[b16h22]

Originally Posted by amyntor

Based on the news reports, the updated pricing is to stay for the MY2025 model too. If that's true, then it'd indeed be a repositioning.

I did come across similar news. I think it was Motor Inc who reported that these are new prices and not discounts. It could be similar to the CB500X saga. They discounted the CB for stock clearance and later launched the NX500 for a price similar to the discounted prices. Hopefully that's the case.

The potential customers might be confused as they won't know whether to wait for the updated model or to grab the current model for the discounted prices. They might go back to the old prices for 25 model update or they might price it in the close vicinity of RS457.

[Santy19]

• The Price now at 3.60lacs is very competitive for a twin cylinder.
• Its very well mannered as most of the reviews suggest.
• Its very reliable as it has proved itself over the years.
• Yamaha has a cult following and good after market support.

Owner/Rider please advise me on this!

Can a Yamaha R3 be a good beginner bike, this has all the qualities for it my only concern is will 42bhp overwhelm a new rider?

[Ratan Prabhu]

Originally Posted by Santy19

Can a Yamaha R3 be a good beginner bike, this has all the qualities for it my only concern is will 42bhp overwhelm a new rider?

You will never get a unanimous answer on this here as there will be some who wouldn't suggest even a 19bhp MT15/R15 and some would suggest a 40bhp liner power delivery motorcycle.

My answer will be = it's how you are as a rider and your mentality i.e. regardless of your age, are you a sane rider with good control over your adrenaline rush, do you care a lot for yours and others' safety ? Do you follow the rules even when you know if you don't follow them, you will be fine ? If yes, I think it is fine to have R3 as a beginner bike. It will not overwhelm you like a duke390 from what I've seen in reviews.

Having said that, I am assuming that you know how to ride a motorcycle. Wouldn't recommend learning to ride on a brand new 42 bhp sports bike from safety point of view as well as cost of repairs of a bike (if you have minor falls) whose spares aren't readily available in service centers.

[maverick029]

Originally Posted by RT13

Anyway, I’m glad you’ve had decent experiences with other manufacturers but, I’ve realised that i personally value fundamental engineering over tech and bells and whistles and I find that Japanese brands tend to prioritise that, more than others. Your mileage may vary of course

Agreed on your points about the gearbox, now i think you have answered it in the next post but i will ask you, will you pay 3.5L for cb300r just for the gearbox? I would not, i own ktm 390 adv currently and i have not been affected by it he vibes or the gearbox at the slightest. I took it for 2.5k ride with my s/o and she did not even complain about comfort once and i had no issues. Ktm 2nd gen gearbox is clunky but look at n250’s gearbox, super smooth, i have even have feedback from my riding buddy that ns400z gearbox is quite smooth as well. Now ns400z is priced 2.35 ex showroom and cb300r is priced at 2.4 ex showroom with part localization. That does not make any sense and i am saying this being an avid fan of cb300r which i cannot justify due to the small pillion seat. The point which goes against jap brands is the unreal pricing, if bajaj can produce a bike with speed 400 quality then honda can do it too with product localization but instead of doing that they sell their products at unreal pricing. Though to end the debate i would say to each his own.

[wheelspinner]

Originally Posted by Santy19

[list]
Can a Yamaha R3 be a good beginner bike, this has all the qualities for it my only concern is will 42bhp overwhelm a new rider?

Don't judge by the looks or figures. It is not for everyone. The sitting stance is very aggressive like super sports, which is not enjoyable for everyone. The handle bars are positioned similarly, and not very comfortable for all. You still haven't acquired the taste of bike riding as a newbie. So spend some time with low powered commuters, and learn to master all the manoeuvres in busy markets, etc.

I didn't enjoy riding any super sports bikes as it gave me back pain everytime. One of my friends bought an R15M and faced back pain issue on long rides.

[hikozaru]

Originally Posted by Ratan Prabhu

You will never get a unanimous answer on this here as there will be some who wouldn't suggest even a 19bhp MT15/R15 and some would suggest a 40bhp liner power delivery motorcycle.

Real

I think the R3 is a great beginner bike. The bike, like all Yamaha R series bikes won't move before the tach goes past 5k. The cable operated throttle needs more effort than a 457 or a 390. Yamaha even idiot proofed the R3 by giving it a really large throttle angle (see the R6 throttle mod) so that noobs cannot grab a handful of throttle, so hitting that advertised 42hp is really hard unless you want it. That said, the stock levers are a bit too far away and combined with how high rpm generally tend to be on the gutless engine, it does demand some form of precision riding. Like Ratan says though, get something cheaper to drop and crash on while learning.

[sasmit]

Originally Posted by wheelspinner

Don't judge by the looks or figures. It is not for everyone. The sitting stance is very aggressive like super sports, which is not enjoyable for everyone. The handle bars are positioned similarly, and not very comfortable for all.

The R3 is far more relaxed riding position compared to R15 , the bars are much higher set .

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by sasmit

The R3 is far more relaxed riding position compared to R15 , the bars are much higher set .

Plus a very accommodating seat height of just 780mm - it is more sport tourer than supersport.

