Personally, the R3 is not any normal bike purchase for me, but a super emotional one for many reasons.

BHPian V.Max recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Continuing from where I left:

This was my first article in this mega forum: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motor...5-5-lakhs.html

For the above thread, I got great responses which helped me solve my almost 4-yr enigma! So, welcome one, welcome all into the initial impressions, buying & ownership experience of my first Supersports bike - The BS6 / Euro 5 Yamaha YZF R3 (Icon Blue), a CBU Import from the land of 1000 islands - Indonesia!

I wasn't sure of adding this to older R3 threads / to my original article. But considering the gap of 4 years before which Yamaha got the R3 back and that my personal conundrum (about which I’ve written earlier) won't have much relevance to actual ownership experience, I'm making a new thread. If the admins deem fit, I request them to kindly move my article to the appropriate thread. Thank you once again for giving me the platform to share my ownership experience.

Background:

Was always a car nut with my interest going back to me as little as 5 perhaps? However, my interest in bikes started much, much later, say around 27. Precisely during the time of Covid 2020. Thanks to Motovlogging, my interest in bikes took off spectacularly with an increasing desperation to change my then 6 yr old bike!

When I got my first bike (around 22 y.o), it was an easy decision - Get a reliable and good-looking ride. The automatic choice was the well-established chart topper - The 2014 BS 3 FZ-S! A ravishing red one at that! Gave it a good bit of TLC recently. Will share an ownership experience if folks here ask for it! Sharing a couple of pics of “Red” (named after Red in the Angry bird movie) here below:

Fast forward 4 years after getting stung by the change-the-bike bug, I still couldn't make up my mind as to which bike suits my needs. In a way, I suffered from problem of plenty (of data), since I developed a knack of picking atleast 1 massive deal-breaking downside for each of the sub 5-Lakh bike on sale in India. I consumed so much motorcycle content that I could easily to come up with reasons to not get a particular bike. Whoever said Ignorance is a bliss, was damn right!

Advice to my younger self - Just get a good bike and enjoy it. They're all good and the ones who buy it, buy it for a reason. The collective wisdom of lakhs of people in buying a model of bike cannot be outmatched by any one person’s conviction. So, don't waste time over analyzing. Time lost can never be had again.

The Challengers I Perused:

I’m mentioning only the things that kept me away from these proven performers. They are nonetheless brilliant as their owners are having a swell time with them! So, I’m honestly happy for those owners too

Aprilia RS 457: Too much tech (means costlier replacement costs & inaccessible to even simple repairs by FNGs), high service costs (explained later), less service touch points, spares availability & the biggest unknown - long-term ownership experience (quality, longevity, Aprilia Support etc.).

Ninja 300: Very, very, low ground clearance, engine heat in city, NO noteworthy updates in 10 years (yet its good), very high service costs (explained later), only 32 touch points Pan India & spares availability.

Ninja 500/Eliminator 500: Couldn’t afford + the service issues I mentioned above.

RE 650s: All the four 650s are heavy bikes and the air-cooled engines get pretty warm in Chennai’s soaring heat.

RE 450s: Both 450s have prominent vibrations and the small fuel tank in the Gueriilla 450 was a no for me.

Honda CB300R: Puny fuel tank, Less service touchpoints & low availability of spares.

Honda NX500: Couldn’t afford + high service costs (2 X more expensive than its predecessor CB500X), touchpoints and spares issue

HD 440/ Mavrick 440: No top end performance.

KTM 200/250/390 & the Husqvarna counterparts: They all have a certain amount of vibration, that’s not to my taste. Typical single cylinder character they say. I beg to differ (See how the CB300R is! Gruff engine, but doesn’t vibrate). Even the RC 200 vibrates a little too much.

Dominar 400: Outdated and soon to be replaced, Engine Vibrations.

NS 400Z: Not touring ready. Small fuel tank, built to a cost as evident in rear tyres being non radial. Vibrations.

Triumph 400s: Speed 400 is not rev happy at its peak power zone, while the Scram’s sprockets limit its top end.

