Bought a new bike; some questions and some experience sharing I bought a new Yamaha R15 v3 ABS about a week back. I have a question or two and want to share some experience too for the benefit of others who could have similar journey some time. Background I come from Royal Enfield Bullet 350 1962 model as my first bike including learning to ride a motorbike, and then Continental GT 535 for past 4.5 years additionally. I have anotherbthread in this forum on my journey to choosing the R15. Now I completed the mandated break in process for my first 1000 kms, strictly going by the book, the day before yesterday I had the bike first service done yesterday (due to visitors from Canada in office I may not be able to do any ride in coming week!). The service dealer was astonished that I had already completed 1000 kms in less than a week (6 days to be precise including a 280 kms ride on the last day). He was surprised at my passion for bikes when he learned that I took out the bike for a 100+ kms spin every single day after office since day time till 8 or 9 pm was usually busy.
Anyway, here are some observations on the v3 ABS version so far (will try to add more later as I ride more). Observations
1. Thr bike is quite tall. Missed this point when I concluded on this one as my choice. Incidentally among my priorities was to get a short, easy to ride bike.
2. Very lightweight. Although it is only 25 kgs lighter than my Continental GT, it feels very very light.
3. Extremely easy to ride. Despite that very tall build, and me being a short guy at 5’4”, I find it extremely easy to ride. No sweat!
4. Bike handling is DAMN good even in those very rare (twice or so) situations when I was able hit the 100 kmph mark! Both in the high speed situations, and high brake moments or when handling curves, the bike offers IMMENSE confidence in handling. This is truly it’s main hallmark of what I had experienced so far.
5. Brakes are quite good although did not offer that confidence I had with the Brembo brakes in the Continental GT. They do stop extremely well and confidently.
6. ABS kicks in a little early. Once with my rear brake and another time with the front one. Both the situations were not those panicky situations but yes some quick braking indeed. Before I realised if it indeed was the ABS effect, in a split second the ABS feel was gone. And I am happy that it kicks in a little sooner than later. Glad that I paid extra and got the ABS version.
6. ONLY GRUNT Sure I was, frustrated that it wa so difficult to hit a ton (100 kmph) on this new bike. On the CGT it was so easy to get to 100 I barely managed twice to hit the magic mark. During the first 500 kms ride due to restrictions of break in period, it wouldn’t hit ton. I was okay with that. But during the second part of the 1000 kms break in, when I was allowed to rev up to 7,500 RPM, it still wouldn’t pass the hundred, even if I held the throttle there for a while. It was only during my last section of return on the 280 km ride did I notice that the bike expects me to use 6th gear only for cruising and not for any acceleration. The 5th gear does put me past the 100 mark if was going to be in the VVA (Variable Valve Actuation) zone of 7,400+ RPM. Regardjess of me being allowed to cross 7,500 RPM after first service, I felt the engine was already on high rev to go even further. This way I can never cruise at 100+ kmph during long drives. I am not a fast rider by any means. But I don’t like riding at lower than 90 kmph. The service guy tells me after the second (that’s another 3000 kms) service, the bike will easily touch 100. So far I thought only the first service was important to bring the bike to full potential. Apparently not, if he is right.
7. Thanks to that wonderful YouTube share by a BHPian which so wonderfully explains torque vs horsepower, I now realise I have a tough time with steep learning curve ahead. Perhaps the Royal Enfield’s all along have taught me riding a high torque bike with very low RPM of 2,000-3000 RPM, while the R15 v3 is expecting me ride at above 9,000 RPM (the lowest custom setting for shift change indicator light to come up as an alert), and a maximum of 13,000 RPM. Even adter staying around 6,000 RPM during the last ride, fingers of my both hands are still numb from the ride even after one full day! (Whoever said Royal Enfield bikes were high vibrating should try this very high revving bike!). I am not sure at this time if I will ever be comfortable to push the RPM so high as 10,000 just to change a gear. QUESTIONS
1. Will the second service really make a difference that the first one wouldn’t and I need to wait further (to complete 4000 kms ODO)?
2. Should I never expect to CRUISE at 100 kmph? Will it always be either accelerating or decelerating only on this bike? All the time? |