KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The XSR 155 is based on the R15 and shares a lot of components with it.
- Unlike the R15 and the MT-15, the XSR gets a neo-retro design.
- It stays rather simple in terms of features, but it is quite lightweight.
The Yamaha XSR 155 was long overdue, and fans were begging for it to be launched. The Japanese bikemaker finally launched it yesterday, and we can now put our thinking caps on. Yamaha is known for its performance biking roots, and the XSR seems to hark back to that era. But is it truly a successor to the RX 135?
We shall find that out here, but first, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community to keep up with the latest news and updates from the automotive space.
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Yamaha XSR 155 First Look Review Design
The XSR 155 stands out as a true neo-retro naked motorcycle from Yamaha, with a distinct visual lineage tracing back to the iconic RX135. The round headlamp is a LED unit, and it also gets 17-inch wheels mounted on alloy rims, a neat, compact tail section, and a small, circular taillamp. The bike's mechanicals are largely blacked out, contrasted by a prominent long, ribbed seat.
The fuel tank is substantial yet offers a clean aesthetic, featuring simple Yamaha lettering reminiscent of the RX100 and RX135 models. Despite this classic styling, the XSR is thoroughly modern underneath, as it shares its robust mechanical platform with both the R15 and the MT-15.
Yamaha offers four standard paint options: Metallic Blue, Greyish Green Metallic, Vivid Red, and Metallic Grey. To allow riders to customize their bikes further, two optional accessory packs are available: the Cafe Racer and the Scrambler kits.
Yamaha XSR 155 First Look Review Powertrain And Hardware
The XSR has a lot in common with the R15 and the MT-15, as they are based on the same platform. It borrows the proven 155cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder powertrain with identical performance figures; 18.1bhp at 10,000rpm and 14.2Nm of torque peaking at 7,500rpm, while paired to a 6-speed transmission. From the R15 and the MT-15, we know that this is a punchy engine, and it also offers the kind of refinement you would expect from a Japanese unit. We can expect the power delivery to not be overly peaky, but progressive and fast.
In terms of handling, we can expect the XSR to be quite a hoot to ride, considering how lightweight it is, and that it is built on the same Deltabox frame as the R15 and the MT-15. The bike should likely be quite easy to lean into the corners and hold a line fairly well. It hangs off of USD forks and a linkage-type monoshock, and it sits on 17-inch wheels on both ends with alloy rims. However, we also expect Yamaha to have worked on the damping, in order to make it a bit more comfortable for daily riders.
Yamaha XSR 155 Features
The XSR 155 keeps it rather simple in terms of features, and there isnt a huge list of features that it boasts about. It gets a small LCD screen with app-based smartphone connectivity, showing you things like call/SMS alerts, phone battery level alert, and a gear position indicator. This does raise eyebrows a little, and while the round unit does match the retro vibe more, we feel that at least navigation should be offered on this motorcycle.
Verdict
With the XSR 155, Yamaha finally has a neo retro weapon in its arsenal to bring back volumes, specifically attracting buyers who still miss the RX100/RX135 and hold it in high regard. The XSR has been long awaited, and it remains to be seen how the market reacts to it.
