Yamaha Aerox 155

The Yamaha Aerox 155 brings the sporty heritage of Yamaha's iconic R15 to the scooter world. It is the fastest, sportiest, and most expensive scooter in its segment. The scooter is popular in Southeast Asia and seems promising on paper. Let’s see how it performs in the real world:

The Aerox 155 isn't just powerful, it looks amazing too. It might seem small in pictures, but it's actually quite big in real life. The scooter has sharp, sporty lines and a sculpted look. The Aerox 155 has a middle spine that houses the fuel tank and it’s right on the floorboard. 

Its large front is dominated by a sharp split LED headlight and aggressive looking daytime running lights (DRLs). The indicators at the front blend nicely into the design. Towards the mid-section there's a neat X-shaped panel and a cool Aerox graphic. The front is bold, but the rear-end features a simple design with an LED taillight. Some parts, like the air-box cover, look a bit odd, but overall, it is a well-built scooter with good-quality parts. 

The Aerox is available in four colour options: Metallic Black, Racing Blue, Silver and Grey Vermillion. It also gets a special Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Edition.

The Aerox 155 is powered by a 155cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine borrowed from the Yamaha R15, which makes the scooter fast, smooth, and refined. The engine has been tuned to work with an automatic transmission. 

While it might not be super quick in accelerating from the beginning, the Aerox picks up speed quickly once you hit the mid-range, thanks to the VVA (Variable Valve Actuation). This strong mid-range power is handy not just on urban commutes but also for overtaking on the highways. Even when travelling at high speeds, where many scooters struggle, the Aerox 155 keeps going strong and easily reaches speeds above 100kmph. We even saw it hit 120kmph during our tests.

What's really impressive is how composed and stable it feels, not just at high speeds but all the time. The Aerox is also very refined, though you might notice a negligible vibration on the floorboard.

Thanks to its agile nature, the Yamaha Aerox 155 handles very well and changes directions quickly. It is stable and easy to lean into corners, with its 140-section tyre ensuring you have enough grip on the road. This makes it fun to ride whether you are riding around twisty mountain roads or in busy city traffic. The riding position is commanding, which enhances the handling dynamics and makes you feel that you are riding a motorcycle.

The ride quality can be harsh, though, especially on rough roads and potholes. The stock suspension setup is too firm and even small bumps and potholes can make the scooter feel unsettled. Yamaha offers an option of an adjustable rear suspension, but it comes at a premium of Rs 17,000. And, while it's decent for short rides, the firm riding experience might be a bit tough for longer journeys, especially on Indian roads which are full of bumps and potholes.

The Yamaha Aerox 155 cannot be called very comfortable as the seat padding is firm and the suspension setup is a bit too stiff for the Indian roads. Getting on the scooter feels more like getting on a motorcycle as you have to swing your leg over the seat because of its spine. It  limits the footboard space and might feel strange at first but you get used to it eventually and can even hug the spine with your legs like you hold a bike's fuel tank. The riding posture is upright, like on a motorcycle, and the tall handlebar makes U-turns easy. 

But if you are tall then your knee might hit the front and while the rear-view mirrors may look good, they are not very useful as they do not offer a wide view. The 790mm seat height is a bit tall for a scooter and can be a bit challenging for shorter riders. The Aerox is quite heavy for a scooter, weighing at a kerb weight of 126kg, which can make parking a bit tricky.

The Yamaha Aerox 155 comes equipped with an all-LED lighting setup. It features a fully digital negative LCD instrument console with smartphone connectivity and offers call and SMS alerts, and a phone battery indicator. However, the instrument console isn't easy to see while riding and lacks turn-by-turn navigation. The console displays info such as the speedometer, odometer, tripmeter, fuel gauge, traction control, VVA, digital clock and other basic readouts. The layout is tidy, but having twin tachometer/rev counters seems unnecessary.

The Yamaha Aerox 155 features a traction control system, which helps stop the wheels from slipping on slippery surfaces. You can easily switch riding modes on the go, thanks to a mode button. There's a handy multi-function key slot and a switch nearby to access the underseat storage and fuel cap. The Aerox 155 comes with a large 24.5-litre boot space. Additionally, the Aerox 155 also boasts a silent starter motor and a side-stand engine cut-off.

The Yamaha Aerox 155 costs Rs 1.47 lakh (ex-showroom), making it quite an expensive scooter. It is not the most practical choice, but the Aerox 155 is a unique, exciting, and fun scooter to have. Yamaha went for a bold approach with the Aerox, offering something different and youthful. If you really want to buy the scooter then you have to deal with the firm suspension, which can also be upgraded to adjustable rear suspension later.

What makes the Aerox 155 special is that it feels more like a motorcycle than a scooter. It's thrilling and has that Yamaha performance feel. Moreover, convincing your parents to buy a scooter might be easier than convincing them to buy a high-performance motorcycle like the KTM RC 200 or R15.