YAMAHA XSR 155

THE RETRO WE WANTED... JUST FASHIONABLY LATE!

- WORDS ROHIT PARADKAR

Type 155cc Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve

Max power 18.4PS @10,000rpm

Max torque 14.2Nm @7,500rpm

Seat height 810mm

Price ₹1.82 lakh (on-road, Mumbai)

OD Rating ★★★★

+ Sharp design, lively VVA engine and a well-sorted chassis that makes everyday riding feel special

- Priced close to bigger retros and arrives late to a segment that has already grown up

When Yamaha finally announced the XSR 155 for India, people felt both excited and a bit frustrated. Excitement came from the fact that this is the bike that fans have wanted since it became popular in ASEAN markets. The frustration was because it took five years, and in that time, Yamaha offered the FZ-X as a 'retro' option. Meanwhile, the strong 155cc VVA engine and Deltabox chassis were already available in the R15 and MT-15 here. Now, the real XSR 155 is finally here at ₹1.49 lakh ex-showroom. So, was it worth the wait?

The good news is that this is the real XSR 155, not a simplified version for India. The challenge is that the market has changed, with new Hero and Yamaha mild-hybrids and several neo-retro 350cc and 400cc bikes offering more value for money.

Design & Quality