Yamaha XSR 155 vs Honda Unicorn: Detailed Comparison

You want to get a good bike under Rs 1.5 lakh: one with proper japanese engineering that should handle your everyday commutes. Your eyes are drawn towards the newly-launched Yamaha XSR 155. The neo-retro looks are too good for you to resist. But your dad insists on getting the Unicorn. It was a popular commuter back in his day and he loves the fact that the Honda still has resemblances to the older one (and is still pretty well-known). 

So who’s right and who’s wrong? Should the trusty and reliable Honda Unicorn be bought or should you bet on the new age XSR 155? Well, here we’ll help you make that very decision: 

Price & Variants

• The pricing is the first point your dad will score in this battle. Parents like things that are value for money, and the Unicorn definitely is. In fact, with its mileage, the money that you save could very well pay for 2 years of fuel. Sure, it may not be as affordable as it was back then, but when the average price of sporty 125cc bikes are already over Rs 1 lakh, the Unicorn’s price seems fair. 

• The Yamaha bike doesn’t cost outrageously high though. And for the extra money it charges over the Unicorn, it is offering more as well, but we’ll get to that later. 

• So if one bike has to win the price segment, it is the Honda bike. 

Dimensions & Design 

• Both bikes are compact, accessible, and easy to ride for people of all shapes and sizes. That said, given the XSR’s sporty roots, its high footpegs might make tall people feel a bit cramped. The  Unicorn, that way, is a lot more accommodating and comfortable. 

• In terms of design, the Unicorn looks like a commuter, but a more premium one rather than a basic one. The big headlight, attractive colour schemes, and small chrome elements here and there make it a handsome bike. While its design hasn’t changed much over the years, it’s exactly what its target audience want: the familiarity factor. 

• The XSR, meanwhile, is noticeably more compact. Its round headlight, console, and overall  design do make it look retro. 

Features & Safety

• The XSR has everything you could think of at this price point and in this segment, and then some more. We just wish that Yamaha offered the quickshifter that it offers on the Yamaha R15 V4 as an optional accessory on the XSR as well. 

• The Honda is a value for money bike, and one of the reasons is because it’s quite a simple, bare bones motorcycle. There aren’t any features to boast about and all it has is a digital console and single-channel ABS. That said, the console has a gear position indicator and a mileage indicator. We would’ve liked it if Honda had given dual-channel ABS, at least as a variant. 

Engines

• On paper, the XSR has a smaller engine but that’s only half the story. Firstly, it’s a liquid-cooled motor, so it makes significantly more power than the Unicorn. It’s also the same engine from the  R15 which we quite adore because of how hard you can ride it. 

• It’ll give you all the good feelings of a sporty engine without having to go at a speed that makes you an anti-social element on our roads. In short, if you want anything sporty, this engine will delight you. 

• The Unicorn’s commuter roots continue here too. Its engine has torque and feels smooth and pleasant to use in the city. But start revving it out and riding it hard, and it’ll feel a bit buzzy and you will know it’s not as happy. The engine will let you know that it was primarily made for gentle commuting and not aggressive riding. 

Verdict 

The Yamaha XSR 155 is a better bike than the Honda Unicorn in many ways: it’s more exciting, handles highway stints better, has more features, doesn’t have an exorbitant price tag and is still reasonably fuel efficient. It also feels more modern and premium than the Unicorn. These should hopefully be enough to convince your dad that the extra money spent on the XSR 155 could very well be worth it.

That said, it doesn’t make the Unicorn a bad bike. It may look dated to some, but it’s been as dependable as a motorcycle can ever get. It’s fuel efficient, comfortable and quite refined too, as long as you’re not riding aggressively. If you’re buying a bike strictly for commuting, and are on a strict budget, the Unicorn is a great option that’s hard to go wrong with. 

XSR 155 Vs rivals: 

• Get the TVS Ronin over the Yamaha XSR 155 if you want a more comfortable bike suited for daily commuting.
• The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 is bigger, more muscular, and has more old school charm than the XSR 155. 
• If you want a proper retro roadster, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 makes more sense than the Yamaha XSR.
• You should consider the Yamaha FZ-X over the XSR mainly if comfort is your top priority.
• If you prefer the aggressive styling of a modern streetfighter, the Yamaha MT-15 makes a stronger case than the Yamaha XSR 155.
• While the XSR 155 is more comfortable than the Yamaha R15, the R15 V4 offers a proper sportbike experience.
• If the Honda CB150R was on sale in India, it would have been a close rival to the Yamaha XSR.
• The XSR feels slightly more exciting to ride than the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V.
• The Honda CB190SS is not available in India, which makes the Yamaha the default option.
• Other XSR155 alternatives in the same price bracket are listed here.