[R15M_Rider]

Spolier Alert: This acquisition will not make sense to most of you. Its one of my most emotionally driven purchase of just about anything for me with the heart having 90% weightage over the head

The Origin:

For those of you, who have haven't following my previous thread, I was an owner of a 2022 Yamaha YZF R15M for two years. It was my first motorcycle and it truly ignited the motorcyclist in me. It showed me how much of a liberator of stress and fun a machine on two wheels can be. It gave me the opportunity to venture out to touring and an unforgettable glimpse into the race-track. Of course, on tours, especially on highways, there one thing inevitably lacking, that is the power. 18.1 BHP, don't get me wrong is not slow by any means for that gem of a 155cc engine, but its something you definitely will grow out of pretty quickly, especially if you're an enthusiast who rides, breathes and sleeps dreaming about motorcycles. Its almost like a tug of war, one part of the emotional pull is to keep sticking with your first bike, do stuff with it and create memories, while the other keeps telling me that, you need 40 BHP in your life, especially in your prime youth and not upgrading now, might make me regret it later a lot when other responsibilities of life creep in.

Why 40 BHP is my ideal/dream figure? - Having done my research, I have a firm belief that in a country like ours, you need a bike that can feel comfortable at cruising speeds of 110-120 Kmph while also providing decent gas mileage. This is the sweet spot. This is the maximum level of performance that can be used in the best of roads, our country has to offer, but also act decently as a commuter too without being a hassle. The 600cc, litre class segment, with the R1s, Daytonas, R7s, ZX10R etc while they have definitely aspirational value like how a Ferrari or Lamborghini is viewed in the car world, they are equally not appropriate for daily use. Yes, in my dream, the motorcycle I choose needs to be able to do right from touring the country to something as simple as commuting to office on a daily basis. At no point in my ownership of the R15, unless it was for medical reasons, did it collect dust for more than 2-3 days at a single place.It also eventually became the reason, I had to let it go too. I intent to apply the same to this upgrade as well.

Towards the end of 2023, and beginning of 2024, the 300-400cc segment saw a huge influx of bikes from Truimph, Bajaj, Aprilia, Kawasaki and of course Yamaha (please excuse if I missed any other significant brand).

Why the obsession for the R3 ?

Obsession Begins Here

Dec 2023 - Yamaha makes an announcement that, the well awaited, YZF-R3 and MT03 were going to hit Indian shores by Jan 2024. Thanks to the CBU route, it came with an astronomical price tag of 4.64L - ex showroom. What ensued, is of course the sheer expression of disappointment by both enthusiasts and journalists alike. Coming from the R15, I more or less became in love with the sports-bike category. The sheer feel of having razor sharp handling in corners is just equivalent to a chef's kiss. I also, have one more perspective and I understand this might not make sense a lot, but I always try to look at the value part first and then the accessibility part of it. To me, every machine has a character. In the long run, I strongly believe, choosing the machine whose character closely resembles your taste makes more sense than whether it has the features to justify its price tag. By character I mean, it can be something as simple as the design, the exhaust note, the engine response, handling etc. Its something that is so powerful and personal, that it will never make any sense if you try to explain to others who has a different opinion.

So, going by what is available on the market for a sporty-faired motorcycle in the 300-400cc segment with 40ish BHP, these are the options to choose from:

1. Aprilia RS457
2. Kawasaki Ninja 500
3. Kawasaki Ninja 300
4. Yamaha YZF R3

I will go through what the normal perception is of the above 4 bikes:

RS457 - Now, going by reviews and the general sentiment, the RS457 walks over the other three likes its nobody's business. It has the most power at 47 BHP, amazing low-end torque that pulls in just about any gear and at any speed. It also has the most modern looking design too and its packed with features and electronics that most customers crave for.

Kawasaki Ninja 500 - Creamy smooth engine. Ludicrously over-priced. No features on offer comparable to the Aprilia. Most expensive of the bunch here.

Kawasaki Ninja 300 - Kawasaki has forgotten to discontinue this model in India. But engine is bullet-proof.