[t3rm1n80r]

Originally Posted by Nithesh_M

After replacing Showa branded forks for generic ones amongst other parts localisation.

Originally Posted by RT13

If I recall correctly, the CB300R price cut was due a localisation move (from previously being CKD) and a down spec - from Showa to an unbranded fork. That is a significant change.

It's by Endurance, as Mr Rishaad Modi had pointed out in his second CB300R Autocar review. I verified the same. Now my doubt is that is Endurance that bad compared to the likes of Showa and WP? Or is it just a bragging rights thing. I feel it all comes down to tuning and quality of materials used. If an Indian brand is able to provide a quality component at low cost through localisation, I'm all up for it. Also, Showa does not necessarily mean better. The kinds of roads it's tuned for matters. For example, my 2023 H'Ness came with Showa front forks, but I don't find it well suited for Indian roads.

An image I clicked of my 2024 CB300R. Please excuse the dirt. I haven't had it washed yet after my long ride yesterday.

[sasmit]

Originally Posted by t3rm1n80r

It's by Endurance, as Mr Rishaad Modi had pointed out in his second CB300R Autocar review. I verified the same. Now my doubt is that is Endurance that bad compared to the likes of Showa and WP? Or is it just a bragging rights thing. I feel it all comes down to tuning and quality of materials used. If an Indian brand is able to provide a quality component at low cost through localisation, I'm all up for it. Also, Showa does not necessarily mean better. The kinds of roads it's tuned for matters. For example, my 2023 H'Ness came with Showa front forks, but I don't find it well suited for Indian roads.

A bit off topic...
In general, I find upside down forks have more issues with oil leakage and dust ingress. the next time you see a duke or rc please have a look at its front forks chances are in 1 out of 3 you'll notice a leaky or wet fork with dust accumulation, clearly a sign of leaky seals.
The issue is when youtube reviewers and auto publication reviewers simply call out Oh! it does not get USD forks. If the conventional fork is well tuned and less leakage prone, then its better. Paper spec comparison will always show a conventional fork to be inferior equipment. A conventional fork is lighter than an USD (not talking about unsprung mass).

[t3rm1n80r]

Originally Posted by sasmit

The issue is when Youtube reviewers and auto publication reviewers simply call out Oh! it does not get USD forks. If the conventional fork is well tuned and less leakage prone, then its better.

I somewhat agree. I personally have never compared motorcycles based on Right Side Up vs Up Side Down forks. If the bike feels good to drive on various road conditions, it goes to my wishlist. I don't understand buyers obsession with USD forks. Maybe I'm not experienced/skilled enough to leverage the advantages USD forks provide over the RSU ones.

[neil.jericho]

Originally Posted by Santy19

• The Price now at 3.60lacs is very competitive for a twin cylinder.
• Its very well mannered as most of the reviews suggest.
• Its very reliable as it has proved itself over the years.
• Yamaha has a cult following and good after market support.

Owner/Rider please advise me on this!

Can a Yamaha R3 be a good beginner bike, this has all the qualities for it my only concern is will 42bhp overwhelm a new rider?

If you are getting your first motorcycle, then I would suggest that you buy a R15 instead and get a few years of experience under your belt. Its not just about the motorcycle that you are riding but the overall conditions that you are riding in, which can overwhelm you and your decision making abilities. Once you believe that you are ready for an upgrade, get yourself that R3!

[RT13]

Originally Posted by maverick029

Agreed on your points about the gearbox, now i think you have answered it in the next post but i will ask you, will you pay 3.5L for cb300r just for the gearbox? I would not, i own ktm 390 adv currently and i have not been affected by it he vibes or the gearbox at the slightest. I took it for 2.5k ride with my s/o and she did not even complain about comfort once and i had no issues…….

if bajaj can produce a bike with speed 400 quality then honda can do it too with product localization but instead of doing that they sell their products at unreal pricing.

To clarify, for me personally, a gearbox may not be a deal maker, but it can be a deal ‘breaker’, which is the case with the KTM 390. To expand on that, the short gearing, lugging at low speed, the need to be in precisely the right gear, all combine to make it a painful experience in Bangalore traffic, for me. I have no doubt none of this matters at all when you hit the highway or open road, but for mixed use, I find it painful. On the other hand, the well thought through gearing of the 300, allows you to drop well into the high teens in 3rd gear, and pull away without having to shift and the clutch is light as butter. These are things I value for the kind of riding I would use such a thing for. I place more value on this than on fancy electronics, IMU-based lean angle sensors and so on. You may not, and that’s fine. With respect to the Triumph Speed 400s I was super excited about them myself and actually put down the token booking money. However, I am on several Facebook groups with thousands of people and the sheer number of complaints with respect to electronic failures, stalling and so on have convinced me not to pull the trigger and is (to me) an example of how one tends to get what one pays for. And is a reiteration of how I personally am willing to pay extra for peace of mind. It is also why I won’t touch any new Royal Enfield with a barge pole. Indian auto companies have a clear track record of rushing products to market to recoup their investment and boost share price in as short a time as possible, perfectly willing for customers to be their guinea pigs. And I say this as someone who’s seen the insides of multiple listed auto component companies as a consultant.

