The Yamaha R3 has been launched in India at Rs 4.65 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The relatively high price is on account of the fact that the R3 comes into India as a CBU import from Indonesia. In comparison, the previous gen was a CKD import. Yamaha also launched the MT-03 alongside.
The Yamaha R3 has been out in this form overseas for about three years now, which explains why it doesn’t have Yamaha’s latest design philosophy seen on the likes of the R1, R6, R7 and even the R15.
Nevertheless, the latest version gains a USD fork which adds style and sportiness to the overall design. The platform is very similar to the old bike, with the same chassis as before. The proven 321cc parallel-twin motor is also carried forward with the same 42hp and 29.5Nm.
Weighing in at 169kg, the R3 is light on its feet and very easy to manage. Short riders will particularly like the low seat height of 780mm, and you can read more about that here.
In terms of features, the R3 keeps it very simple without any riding assists beyond dual-channel ABS. It also misses out on a TFT display and comes with an LCD instrument console.
At this price, the Yamaha R3 is positioned considerably higher than the single cylinder KTM RC 390, which costs Rs 3.18 lakh, while the recently launched Aprilia RS 457 is a closer rival at Rs 4.10 lakh (ex-showroom).
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
