Yamaha YZF-R15 3rd gen (2017+) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the Yamaha YZF-R15, an entry-level commuter motorbike that is extremely popular, particularly in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. It’s also just known as the Yamaha R15 or just the R15.
The Yamaha YZF-R15 is a small single-cylinder motorcycle that has been made since 2008. The previous generation/generations of R15 were made with a 150cc engine, but in 2017 it got an upgrade of 5cc to 155cc.
The R15 runs a SOHC 4-valve engine with fuel injection and VVT that makes well… not very much power, but (just) enough to get you onto the freeway.
The YZF-R15 is very economical and is a popular choice of scoot for delivery riders. Plus, it looks sharp!
The YZF-R15 is styled after the very popular (and much more powerful, in comparison) YZF-R3, but is a totally different motorcycle.
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What you need to service the Yamaha YZF-R15
If you’re doing scheduled maintenance on an YZF-R15, you at least need motorcycle maintenance tools. Aside from that, you need the following specific consumables.
| Part | Yamaha YZF-R15 spec |
|---|---|
| Engine oil | Yamaha suggests SAE 20W40 Yamalube (SG grade oil). Yamalube 10W-40 is a good substitute and much more available. |
| Oil filter | Needs to be changed every time you change the oil. The Hiflofiltro HF141 is an affordable and high-quality aftermarket substitute. |
| Engine coolant | Yamaha recommends “Yamacool”, but use any 50/50 ethylene glycol pre-mix. |
| Spark Plugs | NGK CR8E as per the manual, with gap at 0.7-0.8mm. |
| Air filter | The K&N equivalent part number is YA-1208. |
And the following general consumables are useful as well.
| Description |
|---|
| Paddock Stand — Makes maintaining your chain or doing other maintenance much easier. |
| Motul chain paste — one of the most highly-regarded chain lubes. Easy to apply, doesn’t fling off. If you need more stuff, get the Motul chain care kit as an affordable package. |
| Always good to have on hand lithium soap-based grease for lubing external pivot points (like the swingarm) and bearings. |
| Use Protect all cable life to lubricate your cables and controls. |
Yamaha YZF-R15 Maintenance Schedule
Below is the maintenance schedule for the Yamaha YZF-R15. This is straight from the manual, modified slightly to fit this screen.
You maintain the R15 every 3000 km or 2000 miles.
Why so short a maintenance schedule? Well, largely because bikes like these run usually slowly (averaging ~40 km/h), so if you think about it in terms of time spent running rather than distance travelled, it becomes more equivalent.
Couple that with the fact that they usually run in high-stress conditions, squeezing the most out of the engine in start-stop traffic, and being started many times a day (cold ignition is high-stress) and it makes more sense.
Notes on the maintenance schedule
- From the end of the maintenance schedule, follow it in the pattern shown (every 1, 2, or 4 maintenance intervals)
- Air filter: Service the air filter more often if you ride in dusty or wet conditions.
- Hydraulic brake service:
- Regularly check the brake and clutch fluid levels and fill the reservoirs as required
- Every two years, replace the internal components of the brake master cylinders and calipers, and change the brake fluid
- Replace the brake hoses every four years or if cracked or damaged.