BMW / TVS 310: NO updates in the past 7 years, Vibrating engine, service cost of BMW & service quality of TVS.

Jawa / Yezdi 2.0 – All their engines have been tuned to have lesser top end now. Also, some say they vibrate, some say they heat up. Reviews are confusing.

Suzuki 250s: The toughest one for me to let go. The first time I rode a bike was when I was 13. It was my dad’s Max 100R. A sweet lil’ rocket, which I used to annoy the more powerful 4 stroke Pulsars lol. Suzuki service was iffy according to few folks in this forum. Plus, my personal bad experience with a local Suzuki dealer made it worse.

People with eagle eyes would have noted that I put more focus on the service and spares part, That’s true. Also, engines with high compression ratio are not to my taste (which I discovered later).

Barring the 2 Kawasaki 500s, Hero-Harley 440, NS 400Z & NX500, I test drove all the other bikes! So, I’m not shooting my opinions wildly here.

One can trust me on merit as well since I’m not a Yamaha fan! I like Yamaha. But I wasn’t a fan and isn’t a fan of the brand. I’m just someone who appreciates a well put together package (case in point the R3). The OEMs I tested above are the ones I REALLY RESPECT. There is no brand hatred per se on my part here.

So anyway, why the R3:

1. Low service cost (explained later). Spares availability for R3/MT03 is unknown though.
2. More than 300 blue square outlets Pan India. So atleast 200+ service outlets too?
3. Superb engine. Worst case, it buzzes a bit. But never vibrates.
4. Excellent fuel efficiency when driven sanely (35 kmpl in the highway)
5. Doesn’t heat up too much in city.
6. Sufficient ground clearance.
7. Has hazard lights, which the RS 457 & Ninja 300 do not offer. Yes, it’s important to me and I want it as a stock fitment in my bike. Not interested in messing with the electricals by adding the Simtac units.

Cons in my opinion:

1. A price which says “don’t even think about it / don’t even touch it with a 10-foot pole”.
2. No updates to the engine in almost 10 years! Works fine anyway.
3. Pillion seat is laughable (small and high). Yet to test the comfort part though!
4. Lack of touring accessories offered by Yamaha India.

Fast forward to recent times - End of 2023-ish:

After 5+ years of reading general motorcycle forums, model/bike specific user forums, reading global reviews, watching reputed YouTube reviews of journos from every country a model was being sold in and every terrain it was being operated at, my own R&D into the level of R&D put in by the OEM in showing commitment to developing their platform further, taking cues from user/ownership reviews from multiple continents, languages & my own discussion with friends, I had a lot of info and felt confident of making a perfectly well-informed decision. Hence the R3!

There are too many reasons to list as to why one can get the R3 apart from the 7 points above. But the long story short version is that the R3 by far had the least number of complaints/demerits by both critics as well as owners! It’s a rarity to see the level of adulation a single model could garner. Yamaha did it and Boy didn't they absolutely nail it!

Ideally its due for an upgrade in 2025 with fanboys wish lists like:

1. Deltabox frame like R1 & R6 (maybe?),
2. Bigger & chunky USDs from the R15
3. Traction control (multiple levels . . . maybe?) & cornering ABS from R7.
4. Colour TFT console from R15, with TBT navigation (maybe?) and Bluetooth connectivity
5. Ride-by-wire. And riding modes (maybe?)
6. Quick Shifter (Optional).
7. Adjustable suspension (Optional).

Should these be added, the cost escalation seems scary. However, if Yamaha are hearing this, I request them to consider parts sharing of not only the turn signals across all models, but also apply that to other parts say from the R15M. You know, parts like Colour TFT, bigger USD forks, Traction control software & Quick shifter which can all be bolted on the Gen- 3 R3 which should currently be under development (I hope). And FYI, folks in the UK get Yamaha’s official quick shifter as an accessory for the R3 for £ 198. Lucky them!

My personal preference would be to add just Traction control, TBT navigation integrated into the current LCD screen (like the Suzuki 250s) & an optional Quick shifter. Rest as such makes the bike such a friggin’ dream! Deltabox frame & Adjustable suspension are going to make it a lethal track weapon! So, it’s a no for me as the touring ability of the R3 will diminish then. Ride by wire can also be done away with. Thanks to Aprilia for spoiling us with unreal expectations!

