Yamaha YZF-R2M Review: Step (up) in the right direction

The internet has expressed considerable concern in the month following the launch of the new R2, that it has lost some of the key elements that made the R15 such a standout. While I agree that the lack of the deltabox frame and the removal of the variable valve timing system, don’t make for great viewing on a spec sheet, they also don’t dictate what makes for a great riding experience. Yamaha recently gave us a brief chance to experience the R2 on the Madras International Circuit and, I’m happy to confirm that that authentic Yamaha R experience is still very much intact.

Yamaha R2 Riding position and Seat height – 8/10

Slightly more accessible than the R15

Specifications	Values
Seat height	810 mm
Adjustable seat height	No
Wheelbase	1340 mm
Ground Clearance	170 mm

The familiar Yamaha feeling set in from the moment we swung a leg over the bike. The ergos have been tweaked very slightly, but the overall riding position is still very similar to the R15. The biggest difference for me was that the tank looks and feels bigger. Shorter riders will be pleased that the seat height has been reduced from 815mm to 810mm, but tall riders won’t feel horribly hemmed in either. I’m 6’1” and while I certainly won’t call it spacious, there was just enough room for me to get into a full race crouch.

In the pitlane, the engine felt very similar with a soft response at the accelerator at low revs. The bike now has ride-by-wire which has unlocked three riding modes as well as a custom mode where accelerator response and TC level (3 levels) can be set. Given that we had just 15 minutes of track time, I left it in Sport mode and had no issues – throttle response was smooth and predictable and TC didn’t get intrusive in the short time we had.

Yamaha R2 Engine and Performance – 9/10

Surprisingly refined high-end!

Specifications	Values
Engine Displacement	204 cc
Cooling	Liquid Cooled
Engine Type	1 cylinder
Max Engine Power	26.5 PS @ 10000 rpm
Max Engine Torque	19.1 Nm @ 8000 rpm
Number of Gears	6

While there’s no VVA, this new 204cc single-cylinder DOHC engine still loves to rev and it still has an exciting “switch on” moment at around 7,000rpm. From what I could tell on the cool down lap, the engine is tractable, but the bottom end does feel quite weak. With the throttle wide open, the engine starts to pull at around 6,000rpm and really picks up once the digital needle on the 5-inch TFT display crosses the 7,000rpm mark. The segment leading 26.5hp peak power figure comes in at 10,000rpm, but the engine spins up all the way to 11,000rpm.

Performance is a big step ahead of the R15 and I’m quite sure this will be quicker than its 200cc rivals while potentially being quicker than a few 250s as well. I saw just over 140kph on the track in 6th gear and top speed should be somewhere between 155-160kph on the display. This performance edge is fair to expect given that the R2 weighs a good deal less than its rivals (more on that later), but what was a surprise was the high rpm refinement.

You start to feel a buzz at around 7,000rpm and this becomes very noticeable in the bars, fuel tank and footpegs at the upper-most reaches of the rev band. We’re keen to observe how this translates to the road riding experience, especially since it was never a concern on the R15.

Yamaha R2 Chassis and Handling – 9/10

(Almost) nothing has changed

Specifications	Values
Chassis type	Backbone frame, High-tensile steel
Front Suspension Type	Telescopic Upside Down Fork (USD Fork), 37.0 mm
Front Suspension Adjustability	Yes
Rear Suspension Type	Linked-Type Monocross Suspension
Rear Suspension Adjustability	Yes

Handling wise, I’m pleased to report that this is a very capable, light, agile and sweetnatured sportbike, much like its younger sibling. While Yamaha does call this new chassis a tubular diamond frame, it’s nothing like what you’ll find on a commuter motorcycle and is a comprehensive thing with almost trellis-like reinforcing members along the side. Perhaps a professional racer might be able to tell any stiffness differences to the Deltabox in the R15, but as far as I’m concerned, this is a fabulous handler and is exactly what I’d expect from a small Yamaha sportbike.

Weighing in at 149kg (150kg for the M we were riding) the R2 still feels like a delightful light and flickable motorcycle, but you will notice the 9kg difference to an R15 when ridden back to back, particularly at a GoKart track. Just like an R15, it never feels nervous or skittish and you can trust the bike to respond as expected.

Rider performing a left lean on the Yamaha R2.

Yamaha R2 Tyres and brakes – 7/10

Need better feedback

Specifications	Values
Front Tyre Size	100/80-17 M/C 52S
Rear Tyre Size	140/70R17 M/C 66H
Front Disc/Drum Size	282 mm
Rear Disc/Drum Size	220 mm

Where the trust factor can improve is in the tyres. The R2 uses the same MRF tyres as the R15 and while they were adequate on track (I lowered the pressures by about 6PSI), they didn’t give me the confidence to search for the limits of adhesion. The front brake also has a similarly spongy feel to the R15, even with that new radial front caliper. While it’s a sensation you need to get used to, the actual stopping performance is fine and I never felt doubt when braking into corners.

The main dynamics-related complaint I had was that there was some ABS intrusion in hard braking zones, and there’s not much you can do about that, short of pulling a fuse to deactivate the system. The intrusion wasn’t excessive, but it could become more problematic if we had more time to ride over the day, which would have meant an increased pace.

Yamaha R2 Design and Quality – 8/10

Covers the basics and then some

By now you’ve gauged that this is a very similar bike to its younger sibling in the way it feels and that’s a good thing. However, I wish it didn’t look so similar to the R15 and that does seem like a lost opportunity because it takes a trained eye to distinguish this bike as the new one. Quality and finish levels are pleasingly high with the switchgear being pleasant to look at and use. The bike is quite well specced too, with all variants getting a 5-inch TFT display. The mid variant adds a bi-directional quickshifter while the top M version brings in adjustable levers, preload adjustable front suspension, keyless start/steering lock and a unique paint scheme.

Yamaha R2's preload adjustable front suspension

Yamaha R2 Price and Verdict – 8/10

A welcome addition

Yamaha R sportbikes have always been expensive and the R2 is no exception. At Rs 2.3-2.53 lakh ex-showroom it commands the kind of money that can get you much more powerful premium motorcycles like the Guerilla 450 Apex and Triumph Tracker 400. It’s very good at what it does, but I think it should have been a little more affordable.

Nevertheless, the R2 is a welcome addition to the Yamaha line-up in India and more bikes will follow on this platform. That being said, we hope to see more action from Yamaha in the locally manufactured premium bike space, because the step up from the R15 is too small and Yamaha is likely to continue to lose many of its existing R15 customers once they are ready to upgrade to a bigger motorcycle.