Yamaha XSR 155 vs Honda CB190TR: Which Turns Heads?
Neo-retro faceoff that every rider must see!
The retro-modern motorcycle space is slowly expanding, and Yamaha has already made a strong impression with the XSR 155 in India. But Honda also has its own old-school-inspired street machine in the form of the CB190TR, which blends classic design with modern hardware. So how do these two neo-retro offerings stack up against each other? Let’s find out:
Design
The Yamaha XSR 155 takes heavy inspiration from classic roadsters, with its round LED headlight, sculpted teardrop fuel tank, flat single-piece seat and minimalist tail section. The overall silhouette feels authentic and timeless, while subtle modern touches like alloy wheels and LED lighting keep it from looking outdated. It strikes a fine balance between retro charm and modern cool.
In contrast, the Honda CB190TR looks noticeably more aggressive. The contoured fuel tank with sharp extensions and muscular side panels give it a rugged, streetfighter stance. The circular LED headlight adds a hint of retro influence but is surrounded by a more purposeful-looking housing, making the front end appear bolder. The slightly stepped seat, compact tail and stubby exhaust further enhance its tough, no-nonsense personality.
Engine & Performance
The Yamaha XSR 155 is powered by a 155cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that also does duty on the R15 V4 and MT-15 V2.0. It produces 18.4PS and 14.2Nm and comes paired with a 6-speed gearbox with slip-and-assist clutch. Thanks to Yamaha’s VVA technology, the engine delivers strong low-end torque with a punchy top-end, which should make it equally comfortable in traffic and on open roads.
The Honda CB190TR features a 184cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine producing 16.7PS and 16.2Nm, paired with a 5-speed gearbox with a slip-and-assist clutch. It is the same unit which we get on the Honda Hornet 2.0 and the NX200. While it offers slightly more displacement, the motor is tuned more for relaxed commuting and smooth power delivery rather than outright performance. On paper, the Yamaha feels more enthusiastic and rev-happy, while the Honda focuses on laid-back usability.
Underpinnings
The XSR 155 uses Yamaha’s proven Deltabox frame for handling and stability. Suspension duties are managed by an upside-down fork and a monoshock, offering a sporty yet comfortable ride setup. Braking comes from disc brakes at both ends with dual-channel ABS, and it rides on 17-inch alloy wheels. The XSR has a fuel tank capacity of 10 litres and weighs 137kg (kerb). It has an approachable seat height of 810mm while having a decent ground clearance of 170mm.
The CB190TR also gets premium hardware in the form of an upside-down fork and a monoshock. It too runs on 17-inch wheels but with road-biased tyres. Braking duties are handled by disc brakes at both ends with dual-channel ABS. The Honda weighs 142kg (kerb) and has a larger 12-litre fuel tank capacity. It also has a lower seat height of 791mm.
Features
The Yamaha XSR 155 keeps things clean and minimal. It gets an LCD circular instrument console, full-LED lighting, traction control and a slip-and-assist clutch. It also gets Bluetooth connectivity.
The Honda CB190TR comes with a fully digital instrument console, all-LED lighting, and modern switchgear. While it also skips advanced connectivity features, it offers a more contemporary display layout compared to the XSR’s simple one.
Price & Verdict
The Yamaha XSR 155 is priced at Rs 1,49,990 (ex-showroom, Delhi), positioning it as a premium neo-retro offering in the 150cc segment. The Honda CB190TR, currently available in select international markets, is priced at CNY12,980 (around Rs 1.65 lakh), placing it in a similar bracket.
If you’re after a motorcycle that perfectly blends vintage styling with modern performance and proven reliability and is available in India, the Yamaha XSR 155 is your best and only bet. The deliveries for the Yamaha have begun and if you are planning to buy one, you can check out the detailed EMI cost breakdown. The Honda CB190TR, meanwhile, was patented in India, offers relaxed performance and everyday comfort but is unfortunately not available here.
Yamaha XSR 155 User Reviews
- liked it much driving experience is very good 👍👍 thanks yamahaI have bought this bike in February, I liked it's performance very much, some problems are there as handling and seat comfort, but overall it's a good bike, mileage is very good, it gives 56-60 on average speed at 75-80, it gives 45 but performance is very good, maintenance is not so high, overall the bike is great.Read More1 1
- I recommend for studentsStylish and mileage is good. The bike looks are amazing and the bike gives 42kmpl mileage in city. It is e85 compliant so you don't need to worry about fuel cost. Yahama have a good service and you usually get any parts of the bike easily. This bike in highway it's feel like you riding a jet and the bike is so so amazing and in highway it's give you 45-50 mileage and the sites is good and this bike have good in build quality and the bike weight is so light. For college students and works it's good bike have good mileage and low maintenance cost so for college students is good. And I am a college student I have less pocket money but I save money from the pocket money.Read More3 3
- roller coaster of emotionsSeeing this bike for the first time on road was nothing short of fabulous and i decided to buy it, the next day only, my personal experience has a lot of ups and down. - week 1 gear shifting was buttery smooth bus after 500kms it got stiff and rigid - mirrors do not suit the bike at all - very impressive performance - 10/10 road presence - suspension is slightly rigid in city commute - riding posture is a mix of sporty and aggressive - engine feels very smooth yet powerful at the same time overall the experience has been great, if you are looking for a bike for daily commute with a punch of power and occasional long rides, would 100% recommend buying it eyes closed, more importantly if you want a bike that makes you smile when you look at it, go for it.Read More11 6
- This bike is awesome and stableI choose this bike because of performance and mileage. Everything is perfect in the bike and the look and design is really awesome. It looks like a racer bike. This bike suit me a lot because I am 5.6. The performance of this bike is really awesome. I can play with this bike and this is really awesome for cruising or for racing because it has high performance gears and stability of the bike is awesome. I will recommend this to buy because I get sufficient mileage for city rides and if I want to go to highway, I can get around 36 to 37 which is really nice for long tours and rides. It comes with very less weight.Read More4 3
- joy ....very bad experienceBuying experience not so good, riding comfort is too bad, look is good, performence is not so good, handle bar and rider body in between distance unmatched, this is very uncomfortable for long drive like 40 to 50 km, its make pressure on hand, build quality also bad, a new bike also make noise from the body part.Read More4 2
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