Yamaha Aerox Review: Fast and Fun with R15 at Heart!

This is a detailed review of the new Yamaha Aerox 155.

Yamaha Aerox is a brand new take on the scooter segment, in hopes of offering more than just a commuting scooter.

Aerox is Yamaha’s second attempt to introduce a maxi-scooter for the Nepali market.

Yamaha Nepal did try to shake things up with the Yamaha NMax. However, things didn’t quite work out as it was intended.

Unlike the NMax, the Aerox 155 leans heavily into the Yamaha DNA, solidifying itself as the “X Factor” in style, performance, and features.

However, it comes at an asking price of Rs. 4.99 Lakhs, making it one of the most expensive scooters in the market right now.

So, what does Yamaha Aerox bring to the table? And, is it enough to entice people to take on the world of maxi-scooters?

That is what we are here to find out!

This is the full review of the Yamaha Aerox 155.

Yamaha Aerox 155 Review

Maxi Scooter Styling

Yamaha Aerox 155 takes the maxi-scooter styling to a whole another level.

A typical maxi-scooter sports an asymmetric design, which may be polarizing for some. However, the Yamaha Aerox does justice to the traditional concept while focusing on symmetry.

Built on a “Heart-Shaking Speedster” design concept, the key design highlights include a large body size with athletic proportions and an X-center motif.

It has all the hallmarks expected in a performance scooter.

The front section has an aggressive profile thanks to its Dual LED Headlamp with an Eye-Brow like LED DRLs. It has good nighttime visibility, especially the high beam, with a satisfying throw.

The side indicator has been positioned under the headlamp, integrated within the apron. However, these indicators are simple halogens.

Coming to the side profile, it ditches the traditional scooter styling.

Instead, it sports a Fuel Filler at the front.

While it does improve the practicality, it reduces the practical space expected from a scooter. And, it also misses out on Luggage Hooks!

To compensate for that, Aerox includes a Glove Box with a 12V Charging Socket.

The overall side styling is very appealing.

Other notable details include the Lack of a Double Stand, Sportier Graphics, Integrated Pillion Grab Rail, and 14-inch Colored Alloys.

The rear section sports a compact LED Tail Lamp with protruding halogen indicators.

Other interesting elements include a two-level seat, a front pocket with a power socket, and a multi-function key switch.

Yamaha Aerox is available in four colors: Blue, Grey Vermillion, Metallic Black, and new Silver.

Performance

Yamaha Aerox is powered by a 155cc, Single-Cylinder, 4-stroke, 4-valve, Liquid-Cooled, SOHC engine. It can generate a max power of 15PS at 8000 rpm and a max torque of 13.9Nm at 6500 rpm.

Moreover, it is mated to a V-belt automatic transmission with a 5.5-liter fuel tank capacity.

The engine has been carried over from the Yamaha R15. However, there has been a slight performance loss when shifting to CVT transmission.

Aerox produces 3.4PS less power and 0.3Nm less torque than the outgoing R15 v4.

Despite the change in the powertrain, Aerox 155 is still the most powerful scooter in its segment!

Interestingly enough, Yamaha has included the trademark Variable Valve Actuation technology (VVA) which kicks after 6000rpm. It complements the torque curve for excellent torque throughout the rev range.

It includes BS6-centric features like the Smart Motor Generator, Silent Start, Automatic Stop and Start System, and Side Stand Engine Cut Off.

Additional Details

The dimensions are 1980mm in length, 700mm in width, and 1150mm in height. Moreover, the wheelbase sits at 1350mm.

Yamaha Aerox 155 comes with a 145 mm ground clearance. And, the kerb weight is 126 kg.

Both the ground clearance and the kerb weight are the strongest in the Aerox.

The ground clearance is large enough to surpass most of the city plot holes and bumpers, whereas the kerb weight is light enough for flexibility but hefty enough for stability at higher speeds.

Features

Yamaha Aerox 155 is a feature-loaded scooter.

It was already available in the Nepali market before. However, Yamaha Nepal has brought back the upgraded Aerox with new quality-of-life features.

