Yamaha R3: new vs old

The Yamaha R3 recently made a comeback to India after a multi-year hiatus. Now, the company has updated it internationally with a brand-new design and additional features. However, the engine and underpinnings remain largely the same despite the new clothes the R3 wears.

Yamaha R3 design: new vs old

The most notable change to the R3 is its new appearance, which includes sleek LED DRLs flanking a single projector headlight housed within a MotoGP-style central air intake, much like the Yamaha R15 V4. The side fairing panels have also been revised to go with the new theme, and the tail section has been made sharper. This redesign finally brings the R3 in line with other Yamaha sportbikes.

Yamaha R3 features: new vs old

Features are where the R3 was lacking sorely compared to the competition, so Yamaha has given its small-bore sportbike some new ones. To begin with, the R3 finally gets a slip-and-assist clutch for the first time. You can also opt for a quickshifter, although it only works on upshifts, as the small Yamaha uses a cable-operated throttle. 

The big change is the new LCD, which now includes Bluetooth connectivity. Almost every other small sportbike uses a TFT dash these days and ages, so even with this upgrade, the R3 is still not quite cutting-edge. A welcome addition, however, is the inclusion of a USB charger.

Yamaha R3 engine and underpinnings: new vs old

While the design and feature set have been completely overhauled, the fundamentals of the R3 remain unchanged. Powering the R3 is a 321cc twin-cyl engine that makes 42hp and 29.5Nm of torque. Electronic aids are restricted to dual-channel ABS, and even in its new avatar, the R3 is (thankfully) a simple thing.

Yamaha R3 price: new vs old

The current model is imported to India as a CBU, carrying a relatively high price of Rs 4.65 lakh (ex-showroom, India). It remains to be seen if Yamaha will bestow a new (hopefully) more digestible price tag when it launches the 2025 R3 in India. 

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