All the options you're looking at are really credible ones, but between them all, the Yamaha XSR155 makes the most sense. Since you have had little experience riding a geared motorcycle, something light, friendly, and easy to manage, like the XSR, is a safe choice.

 And because it shares a lot of its hardware with the proven Yamaha YZF R15 V4 and Yamaha MT-15 V2, it is bound to be reliable like its sportier siblings. 

Since you have had a good experience with a Honda machine, you could stick with the brand and go with the Honda CB300F. The CB300F is light, comfortable, spacious and will return decent fuel economy. If you want to switch brands, the Bajaj Pulsar N250 and the Suzuki Gixxer 250 make for good upgrade options with their smooth engines and comfortable ergonomics. 

If you don't mind staying in the same displacement range while getting a significant performance bump, the KTM 160 Duke and Yamaha MT-15 warrant consideration. With their liquid-cooled engines and light weights, these two will give you the performance step up you want without sacrificing on mileage. 

The new Yamaha XSR 155 will have a more roomy and spacious riding position than the Yamaha MT-15. If you like the design, you can switch your choice. Given that this motorcycle is based on an existing and proven platform, there shouldn't be any serious issues, and you can make your purchase soon.  

Since you're shopping in the 150/160cc segment and want flashy looks, good features and decent mileage too, here are all the options you should consider. The TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is a smooth, comfortable yet decently sporty machine. Also, since you mentioned that you want a more manageable machine, we'll stick with options that have a low seat and are lightweight. In a similar vein, you can also consider the Bajaj Pulsar N160 and Honda SP160, too. 

If you can extend your budget, bikes like the KTM 160 Duke and Yamaha MT-15 will also fit the bill because they have punchy performance, yet return good fuel efficiency and are lightweight and manageable too. 

There are two types of bikes you can consider - sporty, liquid-cooled 160cc streetfighters and air-cooled, sporty-looking 160cc commuter bikes. In the former category, your options are the KTM 160 Duke and Yamaha MT-15, while in the latter, bikes like the Bajaj Pulsar N160 and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V can be considered. 

If you don't mind lower fuel efficiency, then the Bajaj Pulsar NS200 can also be a fun option within your budget. Another option that can be considered is the Royal Enfield Hunter 350, which will have a very different engine feel from any other option listed above, but will be comfortable and decently fuel-efficient. Something you can also consider if you're open to an ADV is the Hero Xpulse 210, which ticks all the boxes you want.