THE BIG NEWS

When news began pouring in that R3 is staging a comeback in India, I was going nuts, while also remaining cautious as Yamaha can sometimes become a Honda while pricing their bikes. And true to that, it was a bomb of a news at 4.65 lakhs ex showroom! It should have ideally been the on-road price of the bike. But Yamaha shattered my heart and plunged me into a week-long depression. The realization of not being able to buy that one bike which you looked forward to for 4 years was crushing! I collected myself, cursed Yamaha and poured all my grief across social media. Took 6 months to calm down lol.

Did my analysis once again. Was surprised to know that Yamaha retails the R3 at the same price in USA, while being more expensive in Brazil, which is another location where the R3 is assembled apart from Indonesia. Thanks to the Free Trade Agreement between India and Indonesia, R3 could be had here at the price at which it is retailing now. Otherwise, we’re taking about R3 being sold for 8+ lakhs. Yikes! Yamaha can break hearts, but they’re not that stupid to bring the R3 at that price.

With this new-found info in my mind, I almost convinced myself to get the R3. But here comes the however part –

Despite ruling out the RS 457 & Ninja 300 off my brain, my heart wasn’t ready to accept it. There’s so much useful tech in the RS 457 while being ₹ 35000 cheaper, while the Ninja 300 is a full ₹ 1.23 lakhs cheaper! Features and money really talk I say! With the RS 457 tempting us with a solid overall package and the Ninja 300 staking a claim with its proven legacy, I once again found myself in a quandary on picking one of the 3: R3, Ninja 300 & RS 457.

And so I hit the ground running once again to deep dive into the cost of ownership/after sales side of the Ninja-verse and the RS 457-verse. Wasn’t satisfied with the super high service costs, spares & service touchpoints (only 32 Pan India locations for Kawasaki) and wasn’t convinced with the sophisticated tech’s longevity, high service costs and the unknown ASS quality of the 457.

Found the Ninja 300 debiting your bank account by ₹ 7500 - ₹ 11,000 (depending on regular service or extensive service) for every 6000 kms.

As for the RS 457, its 1st free service costs ₹ 3000 and 2nd free service costs ₹ 5000 according a YouTube source. This is without labour. With labour, the costs are definitely in Ninja 300 territory for sure! Apart from the 5000 for the 2nd service, the Youtuber had also changed the brake pads for ₹ 2000 separately, prior to the 2nd service. So, the 2nd service according to me is ₹ 7000, excluding labour! That’s Ninja 300 territory again.

By the way, according to the Youtuber, the RS 457 shares the front brake pads with the Gen 2 Duke 390. Same brand, type of pad (Double H), part number and price!

So considering all these costs, I finally made up my mind for good! It was the R3. Done. Dusted. Period. Dot (Dr. Vaseegaran Rajini style).

I finally picked the Call of the Blue. No more signal issues/missed calls lol. Time for Yes Yamaha! No more Bhass Yamaha! (stolen phrase from Shumi, MotorINC)

Personally, the R3 is not any normal bike purchase for me, but a super emotional one for many reasons.

One year I’m in a job, and then the next year I’ve changed it!
One year I see close friends go through their happiest highs and another year I see none of them to be in touch.
One year I got married. The very next year I’m not married!
One year my folks at home are healthy, but the next year there was a silent cardiac arrest for dad!
It has been more of shocks & lows with not many highs for me at 32. But I’m also pretty sure most people have gone through bigger bouts of downs than me. All said, I’m eternally thankful to the almighty for all the lessons taught. As they say, what doesn’t kill you, makes you strong. And as mentioned in the MS Dhoni movie, “the scoreboard keeps moving”. Life has to go on isn’t it?

This purchase has been a depression defeating, self-pampering purchase. I’ve spent too many years asking myself, “do I deserve it?”. What I realised is, you need to summon that Dunkirk spirit and tell yourself, “its ok, go for it. If YOU don’t like yourself, who else will?”

