yea, exactly they have two wheels in common

Aptly put there. And you're absolutely right about slotting it into the right gear. One does not always have to be in 4th or 5th gear while riding in the city. And one thing ive noticed is that people are too scared or paranoid of causing damage to the engine, so much so that they think revving the bike at higher rpms would reduce the life of it instantly which isnt the case. The R&D would have taken care of this factor by proper metal selection for the engine components, knowing that the bike would always have to be revved higher to gain performance. The engine can take a lot more beating than one would think, and redlining is well within safety limits of operation but not always recommended.
Just to give you an example: (going a bit OT here) The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution's 4g63 stock block is capable of withstanding upto 1200bhp, but the engine used in production cars pump out just 300 out of it.
In any field of mechanical/automotive engineering there is something called as "Allowance" where a component is manufactured to its specific limits, but the manufacturer allows +/- tolerance to be on the safer side. Those Pistons/cylinder blocks can take a lot more power and still be reliable for a long time.

For the last bold part, "Ignorance Is Bliss" they say and some people never learn
There is a lot of tuning potential in a DOHC setup compared to a SOHC.
SOHC's advantage is that it provides efficient performance at relatively lower rpm(where the R15 excels) and DOHC works efficiently for higher rpm(where the 150R excels). - This is the reason why most of the so called Journalists/Reviewers for auto mags cannot get the best performance figures out of some bikes unlike most of their international counterparts(who hire professional racers with technical background and not random bloggers to do the reviews )
The two bikes perform almost on the same level albeit at different ends of the tacho. Another reason why the 150R is more revv happy and has a better top end.

If you are into high reving high horsepower at high rpms DOHC is the way to go - 150R
If you like torque at lower rpms but still great power SOHC is the way to go -R15

It all depends on the application of the bike and motor


FAIL!
Lightweight: also called entry level, small or beginner bikes - Sport bikes with engine displacements of up to about 500 cc (31 cu in) are usually in this class (150R)
Middleweight: mid-sized, mid-leveler "(supersport)" - Displacements of 600–750 cc
Superbike: liter-class, i.e. 1,000 cc (FIREBLADE)

Hypersport or Hyperbike: >1000cc

So you see how people in this country easily jump segments without knowing which bike falls where?
This could be handy for some people then

I think that they are together in same segment of Supersports bikes in my quote, is what you have missed out

@Nithesh: Exactly. And how bad really is 150R's torque? I mean really! We fail to see, read and understand that owners are really happy with their purchase (for the ones it actually matters). We are aware that CBR's torque could have been more but it doesn't suck at riding, does it?! Some members continually fail to read what the owners have to say about the motorcycle's ride-ability and instead choose to comment on specs. I have been saying this thing for a long time now. It is also funny to see that someone comes and declares how many other motorcycles will leave CBR150R to taste dust in different riding conditions. If you'll question them, they will back their claims saying that they have ridden the motorcycle. You may have ridden it but how much. Not all motorcycles are same and not all motorcycles can be commented in just one or two rides. As I said, you need to spend time with certain motorcycles to understand how to enjoy them most. Specs are only one side of the coin and the riding experience is the other, and the more important one. If everything is decided on the basis of specs then it will be very easy to judge all vehicles. Having said that, there are still areas of improve for CBR and Honda should address them whenever they plan the CBR's update.

MotorcycleUSA.com recently came out with their 2012 superbike street smackdown. Consistently, the Honda Fireblade is always near the top spot without much bells and whistles that the recently new/updated motorcycles seem to carry. And no one can know this unless good amount of time is spent riding the motorcycle. Other than the seemingly low torque, the CBR150R has so much going for it that makes it a more practical motorcycle to ride in city and on highways. Yet all is forgotten on the basis of 12.xx nm of torque figure!

