons. Both bikes share the deltabox chassis and the 155-cc, slightly undersquare motor is in the same state of tune, making 19.3 hp at 10,000 rpm and 14.7 nm of twist at 8,500 rpm. the four-valve sOhC head gets the
same VVA (Variable Valve Actuation) treatment that makes this motor so flexible across the rev-range in the R15. The smooth-shifting six-speed gearbox is also shared, although the MT gets shortened final gearing courtesy four more teeth on the rear sprocket, ensuring quick off-the-line acceleration and better rideability at lower revs.
One chassis component that the MT-15 misses out on is the carefully crafted cast aluminium swingarm that its sportier sibling is endowed with. In its place is a box-section unit that obviously works to keep costs down, while adding 10 mm to the wheelbase. The MT-15 also doesn’t get dual channel ABS like the R15, and makes do with this important safety feature at just the front wheel.
By the time I was out of the city the skies had darkened and the rain was coming down, but I was enjoying the little MT too much to care. The bike felt extremely stable and planted, even on the rainsoaked roads, and the sporty chassis geometry worked well to exploit the available grip from the MRF hoops. The tyres authoritatively bit into the wet tarmac and, much to my amazement, provided enough grip to wheelie or stoppie on demand. As a result, I consistently felt a strong connect to the road’s surface, even in those low-traction conditions, and this gave me the confidence to ride faster, brake harder, and rail through corners without fear.
Suspension duties are managed by a conventional telescopic fork and linkage-mounted monoshock, mirroring the equipment on the R15 V3. In international markets, both these bikes get a beefy USD fork that adds a considerable amount of visual muscle to the front end but, here in India, costcutting measures mean that we have to make do with this run-of-the-mill front suspension.
This is a stylish, well-built streetfighter with a punchy engine and great riding dynamics
this notwithstanding, the Mt-15 still manages to be an able corner-carver and is ever-ready to quickly change direction.
When i rode this bike at the racetrack earlier this year, the effortless manner with which it dispatched chicanes definitely stood out, and this nimble character translates into great fun through a set of tight twisties.
Braking duties are taken care of by a single 282-mm disc at the front, supplemented by a 220-mm disc at the rear. this is the same set-up as on the r15 V3 and, although i felt the anchors could have performed better when subjected to the rigours of the racetrack, they did a reliable job of shedding speed when called upon on the street.
Yamaha have priced the Mt-15 at rs 1.36 lakh (exshowroom), which is just three grand short of the r15 V3.0. At first sight, this might seem fair, considering that under the skin these are practically the same motorcycle, but when you consider the lack of dual-channel ABs, the box-section swing-arm and the fact that faired motorcycles still demand a considerable premium over naked bikes in our market, the Mt-15 does seem a tad overpriced. We also feel that this bike would have been better received with the more attractive colourways and neon wheels available in southeast Asia, but i guess that may have further driven costs up.
Ultimately, this is a stylish, well-built streetfighter with a punchy engine and great riding dynamics. it is equally at home in the urban jungle or hitting the twisties, and the sharp design is great for a bit of street cred — although it may not appeal to all.
if you are in the market for an entry-level sporty naked that looks like nothing else in the segment, you owe yourself a test-ride on the Yamaha Mt-15.