Yamaha XSR155 Standard

Autocar India

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Both the Honda CB350 H'ness and Yamaha XSR155 are great everyday machines, but have different characters. The XSR is light, agile and a lively machine to ride with its R15-derived underpinnings. Its motor also returns excellent fuel economy. However, its stiff suspension setup will get tiring if you encounter bad roads daily. The CB350 H'ness is a relaxed neo-retro roadster which is very easy to ride and prioritises comfort over performance. While the H'ness won't be able to match the XSR for fuel economy, it is a reasonably fuel-efficient machine for its displacement. If you ride often with a pillion, then the more spacious Honda makes a better case for itself.Picking between the two will boil down to personal prefrence so we'd recommend a test ride of both to help you make a decision.

Autocar India

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Within your budget, you have three very different options you can look at - Yamaha XSR155, TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, TVS Ronin and Hero Xpulse 200 4V. The XSR is the least powerful but is also the lightest motorcycle here. It will also feel the sportiest to ride because its engine and underpinnings are derived from the popular Yamaha R15 and MT-15. The downsides of the XSR are that it is a rather petite motorcycle. For someone of large stature such as yourself, this will be a potential challenge, and its rear suspension is quite stiff. It can get uncomfortable over repeated bad patches. The Apache RTR 200 4V is another sporty roadster, and with its larger engine than the XSR, it will feel more at home at sustained higher speeds. Its suspension comfort and more spacious seats will also be helpful for your usage. The TVS Ronin is a relaxed roadster with its smooth and torquey engine and relaxed and neutral ergonomics. Also, plush suspension setup and relatively larger size - compared to the other two bikes here - the Ronin has the potential to be the most suited to your use case.Moving on to the Hero Xpulse 200 4V, this is the bike you should buy if you want to venture off-road on your long tours. It will have by far the most plush suspension of all the bikes here, although its on-road handling will leave you wanting once you pick up the pace. We'd recommend a test ride of all three before you make a decision. Also, do note that all four bikes are all slightly above Rs 1.50 lakh (your stipulated budget), within that amount, there's no credible option for your requirements.

Autocar India

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Considering your stature, in the Yamaha stable, instead of the MT-15, we'd recommend looking at the new XSR155. While both are mechanically near-identical, the XSR is a more spacious machine than the MT. Since this will be your first bike, the XSR will prove to be the most manageable and approachable. Thanks to its lighter weight and unintimidating power output. The Bajaj Pulsar N160 you're considering is a good option, but it will be the slowest of all the bikes you've shortlisted. However, if all you're going to do is potter around town, then getting the Pulsar makes sense as it is the most city-friendly bike here. Coming to the two Pulsar NS models, the NS200 will feel quite sporty and engaging while still being friendly enough for city use. However, the bigger NS400Z isn't the most city-friendly machine. Also, it will return lower fuel economy owing to its larger engine. The Honda CB350 models are very different to ride, thanks to their neo-retro leanings. It will be the most comfortable and relaxed machine of all the bikes you're considering. Lastly, the TVS Apache RTR 310 is actually quite a capable do-it-all machine, and will give you room to grow as a rider, too. Since you are considering multiple bikes with different riding styles and at very different price points, we'd recommend you first decide on your budget. After that, choose within that range accordingly. Also, take a thorough test ride of everything you shortlist.

Autocar India

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Since you are a taller person, we would recommend you look at the Yamaha XSR155 instead of the MT-15 as the XSR is a more spacious machine which will be useful to you. For a similar price, you will also get larger machines like the Bajaj Pulsar N250, TVS Apache RTR 200 4V and Honda CB300F. It will offer you better performance at the expense of a small hit as far as fuel efficiency is concerned. Since you have mentioned that you are considering the Honda CB350 models. Do bear in mind that these are relaxed neo-retro roadsters which will offer you a more laidback riding experience and good comfort levels. Although fuel economy will be quite a bit lower than that of the smaller bikes we have mentioned above. It is also worth taking a look at the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 because it offers a similar experience to the CB350 but at a lower price and has comparable fuel economy and performance, too. A test ride of every bike you shortlist will help you make a decision.