Fortitude? Mettle? Tenacity? Call it whatever you want, it’s the absolute need during an adversarial hour!

The buying experience: Very Short & Straightforward

The R3 retails for an astronomical ₹ 5.5 lakhs OTR Chennai. Our brethren at North-East can get it for as low as 4.8 lakhs I hear! Good for them. Started making a handful of enquiries and got good responses. Within a span of 10 days, I got the deal done and within a further 7 days later, I took delivery. Here are some pictures, taken at each stage:

1. Arrival of the crate from dealer’s yard.

2. Unboxing the crate.

3. Thorough dusting and washing.

4. PDI as per Yamaha checklist. Three aspects - Physical, mechanical and electronical.

5. The OBD was also connected for the first time showing 2 error codes. Nothing worrisome. It was reset quickly and the parameters were checked again. It was all green and good to go! Incidentally, I saw the Quick shifter option in the OBD menu somewhere. So that means the R3 can be quick shifter equipped. It’s just that Yamaha India has decided to not bring it here, while Yamaha UK sells it officially.

6. Time for delivery of my most expensive possession. There was subtle fanfare like flying confetti, a few hesitant claps from folks around. But I was filled with LOADS of contentment, tears of joy and satisfaction of being over and done with a 4-yr old head ache!

Initial riding impressions-

What I heard:

1. The engine is smooth-ish. It’s not Kawasaki smooth and has a smidge of buzz to know its working for you.
2. The engine doesn’t heat up too much, has got decent low-end torque.
3. The fairing design is so good it diverts the hot air around your legs (kind of doubt it).
4. Perfect rider triangle! Not too committed by loading up your spine and hands and not too upright by loading your butt. Just the perfect balance for the 5’ 10”, 77 kg frame like me.
5. Gives you fabulous fuel economy if driven sanely. Typical Yamaha trait! Heck, even the R1 can give you 20 kmpl! Yes yes yes, nobody buys an R1 for fuel efficiency. Still, es fabuloso!!!
6. Emits an orgasmic scream post 7000 rpm going all the way up to 12000+ rpm (yet to test).
7. Isn’t rev shy and truly “revs your heart”. If you know, you know!

What I felt:

Basically, the R3 is supposed to be a non-heating, non-vibrating beast. Let me tell you! IT ISN’T ONE . . . . . . . . . YET!

Drove 11 kms to home after delivery. Didn’t feel anything to be off. The next day, I woke up early morning on a Sunday and I took my first long ride of the bike to Iraniyamman temple at Perungalathur, Chennai. The temple has a female deity to whom motorists (mostly heavy vehicle drivers) offer prayers for a safe journey & protection from accidents.

Nothing uneventful until I got there. But hang on, my funny struggle was just about to unfold. I parked the bike closer to the temple’s entrance. When I removed the keys, it accidentally slipped into the gaping hole around the clip-on handlebars and wedged itself perfectly into the inside part of the left side faring lol. One of the temple shopkeepers came and asked me “what’s up?”. I told him what had happened. He quickly got an iron rod shape like a “S”, located the wedged key and got it out in just 2 minutes. In the process, we both felt the radiator and man it was sizzling hot for a sedate, short 10 km ride from my residence to the temple!

I guess that’s down to the mineral oil, which is incapable of keeping a high revving engine like that sane & cool, which is perfectly understandable (I guess).

Offered my respects to the deity, said my prayers and I was off. Took it for a long-ish spin on the Chennai Outer Ring Road to put it through its paces. In few short bursts of 6500 rpm, it was pulling like a freight train. NEVER CROSSED 100 kph & 6000 rpm for a prolonged period.

Read the user manual about engine break-in. Until 1000 kms, one should not engage in prolonged operation above 6000 rpm. Between 1000 - 1600 kms, one should not engage in prolonged operation above 7200 rpm. From 1601, its locked, loaded and ready to launch!