Yamaha YZF R3 - 2019 designed model which is due for an upgrade in 2025. Not even a slipper clutch. Legendary and proven twin cylinder engine, Yamaha is trying to force us to accept their "if it isn't broken, don't fix/upgrade it approach".

Now comes to the tricky bit, how do in the world do I explain to you guys, out of all the four, why in the right mind would I have chosen the R3 over the much more modern and VFM RS457.

Well then, let us start with some honest admissions then. Right from my childhood, when it came to automobiles, I always had an admiration for the Japanese. I loved their car culture. I always found them interesting in their beliefs of stability over agility (which I guess is hurting them now in someways when it comes to sales tactics and figures, comparing with how other companies work). My most favorite era of cars from them is the 90s-early 2000s with the RB26 Skyline GT-Rs, 2JZ Supra, the Evos and STIs. I loved the designs of these cars. Simple, functional and not too extravagant with legendary engines, that some models are unsurprisingly having price figures rivalling Ferraris and Lambos today. So, I fully admit, I have a soft spot for Japs inspite of the sad state they are in today in certain areas.

Why I didn't wait till 2025 then? For the updated MY2025 YZF-R3 ? :

Simplistic Beauty!

Reasons are getting more personal now. To try and explain to the best of my ability, let me draw another parallel with my interests of cars. As mentioned above, I drool over simplistic designs. My favorite cars in the world are the 90s, 2000s R32,R33 and R34 Skyline GTRs. Clean, elegant and simple. Also, this was a period of time, when cars were having only base level tech. I consider this period to be the best. It was when tech was not yet intrusive enough that required people to demand, but rather, the focus was more on the experience, the feel of driving, the roar of the engine, hardware induced emotions etc. While tech and features started into cars around the early 2010s itself, for bikes, I think its truly starting to show now only. The 2025 model seems a bit too busy for my taste especially the extra DRLs, who prefers simplicity. The back is way too similar to the R15 too. You can call me a boomer , but it is the truth for me.

In March 2024, I went to the MMRT for participating in the Track Day organized by Yamaha. Until this point, I never saw an R3 in the flesh, not the current one at least. I loved the design in the pictures due to reasons mentioned above. I have seen videos from the entire world of people riding and sharing their experience on the R3. But in the flesh when I saw it, that's when it truly became from just a bike I was deeply interested in to one that started to become an obsession. Something just clicked that day. A connection which just refused fade away with time. Trust me, as much as I tried to look at the logical side of things, watch millions of content on the RS457 or any of the others, none of them, I was able to connect with. No, I don't have someone having a gun to my head. Nobody is paying me to remain loyal to a company. I don't expect everyone to understand, but, truth is, this feeling can never be truly explained.

I was also the same person who persuaded my dad to test-drive before finalizing on the CB350 Highness. But when it came to this, a dream so powerful that I made a complete U-Turn .

Booking:

Initially, the plan was to get this in Nov/Dec. But day by day, this impulse was getting stronger. I was rigorously saving up for this bike for months. Around 18th Oct, we had planned a trip to Yercaud, me and my dad. While starting the trip itself, it rained and since the forecast near Salem wasn't encouraging, we decided to postpone it. Instead, we just planned to enquire some showrooms and get an estimate on the R3. With Deepavali around the corner, I was hoping to see some discounts. Listing down the showrooms and their estimates shared:

1. Shanti Motors, Pallikarnai - 60k discount, had stock ready to deliver on the day to which can be chosen - 4.90L onroad (without exchange value of my older R15)
2. Sky Motors, Thoripakkam - Laziest staff, hardly interested. No discounts, pathetic estimate for my two year old R15. (95k)
3. Bikerz Yamaha, Nandanam - Same showroom I got the R15 from. Being an existing customer, I did expect some good discount. But got a 30k discount only. Also, that complimentary kit which Yamaha offers for free on buying the R3/MT03, that seems to be part of the discount with value of 20k!

Apart from this one notable mention is Sri Motors, Kattupakkam- got a quoted discount of 40k over messages (didn't physically go).