It includes features like BS6 Phase 2 Compliance, OBD2 Sensor, Traction Control, and E20 Fuel Compatibility.

We will discuss these features along with the rest in detail in a bit.

Braking Performance

Yamaha Aerox gets a Front 230mm Disc and Rear 130mm Drum configuration. It tops off the safety configuration with a Single-Channel ABS.

The braking setup is confidence-inspiring.

The front brake has a good bite. However, the rear brake does not have the same bite and may feel lacking at times.

Nevertheless, both brakes work great together, and the front ABS adds an extra layer of safety.

I think including a Dual-Disc setup and Dual-Channel ABS would have elevated the safety even further, especially considering the asking price.

Tyres

Yamaha Aerox sports a 110/80-section 14-inch tyre and a massive 140/70-section 14-inch tyre.

These are massive tyres, offering a good grip across all conditions. Moreover, these provide enough confidence to lean heavily towards a corner.

Plus, the colored rims further complement the overall aggressive aesthetics.

Suspension

Telescopic Fork and Twin Shock Absorbers handle the suspension duties.

The suspension setup is on the stiffer side. However, it holds a good balance between softness and hardness.

It prioritizes comfort at lower speeds and stability at higher speeds. Interestingly enough, the off-road experience is relatively less comfortable.

You are pretty much stuck with the stiffer ride quality.

I kept avoiding off-road conditions, as it was nearly uncomfortable to ride on those roads. Otherwise, the city and highway feel good.

Nevertheless, the overall setup is better than the majority of scooters available in this segment.

Seat Comfort and Pillion

The seat cushioning falls on the stiffer side.

It has more than enough space for both the pillion and the rider. Plus, the width of the seat is also wide enough.

The seating position was comfortable on long rides as well. However, the two-level seat setup is a bit more angled than my liking.

If there is a pillion at the rear, then you would slide towards the front. While this does not affect the overall ride experience, it does create a bit of annoyance.

Other practical features include the Combinational Key Lock which provides easy access to the under-seat compartment.

It sports a massive 24.5-liter massive under-seat storage enough to fit a large-size helmet. Unfortunately, it does not include any Boot Light.

Fuel Tank Capacity and Mileage

Yamaha Aerox sports a 5.5-liter fuel tank capacity.

We tested it out with a fair bit of a mix of riding styles. During that, we managed to get around 45-50 Kmpl of mileage.

In general, the rider should get around 248-275Km on a Full Tank.

Digital Meter

Yamaha Aerox features a large Negative LCD Instrument Cluster.

It displays all the necessary information like Rev Range, Fuel Indicator, Clock, Speedometer, Tripmeter, Odometer, V-Belt Changer Interval, Oil Change Interval, and more.

While the Negative LCD is a nice touch, it is a bit difficult to view or read the display during direct sunlight. Even upping the brightness partially resolves the issue.

Nonetheless, the Aerox 155 also supports the Y-Connect App.

It provides additional information like Call Alerts, SMS Alerts, Phone Battery Health, Fuel Consumption Tracker, Maintenance Recommendations, Last Parking Location, Malfunction Notification, Rev Dashboard, and Ranking.

These features help improve the overall practical offering of the scooter.

Other Features

With the latest BS6 Phase 2 compliance, the Yamaha Aerox is now equipped with the OBD2 Sensor and Traction Control.

OBD2 Sensor stands for the On-Board Diagnostics tool which collects information from the network of sensors inside the vehicle, allowing Yamaha service workers to efficiently diagnose and address the current status of the scooter.

The Traction Control System controls the rear wheel spin of the scooter, ensuring optimal grip and stability across all riding scenarios.

Both of these features may not seem useful at first, but these provide significant quality of life improvement. Especially with Traction Control acting as an enhanced safety mechanism against muddy and slippery roads.

