Yamaha R15 Version 3.0 and the new Honda CBR150R are the closest possible rivals for 150cc premium performance segment. The R15 V3 made its official debut in India @ Auto Expo 2018 while the new CBR150R is still under the expected list of products for India. Honda has a great chance here as they could revive the CBR150R in India and bring some real competition to similarly priced bikes.
As Yamaha R15 V3 has been priced at INR 1.27 lakh (ex-showroom), one can expect Honda to place this interesting CBR150R slightly lower for better competition. Honda has brought the quarter-liter CBR250R back and thus, chances of CBR150R’s revival are now an all-time high.
Comparison: New CBR150R vs R15 V3
# Design & Style
This section is more of a personal choice but one can see that Honda CBR150R is more road-friendly in nature. R15 is inspired from bigger R series bikes and thus, hunger to take on a track is clearly seen in its design. Shade options on CBR150R include Red, Black, White and MotoGP inspired Orange while R15 V3 is available in Racing Blue and Thunder Gray shade in India. The latter is available with every dealer while exact time frame is not mentioned by Honda.
Technical Specification Comparison
| Yamaha R15 V3 | Honda CBR150R | |
| Displacement | 155.1 cc | 149.16 cc |
| Transmission | 6-Speed | 6-Speed |
| No. of Cylinders | 1-Cylinder | 1-Cylinder |
| Max. Power | 19.3 HP @ 10,000 rpm | 17.1 HP @ 9000 rpm |
| Max. Torque | 15 Nm @ 8500 rpm | 14.4 NM @ 7000 rpm |
| Fuel Supply | Fuel Injection | Fuel Injection |
| Engine Cooling | Liquid-Cooled | Liquid-Cooled |
| Top Speed | 144 kmph (Speedo Indicated) | 135 kmph (Speedo Indicated) |
| Mileage | 35-45 kmpl (Approx.) | 35-45 kmpl (Approx.) |
# Engine & Performance
The last generation CBR150R was more powerful than R15 V2 but this story takes a turn with R15 Version 3.0. It is definitely more powerful than any other existing road legal 150cc bike around the globe. R15 V3 develops max. power and max. torque of 19.3 HP @ 10,000 rpm and 15 Nm @ 8500 rpm respectively. CBR150R, on the other hand, comes with 17.1 HP @ 9000 rpm and 14.4 NM @ 7000 rpm of torque. It weighs 4 kg less in comparison to 139 kg wet weight of R15 V3. More or less, it requires an experienced rider to beat R15 V3 while riding the New CBR150R.
Dimensions & Weight
| Yamaha R15 V3 | Honda CBR150R | |
| Length | 1990 mm | 1983 mm |
| Width | 725 mm | 694 mm |
| Height | 1135 mm | 1038 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1325 mm | 1311 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 170 mm | 166 mm |
| Seat Height | 815 mm | 787 mm |
| Kerb Weight | 139 kg | 135 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 11 litres | 12 litres |
# Equipment Comparison
R15 V3 comes with LED lights, telescopic suspension and dual disc brakes without ABS while CBR150R also has the same sort of equipment options. Disc brakes on R15 are bigger and same could also be said for a 140/70-17 rear wheel of R15 V3. CBR150R comes with better rider seat height as average Indian rider will never need to struggle for a full feet touch. R15 Version 3.0 comes with 815 mm of seat height and thus, many will leave the idea of buying due to a higher placed seat.
# Instrument Console
Yamaha R15 V3 comes with a white back-lit display that offers gear indicator, odometer, speedometer and other options while CBR150R comes with a blue back-lit digital console with an almost same number of features and different positioning of elements. Both bikes were earlier offered with analog-digital consoles.
Wheels & Tyres
| Yamaha R15 V3 | Honda CBR150R | |
| Front Tyre | 100/80-17 | 100/80-17 |
| Rear Tyre | 140/70-17 | 130/70-17 |
| Front Wheel | 17-inch | 17-inch |
| Rear Wheel | 17-inch | 17-inch |
Brakes & Suspension
| Yamaha R15 V3 | Honda CBR150R | |
| Brakes (F) | 282 mm Disc | 276 mm Disc |
| Brakes (R) | 220 mm Disc | 220 mm Disc |
| Suspension (F) | Telescopic Forks | Telescopic Forks |
| Suspension (R) | Mono-Shock | Mono-Shock |
| Anti-Lock Braking System | No ABS | No ABS |
*The India-spec R15 V3 doesn’t come with USD Forks.
# Verdict
We are not sure whether Honda CBR150R will launch in India or not. If it comes at the right time, buyers are suggested to choose one of them according to their needs. Strict speed lovers who ride once a week on track should blindly go for R15 V3. Those who ride for the leisurely purpose should consider Honda CBR150R as it offers the best power to weight ratio in the everyday rpm range. Pricing will further decide the fate of CBR150R in India as higher displacement products are available at impressive prices.