Nick Farnando
09-22-2009, 05:46 AM
On engine alone this is the motorcycle to be on. You must like revs, though. And if you do, the liquid cooling keeps engine stresses low and noise even lower. A speed of 100kmph (at 6000rpm) feels quiet and stress-free, and overtakes even at this speed are completed with such ease that the R15 is a pleasure to ride on the highway. So much so that I caught myself repeatedly in fifth instead of sixth, not having noticed that there was another gear to slot into. But the make or break point are the ergos. The thing is, the R15 has to be ridden fast to remain enjoyable after a few hours in the saddle. And this requires fast company. Tootle along and things will hurt a bit eventually.
5293
Buzz along and it works itself out. But sticky tyres, superb handling are both huge assets and even in the wet, this is the motorcycle that set the pace benchmark and surpris¬ingly even over some of the more broken stretches. Going flat-out on the R15 is pure pleasure; no other motorcycle here feels quite as happy at full stick as the R15. Best bike here? Unlikely as it sounds, it might just be. But then Bert sug¬gested, "Just imagine how great it would be if Yamaha could make the Fazer with this engine!" Now that, would be absolutely great.
5293
Buzz along and it works itself out. But sticky tyres, superb handling are both huge assets and even in the wet, this is the motorcycle that set the pace benchmark and surpris¬ingly even over some of the more broken stretches. Going flat-out on the R15 is pure pleasure; no other motorcycle here feels quite as happy at full stick as the R15. Best bike here? Unlikely as it sounds, it might just be. But then Bert sug¬gested, "Just imagine how great it would be if Yamaha could make the Fazer with this engine!" Now that, would be absolutely great.