Eventually, settled on Shanti Motors. 4.90L was in a way a good estimate. The RS457 on-road price comes close to it what you can get on-road. Once again, only saying about the price, not the features you get for it. An exchange offer was given for my R15 at 1.25L(low side only, should've gotten atleast 1.40L), but after discussion internally with my dad, we went for it.

The plan was part down-payment and part-finance/EMI. Earlier we had gone for L&T finance and this time too we decided to stick with it. The finance person was not that experienced I feel. Finalizing this itself took at least two separate trips to the showroom. The cherry on top was when everything was done, they added a "loan processing charge " amounting to 15k. Something which was never communicated earlier when were booking the bike. Nevertheless as much as it spoilt the mood, I stuck with it. So if any of you are planning to use L&T finance, make sure you have a written estimate of every single charge beforehand to avoid such hiccups. Transparency is needed.

Shanti Motors also offered to showcase the unboxing of the bike from the crate (as its a CBU) along with an option to ride the bike ourselves to the RTO. I believe these were suggestions given by fellow BHPian V.Max who also took delivery from the same showroom of the R3. Still, it was a good gesture and I am glad they offered it.

Delivery:

Delivery was taken today (31st Oct 2024) on the auspicious occasion of Deepavali. A day I was craving for so badly, dreaming of it every time I went to bed. Finally, around 11.30 AM, took delivery! Color I had chosen was signature Yamaha's "icon blue". Two colors are on offer - Icon Blue and Yamaha Black. Though I come from a silver R15, this time, it was indeed the call of the blue! Delivery was nicely organized as well.

Its here!

Overall, the experience at Shanti Motors was good. Whatever was promised, they have delivered on time. Communication for the most part was transparent too, though sometimes, I felt, when it came to submitting some documents, they could've reduced my showroom visits from 3 to 1 if they had mentioned everything to be shared in advance itself properly. But I guess, this occurs in other showrooms too. That finance part too was a slight downer. Overall, since these guys have already sold 3-4 R3s in Chennai, I guess, you can consider them if you're planning to get one in Chennai. Overall, satisfied with the experience.

Initial Impressions:

Pros:

1. The riding posture is very comfortable coming from the R15. I have seen in reviews too, that the R3 is more sports-tourer orientated rather than a full blown Sports bike. I can confirm this.

2. Right from the moment I started from the showroom, I can already feel, this is the perfect upgrade to my R15. The way in which the power is delivered, linearly, its just like the R15. But 321cc twin shows its color as you move up the rev range. Since its in run-in period, I am not going to push until 1000 km is done. But even then, I can feel the rev-happy nature of the engine.

3. Having not taken a test-ride, and this being a direct first on-hand experience, I can say it with confidence and a wide grin on my face that, I am so glad I went with my heart instead of going by reviews and other external factors. Pure Pleasure is what I can describe it as. The exhaust note is beautiful! Smooth and refined as expected.

4. Fuel Economy obviously drops significantly from my R15, but that's expected. Still a respectable 25 kmpl can be expected as per some reports. I can confirm only after a week or 2 of riding it.

5. Build Quality is rock solid! Overall impression is of a well-built product, one expects out of Japan, It is a CBU, I know, but still worth mentioning it.

6. Suspension is neatly tuned. I did go through some bad patches of roads while returning home from showroom. Shocks are excellent.

7. Servicing costs mostly could be on the lower side compared to competitors at Aprilia and Kawasaki. Yet to confirm this, but definitely the service network is much more wider than the other 2.

Cons:

1. Lack of slipper clutch. I will admit its not as bad as I thought it would be. I already have a habit of rev matching when I down-shift, so that I guess is helping now. But still, its a major omission for sure.

2. Quick-shifter? - While I don't mind its absence, It was nice to have this on my R15M even if it was for up-shift only. Since its sold in UK and some international markets from what I have heard, Yamaha should've provided it here as an accessory as well.

3. Lack of accessories. Hardly anything noteworthy to add officially from Yamaha.

4. Spares availability is still a question mark for CBU bikes.

5. Price without a good discount is extremely steep.

6. Engine does heat up quite a lot. But I think this must be due to initial engine oil which needs to be used till 1000km. Hopefully will be done after that.

