Yamaha EC-06 vs Yamaha XSR 155 Comparison

By partnering with River, Yamaha bypassed years of ground-up development with the EC-06. The manufacturer took an already established utility scooter and polished it further so that it meets global standards. Admittedly, it is not the fastest scooter in its segment, nor is it the most technologically advanced. It also loses out on the massive storage space and demands a steep premium for the Yamaha badge. However, in return, it offers stable rides, a well-calibrated throttle response, and the ability to navigate past broken roads with its 14-inch wheels.

As Amaan summarises,

“It is unrivalled in the fact that it gets a 14-inch wheel at both ends, which no one among Bajaj, TVS, Ather, Hero MotoCorp, Honda and Suzuki currently offers.”

The Yamaha XSR 155 is one bold move from the Japanese brand, being a neo-retro offering that proves that classic aesthetics can coexist with good performance and dynamics. This machine is genuinely fun when you push its throttle hard, and it handles most of the riding stuff well, such as braking confidence or superbly executed corners.

Sure, it has its flaws, as any other motorcycle does. For instance, the stiff ride quality may annoy some, while the switchgear plastics do not feel like they belong on a premium motorcycle at all. The seating is also focused on making the rider comfortable, not the pillion; the latter suffers during long trips.

But if you are a solo rider in love with the vintage aesthetic but dislike the heavy, lazy nature of traditional classic bikes, the XSR 155 presents the perfect middle ground. It gives you the raw excitement of a proper sports bike, cleverly disguised as a retro beauty.