Originally Posted by t3rm1n80r

It's by Endurance, as Mr Rishaad Modi had pointed out in his second CB300R Autocar review. I verified the same. Now my doubt is that is Endurance that bad compared to the likes of Showa and WP? Or is it just a bragging rights thing. I feel it all comes down to tuning and quality of materials used. If an Indian brand is able to provide a quality component at low cost through localisation, I'm all up for it. Also, Showa does not necessarily mean better. The kinds of roads it's tuned for matters. For example, my 2023 H'Ness came with Showa front forks, but I don't find it well suited for Indian roads.

An image I clicked of my 2024 CB300R. Please excuse the dirt. I haven't had it washed yet after my long ride yesterday.

Fair. Endurance is not ‘unbranded’. However they are merely large scale oem suppliers. I don’t want to get into a lengthy debate about suspension here but I find most people don’t really understand the first function of suspension - it is to to ensure maximum traction at all times. It is not intended to give you a soft ride. That however is how most Indians tend to evaluate suspension, given our kind of riding and roads. All I’ll say is this - quality suspension that can track all kinds of terrain efficiently, costs serious money. Heck, the forks and shocks on my mountain bikes (cycles) all cost between 50k-1.5L at retail. They are the result of massive R&D with humongous budgets and are aimed at performance. This is what you pay for with a Showa or a WP. The kind of R&D which does not happen in the likes of Endurance. I’ve consulted in the auto industry and can tell you this with certainty - many of these are merely springs slapped to metal, with some sort of oil bath involved. Having said which, 99% of people will not remotely explore the limits of what good suspension can and will do, and most of them will evaluate the suspension based on whether it is painful on the back (or backside) to ride. So, it is certainly a prudent move from a manufacturer to cut costs there, since most consumers do not value it for what it is. Again, it boils down to you, whether you value it or not. As I mentioned in the above response, we all have different priorities. I for example prioritise a well thought through gearing and clutch more than I do fancy electronics, for my of riding. I also value quality suspension. And I’m willing to pay for both. Your priorities may lie elsewhere and you will accordingly budget for that. As long as we all have quality products to choose from in a market, it’s great. One can only hope that our markets will expand to give us more choice.

Originally Posted by sasmit

The issue is when Youtube reviewers and auto publication reviewers simply call out Oh! it does not get USD forks. If the conventional fork is well tuned and less leakage prone, then its better. Paper spec comparison will always show a conventional fork to be inferior equipment. A conventional fork is lighter than an USD (not talking about unsprung mass).

Couldn’t agree more! The level of casual, uninformed dismissal of suspension because it isn’t ’upside down’ is ridiculous. Most of the top suspension designs in the world are still conventional. Only a guy like Sagar Sheldekar truly understand and explain suspension well because he really rides his bikes at the very limit.

[after]

Originally Posted by b16h22

I did come across similar news. I think it was Motor Inc who reported that these are new prices and not discounts.

The recent price cut made me consider the R3, so I called up a bunch of Yamaha showrooms today (Bengaluru).

All of them said the same thing, this is a clearance sale for 2024 manufactured motorcycles. Most of them were manufactured in June-July, so are around 8-9 months old. They also said that the new R3 will be more expensive than before, no official word on the prices but two of the dealers said it'll be 6.5L+ on-road in KA.

Was reasonably convinced to go for the R3, but buying a unit which has been sitting for so long feels dicey. Back to square one now

[surajspai]

Originally Posted by after

They also said that the new R3 will be more expensive than before, no official word on the prices but two of the dealers said it'll be 6.5L+ on-road in KA.

Was reasonably convinced to go for the R3, but buying a unit which has been sitting for so long feels dicey.

Plain FOMO mongering to push a sale, nothing more.

If you're in Bangalore long enough, perhaps you would have experienced this-
While I was hunting for accommodation a few decades ago, I would personally go street to street, talking to owners directly and calling up numbers on "house for rent" ads. I talk Kannada and all efforts to haggle for the rent would be met with a standard trump card- "A IT professional has already seen the house and has promised to give the deposit in a day or two. If you are willing, we will give it to you at this price, or else he will take up the accommodation"

Ya right .

The house would be empty for the next few months to a year because the landlord wasnt willing to lower the rent.

You have seen the result of the old pricing on sales. Do you really think they will raise it, that much? Even above the premium Ninja 500? Even in face of the giant killer rs457, teething issues aside?

Let's say they really do raise the price, they will wipe their bike and remaining reputation from the Indian market and it would be good riddance.

They know only Yamaha fan boys buy the R3, but no one would, at that price.
I personally am a fan boy, especially of the twin headlight-no frills-all engine-spirit of Rossi feel it gives. Especially after reading the posts on Krishnaprasadgg's R1. Twin headlights are my thing. Perhaps I'm stuck in the past decades.

So long as the bike isn't a show room piece which would have had its nuts revved out during sales pitches and abused while taking it to various Yamaha events, the bike is good. Maybe the battery will need to be changed early, maybe not. Let's say you go on a phoren jaunt and your bike is idle, what would you do on return? Scrap the old bike and get a new one?