Dual Headlights have a certain charm indeed!

Side Note

Yamaha is supposed to send a complimentary kit with some Oakley sunglasses, T-Shirt, RS4GP engine oil. No sign of it yet.

I will as usual, keep this thread updated and active whenever required and possible. Overall, this happens to be the best purchases I have done, most expensive but possibly the most heart's desire fulfilling asset till date. Having turned 25 just this month, I feel I have managed to acquire this dream machine in the best phase of my youth.

To conclude then, do I recommend to try this approach of going purely on instincts and intuition? Frankly, and ideal answer is no. Test ride and proper analysis is must when you're willing to spend this much especially when you aren't fully attached to anything particular. But sometimes, just sometimes, if your intuition is too powerful, then maybe, just maybe, try giving your heart the benefit of the doubt and go for it. Sometimes risks can be rewarding too without regrets!

Happy Deepavali,

Ride Safe!

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[Torq-D]

Congratulations @R15M_Rider !!

Yamaha R3 has always been on my radar as my 2nd ride along side S1KRR. I have been a hardcore Yamaha Fan since my 2008 R15 days. Even though R3 is more like a Sports tourer than being hardcore track tool, but still it has got huge potential on track.

Wish you thousands of safe n joyous miles.

[saikishor]

I havent read the thread yet, scrolled to the end to type this:
Congratulations on your new purchase! Was waiting to see pictures of the bike

Edit: I am curious about spare part availability for this model. For example, waiting times for general parts like fork oil seals, air filters etc and cosmetic parts like fenders, visors etc.

[R15M_Rider]

Originally Posted by Torq-D

Congratulations @R15M_Rider !!

Yamaha R3 has always been on my radar as my 2nd ride along side S1KRR. I have been a hardcore Yamaha Fan since my 2008 R15 days. Even though R3 is more like a Sports tourer than being hardcore track tool, but still it has got huge potential on track.

Wish you thousands of safe n joyous miles.

Thank You! True, I find this to be the perfect balance. Considering, most no of hours are going to spent on the roads, I think this strikes the perfect balance.

Originally Posted by saikishor

I havent read the thread yet, scrolled to the end to type this:
Congratulations on your new purchase! Was waiting to see pictures of the bike

Edit: I am curious about spare part availability for this model. For example, waiting times for general parts like fork oil seals, air filters etc and cosmetic parts like fenders, visors etc.

Thanks! Regarding the spare part availability, even I am in the dark as of now. If I get to know something, will surely update. But accessories are very, very limited for sure, at least directly from Yamaha. Not a huge issue for me as I am more of a purist of keeping the bike as stock as possible.

UPDATE:

Just did the puja today and out of curiosity checked the tyre pressures.They were alarmingly low! Around 15 psi in the front and 16 psi in the back
Thankfully noticed it early without any major distance added. I remember asking them about the tyres before taking delivery and they told me they have pumped it up. Guess that wasn't the case. I don't know if its a smilar practice in other brands/showrooms, but definitely, I would highly recommend anyone taking delivery of a new vehicle to check your tyres as soon as you take delivery.

With blessings, the journey begins

[Gagan_DB]

Congratulations for the New YAMAHA R3. Excellent Choice. Since my childhood I am fan of Yamaha and their Wonderful designs.

[AtheK]

Congratulations on your new steed, it is indeed a bulletproof reliable bike, which will take you places. I do hope that Yamaha continues to keep it's focus on our market and get the 2025 R3 once launched quickly to our shores.

Bikes are usually a heart decision and you did the right thing by following your heart. Keep riding and I wish you lakhs of Kms of safe and fun riding.

PS: The other day I was speaking to a friend and if I take out aspirational drive, I would like to have the below two bikes in my garage as my final garage.

1. RS457 - For the fun rides and breakfast gigs.
2. NX500 - For daily rides and long tours.

Personally this thought crosses my mind to sell both Interceptor and CBR and do this, might as well next year!