| Item | Odometer (x 1000 km): | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | Every |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel line | * Check fuel hoses for cracks or damage. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Spark plug | * Check condition. * Clean and reset the gap | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Spark plug | * Replace. (NGK CR8E) | ✓ | ||||||
| Valves | * Check valve clearance. * Adjust. | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Air filter | * Clean. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Air filter | * Replace. (YA-1208) | ✓ | ||||||
| Battery | * Check Battery output voltage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Clutch | * Check operation. * Adjust. * Lubricate Lever (Silicone grease) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Front brake | * Check operation, fluid level and vehicle for fluid leakage. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| * Replace brake pads (whenever worn to limit) | ||||||||
| Rear brake | * Check operation, fluid level and vehicle for fluid leakage. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| * Replace brake pads (whenever worn to limit) | ||||||||
| Brake lines | * Check for cracks or damage. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| * Replace. | 4 years | |||||||
| Wheels | * Check runout and for damage. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Tyres | * Check tread depth and for damage. * Replace if necessary. * Check air pressure. * Correct if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Wheel bearings | * Check bearing for looseness or damage. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Swingarm | * Check operation and for excessive play. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Swingarm | * Lubricate with lithium soap-based grease. | ✓ | ||||||
| Drive chain | * Check chain slack, alignment and condition. * Adjust and thoroughly lubricate chain. | 500 km or after chain gets wet | ||||||
| Steering bearings | * Check bearing play and steering for roughness | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Steering bearings | * Lubricate with lithium soap-based grease. | ✓ | ||||||
| Chassis fasteners | * Make sure that all nuts, bolts, and screws are properly tightened | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Sidestand | * Check operation. * Lubricate. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Front fork | * Check operation and for oil leakage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Shock absorber assembly | * Check operation and shock absorber for oil leakage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Injector | * Check operation * Adjust engine idling speed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Engine oil | * Change (Yamalube 10W-40) * Check oil level and vehicle for oil leakage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Engine oil filter element | * Replace (HF141) | ✓ | 10K km | |||||
| Cooling system | * Check coolant level and vehicle for coolant leakage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Cooling system | * Change coolant. (Any ethylene glycol pre-mix) | 2 years | ||||||
| Front and rear brake switches | * Check operation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Moving parts and cables | * Lubricate (Protect all cable life) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Throttle grip housing and cable | * Check operation and free play * Adjust the throttle cable free play if necessary * Lubricate the throttle grip housing and cable | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Air induction system | * Check the air cut-off valve, reed valve, and hose for damage * Replace any damaged parts if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Lights, signals, and switches | * Check operation * Adjust headlight beam (if necessary) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Yamaha YZF-R15 Tire specs
The recommended tire sizes and pressures for the Yamaha YZF-R15 are as follows (per the manual)
| Tire | Size | Pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 80/90-17 M/C 44P | 200 kPa (29 psi) |
| Rear | 100/80-17 M/C 52P | 225 kPa (33 psi) |
The R15 ships stock with MRF/Zapper tyres.
About the Yamaha YZF-R15
The Yamaha YZF-R15 is a very efficient commuter, but it’s not just that. Like other motorcycles in the R series, it’s a sportbike that you might just have fun bouncing off the rev limiter and getting the absolute most out of it.
Even though it’s used quite often by delivery riders, it’s a lot more entertaining than a twist-and-go scooter.
The third-generation R15 made from 2017 onward is actually capable of hitting freeway speeds despite its diminutive engine. Having a big delivery box on the back may slow you down slightly though! But otherwise, you can sit on 110 km/h, which will get you into trouble in many places (don’t do it other than on the freeway). You can get it to 135 km/h, but you’ll need a straight, flat road, and no headwinds!
This is achieved partly because of the VVT system the new R15 has. This gives it a power boost up to about 13 kW (18 hp) at 10,000 rpm. It also gives the engine a bit more gusto than previous models.
The clip-on style bars are really good for riding in a sporty way, but if you’re a learner rider, you might find them a little tricky when learning to do slow, tight turns.
But you don’t lean over very far to get to the bars. Think of it as a sportbike from the days when sportbikes were still comfortable (i.e. the 1990s). There are other things that make the R15 very easy to ride, too, like its feather-light weight (130 kilograms) and a slipper clutch.
One thing that really stands in the R15’s favour is just how great it looks. It borrows a lot from its bigger siblings the R3 and even the R1. Side-by-side there are obvious size and quality differences, but to the casual observer, the R15 is just excellent.
Manual for the Yamaha YZF-R15
The above information was gleaned from the service manual for the Yamaha YZF-R15.
You can download it from Yamaha’s website here.
