KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Hero Karizma launched at Rs. 1.73 lakhs ex-showroom
- Rivals the Yamaha R15 in the segment
- Specs, Dimensions, Features, and Price compared
After much hype, the Hero Karizma XMR 210 is finally launched in India at an introductory price of Rs. 1,72,900 ex-showroom. Reviving the iconic Karizma moniker is a masterstroke by the brand as it already enjoys a cult following. With a 210cc engine and plenty of practical and segment-first features on board, this motorcycle already looks like hitting a sweet spot. But it is not the only one eying the segment. It directly rivals the Yamaha R15 V4 for the top spot.
While the Yamaha R15 sits at a slightly lower level in terms of power and engine capacity, they still compete in somewhat the same category. So, let's look at how they both fare against each other.
Dimensions
| Karizma XMR 210 | Yamaha R15 | |
| Seat Height | 810 mm | 815 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1351 mm | 1325 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 160 mm | 170 mm |
| Kerb Weight | 163.5 kg | 141 kg |
In straight-up numeric terms, the Yamaha R15 is the higher of the two. You sit at 815 mm height, an extra 5mm. On the flipside, Karizma XMR 210 gets a longer wheelbase by 26mm at 1351 mm. Also, the Karizma is heavier than the R15 by 22.5 kgs. However, when you talk about ground clearance, the Yamaha takes the lead by a margin of 10 mm at 170mm.
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Engine
| Karizma XMR 210 | Yamaha R15 | |
| Engine | 210 cc | 155 cc |
| Power | 25.5 hp @9250 rpm | 18.4 hp@ 10,000 rpm |
| Torque | 20.4 Nm @ 7250 rpm | 14.2 Nm @ 7500 rpm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed |
Engine capacity is something that is one of the major differences between these two. While the Karizma gets a 210 cc liquid-cooled engine, R15 on the other hand employs a smaller 155cc unit. Also, it evidently results in different power figures as well where Hero claims that the figures of Karizma are the highest in its segment.
The Karizma XMR 210 puts out a segment-leading power of 25.5PS @ 9250 rpm along with the highest torque in its segment, 20.4 Nm @7250 rpm. The R15, on the other hand, puts out 18.4 hp@ 10,000 rpm and a torque of 14.2 Nm @ 7500 rpm.
Features
Featuring an adjustable windscreen, seamless Bluetooth integration for turn-by-turn navigation, and a comprehensive all-LED automatic headlamp with the Karizma helps it to score some extra brownie points. As a result, the Karizma XMR unquestionably stands out as a motorcycle abundant in advanced attributes, In contrast, among these bikes, the Yamaha R15 V4 uniquely offers a traction control system and a quick shifter over the Hero Karizma XMR 210.
The Yamaha uses the Y-Connect app whereas the Karizma also uses Bluetooth connectivity to offer connected tech for various alerts like calls, messaging, and more. However, the Yamaha smartphone connectivity offers more features like last parked location, maintenance alert, malfunction alert, and more on your smartphone, making it a two-way interaction.
On top of this, both get a slip-and-assist clutch, and a dual-channel ABS, fully digital instrument cluster that displays various ride-related information such as fuel, odometer, speed, trip, and more. But with several segment-first features with Hero Karizma and a few misses when compared to its Yamaha opponent, both play on an almost level playing field when it comes to features on board.
Price
| Karizma XMR 210 | Yamaha R15 | |
| Price | Rs. 1.73 lakhs (introductory) | Rs. 1.82 to 1.87 lakhs |
Coming to the retail tags of these two bikes, the Hero Karizma comes out as the more economical option. With an introductory ex-showroom price of Rs. 1.73 lakhs, it is almost Rs 9,000 more affordable than the Yamaha R15. R15's ex-showroom price swings between ex-showroom Rs. 1.82 to 1.87 lakhs depending on the variant. However, after the phasing out of the introductory price, the Yamaha R15 will gain the tag of being more economical as the Karizma will get to Rs. 1.83 lakhs starting price.
Verdict
While the comparison between the two was bound to happen, the Karizma XMR stands out as the more powerful, more feature rich, as well as more economical than the R15. However, after the phasing out of introductory price, Yamaha R15 will gain the tag of being more affordable, although, by just around a 1,000 rupees in ex-showroom price. Also, join our Whatsapp Group Community of petrolheads to find out more exciting news like this.
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