[R15M_Rider]

Originally Posted by Gagan_DB

Congratulations for the New YAMAHA R3. Excellent Choice. Since my childhood I am fan of Yamaha and their Wonderful designs.

Thanks! Same here too. Timeless design for sure in my opinion.

Originally Posted by AtheK

Congratulations on your new steed, it is indeed a bulletproof reliable bike, which will take you places. I do hope that Yamaha continues to keep it's focus on our market and get the 2025 R3 once launched quickly to our shores.

Thanks! I do hope Yamaha believes the potential in our market and start bringing the big bikes like the R7 and the rest. At least offer them like Kawasaki does in the premium segment like the ZX4R, 64, 10R, Z900 etc.

Originally Posted by AtheK

Bikes are usually a heart decision and you did the right thing by following your heart. Keep riding and I wish you lakhs of Kms of safe and fun riding.

Absolutely. I am so glad I listened to my heart and never changed my decision on other factors until the very end. Lots of fun, memory filled kilometers to come for sure!

[chiefpk]

Massive congratulations on the R3 acquisition. Really looking forward to a happy ownership experience. Looking forward to join this stead soon

[R15M_Rider]

Originally Posted by chiefpk

Massive congratulations on the R3 acquisition. Really looking forward to a happy ownership experience. Looking forward to join this stead soon

Thanks! Hope you are able to get one soon

Short Breakfast Ride to Mamallapuram:

As usual, the first ride is once again to good old Mahabalipuram on the ECR. Weather was very pleasant. Typical mild monsoon rains on the way with sunshine. Maintaining a steady 90-100 kph in 5th or 6th gear, touching maximum of 6-7k RPM, for the most part as part of the run-in period , here are some of my thoughts:

1. There is a reason, why this bike has been selling worldwide with hardly any changes from 2019. The engine is creamy smooth! Parallel twin symphony, I kid you not, of all the youtube videos I have watched, none of them do full justice to experiencing it first-hand. There is also subtle burbles from the exhaust when you down-shift .Motorinc's Shumi described this as "fiercely sweet". Perfect description.

2. Now, please don't take this as a justification of lack of features, but once again I going to draw a parallel to the late 90s to early 2000s era of Japanese cars/bikes. If you are someone, who craves for sleek handling, the feel of a manual stick shift/pure mechanical feel of pulling clutch and click of the gear lever, the sensation and satisfaction of the feedback you get from the engine to your inputs etc, then the feel this bike will give you is unmatched. Already have goosebumps thinking about it! Once again, this is just my taste and humble opinion.

First Shower

3. Still early days, but I am getting an indicated mileage of 26 kmpl as of now. For city commutes, I will update by next weekend once I have done a week of office commute. Expecting atleast 20-21 kmpl, let us see. Far, far lower than my R15's 40-42 kmpl, which is to be expected obviously. Things might improve a tad bit after firsr service I would imagine.

4, Riding posture is perfect for touring as expected. Seat cushioning is much better than the R15.

5. Also, took my dad on a short errand run with him on the pillion seat. He mentioned its much more comfortable compared to the R15 . Of course, don't expect someone to be comfortable on the pillion seat to take touring with . Just for short rides, its a bit better as the seat is wider than the R15.

6. The absence of a tyre hugger, so far at-least isn't a concern. Having ridden on wet and slightly slushy stretches of roads, I didn't see any splashing on my back from the tyre. I hope it stays this way as adding a tyre hugger will ruin the look!

168 km on the Odo

7. Braking is excellent. ABS is well calibrated without it being too intrusive as well. Engine Breaking is a good practice to have in the absence of a slipper clutch too.
Ride Safe!

[sasta_rider]

Congratulations @R15M_Rider on this Japanese acquisition!

Originally Posted by R15M_Rider

Of course, on tours, especially on highways, there one thing inevitably lacking, that is the power. 18.1 BHP, don't get me wrong is not slow by any means for that gem of a 155cc engine, but its something you definitely will grow out of pretty quickly, especially if you're an enthusiast who rides, breathes and sleeps dreaming about motorcycles.

