[ram_hyundai]

Guys,

Just ended my search for a 2 wheeler on 24rth of Jan.

Just going back 3 months wherein i had started thinking again on 2 wheelers and this feeling started growing in me that i had to go for a new generation bike.The fact that i had not ridden a bike since almost 7 years started to make me feel a bit scared too.The last bike of my ownership being an RX 100 i had to go for the sporty one with proper stance.

In the wake of this thought, ruled out all the bikes of the likes of pulsars.The three if not four contenders were Honda 250,ninja 250,R15 and last the duke 200.

Honda was ruled out due to the blank look as well as the quality of the plastics for a bike which was carrying a lot of expectations on its shoulders as it was a HONDA.It had a huge waiting period of 4 months too.
Ninja was a great one but the waiting period and to a certain extend the price pulled me back as it was pitched against the Honda 250 regarding the price.

Duke 200 had a similarity to the FZ and naked bike was not my choice for the time being.Figures were always swaying in Dukes favor but some how looks were also important to me.

Then i decided on the R15,maybe a little of the YAM within me was pulling me towards him.It had great looks and great riding stance.Good finish and fit.The tough part was now to decide on the color.I ruled out the blue black and the black as i wanted a little red in it.The only initial option was the red and white one which was great.

My decision was made and the hunt to get him fast started off.All dealers were quoting a waiting period of 4 months (Not again).I got in touch with all my contacts and there you go -ready delivery of the color of your choice.Then came the news of the ltd edition-white and red as well as a red one.The red was ruled out due to the flame stickering(horrible one in IMHO).In the pics on net i did not like the ltd white and red but i kept that as a choice with the dealer.

Made full payment and the wait started off as HE was in transit.

On FEB 24rth i was on my way to office and a phone came to me as to reach home immediately.i dint know why and i had to leave office after finishing my morning meeting at sharp 10 AM from trivandrum.Took a BUS to alleppey and on the way i found that the immediate presence of me at home was due to the arrival of the truck in transit.

I called up the dealer and asked them to put up the fees for temp registration and as soon as i reach there i will select the bike.I promised to reach by 2 PM in the afternoon.I reached there by 1:30 PM and took an auto to the dealer.I went straight to the yard and fond the R15's lined up separately.The senior manager was also with me and it took hardly a minute to decide on the color.The normal red and white one seemed to be a different bike in front of the limited edition red and white.So,There goes my red and white R15 for the PDI checking.

The whole process of selection was complete by 1:45 and he was taken in for the PDI.Now i had my LS II and the Glove tightly held in my hands and wondering how it would be.I had not ridden a bike with disc brakes till date.I am not familiar with the riding position.Will i develope a back ache after Long drives? All these thoughts started to conquer me while i was waiting in the customer lounge.Then i saw the delivery papers being readied.So started to the table were it was done and grabbed the owners manual,Short and simple that was all about it.Had a good idea(theories) about the R15.Time was closing in on the 3PM mark,scheduled delivery time.
By 2:50 he was ready in the bay.Took him with whole lot of prayers and anxiety and decided to go to the petrol pump to top him.The short 3 Km drive was enough for me to get in terms with the position and stance R15 is all about.Came back to the dealership and by 6:30 all papers were given to me and the journey to our family temple began.It was 85 Km from alleppey.The manual had specified that the bike has to be stopped every hour and do not rev beyond 4000 rpm.I had 2 stops in between and reached the temple.After the short time spend there i started the trip back to home at kayamkulam-another 45 kms.Now it was a full Night drive and enjoyed the lights and horn.Reached home by 10Pm and was in bed by 10:30 as i had to start off by 5:30 AM back to TVM.

I started off at 5:45 AM and took the first stop Near kollam almost 45 Kms from home.Then i decided to have a snap and alas my first pic of him.Reached TVM by 9:30 after 3 stops and reached my TVM home.Changed to formals and back to office.Could not wait till 7PM to get hold of him again.Almost a week of ownership and now the ODO reads 340kms.

In the whole of the 340 kms done till date i had no issues of back aches or shoulder pains due to the body weight transfer to the front of the bike,thanks to the posture.

