Features Explained: Yamaha Sniper 150

The underbone market in the Philippines is a battleground. Between the Suzuki Raider and the Yamaha Sniper, the performance side of the competition is not left untouched either. Yamaha calls their Sniper 150 the street monarch. And it lives up to its name in more ways than one.

Styling and design: One look at the Sniper and you know that this is not your everyday bike. The styling is clearly dictated by Yamaha’s racing machines. Edgy panels and graphics make for a racy appeal. The monocross suspension means the rear hangs like a sports bike, complete with a plate holder straight from an R6. The front gets LED lights that stay on all the time. The fairing wraps around like a windswept shroud giving it a sleek appearance. Its stance and headlight make it look like a baby Multistrada, which explains its popular nickname. The genius is more than skin deep though. Sit on it and you find that the riding position is very upright. This makes it easy to handle and easy on the wrists. The pillion is a bit high but nothing unmanageable.

Engine

The engine is a 147.9cc liquid cooled single cylinder with 4 valves per cylinder. Being liquid cooled it is easier to keep running on traffic stops. It produces a maximum power output of 15.4 PS at 8500 rpm and maximum torque of 13.8 Nm at 7000 rpm. The engine is race ready with fuel injection for smoother fuel delivery, lighter forged pistons and DiASil cylinder for better cooling. It revs to 9500 rpm with the power band lying between 7000 and 9000 rpm. This means that it wants to be ridden hard all the time. The true character of the bike comes out when we look at the transmission. The gearing ratios are 2.833, 1.875, 1.429, 1.143 and 0.957 from 1st to 5th. This means that this bike is quick to power and wheelie happy if you are not too careful.

Suspension and Miscellaneous

Start it up and you are welcomed by a large digital display accompanied by a large tachometer. Turn it on and it flickers to life with a welcome message. There are two different default modes and you can further customize it to your liking. The suspension is forgiving and not too sporty and the tires are grippy. The wheels are 70/90 X 17 in the front and 120/70 X 17 in the rear. Twist the throttle and it will take you to a top speed of 119 kmph or higher if you dare. It is easy to take on the twisties without worrying about scraping the bike as the foot pegs are collapsible. The fuel injection and the 4.2-litre tank mean that the bike is good for 160-180 km without refilling. If you get too nervous, then there are disc brakes on both the front and the rear wheels.       

There are many features on this bike that make it the popular choice that it is. Yamaha has taken a good look at the competition and the South East Asian market and created an underbone that fits right in.