Yamaha YZF-R3: Who Is The Bike For?

The Yamaha R3 had recently got a massive price cut of Rs 1,05,000 over its ex-showroom price of Rs 4,64,900. The bike is now sold at an ex-showroom price of Rs 3,59,900, which is somewhat in line with what the other bikes in the segment are priced at. 

In this article we will be going over what the bike has to offer and how it differs from the others in the segment. We will also be answering the question, is the Yamaha R3 the bike for you?

The Performance

The Yamaha R3 is powered by the same 321cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine as the Yamaha MT-03. The engine produces 42.0 PS at 10,750rpm and 29.5Nm at 9,000rpm. Now, when we look at the specifications on paper, they might not seem as impressive.

The R3’s rivals like the currently-gen KTM RC 390 have a lot more power to offer. For perspective, the RC 390 is powered by a 373cc, liquid-cooled single-cylinder motor which produces 43.2PS and 37Nm.

But the R3 has a few unique advantages. The first is of course the 180 degree crankshaft which offers more refinement than a single-cylinder engine. The 180 degree crankshaft also results in a more smooth and linear torque delivery, which makes the bike a lot easier to handle for beginner riders.

Now, the second advantage the bike has is the oversquare engine. The bike has a bore and stroke figure of 68.0mm x 44.1mm, which means that it produces a lot more power at a higher range of rpm levels. The Yamaha R3’s engine revs up to 13,000rpm and this makes the bike a lot more fun on the twisties and the track where you can rev the engine out to unleash its full potential.

The Experience

The Yamaha R3 doesn’t have many features on offer and only gets essential bits. The bike misses out on a slip-and-assit clutch and a quickshifter, so the bike will give a very old school riding experience. 

Rev matching during aggressive downshifts will be something you will have to master. There are no electronic riding aids on offer, so no traction control or fancy bits like cornering ABS. The bike features a LCD instrument console, which doesn’t offer smartphone connectivity and related bits.

Although the bike is quite simple in this sense, Yamaha has given the bike some essential bits like dual-channel ABS which enhances the overall safety. Lastly, coming to ergonomics, the bike has a slightly more comfortable and upright riding posture. This makes it easier to ride in the city as opposed to other bikes in the segment which have a more committed riding posture.

The Whole Package

When taking a look at the entire picture, the Yamaha R3 is a really interesting proposition in the 300-400cc supersport. The bike overall offers a simple no-nonsense package, with a rev happy engine and relatively relaxed riding ergonomics.

It may not appeal to everyone, but if you are a Yamaha fan or someone who is looking for a simple supersport, the Yamaha R3 is a bike worth considering. It doesn’t have as much performance as a KTM RC 390 or an Aprilia RS 457, but the rev happy nature makes it stand out a lot more. 

Overall, it makes for a perfect beginner ‘big bike’ for those who wants to step up to a 300cc bike from, let’s say, the Yamaha R15. But if you are someone who is looking for a more powerful supersport which also has a lot more features on offer then the KTM RC 390 or the Aprilia RS 457 will make more sense.