Yamaha XSR 155: Road Test Review

Design and Quality

I would start this with a confession that the XSR doesn’t catch attention as instantly as its beefier-looking rival, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350. It is a compact motorcycle. But when you give it a proper glance, the proportionate and elegant stance comes to the fore. It looks handsome without trying too hard. The clean front end comprises a round headlamp with small ‘XSR’ branding neatly integrated into it. While the fuel tank has the traditional old-school tear drop shape, the tail section stands out with a sleek design and a chunky seat sporting a ribbed pattern. The aesthetic design culminates in a tiny, circular tail lamp, which gracefully blends with the overall stance.

It’s also an impressively put-together motorcycle for this class. Every little element oozes richness, including things as small as the triangular aluminium bracket under the seat, welds on the Deltabox frame, heel plate, and handlebar end weights. Even the paint finish on its bodywork and wheels look well executed.

Ergonomics and Comfort

The XSR 155 is not your typical roadster, offering a relaxed riding stance. Even with my 5’11’’ frame, I need to lean forward to reach the handlebar, and the footpegs are fairly rear-set. It’s nowhere close to being as committed as the R15, and the slight sportiness makes the riding experience more involving. The seat, meanwhile, is quite spacious but feels a little firm at first. However, after spending time on it, you eventually realise it is not uncomfortable. What could pose a problem to shorter individuals is the 810mm seat height – it is 20mm taller than the Hunter 350; and the long reach to the handlebar, which makes it a bit challenging to take tight U-turns.

The suspension setup is tuned to deliver sporty handling, which brings in some compromises in terms of comfort. While the front fork is decently absorbent, the rear monoshock feels firm, especially while going over taller bumps, since that’s when you feel a kickback. The ride quality is not outright harsh, just firm enough to make you feel road imperfections. That said, going faster over minor undulations makes the ride feel flatter and better.

Performance and Handling

The XSR 155 is a delightful motorcycle when it comes to engine performance and handling dynamics. The R15-sourced, 155cc, liquid-cooled engine with variable valve actuation (VVA) is refined, flexible, and exciting. When you crank it up, it settles into a muted thrum, which is typical of a small single. Get going, however, and the motor feels relaxed with gentle acceleration until 5,000rpm. Also, the engine’s great tractability means holding on to higher gears at low speeds is easily doable. This also aids in fuel efficiency, which I will get to later.

Now, get past 5,000rpm and the motorcycle comes alive, with the pull being much stronger and the sound attaining a throatier note. The real fun lies beyond 7,000rpm when the VVA kicks in, and from then on, the XSR starts feeling too quick for a 155cc motorcycle. Holding on to every gear before upshifting is an enjoyable affair since the bike loves revving all the way to redline, feeling like a typical Yamaha.

The bike, in fact, feels eager to charge ahead at the drop of a gear, even at 100kmph. It only feels out of breath beyond 120kmph and maxes out slightly above 130kmph. The clutch action is super light and the gearbox has an assuring click with a short throw, making it easier and fun to ride spiritedly. The slipper clutch also helps prevent wheel lock during aggressive downshifts. And typical of Japanese bikes, the refinement is impressive, with vibrations being well contained even beyond 100kmph.

The communicative chassis of the XSR facilitates the bike with sharp handling. It changes directions with minimal inputs while switching lanes on open roads or filtering your way through traffic. Come a set of corners and the XSR feels precise and holds on to your intended line without any drama. Moreover, the remarkably low 137kg kerb weight adds to its playful personality and the radial tyres by MRF further boost your confidence to push it around corners. And when it is time to slow down, the XSR’s front brake exhibits a strong bite and ample lever feel, with the rear delivering the much-needed progression.

Features and Technology

Yamaha has fitted the XSR 155 with LED lighting all around and a circular LCD console, which shows all the crucial information and gets Bluetooth connectivity for SMS and call notifications and other connected features. Besides this, there is dual-channel ABS, and traction control (non-switchable). Considering the bike’s pricing and neo-retro theme, the XSR gets a reasonable amount of features.

Fuel Efficiency

The Yamaha XSR 155 delivers an impressive fuel economy of close to 53kmpl when ridden in a gentle manner. Considering the rev-happy and performance-oriented nature of its engine, the number is quite impressive. It translates to a range of over 500km from its 10-litre fuel tank.

Should You Buy it?

The Yamaha XSR 155 truly deserves all the hype it has been seeing in India since well before it was launched here. It is an enticing motorcycle in many ways. Right from the elegant, modern-retro design and lively engine to the top-notch quality levels and sorted handling dynamics, it ticks a lot of right boxes. What also works in its favour is its price tag of Rs. 1.50 lakh, ex-showroom, making it the most affordable option in Yamaha's 155cc line-up, which also includes the MT-15 and R15.

With the XSR 155, you essentially get the same bike as its siblings in terms of engine and cycle parts, of course, with different styling and fewer features. To sum this up, for someone looking for a small, good-looking, reasonably fast, and agile modern-retro offering with Yamaha’s reliability, the XSR 155 is right up their alley.

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi