2021 Yamaha Exciter 155 VVA launched in Vietnam – Is this the incoming Y15ZR V3?

Yamaha officially launched the all-new 2021 Yamaha Exciter 155 VVA in Vietnam yesterday. Is this the next-gen Yamaha Y15ZR V3 for Malaysia?

Vietnam’s Yamaha Exciter is known as the Y15ZR in Malaysia, Sniper in the Phillippines and Jupiter/MX King in Indonesia. A quick recap: Lately, we have been coming across a lot of rumours regarding the next-generation model of this bike. The updated Yamaha Exciter 155 VVA was first spotted back in May 2020, later, in Septemeber 2020, Malaysia-bound Yamaha Y15ZR V3 was spotted undergoing road testing around Selayang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Earlier leaks:

Yamaha Y15ZR V3 Spotted – New Bodywork, 155 VVA Engine and Keyless

Yamaha Y15ZR V3 VVA Spotted Testing in Malaysia Again!

Folks, the wait is over! We won’t need to rely on spy shots or rumours anymore because Yamaha officially pulled the cover off the next-gen Yamaha Exciter 155 VVA in Vietnam yesterday. Although the launch was for the Vietnamese market, the new Yamaha Exciter 155 VVA gives a preview of the incoming next-generation Y15ZR/Sinpier/Jupiter/MX King for other markets in the ASEAN region. Now, let’s get right into the details!

The next-generation Yamaha Exciter 155 VVA is different in all aspects. From the design to mechanical components, Yamaha has updated the model for 2021.

Design

Starting with the design, the new Exciter 155 VVA gets an all-new fairing design which looks sleeker and sporty. To go hand in hand with the updated design, the front light design has been revised as well.

The new Exciter 155 VVA features two-part headlamp unit, where the low beam is placed on top and the high beam is positioned at the bottom. Upfront, the new Exciter 155 VVA also gets a pair of air ducts which makes it look more aggressive.

Moving onto the rear, Yamaha has updated the taillight design as well. The tail section is now narrower, longer and features R1 style LED taillamp unit. Besides this, the seat design and the mudguard design have been revised as well.

Chassis and wheels

The frame on the new Exciter has been redesigned to fit the new 155 VVA engine. The frame now features a new Y-Shaped reinforcement collar and a thicker 4.5mm engine mount. Yamaha says the new chassis has been optimised for enhanced cornering performance at high speeds.

The wheel design is similar to the ongoing model. However, the front tire on the new Exciter 155 VVA is larger. Now a 90/80 tire at the front and a 120/70 tire at the rear wrap around the 17-inch wheels.

Suspension and braking

Suspension duties are still taken care of by a telescopic front fork and a monoshock at the rear.  The front suspension travel has been increased from 90mm to 100mm while incorporating micro-tuning for better damping efficiency.

In the case of braking, the new model does not get ABS and still makes use of hydraulic disc brake at the front and rear. However, Yamaha offers a 2 piston calliper with the Premium Exciter 155 VVA variant.

Engine

The most important update is the powertrain. The new 2021 Yamaha Exciter 155 VVA features a liquid-cooled 155cc 4-stroke, 4-valve, SOHC,  VVA engine (Similar to the one from the YZF-R15 and MT-15).  Mated to a 6-speed gearbox with assist and slipper clutch, the 2021 Yamaha Exciter 155 VVA pushes 17.7 hp @ 9,500 rpm and a peak torque of 14.4 Nm @ 8,000 rpm.

Updates around the powertrain include:

• New 6-speed gearbox with assist and slipper clutch
• Shorter clutch handle (10 mm shorter)

• Compared to one level ignition mapping on the 150cc model, the new Exciter 155 VVA has 4 level ignition mapping for individual gears to maximise performance.
• Diamon carbon-coated (DLC) piston for durable and lighter pistons for smooth and powerful acceleration.

• Fuel injection angle changed from 15 to 18 degrees. The number of injection holes changed from 6-10 holes to increase combustion efficiency and engine power. (YZF-R1 has 12 injection holes)

• Yamaha’s VVA system-  2 separate cams control the intake valve: one cam for the low- mid-rpm range and the other for the high rpm range. High-speed intake valves have longer opening times, increasing intake air efficiency and overall capacity. VVA operates at 7,400 rpm or more.

• A new more efficient air intake system – Vertical air filter box, larger aluminium intake manifold, new 28mm throttle body and new intake valve.

• Improved cooling system – Air vents,  ring-type thermostat

• Improved exhaust system – new catalyst, fibreglass padding

Electronics

The new 2021 Yamaha Exciter 155 VVA gets a full LCD instrument cluster. Additionally, the premium variant gets Yamaha’s smart lock (keyless) which comes with an integrated “answer-back” function to determine the bike’s position. Besides this, the premium variant also gets a 12V charging socket for charging smart devices.

Dimension

Dimension wise the Exciter 155 VVA measures 1,975 mm × 665 mm × 1,085 mm (LXWXH). The new Exciter rolls in with a seat height of 795 mm, ground clearance of 150mm and a wet weight of 121 kg. Engine oil capacity is 1.10 litre and fuel is contained in a 5.4-litre tank.

Colour options and pricing

• Premium version (Smartkey, integrated 12V power socket, 2-piston brake) – Blue GP, suggested retail price: 50,490,000 VND – Approx. MYR 8,853
• Deluxe edition – Black Rough, Rough Red, Red White, suggested retail price: 49,990,000 VND – Approx. MYR 8765
• Standard version – Glossy Black, Matte Red, White Red, suggested retail price: 46,990,000 VND – Approx. MYR 8239

So, when can we expect to see the next-gen Yamaha Y15ZR (V3) in Malaysia?

The newly launched Yamaha Exciter 155 VVA looks very similar to the next-gen Y15ZR V3 which was spotted undergoing road test in Malaysia. The new 2021 Yamaha Exciter 155 VVA does give a preview of what we can expect from Malaysia-bound Yamaha Y15ZR V3. As for the launch, since the bike was recently spotted road testing, we think the Y15ZR V3 would be officially launched in Malaysia around next year, 2021. So folks, hang on, it’s almost here!