Top 5 Retro Bikes Under Rs 1.5 Lakh In India

With the launch of the XSR155, it is pretty clear that us Indians want modern classic and neo-retro bikes. Many brands including Yamaha, Royal Enfield, TVS, and even Kawasaki offer affordable bikes that combine heritage-inspired styling with modern underpinnings. Below are the top 5 entry level retro themed bikes currently on sale in India:

1. Yamaha XSR155

Price: Rs 1,49,990 (ex-showroom)

The recently launched Yamaha XSR155 delivers a genuine retro-cool aesthetic in a compact package. It is powered by a 155cc, liquid-cooled (only one here), single-cylinder engine that puts out 18.4PS and 14.2Nm. The six-speed gearbox includes a slipper clutch. This Yamaha bike returns a claimed 45.5kmpl and has a fuel tank capacity of 10 litres.

The seat height is 810mm, and the kerb weight is just 137kg, making the Yamaha XSR155 easy to maneuver. The motor and many other components are shared with the Yamaha R15 V4 and Yamaha MT-15 V2. It comes with a fully digital instrument console, Bluetooth connectivity, LED headlight, and dual-channel ABS. It’s for riders who want that typical retro look, but with thoroughly modern underpinnings.

2. Royal Enfield Hunter 350

Price: Rs 1,37,640 to Rs 1,66,883 (ex-showroom)

The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is a proper classic roadster, powered by a relaxed 349cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled thumper mated to a 5-speed transmission. It makes 20.5PS and 27Nm lower down in the rev range, just like the Royal Enfield Classic 350. This Royal Enfield bike delivers an ARAI claimed mileage of 36kmpl, and holds 13 litres of fuel.

Seat height is modest at 790mm, and the kerb weight is 177-181 kg, depending on the variant. Safety comes via dual-channel ABS, the bike offers a mix of analog and digital instrumentation. It’s the entry point into the Royal Enfield brand, and a very cool looking one at that.

3. TVS Ronin

Price: Rs 1,24,790 to Rs 1,59,390 (ex-showroom)

The TVS Ronin is a mash-up of a neo-retro cruiser, scrambler, and roadster – TVS calls it an ‘unscripted’ ride. It has a 225.9cc, single-cylinder, air-and-oil cooled mill that makes 20.4PS and 19.9 Nm, paired to a 5-speed gearbox. This TVS bike claims a mileage of  42.95kmpl, and has a 14-litre fuel tank. The seat height is 795mm, and kerb weight is 160kg – which are both more than manageable figures.

Key features include dual-channel ABS, a fully digital console with Bluetooth, ride modes, turn-by-turn navigation, and voice assist. It’s a well-balanced urban commuter with a lot of useful features, while looking like nothing else on the road.

4. Yamaha FZ-X

Price: Rs 1,19,194 to Rs 1,37,533 (ex-showroom)

Yamaha makes a return on this list with the FZ-X, it has a rugged neo-retro, scrambler-inspired look with upright ergonomics. The standard version uses a 149cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine (shared with all other Yamaha FZ bikes). This unit churns out 12.4PS and 13.3Nm, the hybrid version adds an Smart Motor Generator (SMG) with mild-hybrid functionality for better mileage.

The Yamaha FZ-X Hybrid claims a mileage of 53kmpl, and has a 10-litre fuel tank. The kerb weight is 141kg and seat height 810mm – both pretty modest figures. It features an LED headlamp, single-channel ABS, USB charger, and an LCD cluster with smartphone connectivity (in hybrid trim). This is the bike for those who want mileage with the butch looks to match it.

5. Kawasaki W175

Price: Rs 1,13,000 to Rs 1,25,000 (ex-showroom)

The Kawasaki W175 is properly old-school – quite literally. Its 177cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine produces 13PS and 13.2Nm, with 5 gears. This Kawasaki bike has a 12-litre tank and claimed mileage between 40-45kmpl. With a seat height of 790mm and kerb weight of 135kg, it’s the lightest on this list.

The W175 uses a simple setup: a double-cradle steel frame, telescopic front fork, twin rear shocks, single-channel ABS, analog-digital instrumentation, and a halogen headlight. It’s for riders who want a vintage…err ‘classic’ bike that looks like it’s actually from the 1990s.