Yamaha Aerox 155 Feature Highlights

• Powerful R15 Engine
• Variable Valve Actuation (VVA)
• Muscular and Sporty Styling
• LED Headlights with LED Position Lights
• Sleek LED Tail Lights
• Digital Negative LCD Instrument Meter
• Yamaha Motorcycle Connect
• 24.5L Under Seat Storage
• Multi-Function Key Switch
• External Fuel Lid
• Smart Motor Generator System
• Automatic Stop & Start System
• Side Stand Engine Cut-Off Switch
• Standard Braking
• Single Channel ABS

My Experience with the Yamaha Aerox 155

Refined Performance

Yamaha Aerox gets an iconic R15’s 155cc Engine.

It is a Liquid-Cooled, 4-valve, Fuel Injection Engine with Variable Valve Actuation (VVA). This was the hallmark of the R15, which Yamaha has brought into the scooter segment.

With this, Aerox is the most powerful scooter in the market right now.

However, there is a slight powertrain difference despite sharing the same engine. The Aerox produces 3.4PS less power and 0.3Nm less torque because of its tuning and shift from gearbox transmission to CVT.

Despite the lesser powertrain number, the scooter continues to feel peppy and responsive.

The overall power delivery is on the linear side, where the engine refinement and smoothness feel top-notch. Interestingly, the vibrations are non-existent, yet it provides enough feedback to provide a flavourful and engaging experience.

Additionally, the BS6-centric features further improve the practicality of the scooter.

Talking about the performance-centric features, the Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) gives Aerox its trademark character.

The VVA gets seamlessly activated past the 6000rpm, ensuring riders access to uniform and liner power delivery across the entire rev range.

Moreover, the engine emphasizes torque-heavy punch at the lower revs and high power thrill at the higher revs. It is a very addicting performance hallmark that is difficult for other scooters to replicate.

However, the level of performance on offer in low and mid-range is more than enough for major riding scenarios within the city. So, VVA sits there as a reserve for the time when you need it.

Upon testing against all the major scenarios like Highway, City, and Off-road, the Yamaha Aerox tackles all of them beautifully. But it excelled mostly in the Highways and the City.

Interestingly enough, this is a scooter that is genuinely enjoyable in the city.

While it is more than capable of off-roads, the relatively hard suspension makes the experience a bit less enjoyable.

That being said, it is still one of the better motorcycle alternatives when compared to other modern 125cc scooters. It excels in corners, is stable at higher speeds, and does almost everything one throws at it.

This is the Yamaha engineering at its finest.

Shortcomings

Surprisingly enough, there aren’t many of the shortcomings in the Yamaha Aerox. However, it does feel as though Yamaha had held back a bit.

The lack of a Dual Disc setup feels the most damning.

Yamaha has included a Dual Disc setup with Dual-Channel ABS in the previously launched Yamaha NMax 155.

The company has the means to do it but chose to skip out on those upgrades as a cost-cutting measure.

Despite these unnecessary cost cuts, the Yamaha Aerox 155 is still on the pricey side. It is one of the most expensive scooters in Nepal right now.

Here the steeper pricing does limit many from an opportunity to get a hands-on experience at a segment-defining scooter.

Battle with Competition

Yamaha Aerox rivals the Aprilia SXR 160.

I do believe that both Aerox and SXR 160 are aimed to be a maxi-scooter. However, the Yamaha offering has a competitive edge over the Aprilia, even when on solely compares the specs and feature list.

Aprilia SXR 160 has failed to impress Nepali riders because of its polarizing styling.

In sharp contrast, Aerox has sportier styling, eye-catching graphics, and patented VVA technology that builds up as a much more comprehensive packaging.

Honestly, it does justify its asking price.

Conclusion

Yamaha Aerox 155 redefines the scooter segment with its bold maxi-scooter styling, impressive performance, and feature-rich offerings.

It combines the aggressive design and athletic proportions of a “Heart-Shaking Speedster” with practical elements. It delivers a peppy and responsive ride, enhanced by Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) for seamless power across the rev range.

Despite some cost-cutting measures, the Aerox remains the most powerful and feature-loaded scooter in its segment while justifying its premium price tag.

This is the Yamaha Aerox 155 review.