Autocar India

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The Hero Xtreme 160R 4V is a sporty commuter which has a feature no other competitor in the segment does - cruise control. It has a reasonably peppy and smooth engine, good suspension and is quite a comfortable machine overall, even for taller people. It will also return good fuel economy, and Hero machines are generally known to be affordable to own and maintain. It is also quite a bit more affordable than the XSR155, so if your budget is tight, then it makes for a good option to consider.Coming to the Yamaha XSR155, this is a far more modern machine in terms of its engine architecture and its chassis design, using proven fundamentals from the R15 in a neo-retro package. The XSR is sure to be the quicker, better-handling machine while also returning comparable fuel economy to the Xtreme. Yamaha's aren't known to be expensive to live with either, but since the XSR has a more complex powertrain, its running costs could be a little higher than the simpler Hero. Both are different machines from distinct segments, so we would urge you to go get a test ride of them so you can make an informed decision.

Autocar India

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You could argue that the Yamaha XSR155 does feel like the modern incarnation of the legendary RX models of yesteryear, purely in how light and flickable it feels. And yes, its suspension is on the stiffer side, but it's not horribly so, and you can certainly live with it daily.Coming to its 810mm seat height, your 5'7" frame should be able to manage it quite easily because it is a slim machine and also a light one. After a brief acclimatisation period, you should be comfortable with the XSR. Since you are coming from the Hunter 350, the XSR will immediately feel lighter and more nimble; you should also see a tangible increase in fuel economy, depending on how you ride.Take a thorough test ride of the XSR before making a decision.

Autocar India

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While the three bikes you've shortlisted are certainly comparable, they offer very different riding experiences. The Yamaha XSR155 is the sportiest of the lot, with stiff suspension and a slightly leaned-forward riding position. On poor city roads, this can get uncomfortable, although it is the lightest and most fuel-efficient option here.The TVS Ronin and Royal Enfield Hunter 350 are roadsters with torquey engines and neutral ergonomics, as well as plush suspension, making them suited for city riding. Neither of these bikes can match the XSR’s fuel efficiency, though.A test ride of these 3 should help you decide which one suits you best.

Autocar India

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If you want a neo-retro, lightweight bike in the 150-200cc displacement category, the Yamaha XSR155 fits the bill quite well. It returns excellent fuel economy, has punchy performance and is decently comfortable - except over bad patches of road where its stiff suspension does make its presence felt.Take a test ride of this Yamaha bike with your pillion to see if it feels suitable for your needs.

Autocar India

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If you want a standard street bike, then in your price range, you can get machines like the Honda CB300F, Bajaj Pulsar N250, TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, Royal Enfield Hunter 350, and Yamaha XSR155. Depending on the look and comfort each bike offers you, you can pick and choose between them - all are proven, reliable machines from reputable makes, so you should be good in the long run, by and large.In the adventure bike class, the new TVS Apache RTX 300 and Hero Xpulse 210 make for good options to look at, and these two will be more comfortable and spacious than the roadsters suggested above, although if you are a shorter rider, their tall seats might not be ideal for you.Take a test ride of these bikes to see which one suits you best before making a decision.

Autocar India

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The Yamaha XSR155 has many strengths, like great fuel efficiency, engaging handling and performance from its R15-derived underpinnings and its clean, neo-retro design. However, its stiff suspension will be far from ideal over bad patches of road, resulting in discomfort for your back. It is also a rather small bike physically, which means two-up riding won't be comfortable for long durations, unless you are both smaller people.Therefore, we would advise you to look at alternatives like the TVS Ronin or Royal Enfield Hunter 350, both of which are more spacious and have better suspension comfort than the XSR. A test ride of both two-up should help you decide which is best for you.