Yamaha YZF-R3: 3,000km Long Term Review

Apart from a short ride to Lonavala for the comparison test, our long term Yamaha YZF-R3 didn’t quite get a chance to prove its credentials as a likeable entry-level sportsbike despite winning the said comparison. Reason being the constast influx of test vehicles in office and my travel schedules, which saw the bike adorn my garage for longer than I would have liked.  

So when it was time to ‘volunteer’ to ride to Goa for the annual biker get-together called India Bike Week, I was the first to put my hand up, so I could put the R3 to the touring test, since we’ve experienced the bike on track and in city traffic. I was more than happy to give up bigger machines that manufacturers were willing to offer, as I felt the R3 would be apt for the highway and Goa’s narrow roads, not to mention its lightness and agility over bigger bikes. 

One of the challenges before heading out was mounting my tail pack. The R3 gets a rather ungainly saree guard thanks to our outdated homologation norms, which to my surprise was a boon to hold the bungee cord’s hooks. The right side though, is devoid of such opportunities with just the exhaust sitting there, and a lack of bungee points was suddenly a huge problem, though on my daily rides I never even gave the same a thought. 

Once on go, the bike felt brilliant on the highways, its engine feeling relaxed while allowing me to cruise at the speeds of my choice, the well-spaced ratios of the slick shifting six-speed gearbox adding to the feel. It feels smooth even at 8000rpm, with barely any vibration, which in turn helped me avoid fatigue. Its strong midrange is the R3’s forte and that’s something that helped a lot while overtaking, without need to downshift. 

While a lot of enthusiasts would complain about the forward set foot pegs making it unlike other entry-level sportsbikes, I loved the riding position. Despite riding for long hours, I didn’t quite feel the need to take a break which I credit to the relaxed seating. 

The R3’s Achilles heel, its MRF tyres once again let me down, as I felt they weren’t able to do justice to the potential offered by the engine and chassis. The compound is harder than expected to endow the tyres with a longer life, which results in lower grip levels than what I hoped for. I’m sure softer rubber would offer a more confident feel, especially around the faster curves on open highways. 

Another disappointment were the R3’s headlights. I was forced to ride post sunset for a certain duration on my way to Goa and back, which is the time when I really wished for better lights. The low beam was of little help on the internal roads which were pitch dark, and Goa is a place who’s dwellers (rightly so!) despite people using high beams. The efficiency kept me smiling, with the bike returning close to 30kmpl despite the generous twists of my wrist most of the time. 

On the whole, my ownership experience of the R3 has been pleasant, with the bike throwing no tantrums whatsoever. I was the first to grab the keys when the bike was received from Yamaha, and sadly for me, the team had a mutual understanding that no particular team member will ‘hog’ the R3. I’m being hounded now by Arun and Cyrus for the bike, but honestly, I’m trying to think hard how I can avoid letting go of the R3, which is also won our entry-level performance bike of the year award this time. 

Date Acquired: December 2015 

Total Km till Date: 3017km

Fuel Efficiency: 28.6kmpl (Highway)

Cheers: Refined Engine, Comfort

Sneers: Tyres, Headlights