2021 Honda CB150R Streetfire vs Yamaha MT-15: Image Comparison

What sets the two streetnakeds apart?

The 2021 Honda CB150R Streetfire recently debuted in the Indonesian market. It’s been reworked for this year with better styling and mechanicals. Price-wise, it sits fairly close to the Indonesia-spec Yamaha MT-15 but how do these bikes compare when positioned against each other? 

The Streetfire is available in two variants: Standard and Special Edition, giving it a slight edge over the MT-15. 

It looks just as sporty if not sportier than the MT-15. For 2021, the bike features all-new bodywork, making it look more muscular. However, the MT’s styling and colour schemes still look sharper in our opinion.  

Speaking of colour schemes, the Special Edition CB150R gets an engine cowl, which adds to the overall aesthetics. It also features 3D logos and a Burnt Titanium finish on the handlebar and rim.

Not to mention, it comes with all-LED lights, as opposed to the MT-15 which features a projector headlight, an LED tail light, and conventional bulb indicators. 

Both bikes come with a full-digital instrument console. 

The Yamaha MT-15 has a serious performance advantage over the CB. It packs a larger 155cc liquid-cooled VVA-equipped single-cylinder engine that dishes out 19.3PS and 14.7Nm of peak torque -- 2.5PS and 0.9Nm more than the CB. The power difference is a bit less compared to the India-spec MT, which makes 18.5PS and 13.9Nm thanks to the strict BS6 emission norms. Both bikes use a 6-speed transmission, however, the MT benefits from a slip-and-assist clutch. 

The CB150R’s slightly larger 12-litre fuel tank would keep you on the road for a bit longer, making it the better touring option. The MT makes do with a 10-litre unit. 

That said, the MT has certain advantages over the CB in terms of hardware. Both bikes come equipped with a premium upside-down fork but the MT features a potent delta-box frame, rendering it one of the sweetest handling setups in its segment. 

Both bikes feature disc brakes at either end, however, the Streetfire comes with petal discs with a larger surface area which helps keep the rotor cool. Neither gets ABS as the safety norms in Indonesia don’t warrant one for bikes in their segment. The MT-15 here in India will soon be offered with dual-channel ABS as standard.

The ergos may be a bit more comfortable on the CB which gets a slightly more accessible 795mm seat height and a new tapered handlebar. In comparison, the MT is a tad sportier, with an 810mm tall seat. 

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In the end, it all boils down to the pricing. The MT-15 sold in Indonesia is priced at IDR 37,130,000 (around Rs 1.91 lakh), as opposed to the CB150R Streetfire which retails at IDR 29,700,000 (around Rs 1.52 lakh). This makes the CB a lot more accessible to the masses despite packing similar equipment. 

The entry-level performance-oriented streetfighter segment is currently dominated by the MT-15 in India. Honda doesn’t have a sporty 150cc offering in the country, since the discontinuation of the CBR150R. That could change, though, if Honda brings in the CB150R Streetfire to India at an accessible price point of around Rs 1.30 lakh (ex-showroom). Its current price of Rp. 29,700,000 (about Rs 1.51 lakh) is about Rs 10,000 more expensive than the MT priced at Rs 1.40 lakh (ex-showroom).