Yamaha has finally started testing the R3 in India hinting towards a launch soon, after a long wait due to the overwhelming demand in its home market Indonesia.
The first half of 2015 has been more about the commuter segment for Yamaha India as it launched the Saluto 125 motorcycle and most recently the Fascino 110 scooter in the country. Sure, it did bring the new generation R1 and R1M superbike but that is brought via the CBU route and only caters to a niche set of the 2-wheeler audience. The enthusiasts, however, have been waiting for the 300cc twin-cylinder offering, the ‘YZF-R3’ from the Japanese automaker and it now seems the launch isn’t too far away. Yamaha has commenced testing the R3 in the country and the sports bike was recently caught testing in the country for the first time.
Import data had earlier revealed that Yamaha brought in two units of the R3 in India in black shade and one of the same has been spotted in these images. The quarter-litre space has been a feisty segment with a slew of entry-level single and twin-cylinder performance bikes on offer. Essentially to rival the Kawasaki Ninja 300 (was spotted testing with it), the Yamaha R3 is a promising motorcycle and is powered by a 320cc inline twin-cylinder motor with DiASil coated cylinders tuned to produce 42 PS of power and a peak torque of 29.6 Nm, it is paired to a 6-speed gearbox.
The Yamaha R3 has been developed from the learnings of the race spec YZR-M1 along with inputs from MotoGP racing legend Valentino Rossi. The bike shares its underpinnings and design with the YZF-R25 with both the vehicles being producing in Indonesia and exported globally. Yamaha India will be bringing the R3 via the CKD route, so expect a price tag of around Rs. 2.80 lakhs (ex-showroom) when it hits the showrooms later this year. Following the R3, the automaker could also launch the MT-25 that is currently under development. Yamaha has been concentrating on the numbers game in recent times and it will be interesting to see the Japanese giant going back to its performance roots with the R3.
Source – Motoroids.com
