Honda makes something really similar, the CB150R for the Southeast Asian markets. While the comparison between this bike and the XSR155 was really cut-to-cut, the XSR155 also goes up against another equally good-looking retro bike from Honda.

Enter the Honda CB190SS. It's a China-only model, and here's a visual comparison between this bike and our very own XSR:

Design

Both bikes look quite retro, but we think the Honda CB190SS really brings the nostalgia factor out, thanks to the usage of spoke wheels, and brown contoured seat. The simple paint schemes without any fancy graphics also add to the retro charm. Honda has also added in brush metal finished side-covers neatly hiding the intake. It goes well with the side panels, and makes the bike look upmarket. Lastly, the chrome-finished exhaust end-can is a detail that is hard to miss.

The Yamaha XSR155, on the other hand, feels a bit more modern thanks to the alloy wheels and the blacked out exhaust-end can. The design of the Yamaha XSR155 leans more into the neo-retro domain than properly classic.

Engine

The Yamaha XSR155 is powered by a 155cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which produces 18.4PS and 14.2Nm. The engine looks quite modern but the lack of cooling fins makes it feel out of place in a retro bike. But then again, that's something one can overlook considering the fun-filled performance this engine offers.

The Honda CB190SS is powered by a 184.4cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine which produces 16.8PS and 16Nm. It may not be as performance-packed as the Yamaha but looks more tasteful because of the cooling fins. We'd have liked it if Honda had taken it a bit further with a full chrome finish on the powertrain.

Underpinnings

The slightly angled tail section of the Honda CB190SS makes it look sportier and a bit more rugged. The Yamaha XSR155 with the flat seat has a more retro feel to it.

The Honda CB190SS, as mentioned earlier, gets a spoke wheel setup whereas the Yamaha XSR155 has alloy wheels. In the real world, the XSR's alloy wheels with tubeless tyres will make it easier to deal with punctures than the CB190SS' spoke wheels with tube tyres. But we have to admit, the vintage charm of spoke wheels is simply unbeatable.

The Honda CB190SS also has a beefier fuel-tank, with a capacity of 15.3 litres which should offer a good touring range. The XSR155, on the other hand, has a slimmer-looking tank that can hold only 10-litres. This means you'll have to refuel more often on long tours.

Lastly, the Honda CB190SS gets a petal disc brake setup at both ends, which should help with better heat dissipation than conventional discs. That said, the braking performance in the real world depends on not only the disc size but also the type of caliper as well as the bike's weight. Both bikes come with street tyres.

Features

The Yamaha XSR155 gets a single-pod negatively-lit LCD console. The console has a clean layout and also gets smartphone connectivity for call/SMS alerts.

The Honda CB190SS gets an asymmetrical twin-pod semi-digital console with a white background, and an analogue tachometer. We particularly liked this one over the XSR's more modern all-digital cluster.

Verdict

While the CB190SS looks as neat as the XSR in terms of old-school styling, Honda has the advantage of cost as its engine is relatively simpler with air-cooling. If Honda were to bring this bike in India, it should be able to undercut the XSR, and enthusiasts looking for an affordable, Japanese retro bike will really appreciate this one.

Objectively speaking, the Yamaha XSR155 is a fantastic value-for-money bike with Japanese engineering that you can simply not go wrong with. It offers great performance, has just about vintage charm, ticking all the right boxes for fans who like all things 90s. In fact, Yamaha has started the deliveries of the XSR155, and you can check out our detailed EMI cost breakdown of the new Yamaha retro bike.