Hello, I am a Tech Specialist in a MNC in Noida and a great byke lover, I am riding since the age of 9 and I am 29 today.
I have completed 4000 Kms on R15 and using it since a month.
I totally agree that when I first made up my mind to go for it, I thought it must be a something more powerful (when it comes to pickup).
But I would really say that its far more better than any other Indian Bike in the market.
Having used both Karizma and Pulsar .
And I will like to share my outlook;
1. I have travelled straight from Lucknow to Delhi having only two stays in between thats about 200 kms of non stop riding at a speed of 75-80 on avg. (coz of its DIasil cylinder and Forged piston, cilinder has 20% silicon which keeps it cooler than rest of the bykes.)
I dont think any other Indian Byke can do that, it will burn out and the clutch plates will cease.

2. It has given me  amileage of 45 km/lt on highways and 38-40 kms/lts in City.I n which I have operated it around to 135 km/hr at times.Which means Its best in its class.
2. It has an awesome grip on roads, its not important for a bike that it goes past 130-140 what is important its that how much safer it is to go to that speed. Toy can really feel safe at speeds of 120, the byke will not skid when applying brakes as that speed.
Some people say that  it has narow tyres, they were specially made for R15, having soft rubber and different raddi, complete tubeless providing 3 times better grip that Pulsar and about 2 times better that Karizma in my view.
Before riding this I loved Karizma, coz it was better than Pulsar, but those two feel to be pieces of srap of primitive machines when comapred to R15.
 Dont check the speed and pickup. Ride it above 120 km/hr you will forget about the price and comparisons.

Hi.....

The R15 experience is very good, even i own R15, its performance is excellent....and even we can control the bike, as much as possible...its awesome