Impression and observations.

I had already told on the looks part and initial impressions.When i first sat in the riders seat the feeling of snug fit was pronounced.We are actually falling right into the seating area.
The 3 piece handle was well placed and the switch gear was also a welcome considering the poor quality switch gear in the Honda 250.The left side consisted of the Pass switch along with the turn indicators as well as the bright and dim switch of head lights.The right side had the engine kill switch as well as the 3 positioned head lamp switch.While in park position 2 tiny lights illuminates along with the back light for the displays.When put in the low beam position one of the head lamp gets on and both gets on when in the high beam position.
There is a rear storage space-if you can call that one just enough for the first aid kit and the tool kit which opens after we unlock the space using the same ignition key.The rear seats are set very high and i promise i wont be having a pillion rider with me.
The most useful of the lot for the rider is the ODO telling you how much Kms you have run after you have touched the 1.9 lts of fuel reserve.Just the reverse calculation of how much you can run before the fuel exhausts.

Ride and handling

It was almost 7 years now that i had ridden a bike and maybe that has helped me too.The conventional positions for the gear lever as well as the brakes was erased from my mind and i got along with him easily.Initially i had him upright and was not to attempt any moves as i had to get familiar with the brakes.Front and rear brakes were a little too strong.Throttle control was a comfortable.

After my reaching trivandrum from alleppey and almost 380 kms i decided to take him to certain level of Chassis twisting exercise.But i had my limitation in speed and RPM.So it was all slow speed action.To my amazement and surprise i never imagined this one to handle so beautifully.It is almost like point him and shoot.Throttle control has paramount importance coupled with the usage of both brakes.I had many instances were the R15 had given me surprises with unbelievable handling.

The you-tube video that JK das had posted in the thread amazing handling of an SBK surely influences all bikeres and now i am exploring him at low speeds rather than blasting along at very high speeds which is not that safe either.

To add a little about the gearbox and the engine sync.Very nice 6 speed box and lots of initial torque to hold him right at 42 kph @6th gear.From there it sweeps the rpm meter to 5000 rpm(limit as of now)@73kmph and beyond after my service is over at 1000 kms.So below 42 kph any touch on the brakes demands a down shift of 2 gears.If the touch on brakes is a little long then down shift would be 3 or more.But one thing which i noticed was that when it was the RX 100 i was eager to put him into 4rth gear and then blast(maybe the exhaust note was a little too tempting).Here i am enjoying shifting through gears in the city traffic and point and shoot is the game.

Regarding the engine-It was very smooth in the beginning and the exhaust was a tiny blurb.Almost 250 kms down line engine was not as smooth.And now after an intermediate oil change he is too smooth and the exhaust is a bit louder too.Maybe the initial Carbon deposits are doing the trick.

Now the odo is saying it is at 430kms.Another 320 kms for my rpm limiter to open up to 7500 rpm.Anxiously waiting for it to happen.

Will have more pictures soon.The first one is the first snap of him and the second one is a casual shot near my office en route to TVM from home.Third one is taken when i reached 500 kms.Fourth one is the shot of the ODO telling me that i have covered 5.8 kms after i had touched the reserve limit of 1.9 lts.

[lionell]

That's great and congratulations.

Since you mentioned the pictures you saw weren't convincing, we are looking forward to you shooting some pictures that would actually make it look good.

Godspeed!

[jkdas]

Congrats ! Hope you were able to ride more. Will catch up sometime next week or so.

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Motorbikes section. Thanks for sharing!

[khoj]

Congratulations Ram. It is indeed a magnificent beast, that first snap has me inspired enough to get a bike for myself and start riding again.

[Sheel]

Hi!

Can you post better pictures, please?

Please do not limit the revs, take it till 9,000 revs, but quickly lower it. What I mean is if on a highway & cruising, go to 7,000 revs in 6th (translates to approx 100kmph) and then go around 6,000 revs (5,000 is too low).

In city confines, accelerate (not hard & don't red-line) and you can go all the way to 9,000 revs again and then up-shift.

Modern engines are built such that babying it isn't much worth IMHO. On all the bikes I have run-in, I have never stuck at particular rpm & let the ring & piston move up & down.

