Yamaha has taken wraps off the fully-faired touring version of the FZ25, christened as Fazer 25. However, a customer walking into a Yamaha showroom can also pick up the YZF-R15 on a similar budget. We take a glimpse at what these two motorcycles have to offer, and how they stack up against each other.
Back in 2008, Yamaha underwent an image makeover, turning its focus towards the youth. Among the new products that were launched as a part of this makeover was the YZF-R15. At a time when the most expensive 150cc motorcycle was priced below Rs 1 lakh, the YZF-R15 retailed at Rs 1.14 lakhs. Despite this price tag, it took the market by storm, its claim to fame being the YZF-R1-inspired styling, state-of-the-art technologies and unmatched riding dynamics.
The R15 is a sport bike designed to offer mind-bending riding dynamics. The FZ25 on the other hand, has been pegged as a commuter motorcycle which can also take care of your touring needs. Both are fully-faired, though the R15 with its R1-inspired styling looks more desirable. The Fazer 25’s styling might not appeal to everyone’s taste. The riding position of the R15, true to its sport bike character, is aggressive and forward-biased thanks to the rear set foot pegs and low clip-on handlebars. The Fazer 25 on the other hand, gets an upright seating position to make it comfortable during commutes and long hauls.
At the heart of the R15 is a 149cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine, delivering 16.4bhp and 15Nm of torque. The Fazer 25 gets a larger 249cc single-cylinder engine, with heat dissipation being taken care of by fins and an oil-cooler. While the Fazer 25 is comparatively more powerful, at 20.6bhp and 20Nm of torque, it has to make do with a five-speed transmission as opposed to the six-speed unit on the R15.
When it comes to technology, the Fazer 25 features an LED headlamp with LED position lamps and an electronic display with trip computer. These are again creature comforts aimed at improving the touring quotient of the motorcycle. The R15 is built around a deltabox perimeter frame and features an aluminium swingarm. It also gets an electronic display for the instrument console.
Yamaha sells two variants of the R15 – the R15 Version 2.0 and R15S, both of which carry similar specs and underpinnings. The only point of differentiation is the rear seat. While R15S gets a single-piece seat, the R15 Version 2.0 gets a split setup, with a raised pillion seat. The R15S is priced at Rs 1.15 lakhs while the R15 Version 2.0 retails at Rs 1.18 lakhs. The Fazer 25 is relatively more expensive at Rs 1.28 lakhs. All prices are ex-showroom.
