KTM RC 125 vs Yamaha R15S: 125cc or 155cc

Both bike manufacturers have updated their portfolios with both of their products. Last year, in 2021, the Austrian bikemaker gave the KTM RC 125 a complete makeover as it was overdue for an upgrade. Bringing us is the Japanese bikemaker’s product, the Yamaha R15S v3.0. The 2022 iteration of the R15S has only received two new colour schemes, but underneath, it still belongs to its old generation. However, keeping that aside, as the title indicates, the comparison is between a 125cc and a 155cc engine. Yes, the engine displacements of these two bikes are poles apart, but there is not much difference in the engine output. However, there is a price difference of approximately Rs 25,000 between the RC 125 bike and the Yamaha R15S.
So, the question remains: is it worth paying a premium over the 125cc engine? Let’s see how these two bikes stack up against each other.

Specifications
Let’s begin with the Austrian bike. As for the KTM RC 125 specifications, the bike sports a 124.7cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that gives power to the rear wheel with 14.7bhp and 12Nm of torque via a six-speed manual gearbox. It is also worth mentioning that the ongoing model of the RC 125 gets a larger airbox for better lower-end torque and a revamped radiator for better cooling efficiency. Furthermore, it has a fuel capacity of 13.7 litres.

On the other hand, the KTM RC 125’s direct competitor, the Yamaha R15S, has a 155cc engine displacement. It draws out 18.1bhp of power at 10,000rpm with a torque of 14.1Nm at 8,500rpm. However, it has a liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine with a Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) setup.
It sends power to the rear wheel via a six-speed manual transmission. In addition, the fuel tank capacity of the Yamaha R15S is 11 litres.

With these figures, the R15S bike is a clear winner. In addition, this bike weighs 142 kg, making it less than the KTM RC 125’s 162 kg. So, again, the Yamaha bike gets an edge over the KTM.
However, the mileage of the KTM RC 125 and the Yamaha R15S is near 40kmpl and 45kmpl, respectively. Both bikes have good mileage as per their engines.

Features
As for the Yamaha R15S features, the 2022 model has an LED digital instrument cluster which shows relevant information like speed, RPM, gearshifts, etc. It also has a VVA indicator, a side-stand-engine cut-off switch, and an auxiliary light, to name a few. Moreover, it has a single-seat configuration with a passenger footrest. Considering the Yamaha R15S’s price, this bike has a respectable number of new-age features that everyone expects.
In addition, the Japanese bike gets an all-LED headlight setup. Indicator lights and taillights are also LEDs.

On the contrary, the KTM RC 125 also has a digital instrument unit that shows speed, RPM, distance travelled, fuel level, and so on. Apart from that, the front end of this Austrian bike will have a halogen headlight, while the indicator lights and taillight are all LEDs.

From the safety point of view, the RC 125 has “Supermoto ABS” in KTM’s lingo. Once you select this mode on the instrument cluster, the bike disengages the ABS braking function on the rear wheel. In addition, the braking is also taken care of by the front and rear disc brakes, measuring 320 mm and 230 mm, respectively. As for the suspension setup, the bike comprises WP-sourced inverted forks and a mono-shock at the front and rear, respectively.

However, the Yamaha R15S has a pass switch, a dual-channel ABS, and an engine kill switch. And as far as the suspension setup is concerned, at the front end, you’ll get a telescopic fork with a 41mm diameter. And at the rear, there is a mono-cross link suspension. Moreover, this bike also sports a dual-disc. The front disc brake measures 282 mm, while the rear disc brake is 220 mm.

By looking at the diameters of the disc brakes on these two bikes, the KTM RC 125 seems to have better braking and control than the Yamaha R15S. But without test-riding these bikes on the tarmac, it’s hard to make a call on their braking.
However, there must be something else in safety on the Yamaha bike that asks for a premium over the KTM bike.

Dimensions
As far as the dimensions are concerned, the Yamaha R15S has a length of 1990mm, a width of 725mm, and a height of 1135mm. And it sits on a wheelbase of 1325mm. Moreover, it has a ground clearance of 170mm. And as mentioned earlier, the kerb weight of the Yamaha R15S is 142kg.

The RC 125, on the other hand, has an overall length of 1977mm, a wheelbase of 1341mm, and a saddle height of 824mm. The RC 125 has a ride height of 158mm and a kerb weight of 162kg.

Compared to the dimensions and specifications of these two bikes, the Yamaha R15S has an edge over the KTM RC 125 in terms of power-to-weight ratio. So, the Japanese bike can overpower the Austrian bike, be it weight or engine output.

Prices and Variants
Let’s start with the Austrian sports-naked bike. There is only one variant, though: the RC 125 STD. This variant comes in two colours with graphics: Silver and Black.
As for the KTM RC 125 price, it has an ex-showroom of Rs 188,640.

The Yamaha R15S, on the other hand, also has one variant on offer and comes in two new colour options: Racing Blue and Matte Black.
Furthermore, the ex-showroom price of the Yamaha R15S is Rs 161,900.

Please note that these prices are as of August 2022 and are later subject to change without any prior notice to the customers. However, you can always check the up-to-date prices of your dream bike on autoX. That said, you can also compare bikes in India on our website according to your preferences in make, model, and price. However, for more automotive-related content, visit our website or even YouTube! Also get the information about the new bikes launches in India with ex-showroom price, latest news, reviews and specification.
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