Top Five 150cc Motorcycles

In India, motorcycles were primarily seen as a mode of transportation but as time passed, technology improved and became more accessible to the discerning buyer. It all started with the arrival of 150cc motorcycles into our market. Slowly, biking became a way of life. Designs evolved, engines became more advanced and now, enthusiasts are spoilt for choice. Here are five motorcycles in the 150cc segment that we think are the most potent and popular ones out there:

Suzuki Gixxer:

Japanese manufacturer Suzuki took quite a bit of time to set themselves up in the 150cc market. Their commuter-focussed 150cc bike, the GS 150 R didn’t exactly set the sales chart on fire- despite coming with a six-speed transmission and a refined engine. This could mainly be attributed to the competition which had started packaging their 150cc bikes in a more stylish and upmarket design. Suzuki learnt from their experience and came up with the rather brilliant looking Gixxer. The bike’s muscular design tastefully complemented the street-fighter look. The bike sports a chiselled tank with extensions on both sides while the rear is dominated by a fat tyre and stubby, dual-outlet exhaust. 

The Gixxer is powered by a 154.9cc SOHC air-cooled engine which puts out 14.8PS of peak power at 8000rpm and 14Nm of maximum torque at 6000rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed transmission which transfers the power to the rear wheel via a chain drive. Suspension duties are carried out by 41mm forks at the front and a seven-step adjustable monoshock at the rear. Disc brake at the front is standard while at the rear, it is optional. The well-balanced chassis, good suspension, and brakes endow the bike with agile handling. That coupled with the low-end torque makes this bike lively to ride both in the city and in the twisties. The Gixxer is priced at Rs 80,528, ex-showroom Delhi for the rear disc variant.

Yamaha FZ-S Version 2.0:

The FZ-S Version 2.0 has a butch looking front thanks to the large muscular fuel tank. It goes well with the split seats, aggressively designed short exhaust and a fat rear tyre. Overall styling is inspired by its bigger cousin, the FZ1 and not surprisingly, the FZ-S went on to become one of the best-sellers for Yamaha and a favourite among enthusiasts. 

The Version 2.0 is equipped with a fuel injected 149cc air-cooled engine which generates 13.2PS of maximum power at 8000rpm and 12.8Nm of peak torque at 6000rpm. Suspension duties are handled by traditional forks at the front and a 7-step preload-adjustable monoshock damper at the rear. Braking is via a disc at the front and drum at the rear. The diamond type frame and a light kerb weight of 132kg endow the bike with agile handling. The FZ-S Version 2.0 is priced at Rs 82,789, ex-showroom Delhi.

Bajaj Pulsar 150:

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With the Pulsar 150, Bajaj was one of the first manufacturers to make a strong impact in the 150cc segment. Back then, modern styling and sporty engine backed flamboyant commercials made the ‘Pulsar’ brand a household name in India. Over the years, the bike underwent a host of improvements to make it more competitive against newer rivals. The 2017 iteration of the Pulsar 150 is equipped with a completely new 149cc air-cooled engine which belts out 14PS at 8000rpm and 13.4Nm at 6000rpm. The engine is paired to a 5-speed transmission which comes with a new low-drag clutch. As a result, it enjoys better acceleration and improved refinement as well. 

The bike is suspended by telescopic forks at the front and 5-way preload adjustable gas-charged shock absorbers at the rear. The motorcycle is reined by a disc brake at the front and drum at the rear. Comfortable ergonomics complemented with a 15-litre fuel tank make this bike a promising tourer as well. Look however remain unchanged with mild improvement over the years.

The Pulsar 150 is priced competitively at an ex-showroom price of Rs 74,603. When it comes to pure bang for the buck, the Pulsar’s positioning in the market is unrivalled.

Honda CB Unicorn:

The CB Unicorn was Honda’s first 150cc motorcycle for India. Developed for this country, the bike came with a smooth 149.2cc air-cooled engine. In its BS4 iteration, the powerplant makes about 12.9PS of power at 8000rpm and 12.8Nm of torque at 5500rpm. Transmission duties are taken care by a slick 5-speed unit. The bike employed telescopic forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear. In fact, the Unicorn was the first commuter bike to be equipped with a monoshock. When it comes to brakes, the front was anchored by a disc and the rear by drum. The 13-litre fuel tank and the frugal engine ensure good range as well.

Supreme refinement, bulletproof build, and supple ride quality enticed more mature buyers who were in the market for a hassle-free commuter. With these traits, the bike became quite a big hit in the premium commuter segment. The Unicorn 150 is priced at an ex-showroom price of Rs 70,267. Despite the conservative looks, the bike still remains as one of the best choices for no-nonsense, reliable commuting.

Yamaha YZF R15 Version 2.0:

Yamaha’s fully faired offering, the YZF R15 Version 2.0 remains the sportiest looking 150cc bike in the market. The split headlamps, split seats, and upswept exhaust give the bike a racy look. With radical styling and modern technology, the bike was introduced in the premium spectrum of the 150cc segment. Yamaha had pushed the bar in the category with the R15, which was the first fully-faired, liquid cooled 150cc bike. The enthusiasts loved the bike’s design and for most owning the bike became the least expensive way to mimic the legendary Valentino Rossi. 

The fairing houses a modern liquid-cooled fuel injected 149cc engine coupled to a 6-speed transmission. With the engine producing 17PS of power at 8500rpm and 15Nm of torque at 7500rpm, the performance matches the looks.  The bike employs telescopic forks at the front and linked type monoshock damper at the rear. Braking duties are done by disc brakes on both ends. The combination of a deltabox chassis; 136kg kerb weight; sticky 90 section front and 130 section rear tyres ensure excellent cornering capabilities. Priced at Rs 1.18 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi, the bike is one of the most affordable, beginner-friendly track-worthy bikes in India.

Also read: 5 Reasons Suzuki Should Get The GSX-R 150 To India