The Yamaha R3 Is NOT Making A Comeback Anytime Soon

The Yamaha R3 was never a hot seller in India, mostly due to its price tag. But it did have a large fan following when it was here and it was one of the most refined and rev-happy motorcycles in the sub-400cc category. So when we recently interviewed Yamaha India VP Ravinder Singh, we couldn’t help but ask whether we would see it making a comeback. Sadly, though, it looks like Yamaha isn’t too keen on it, at least not for now.

According to Ravinder, Yamaha is currently studying the trends in the 300cc space and will only introduce the YZF-R3 when the segment is mature enough. Until then, the bikemaker will focus on strengthening its premium 125cc and 150cc scooter portfolio, along with expanding its existing 150cc and 250cc motorcycle range. 

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We also got a similar answer when we asked about Yamaha's big bike range, comprising the R1 and the R7. The company feels that though the buying power and improved lifestyle of Indians has increased the sales numbers of the big bikes, it is still in a nascent stage. So once again, Yamaha will introduce its big bikes here only when the market is mature enough.

From all this, it is quite clear that Yamaha doesn’t plan to introduce any of its existing 300cc to 1000cc offerings in India, even though they comply with Euro-5 norms. 

Superbikes aside, we feel Yamaha really has a golden opportunity in India if it launches the YZF-R3 at a good price. This is because with its 2022 update, the KTM RC 390 is bound to edge closer to the Rs 3 lakh mark, while the Kawasaki Ninja 300 is nowhere near as feature-rich as either of these, giving the R3 a good chance of reeling in the sales. Moreover, the number of Indian motorcycle enthusiasts is at an all time high in our country, with many of them looking to buy entry-level sport bikes.