Yamaha FZ-X VS Kawasaki W175 Street: Image Comparison

Which bike should you go for?

The Yamaha FZ-X is a neo-retro commuter bike from Yamaha and goes up against the Kawasaki W175 Street, which is more of a retro-roadster offering. In this image comparison, we will be explaining the differences between the two and also going over what each has to offer.

Design

When looking at both bikes, it is quite clear that Yamaha and Kawasaki decided to take completely different approaches to design. 

The Yamaha FZ-X has what can be best described as a neo-retro design. At the front, the bike features a round LED headlight with LED DRLs surrounding it. The front fork has been neatly covered with fork gaiters. The fuel tank has that teardrop shape but is sculpted at the ends, with metal FZ-X badging on both sides. The overall looks though, are polarising. Many of us didn’t particularly like it but if someone really wants to stand out in terms of design, they might just fancy it.

Kawasaki W175 Street keeps the design and styling as old school as possible. At the front, the bike features a round halogen headlight and bulb-type indicators. Even the W175’s suspension has been neatly covered with fork gaiters. The fuel tank is a tear drop shaped one and the two colour schemes offer some stylish graphics as well. The bike also gets a peashooter exhaust and the design overall feels quite authentic and retro.

In the end, design and looks are subjective. If you’re someone who is looking for a retro look and feel then the W175 Street will be the bike for you. But if you’re someone who leans more towards that neo-retro vibe then the Yamaha FZ-X will make more sense.

Engine

The Yamaha FZ-X is powered by a 149cc air-cooled single cylinder engine which produces 12.4PS and 13.3Nm. Whereas the Kawasaki W175 gets a 177cc air-cooled, single cylinder engine which produces 13PS and 13.2Nm. So in terms of power and performance both motorcycles are quite similar and you won’t really feel the difference in the real world.

Underpinnings

Both the Yamaha FZ-X and the Kawasaki W175 Street are built on a single-cradle frame, but the suspension setup is a bit different. While the FZ-X has a monoshock, the W175 comes with twin shock absorbers.

Both bikes have 17-inch wheels, with alloy wheels. When looking at tyre sizes, the FZ-X has an advantage here as it rolls on 100-section front and 140-section rear, block pattern tyres. The W175 on the other hand rolls on 80-section front and 100-section rear road biased tyres.

When taking the brakes into account, we can see that the FZ-X gets 282mm front and 220mm rear disc brakes with single-channel ABS. Braking duties on the W175 are handled by a 270mm front disc and a 110mm rear drum. 

Features

The Yamaha FZ-X has a lot more to offer in terms of features. The bike comes with a fully digital instrument console which provides readouts like speed, time, tachometer readouts along with odometer and tripmeter readouts. It also gets smartphone connectivity and related features such as call/SMS alerts via the Yamaha Y-connect app. 

What’s more surprising is that Yamaha has also brought a traction control system to this bike, which for a 150cc segment bike seems a bit unnecessary

The W175 Street on the other hand is a bit more basic and doesn’t bring much to the table. The bike has a basic analogue speedometer with a digital inset that displays fuel level, time, tripmeter and odometer readouts. The bike also has that authentic old school vibe thanks to the tell-tale lights. 

Which one should you buy?

The Kawasaki W175 Street costs Rs 1,35,000 (ex-showroom) and the Yamaha FX-X’s prices start at Rs 1,36,200 (ex-showroom Delhi). Which bike you should go for depends on what you are looking for. If you want something that has the retro appeal but also has the practicality that one can get from alloy wheels (and hence tubeless tyres) then the W175 is a good choice.

But if you are someone who is looking for better features and hardware, at the same price range then the Yamaha FZ-X will be a better choice. The bike is able to offer a lot more features and also comes with brakes and tyres that sound better.