Towards the end of 2023, and beginning of 2024, the 300-400cc segment saw a huge influx of bikes from Truimph, Bajaj, Aprilia, Kawasaki and of course Yamaha (please excuse if I missed any other significant brand).

Yes, indeed. R15, with its 155 cc engine churning 18.1 bhp, is the best thing that can ever happen. To add fuel to the flame, the Japanese reliability is top notch, even if this machine was locally made. There are areas of improvement but expecting too much is also not good I feel.

Few suggestions, which you can give it a thought after few months of ownership maybe:
- Which brand tires are offered by default? If it is MRF/CEAT, I would advise you to upgrade to something better like the Apollo Alpha series or Michelin Road 5 or Metzelers. I hate MRF/CEAT tires. Since your riding involves touring and city commute, better get her a new set of shoes.
- Which fuel rating do you use: regular or higher octane rated? What did the ASC inform with regard to the fuel?
- Get a tank pad (Yamaha's if available or popular third party), to avoid your belt's buckle scratching the tanks!
- Frame sliders, preferred aftermarket. I wish nothing happens to your new obsession but you never know how the public meddles around when parked. Saying this after my unfortunate incident with my R15 where the side panel took the hit, but was saved by Frame Sliders.
- Any plans of getting her treated with a PPF or ceramic coating?
- Is the throw offered by headlights sufficient during the nights?

Would greatly appreciate your inputs on the above as days pass with the ownership!

Originally Posted by R15M_Rider

Well then, let us start with some honest admissions then. Right from my childhood, when it came to automobiles, I always had an admiration for the Japanese. I loved their car culture. I always found them interesting in their beliefs of stability over agility (which I guess is hurting them now in someways when it comes to sales tactics and figures, comparing with how other companies work).

Reasons are getting more personal now. To try and explain to the best of my ability, let me draw another parallel with my interests of cars. As mentioned above, I drool over simplistic designs. My favorite cars in the world are the 90s, 2000s R32,R33 and R34 Skyline GTRs. Clean, elegant and simple. Also, this was a period of time, when cars were having only base level tech. I consider this period to be the best. It was when tech was not yet intrusive enough that required people to demand, but rather, the focus was more on the experience, the feel of driving, the roar of the engine, hardware induced emotions etc. While tech and features started into cars around the early 2010s itself, for bikes, I think its truly starting to show now only. The 2025 model seems a bit too busy for my taste especially the extra DRLs, who prefers simplicity. The back is way too similar to the R15 too. You can call me a boomer , but it is the truth for me.

We share a similar taste here, mate! Japanese engineering and the way they deliver value, fun and reliability with minimal constraint on the pocket of a customer, is what makes me respect them more. All this love towards Japanese automobile market started since 2011, when Innova came into my life. Reliability is another word for Innova! And then, my R15 which never disappointed me for the money and features it offered in the segment and price range.

Currently, I do feel lack of power (also read as: greed for more power) after owning R15 v4 for over 2.5 years now. I am glad that a fellow R15 rider upgraded to a bigger Call of the Blue beast. The need for a new upgrade is in pipeline as per my heart, but not anytime soon because brain is not ready yet. Whether to retain my R15 and get an upgrade is also another big question to which I am finding answer: it has its positive and negatives. But love for Japanese makes sure you never wish to sell your (first) obsession.

I am more excited to see the upcoming posts on this thread: mileage returned during office commutes, services expenses (broken down), interest of ASC in helping acquire any parts required for bike during service and a lot more. Please keep us all updated with amazing content!

And, as usual, ride safe!
Sud.

[Kilometeor]

Congratulations R15M Rider. You will not be disappointed. I had got this engineering marvel in the 1st lot of Feb 2024 and have clocked around 5K kms. I completely agree with all the points.

1. It's a beautiful tourer. I did a Bangalore-Erode-Bangalore short trip. I enjoyed every bit of this engine. You won't feel suddenly you will be in 120+ .(since I was coming from a RE 350, it was new to me). So, I had to consciously see the speedo to keep myself less than 120.

