Yamaha XSR 155 vs Royal Enfield Hunter 350: Fresh Neo-Retro Battle Begins

The neo-retro motorcycle segment in India has gained strong attention over the last few years. Now, with Yamaha finally bringing the XSR 155 to India, the competition in this space has become even more exciting. The bike directly challenges the popular Royal Enfield Hunter 350, which has been a strong choice for a stylish and affordable modern-retro machine. 
 

The Hunter 350 is available in multiple variants starting at Rs 1.38 lakh and going up to Rs 1.67 lakh. Yamaha keeps it straightforward with a single XSR 155 variant priced at Rs 1.50 lakh (ex-showroom). Let’s know more about these bikes in detail. 
 

Design And Styling

Both motorcycles follow a modern-retro theme. However, each brand interprets it in a unique way. The Hunter 350 stays true to Royal Enfield’s classic charm. It carries a round headlamp, retro fuel tank shape, simple tail lamp, and an overall old-school feel.
 

The XSR 155, on the other hand, brings a more youthful and compact design. Its ribbed-pattern seat, slimmer bodywork, and cleaner lines give it a slightly scrambler-like look. In addition, while the Hunter offers seven colour choices, Yamaha keeps it simple with four shades.
 

Features And Equipment

When it comes to features, the XSR 155 scores slightly higher. It comes with a fully digital cluster, Bluetooth connectivity, navigation alerts, LED lighting, traction control, dual-channel ABS, and a USB charging port.
 

The Hunter 350 offers most essentials, including LED lighting in higher variants and dual-channel ABS. However, it does not offer traction control or smartphone notifications. The base Retro variant also skips LED lighting and switches to spoke wheels with tube tyres.
 

Engine And Riding Character

The Hunter 350 uses a 349cc air-cooled engine making 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm. It is tuned for calm and relaxed riding, paired with a 5-speed gearbox.
 

The XSR 155 runs a much smaller 155cc liquid-cooled engine that produces 18.10 bhp and 14.2 Nm. However, it revs higher and feels more energetic at speed. Perhaps the biggest difference here is weight. The XSR weighs just 137 kg, which makes it 44 kg lighter than the Hunter. This factor will strongly influence city riding and handling.
 

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