In a market flooded with budget-friendly bikes and new-age tech, only a few motorcycles truly carve a legacy—and the Yamaha R15 V4 is one of them. Since its first generation, the R15 has been a dream bike for college students, young riders, and city commuters who crave performance without stepping into the premium superbike category.
Now in its fourth generation, the Yamaha R15 V4 doesn’t just look sharper—it’s smarter, faster, and safer. But does this latest version justify its growing price tag? Can it still dominate the 150cc segment despite rising competition? Let’s break down its performance, design, features, and overall value to find out.
Design Inspired by the Track
The R15 V4 carries forward Yamaha’s “Born of the R-Series” design language, heavily inspired by the elder YZF-R1. The aggressive front fascia features twin LED DRLs and a central projector headlamp, giving it a full-fledged superbike appearance. The aerodynamic fairing and sculpted fuel tank enhance airflow and give the rider a race-bred posture.
Its premium look is further elevated by metallic paint finishes, stylish split seats, and a sharp tail section with LED lighting. Even while standing still, the R15 V4 commands attention.
Engine and Performance: Small Displacement, Big Thrill
At the heart of the Yamaha R15 V4 is a 155cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that produces 18.4 PS of power at 10,000 RPM and 14.2 Nm of torque at 7,500 RPM. Yamaha’s signature Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) ensures smooth power delivery across different RPMs, giving both low-end grunt and top-end thrill.
The 6-speed transmission, paired with an assist and slipper clutch, allows for smoother gear changes, especially under aggressive downshifting. Whether you’re navigating through traffic or hitting triple-digit speeds on the highway, the R15 V4 performs effortlessly.
Ride Quality and Handling: Built to Lean
The Deltabox frame is one of the R15’s biggest strengths, providing superior rigidity and stability even at high lean angles. It’s paired with USD front forks and a monoshock rear suspension, tuned to offer confidence-inspiring handling.
With a kerb weight of just 141 kg, the R15 V4 feels light on its feet and extremely flickable around corners. Whether you’re tackling winding roads or quick city maneuvers, this bike never feels out of place.
Safety & Braking: Confidence at High Speeds
Yamaha has equipped the R15 V4 with dual-channel ABS as standard, offering superior braking control in emergency situations. The 282mm front and 220mm rear disc brakes deliver strong and progressive bite.
What further boosts rider safety is the Traction Control System (TCS), which prevents rear wheel slippage—especially helpful during wet road conditions or sudden throttle inputs. A quickshifter is also available on select variants, allowing for clutchless upshifts—another segment-first feature.
Instrument Cluster and Features: A Digital Powerhouse
The R15 V4 comes with a fully digital LCD instrument cluster that displays gear position, RPM, speed, trip data, fuel efficiency, and even a lap timer. Riders can switch between Street and Track display modes, depending on their riding style.
For added convenience, the system supports Bluetooth connectivity via Yamaha’s Y-Connect app, offering call and SMS alerts, phone battery status, and last parked location on your smartphone.
These advanced features make the R15 V4 one of the most technologically packed bikes in its category.
Comfort and Ergonomics: Sporty Yet Usable
Despite being a sports bike, Yamaha has managed to maintain a comfortable riding triangle on the R15 V4. The slightly forward-leaning stance provides a sporty feel but doesn’t strain the wrists excessively, making it suitable for daily commutes as well.
The seat height of 815mm strikes a balance accessible for average-height riders while maintaining enough ground clearance for Indian roads. Pillion comfort, however, is limited due to the split seat design, which is typical in this category.
Mileage and Fuel Efficiency: Sporty Yet Efficient
One of the biggest advantages of the R15 V4 is that it delivers fuel efficiency figures between 40–45 kmpl, depending on riding conditions. This makes it a rare combination of performance and economy perfect for Indian youth who want style and speed without burning a hole in their pocket.
The 11-liter fuel tank ensures decent range for both daily use and weekend getaways.
Variants and Price in India
The Yamaha R15 V4 is available in multiple variants:
- Standard R15 V4
- R15 V4 with Quickshifter
- R15M (MotoGP Edition)
As of May 2025, the ex-showroom prices range from ₹1.82 lakh to ₹1.87 lakh, depending on the variant and color. While the price may seem on the higher side for a 150cc motorcycle, the premium features, performance, and brand reliability justify the cost.
Should You Buy Yamaha R15 V4 in 2025
If you’re a rider who wants track-ready looks, cutting-edge features, refined performance, and excellent handling in a compact engine size, the Yamaha R15 V4 is still the undisputed king of 150cc sports bikes.
No other bike in this segment offers such a holistic package VVA technology, traction control, quickshifter, Bluetooth, and racing ergonomics, all rolled into one head-turning machine.
Whether you’re a college student, a new rider, or someone looking for a reliable weekend thrill machine, the R15 V4 ticks all the right boxes.
