Undoubtedly, the most popular motorcycle segment in Malaysia is the underbone segment. From the humble Honda EX5 to the Sym VF3i, the choices are numerous and confusing at times.
But on the top of the pile are the sports underbones, the ones competing in the fiery hot furnace of CubPrix racing. In line with their bigger counterparts, the World Superbike Championships, the motto in CubPrix is; “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday”.
The past two seasons in CubPrix had been won by the Yamaha Y15ZR despite fierce competition. The CP150 category is the premier category and hotly contested by full works teams and privateers alike. The Y15ZR is the hot ticket at the moment and this has translated to superb sales figures for Hong Leong Yamaha Motors.
In fact, so popular is the Y15ZR that it has garneredacult following, with political campaigns built on the back ofthe tiny underbone. This year, the Y15ZR has been given a facelift and several updates, and thus subsequently dubbed ‘V2’ or ‘version 2’ of the Y15ZR.
The street name for the beloved Y15ZR is ‘Y-suku’, roughly translated as “quarterY” which is a bit odd as it isn’t a 250cc bike (which the quarter would suggest). But you can never understand why these nicknames come up or where they originated from.
What is known is that the engine is a fuel-injected SOHC water-cooled fourstroke 150cc single producing 11.3kW @8,500rpm and 13.8Nm of torque @7,000 rpm. The soft rev limiter kicks in just past 10,000rpm and feels unburstable.
Five speeds reside in the gearbox which is a particular letdown for the Ysuku crowd who expected an extra cog in the new revision.
The chassis remains the same; a dual backbone type steel chassis with telescopic forks and monoshock rear suspension.Overall weight is just 115kg and the seat height is manageable for all. The well proven chassis is very light steering (toafault) but has been calmed down somewhat by a larger fronttyre; a 90/80 x 17 as opposed to the 70/90x17 fitted to the V1.
The front forks have also been modified to accommodate the new front mudguard. The forks are non-adjustable but the rear monoshock retains its pre-load adjustment.
The rear tyre is the same 120/70 x 17 as does the fuel tank capacity, 4.2 litres. Brakes also remain the same as the V1, single piston sliding calipers front and rear. The relatively calmer steering is very reassuring at speed and in the corners. Handling at top speed is stable and confident despite the Y15ZR’s nimbleness.
Styling-wise, the V2 is slightly updated in the headlamp cowling. The new LED headlamp has two low beams and a single high beam and freshens up the look considerably.
The new switchgear (no longer integrated into the cowling) also features a kill and a hazard switches which were
absent in the V1.
The big news is the new LCD meter panel. The flat screen now emulates the latest bigger capacity Yamahas and is subsequently more attractive and has clearer graphics. The usual idiot lights and information display is the same as the V1 with one exception, a clock. These small updates bring the Y15ZR into the realm of bigger capacity motorcycles. The logical next step would be rider aids such as ABS and traction control.
In daily use, the Y-suku excels at everything. It beats everything from the traffic light Grand Prix we call Kuala Lumpur, and keeps ahead of other traffics easily, unlike if you were riding a standard cubchai. Naturally, the nimble Y-suku also eats up traffic snarls and the suspension is perfect for the potholed and man-holed roads of the city. The light clutch and responsive throttle match the twinkle-toed Y-suku perfectly. And the bigger front tyre allows longer and faster curves to be manoeuvred with confidence.
Out of the traffic jams and onto the highway, the Y-suku still holds its own. A top whack of 138km/h (indicated) allows it to cruise easily slightly above the national limit without a fuss. Longer trips would test your posterior (the seat is a bit thin and firm) but otherwise, the Y-suku would still be a willing partner.
There is little doubt why the Y15ZR is a champion on the track and on the street. While the shadow of Valentino Rossi looms large, the fact is that the Y15ZR is a perfect firecracker of an underbone, combining great styling with handling and performance. The aftermarket is awash with upgrades and accessories for the Y15ZR and this adds to the saleability of the model.
The retail price for the Y-suku is RM8,168.00 without road tax and insurance. As usual, you can’t get hold of one without paying a premium or waiting a couple of months. The new colours available are striking cyan, blazing red, storm blue and dynamic grey.