2. I use it for office commuting and occasional touring. Office commuting is a breeze due to its amazing weight management.

3. True nature of this engine will be after 7K RPM. After that we require a different level of maturity to handle this beast.

4. On accessories, you were right. It is absolute zero, Yamaha doesn't believe in selling an Eco system like RE does. They will just give a gem of an engine and we need to figure out ourselves. Since I didn't want to do any modes, I just got some rackless bags for my touring.

4. You may be lucky if you get the Yamaha Kit (with oakley glass, t-shirt etc) now. I got it in september 2024 while my delivery was on 1st March 2024.

[R15M_Rider]

Originally Posted by sasta_rider

Congratulations @R15M_Rider on this Japanese acquisition!

Yes, indeed. R15, with its 155 cc engine churning 18.1 bhp, is the best thing that can ever happen. To add fuel to the flame, the Japanese reliability is top notch, even if this machine was locally made. There are areas of improvement but expecting too much is also not good I feel.

Thanks a lot @sasta_rider. Honestly, for starting out, I wouldn't trade the R15 experience for anything. If I had started on something like Pulsar/Hornet or even an MT-15, I seriously doubt I would've gotten this much invested and obsessed with motorcycles. Infact, I doubt I would've become a BHPian if it weren't for the R15. I am glad we won't be able to change our id in Team BHP. Its the genesis for sure

Originally Posted by sasta_rider

- Which brand tires are offered by default? If it is MRF/CEAT, I would advise you to upgrade to something better like the Apollo Alpha series or Michelin Road 5 or Metzelers. I hate MRF/CEAT tires. Since your riding involves touring and city commute, better get her a new set of shoes.
- Which fuel rating do you use: regular or higher octane rated? What did the ASC inform with regard to the fuel?
- Get a tank pad (Yamaha's if available or popular third party), to avoid your belt's buckle scratching the tanks!
- Frame sliders, preferred aftermarket. I wish nothing happens to your new obsession but you never know how the public meddles around when parked. Saying this after my unfortunate incident with my R15 where the side panel took the hit, but was saved by Frame Sliders.
- Any plans of getting her treated with a PPF or ceramic coating?
- Is the throw offered by headlights sufficient during the nights?

Sure, as I progress through the ownership, I will surely keep this thread active. Here are a few answers to your suggestions/queries:

1. Tyres are actually Dunlop Sportmax as default. I rode on wet roads today, frankly was not able to find any discomfort due to lack of grip. Need to see how long these last though. Tyres dimensions are exactly same as the R15 too: front tire width - 110/70-17 and a rear tire width of 140/70-17

2. I filled up with Shell's V-Power as soon as I got delivery. After today's short trip, filled up with regular Shell petrol. As much as possible I tend to fill up at Shell only (thankfully have 3 in my office commute route), else I would prefer to higher octane petrol at other petrol stations. I intend to do the same here too like how I did for my R15. I didn't get any specific recommendations as such from the dealer. I will check once the user-manual and see if I find anything.

3. Only accessories for the R3 listed on Yamaha's website (commuter bag is also there, nothing to do with the bike as usual). Even the R15 gets much better accessories :

4. True, frame sliders are something I will seriously consider. I too have been following your thread and its indeed heart-breaking, even if its a small scratch. Sadly, most people hardly give a damn about other's priced possessions.

5. Its the monsoon season in Chennai and November is possibly the rainiest month for us. Therefore, I will hold on till the season passes before thinking about polish/PPF/ceramic coating.

6. I will update the headlight situation possibly next weekend after a week's commute is done.

Originally Posted by sasta_rider

We share a similar taste here, mate! Japanese engineering and the way they deliver value, fun and reliability with minimal constraint on the pocket of a customer, is what makes me respect them more.

I am really glad to know you also share the same thoughts/interests as me. I also have a feeling that cost of ownership in the long run will start to show the true value of the R3 too.

Originally Posted by sasta_rider

The need for a new upgrade is in pipeline as per my heart, but not anytime soon because brain is not ready yet. Whether to retain my R15 and get an upgrade is also another big question to which I am finding answer: it has its positive and negatives. But love for Japanese makes sure you never wish to sell your (first) obsession.

