Does bigger really mean better?
Hero MotoCorp recently launched the 2025 Karizma XMR 210 in India. The motorcycle now gets 2 more variants along with hardware changes which makes it slightly more premium than before. According to the pricing the motorcycle competes directly with the Yamaha R15 V4. Lets compare the specs of these fully faired sports motorcycles.
Engine
|
Specifications |
Hero Karizma XMR 210 |
Yamaha R15 V4 |
|
Engine |
210cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled |
155cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled |
|
Power |
25.5PS at 9,250rpm |
18.4PS at 10,000rpm |
|
Torque |
20.4Nm at 7,250rpm |
14.2Nm at 7,500rpm |
|
Gearbox |
6-speed |
6-speed |
In this comparison, the Hero Karizma XMR 210 gets a much bigger engine and makes 7.1PS and 6.2Nm more than the R15 V4. Thanks to that, the 210 does 0-100kmph in 11.06 seconds, whereas the R15 does it in 13.25s (both as tested). This should mean the Karizma feels a lot easier to ride on an everyday basis.
Underpinnings
|
Specifications |
Hero Karizma XMR 210 |
Yamaha R15 V4 |
|
Frame |
Steel Trellis Frame |
Deltabox Frame |
|
Front Suspension |
37mm Telescopic Fork / 37mm Inverted Fork |
Inverted Fork |
|
Rear Suspension |
Monoshock with preload adjustability |
Monoshock |
|
Front Brake |
300mm petal disc |
282mm disc |
|
Rear Brake |
230mm petal disc |
220mm disc |
|
Front Tyre |
100/80-17 |
100/80-17 |
|
Rear Tyre |
140/70-17 |
140/70-17 |
Both of these bikes have an inverted fork except for the Base variant of the Karizma XMR 210. Though the R15 V4 misses out on manual preload adjustment at the rear, the linked monoshock allows for a comfortable ride. Other than this, both of these motorcycles get 17-inch alloy wheels and have the same tyre sizes. The Karizma XMR 210 gets slightly bigger petal disc brakes which should result in better braking performance overall.
Dimensions
|
Specifications |
Hero Karizma XMR 210 |
Yamaha R15 V4 |
|
Wheelbase |
1351mm |
1325mm |
|
Ground Clearance |
160mm |
170mm |
|
Fuel tank capacity |
11 litres |
11 litres |
|
Seat height |
810mm |
815mm |
|
Kerb weight |
163.5gg kerb |
141kg kerb |
The major difference between the two sports bikes is the kerb weight. The R15 is 22.5kg lighter than the Karizma XMR 210, which is quite a lot. This should make it a lot more easy to handle on a day-to-day basis and should help the 155cc motorcycle in performing slightly better overall. Surprisingly, the more aggressive R15 has a 170mm ground clearance which is 10mm more than the Karizma.
Features
|
Specifications |
Hero Karizma XMR 210 |
Yamaha R15 V4 |
|
Console |
LCD and 4.2-inch TFT |
LCD |
|
Lights |
All LED |
All LED |
|
Ride Modes |
No |
Street and Track |
|
ABS |
Dual channel |
Dual channel |
|
Traction Control |
No |
Switchable |
|
Quickshifter |
No |
Yes (upshifts only) |
In terms of features, both of these motorcycles offer a usable set of features for daily riding. The Yamaha R15 has an upper hand as it gets 2 ride modes, switchable traction control and a quickshifter. Some features are common between the two, like smartphone connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation which makes them convenient to ride.
Price And Verdict
|
Hero Karizma XMR 210 Variants |
Price |
Yamaha R15 V4 |
Price |
|
Base |
Rs 1,81,400 |
Metallic Red |
Rs 1,84,400 |
|
Top |
Rs 1,99,750 |
Dark Knight |
Rs 1,85,400 |
|
Combat Edition |
Rs 2,01,500 |
Intensity White |
Rs 1,89,400 |
|
Racing Blue |
|||
|
Vivid Magenta Metallic |
|||
The base variant of the Karizma is more affordable than the Yamaha by Rs 3,000. The Top variant and Combat Edition of the Karizma are more expensive than all the variants of the R15 V4.
If outright power and performance is what you need, the Karizma is a clear winner between the two bikes. However, the R15 is a much more fun bike overall. It’s just marginally slower than the 210, but it more than makes up for lack of power with its cornering abilities. The R15 loves going around corners and can change directions at a drop of a dime. It also offers more features, which add to the riding experience.
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