Karizma - Did 600kms in the very 2nd itself, running-in over Took it close to 8,000 revs again.

R15 - Didn't baby it. Crossed 100kmph on couple of occasions, but never red-lined it.

CBR-250R - Crossed 100kph once under 50kms. Wished to check if there are any problems in the revs. Couldn't hold myself and took it close to 9,000 revs within 500 and by the time I dusted 1,500kms, I just had to red-line it. The crowd too disperses fast *wink*

[bluenicotine]

Congrats Ram. Have fun with your new bike and ride safe. Hope you are investing in a good set of riding gear too.

[ram_hyundai]

@sheel,I was tempted more than often,but the manual says so.Holding my breath till week end.Done 100kms in city yesterday as it was a holiday for us here.

Regarding gear -I have got an LS2 ff358 supra red and black,bro bought them from bangalore and gloves-DSG red and black.I am waiting for a number reservation which would happen tommorow,46 of course and i am searching for the on line shopping site to bye our dear little rossi 46 ridding gears.

Saw a ridding session at kari speed way to be run on march 24rth and25th.I dont think i would run in him by that time.miss it dearly.I have bought him for only sunday use,so that i would be relieved of every thing else for the time spend on him.

Will post good pics soon as i am preparing for a TVM meet and maybe i would get the help of the likes of MANSIDEA who helped me in getting our maestro Rudra to do wonders to my verna pics.

Waiting eagerly ,
ram

[sriramv.iyer]

R15 is truly a bundle of joy. I have come literally with a smile plastered on my face that my mom used to ask - 'What happened?' - She could not fathom that a bike could make one grin ear to ear.

I wish you many miles of happiness on the new R15. It is one of the BEST handlers in town (life saver!). After run in, keep revvs high, and have fun!

[ram_hyundai]

Hey sriram,You have said it and thanks for the wishes.Today i have to do another 100 kms so that i will cross 600 kms.Yesterday i saw an R15 fitted with two exhaust and a little bit inclined towards the rear brake light.Was sounding nice.Anyone here can help me with exhausts which can be fitted to R15.
Have reserved the number for him.KL-01-BF-400.Reminds me of the verna,KL-01-AP-400.

ram

[sriramv.iyer]

Originally Posted by ram_hyundai

Hey sriram,You have said it and thanks for the wishes.Today i have to do another 100 kms so that i will cross 600 kms.Yesterday i saw an R15 fitted with two exhaust and a little bit inclined towards the rear brake light.Was sounding nice.Anyone here can help me with exhausts which can be fitted to R15.

I got a performance exhaust from Joel - Sounds very nice

But, my honest suggestion - Keep the bike stock as long as possible!

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Wow! Thats a beautiful bike! Never knew such a colour combination was available for R15. Makes it an even better looker!

Did you ride from Alleppey to Trivandrum on a brand new bike?

Number reminds you of the Verna? So did you sell the Verna?

[ram_hyundai]

Yes crazy ,sold her almost 8 months back.It is a limitted edition of the version 2 R15.Yes all the way from alleppey to TVM.Now it is 590 kms on the ODO.Mostly i will get the registration done today.There are signs of rain so every chance that i postpone the registration part.

[n_aditya]

Looks great Ram. The R15 does look amazing in this two tone shade of white and red. The V2.0 especially looks hot due to the R6ish rear profile.

Once she has run in well, do try and attend the indiMotard's TWO track school. You will learn and unlearn a lot of techniques that will help you enjoy sportbiking to a greater level (while also doing so safely) and it will also improve your riding skills on the street as well.

The R15 especially is a scorcher on the track. A good friend of mine has the R15 and the Ninja and his R15 has seen a lot more track time than the ninja. Its light, flickable and very easy to carve corners and of course, cheaper than a ninja to fix if something breaks.

So once again, congrats and wishing you many years of happy and safe rides.

[ram_hyundai]

Yes aditya,i saw the news on the indimotards 2 day school also.Would be joining in some day.In my few days of ownership its an amazing handler.Each day the adiction of riding him is growing as we get to know better.

ram