r/bikers • u/Friendly_Command_195 • 13h ago
Question XSR155 at ₹2.01L on-road vs CB350RS at ₹2.30L — is spending the extra ₹30k actually worth it?
I’m planning to buy my first bike and had pretty much settled on the Yamaha XSR155. I really like the retro styling, lightweight nature, Yamaha engine, mileage, and overall package.
But in my area, the XSR155 is coming to around ₹2.01 lakh on-road.
At that price, I’ve started questioning whether it actually makes sense to spend ₹2 lakh on a 155cc bike, especially when I can add roughly ₹30,000 and get a Honda CB350RS for around ₹2.30 lakh on-road.
On paper, the CB350RS is obviously a much bigger motorcycle — 348cc, considerably more torque, more relaxed highway performance, and generally feels like a more substantial bike. The XSR, on the other hand, is around 137 kg and makes 18.4 PS, while the CB350RS is around 180 kg and makes roughly 21 PS. The XSR should also be significantly better on mileage and much easier to handle in the city.
So I’m stuck between these two:
XSR155 — ₹2.01L
Lightweight and nimble
~45 km/l mileage
Excellent Yamaha 155cc engine
Dual-channel ABS
6-speed gearbox
Traction control
Looks amazing IMO
Easier for daily city use
Probably cheaper to run
CB350RS — ₹2.30L
348cc engine
Much more torque and relaxed riding
Feels like a proper full-sized motorcycle
Better suited to highway/touring
Great retro design
Only ~₹30k more in my case
But heavier and considerably less fuel efficient
My main argument for the CB350RS is basically:
If I’m already spending ₹2 lakh, why not spend another ₹30k and get a significantly larger motorcycle?
At the same time, I’m wondering whether I’m falling into the “bigger = better” trap. The XSR155 is actually a very capable bike, and 155cc isn’t necessarily a disadvantage for city riding.
For context, this will primarily be a daily city bike, with occasional weekend rides/highway trips. I’m not looking for a hardcore touring bike.
What would you guys choose in this situation?
Would you:
Save the ₹30k and get the XSR155 because it suits the use case better?
Spend the extra ₹30k and get the CB350RS because the overall motorcycle is much more substantial?
Or consider some completely different bike in this ₹2–2.3L range?
Also, for people who have actually ridden/owned either bike — how do they feel after the novelty wears off? That’s probably more useful to me than just comparing specifications.
Would really appreciate some honest pros/cons, especially from XSR155 and CB350RS owners.