The Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0 Monster Energy MotoGP edition is mechanically the same to the standard R15 V3.0 but sports new decals and 2019 GP colors.
There’s something quite exciting coming up from Yamaha – a Monster Energy MotoGP edition of the YZF-R15 V3.0 – that will be launched within the next two months. It will most likely look similar to the R125 MotoGP edition that recently made its debut in the United Kingdom.
This is not the first time that Yamaha has launched a MotoGP version of the R15 V3.0. Even the last year’s model got a limited-run Moto GP edition back in August, 2018. While most of the motorcycle remains the same, the MotoGP branding has changed with Monster Energy becoming the title sponsor for the Yamaha MotoGP team. Also, the Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0 Monster Energy MotoGP edition will be available in the latest 2019 GP colours.
The new bike will have Monster Energy graphics and a lot more black than blue on the bodywork. In fact, it will look a lot similar to the UK-spec R125 and MotoGP bikes of Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales.
There are some things the India spec bike will miss out on though – like most of the sponsor decals seen on the GP race bike, except the lead sponsor (Monster Energy) and Eneos, and even USD forks and Y-spoke alloy wheels like the bike gets internationally. Instead, the India spec bike will continue with the conventional fork and the differently-styled wheels that the India-spec R16 V3.0 normally gets.
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Mechanically, the Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0 Monster Energy MotoGP edition will continue to be powered by the same 155cc, SOHC, four-valve, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine which produces 19.3hp and 15Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox and the engine also features Variable Valve Actuation(VVA) and a slipper clutch.
The 2018 MotoGP edition of the R15 V3.0 was sold at a premium of Rs 3,000 over the standard model. For the 2019 model, we can expect a similar hike as well. The standard R15 V3.0 is sold at Rs. 1.39 lakhs and so the MotoGP edition will likely be priced something around Rs. 1.42 lakhs (all prices, ex-showroom Delhi)
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However there’s a catch. Last year, Yamaha kept the MotoGP edition of the R15 V3.0 to only a limited run of 5,000 units and they got sold out pretty quickly. What remains to be seen is whether Yamaha again keeps the new bike as a limited run model or for a limited time period.
