Yamaha R15 M may be discontinued in India to make room for the new R2
Yamaha's costliest R15 variant could be dropped soon, dealer sources say, though the company has made no official announcement.
The Yamaha R15 M, the most expensive variant in the R15 lineup, may soon be discontinued in the Indian market. The company has not yet made any official announcement. According to dealer sources, the decision could be taken to make room in the lineup for the new Yamaha R2.
The ex-showroom price of the R15 M is currently between Rs 1.90 lakh and Rs 2.01 lakh. Some dealerships are still taking bookings for the bike to clear the limited remaining stock. The R15 M is also still listed for online orders on the company's official website, so customers may be able to buy it until stock runs out.
The Yamaha R15 is currently sold in India in three main variants: S, V4 and M. The R15 S costs Rs 1.59 lakh and does not get a quickshifter. The R15 V4 is priced between Rs 1.75 lakh and Rs 1.80 lakh, and some of its variants offer a quickshifter as an option. Even if the R15 M is discontinued, the R15 S and V4 are likely to stay in the lineup.
The price gap is seen as important in the decision. The Yamaha R2 was recently launched in India at Rs 2.30 lakh to Rs 2.53 lakh. That leaves a difference of only Rs 29,000 between the top variant of the R15 M and the base variant of the R2. With such a narrow gap, customer demand could be split between two fully faired bikes from the same company. This could be an important reason for removing the R15 M.
The R2 offers sportsbike-grade technology. It gets 17-inch wheels, traction control, assist and slipper clutch, Yamaha Ride Control, Street, Sport and Rain riding modes, 37 mm USD front forks and dual-channel ABS. The mid and top variants also have a Bi-Directional Quick Shifter.
The R2 is powered by a 204cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine that produces 26.1 bhp of power and 19.1 Nm of torque. The bike has a kerb weight of 149 kg. If the R15 M is discontinued, the R2 is likely to get greater prominence in Yamaha's sportsbike lineup.
