The Yamaha R3 is the newest contender in the quarter-litre space and comes with a 321cc motor pumping out 42 PS to take on the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the KTM RC390 in the segment.
Bringing an end to the high speculated spy shots, endless debates and a row of possibilities, Yamaha India has officially launched the 2015 YZF-R3 in the country priced at Rs. 3.25 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). The R3 is the big brother to the R25 that went on sale in Indonesia last year and carries a bigger motor with higher power output, while retaining the same frame and design. Originally, the sports bike was exclusively meant for the European and the US markets, but given India’s taxation policy which is the same for both 250cc and 320cc bikes, the R3 makes for a more compelling case.
Design – Taking design inspiration from the YZF-M1, the Yamaha R3 gets a twin headlamp setup at the front while the side profile boasts of a sharply styled fairing, neatly sculpted fuel tank and and split seats for the perfect track look. The rear gets a LED tail light similar to the R6 with the 2-into-1 exhaust and a stubby muffler also inspired from the middle-weight offering. The R3 gets clip-on handlebars and an analog-digital instrument cluster. The bike rides on 110/70 front and 140/70 rear 17-inch MRF Zapper tyres for the India spec model. The fuel tank capacity measures 14-litres. The bike is available in two colours – Midnight Black and Racing Blue.
Engine – The Yamaha R3 uses a 321cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC inline twin-cylinder engine that is tuned to produce 42 PS of power at 10,750 RPM and 29.6 Nm of torque at 9000 RPM, paired to a 6-speed gearbox. Yamaha has tuned the engine for better ride-ability in low and mid-range RPMs and gets direct drive camshaft for top-end performance. The engine gets forged pistons, carburised con rods and low-friction cylinders. The bike comes with a kerb weight of 169 kgs and has 50:50 weight distribution
Mechanicals – The 2015 Yamaha R3 uses a tubular steel diamond type frame with suspension duties performed by KYB sourced 41 mm telescopic forks at the front with a travel range of 130 mm while the rear gets a monocross setup with a travel range of 125 mm. Braking performance comes from 298 mm front and 220 mm rear disc brakes and ABS is not offered. The company is contemplating an ABS variant for the future but as of now it has not been offered because of pricing issues as this is a very competitive market. The bike gets an R1 inspired extra long swingarm to ensure strong straight line performance and efficient transmission of power to the road.
Yamaha is bringing the YZF-R3 via the CKD route from its Indonesian facility that has helped the automaker keep the prices competitive. The company is not looking at complete localisation anytime soon given the limited volumes. The R3 is being as a perfect upgrade for Yam fans from the current R15 and also fits in well for those looking at a rather affordable twin-cylinder offering when compared to the Kawasaki Ninja 300. The R3 will also be locking horns with the KTM RC 390 in the segment. While Yamaha hasn’t conveyed it yet, the automaker is likely to bring the full faired R3’s naked sibling, the MT-320 street-fighter by next year in India. Also, the company has announced that Yamaha’s Moto GP rider Jorge Lorenzo will be coming to India in November.