Reviews from Indian auto magazines are like a reference, and just that! I am sure they do not calculate the roll-on figures in real traffic situations. I would assume they run two comparable motorcycles in an empty stretch in one particular gear from particular speeds and would just highlight the figures in magazines. That is not always helpful in real traffic situations. Honestly, roll-on figures don't make much sense; however, just mentioning which motorcycle feels quicker in traffic is enough information. Between R15 and CBR150R, the new R15 could be quicker in traffic if both motorcycles are in same gear and at same low rpm. This must be understood that even if both R15 and CBR are in same gear but if the CBR is at the meat of its rpm range then the result could turn around in CBR's favour. The same will be the case if the CBR is already at one gear below. It's all knowing about your motorcycle and to be in the right gear. That is why ownership experiences can be different from test ride reviews! Not all people who do professional test rides take these things into account and that is why the spec sheet becomes the end-of-it-all for many people. Because when in same gear and at same low rpm, R15 will give a slightly better push to the front. But in real life, how many times the R15 rider and the CBR rider will be in same gear and at same rpm? R15's torque is not significantly better than the CBR150R's, so they will always perform close in many situations. Unless there are motorcycles with significantly better torque, the CBR will not have much performance deficit due to its torque or lack of it.

All posts here appear to debate if cbr150 is even a good bike? it is undoubted that its a very capable and potent machine. if I were to change anything, I would'nt mind it getting cheaper by 20k. that too just cause of competition. I mean why would anyone go for 150 when 250 is so close. and if sporty bike is so important, why not a commited one? I don't think anyone will buy it over 250r only cause of high revving engine, cause if you are that big a sport rider, why that upright seating position and harder tires than R15?
So, ultimately only price is a bit high, that too not by much.

Exactly my point since day 1. Thank you Vaibhav!

Well i dont know if u would agree but, its often the case that people frown up 1lakh + bikes ever since the Nano came in...

Coz even today bikes to millions of Indians is nothing more than a commuting tool

Well said sir.. People seem to carry a very narrow point of view..

I am a CBR owner but neither the Duke or the R15 is a bad bike in my books.. But some people can never bear to look beyond their favorites

@Satellite.Kid and Nitesh, very good posts. Excellently put.

You can't ride every bike in the same way. Each bike needs to be ridden the way its needs to be ridden.

@Vaibhav, +1000 to your point. Its overpriced.

Well, people are still going for 150 aren't they? That's we have the ownership thread As it's been mentioned by couple of other members as well, creating a comfortable sportbike and going for it is no crime! Otherwise Ducatis would be the highest selling sportbikes with their most sportiest ergos. I believe it's more of a personal preference. No two sportbikes are same, and CBR and R15 both offer slightly different riding experiences while targeting similar audiences.

But yes, the price could definitely have been lower. Anything atleast 10k less would have made it a more threatening competitor.

whoa!!! a comfortable sports bike. quiet contrary terms are'nt they? all R1s, fireblades, not to mention ducati bikes have 40-60 wieght distribution are'nt they? I feel all manufacturers are making big mistakes by giving racy front biased ergos to their sportbikes, when they can have nice upright, comfortable seating ergos.

fireblade is easy to live with cause its compact, light weight, easy to handle etc and feels smaller and lighter than any bike that makes 180 bhp has any right to. don't be mistaken that it has an upright seating position or any compromises in riding fast.

A bike that is comfortable is a tourer or a commuter, but sporty is quiet contrary to that.

If you have test rode The 150R and the 250R by now you would know that the 150R is lightweight, more flickable, handles better(obviously) and is more confident when leaning around the corners at high speeds. The tyres are a whole lot better too and the 250R's front suspension dive is absent.
It is easy to manuever such a light bike in the city compared to the 250.
Basically two different bikes again with two different categories.
This is like the nth time im telling people that bikes have very little do with the engine capacity and spec sheets.

Oh and then there is the aam junta factor of better fuel efficiency and longterm maintenance factor.