I too, was in the same dilemma. For the longest time. Its hard for sure. Taking a decision between your first bike and your dream bike without any regrets. But I guess, as much as people project as first bike must be special, for most of us, a single bike garage is often the reality(not including your other members in the family's vehicles).

Originally Posted by Kilometeor

Congratulations R15M Rider. You will not be disappointed. I had got this engineering marvel in the 1st lot of Feb 2024 and have clocked around 5K kms.

2. I use it for office commuting and occasional touring. Office commuting is a breeze due to its amazing weight management.

3. True nature of this engine will be after 7K RPM. After that we require a different level of maturity to handle this beast.

4. You may be lucky if you get the Yamaha Kit (with oakley glass, t-shirt etc) now. I got it in september 2024 while my delivery was on 1st March 2024.

Thanks @Kilometeor, Happy to get in touch with another 2024 R3 owner. Glad to know office touring will be a breeze, will share my thoughts on this next weekend. Coming from an R15, I certainly can taste the extra oomph of the engine even below 7k RPM. Post first service, I think, I will be able to properly taste the "VVA band" of the R3

Usually, under normal circumstances, delivery of the vehicle will delay while we get the complimentary kit first. Yamaha works differently I guess.

[R15M_Rider]

Update After a Weeks's office commute in traffic:

Sharing a few observations after my daily office commute of 42 km (in total to and fro) for this week from Monday, which has brought up the total odo reading to 437 km.

1. I am currently getting a mileage of around 22-24 kmpl. Far cry from the 42 kmpl of the R15 obviously. Perhaps it will increase a little bit after first service. But I am not expecting much and I am content with this. Still higher than most cars with the benefit of filtering through thick traffic with ease. On highways, I am sure, I can start touching 30 kmpl.

2. Thanks to the monsoon rains, got to ride in the wet as well as some broken patches of roads. Suspension is beautifully tuned between comfort and handling. Considering, I have ridden the sporty R15 and the comfortable CB350 Highness, this sits bang on in middle. Best of both worlds for sure!

The only sort of dirt and grime I can tolerate. The ones accumulated from riding!

3. Absence of a slipper clutch is definitely felt in stop-and-go traffic. Some pain on the wrist will be felt for sure. But it's not as bad as I initially imagined. I am already getting used to it quite well. Gearbox is very slick to shift. When you hit an open stretch, the satisfaction of the gear change wwith the engine response more than makes up for it. . As I earlier mentioned, purely unadulterated mechanical feel of the machine.

4. So far, having ridden on fairly muddy roads, I think the need of a tyre hugger which is not provided by default is not necessary. The max height, I can see the dirt is upto to the rear tail light. Maybe with a pillion this might be a slight problem. But as a single user, lack of tyre hugger isn't causing me any problems and I am glad about it. Don't want to spoil that look!

I love the look of this tail section, especially the sharpness

5. Engine is also very tractable. I have ridden around 35 kmph in 4th gear. I have a tendency to shift down always as I don't like lugging the engine too much. But yes, it is capable of doing low speeds on higher gears without complaining much.

6. The design being on the slightly outdated side(I prefer the word timeless), actually makes the bike look very under-stated! Most will probably mistake it for an R15 still! It hardly draws any kind of attention, and that in a way, makes me so glad. It resembles my character too in real life being a slight introvert and preferring to perform without the limelight.

Overall, super satisfied with the bike so far. As I mentioned earlier, this strikes the absolute balance between power, comfort, handling and something you can use every single day without thinking twice! Next update will be after first service in a week or two's time

Until then!

Ride Safe

[Ashishknainan]

Congratulations for your new bike. This is one bike I had always wanted to own but somehow had to let go for other (practical) reasons.
Yamaha and for that matter any Japanese engineering bike or car is all about having an effortless riding/driving as well as ownership experience. Having used R15 for over 3 years before shifting to a Honda car, I used to love riding the bike everyday morning. I am sure your 300cc engine must be a charm undoubtedly.

Happy riding!!