Let’s get one thing straight, the Aerox 155’s engine is an absolute gem. It revs nicely, feels punchy and the refinement levels are pretty good for the most part. It’s only when the revs are approaching the redline that you feel a little buzz in the floorboard and handlebar, but I’m only nitpicking at this point.
In fact, at cruising speeds in the city or 100kmph on the highway, the engine feels effortless and buttery smooth. Pulling quick overtakes or shooting off the traffic light is equally entertaining and there is no denying that this is a fun scooter.
But the biggest issue that has plagued the Aerox 155, ever since its launch is the hard ride, especially at the rear. The stiffness of the spring was such that you’d feel the steps in poorly laid out patchwork in the road or big bumps and potholes. Yamaha has addressed this to some extent in the Version S.
At slow speeds, say while riding in the city at say 50-60kmph, the ride felt more pliant and absorbent. The rear suspension rounded off bumps and large steps in the road quite well and most riders will appreciate this. That said, the front end feels soft and thuds through medium-sized bumps quite easily.
Yamaha seems to have simply responded to customer complaints about a stiff ride by softening it. While it works for the most part, some members of the team were unhappy about the quickened rebound of the rear spring.
All said, for most of the riding that one will do, the Aerox has gotten more comfortable. This, thankfully, has not ruined the stellar handling of the scooter. It still feels planted and involving around a corner and even the new Ceat tyres offer enough grip.
The one area where Yamaha could make an improvement is braking. The front disc rear drum setup is decent at best but I’d wish for a stronger bite and feel from the front disc. Perhaps, adding a disc brake at the rear could solve this problem to some extent. That said, the safety net of ABS that the Aerox comes with is more than welcome.
I also appreciate the presence of a traction control system on the scooter. You may think that TC in a 15bhp scooter is overkill but given the unpredictability of our roads, with gravel, sand and what have you; I’d be glad if TC had my back and kept me from landing my back on the road.