So you see, there is a lot of difference between owning one bike that is 30k more than what you set out to buy. Ofcourse if u have the moolah, you can always spend that 30k and get the 250 and you will be able to live with it, but there are people who can spend 30k more for the 250, but may not be able to afford maintaining one as a long termer.

And for ur second question, if by committed you mean the R15 then i would like to ask you, what difference did the seating position and a raised pillion seat do on the track when the 150R was being track tested by the same rider to be a second quicker than the R15? If anything i think the presence of extended pillion seat and the upright seating position is actually a boon(something the R15 v1 possessed and it sold very well and targetted all audience from college goers to working husbands didnt it? despite people nagging about the skinny rear tyre) So are you telling me the older v1 R15 wasnt track focussed too?
Here's a quote for you:
Exactly. Its been nearing a year since i owned the 250 now, and to this date i get to hear a lot from the extended family and friends as to how i couldve bought myself a car with that sort of money!
People just do not understand the difference between a 150cc commuter and a 150cc sports bike at all. The only thing they care about is F.E and the initial cost.

Also the 150R is expensive because if you go through history, you would notice that DOHC units have always been more expensive to manufacture compared to their SOHC counterpart. DOHC is complicated in terms of manufacturing compared to SOHCs.

And yes the bike seems overpriced and will certainly put off certain buyers, but at the same time there are people who would buy it based on the feel of the bike rather than "word of mouth" from magazines. The v1 R15's skinny tyre was being targetted for almost a year and then things changed forever. The same could happen to the 150R. People who understand the difference between the two will pick either of the bikes based on their personal preferences.

...thanks for making me aware of what Fireblade really is! Anyways...

"A comfortable sportbike" aren't contrary terms Vaibhav. And why should they be contrary? I am aware that Fireblade doesn't have an upright riding stance (never said it has), but ride a ducati 1198 and Fireblade back to back and you'll understand what a comfortable sportbike means. And that is what I meant by a comfortable sportbike, with respect to sportbike ergonomics. I never mentioned or wanted a sportbike to be as comfortable as a tourer or a commuter in general. You misunderstood.

And just to add, lately even some motorcycle manufacturers are working towards making rider ergonomics more comfortable in their respective liter class motorcycles. Latest example is Ducati Panigale, it looks as sharp as a Ducati can get but it's their most comfortable superbike so far. And many professional riders have termed it to be more japanese in rider comfort (read latest superbike smackdown on motorcycleusa.com). Another example is KTM RC8, it looks extremely sharp as well but it is one of the more comfortable sportbikes to ride that you can happily spend a day on. It also offer adjustable handlebar, footpegs and seat height so that riders can set them as per their preferences (racy or more comfortable). I am sure you are aware of these as well.

And as mentioned by Nithesh, more comfortable ergonomics of CBR150R (please do not read comfortable as in commuter class) doesn't make it a 150cc slouch. It laps quicker than an R15 on a track. And on the street also it's going to be pretty competitive, we can safely assume this much if not more. It's more of a matter of personal choice of what type of ergonomics you prefer. I repeat one final time, when I say a comfortable sportbike I mean comfortable rider ergonomics among sportbike class. Not comfortable as in commuter or a tourer.

@Satellite,
Nice explanations that i never knew.

Satellite no matter how much logic u put into ur explanations some people
find it very hard to get out of their preconceived notions.. and find it harder still to respect other people's opinion..

So bro let them have their notions while people like us have fun riding bikes and talking about it..

Well said!

With the initial pages of the thread, people were cribbing about low-end torque and some defended it. Then, topic switched over to price, and it too got defended with the buyers showing heads. Now, its with whether comfortable sports bike or a sports bike should never be comfortable., and again some are defending it.

What next... kill switch, pass light, or the panel backlight???

For the buyers, IMHO, CBR150R is a nice make and of-course it has its own cons like switches, maybe fit&finish and so on... but performance wise, its a scorer and it gives you reasons for every penny you are going to spend on it.
Ride it and you'll love it.