Coming from a 150 CC FZ, any engine bigger than that is always going to be buzzy and hot for me. So, I’m being cautious with my 2 cents here:

The Bike’s hot (figuratively and literally)

The entire riding experience was mechanically a breeze, but for the searing heat, thanks to the mineral oil. Interestingly, the radiator turned on only 2 times during the entire 110+ kms ride. The fairing is also shaped in such a way the heat is sometimes directed on to the legs! *contrary to what a couple of trusted reviewers said*

As a result, I had to place my feet at the outer edge of the foot pegs and open up my legs like a frog to cool off a few times. I felt the heat despite wearing jeans pants and sports shoes. Also, the petrol tank felt a little warm near the crotch. So, I’m super desperate to complete the first 1000 kms and get rid of this oil for good!

Good Vibes? Not yet. But we’re getting there!

One more aspect that I noted was the buzz. Felt my hands to be too buzzy and took 3 breaks once every 35 kms. What I felt was a tingling sensation in my hands every time I took a break. Was a little worried that the bike isn’t as advertised or criticised by many. Hence when I came home, I took a closer inspection of the bike. Discovered that the bar ends of the clip-ons were loose on both sides! Neither super loose nor negligibly loose. It was medium loose (rotatable by hands) and it needs to be tightened soon as!

But credit where its due – The buzz was barely felt on the fairing, petrol tank & the foot pegs. It was just more on the clip-on handle bars, which I believe must be down to those loose bar ends.

Other Aspects

As for clutch, man its tight for a 300 CC bike! For the uninitiated, Yamaha is not offering slipper clutch in R3! The gearbox though is slick shifting and slots well. Did not get false neutrals.

As for rider triangle, I felt zero tiredness for the short 110 km ride. My palm was just baby pink in colour cos the posture is a tinge more committed than my FZ and that’s super fine. Legs felt a bit more crouched than I wanted. But my body can and should adapt to this!

As for fuel economy, it showed an overall 5.5 liters per 100 kms (18 kmpl in city driving) until the first 11 kms.

After the 110 kms longer ride, it came up to 3.3 liters per 100 kms (30 kmpl in highways).

Took it to my workplace, which is a 70-km spin in mixed conditions. Its easily averaging around 2.8 – 3.5 liters per 100 kms (33 kmpl in mixed conditions). This is Admirable and as expected!

Suspension comfort - Although non-adjustable, its tuned to provide the perfect parity of giving track-side stiffness and touring-ready plushness. Just found the sweet spot there! It glides over small potholes and has adequate ground clearance for bigger bumps too.

Finally, the brakes - The disc was smooth and the pads were new. So, I felt no brake bite until I crossed the first 50 kms or so on the ODO. But now I get a feel for the brake bite and it seems sufficient & predictable.

Couple of things the reviewers won’t tell you (Source: the R3 user manual) –

1. Lean angle sensor: The R3 comes equipped with a lean angle sensor, where it stops the engine in case of a turnover. In case you want to turn the bike on again, you should turn the main switch off and then on. Otherwise, the engine will crank, but won’t start.

2. Engine Auto-stop system: The engine stops automatically if left idling for 20 minutes.

Overall this is a bike that finishes 2nd best in everything you throw at it. Don’t think, just buy!

Service intervals:

Here comes the part where Yamaha gets zero publicity and I think that’s unfair! The first service is at 1000 kms. All the subsequent services come at a 10000-km / 6-month interval (whichever is earlier). The best part – Its FREE SERVICES for the 1000 kms, 10000 kms, 20000 kms service intervals which needs to be done at 60 days, 180 days and 365 days respectively!

Saw a video of Youtuber whose BS6 black R3 costed him under ₹ 2500 for the first free service at 1000 kms!!! That’s some sterling stuff innit’? Further, I sat with the service centre team to understand the pricing of a few important spares for the R3:

1. Chain sprocket set - ₹ 6000
2. Fairing - ₹ 6000 per side
3. Front brake pads – ₹ 3000
4. Rear brake pads – ₹ 1000
5. Engine oil & oil filter– All nominally priced as usual.
6. Forgot to ask about the air filter. Bummer! Anyway, it’s a once every 10000 kms replacement part. So not worried

Vahan registration – Sought a Fancy number:

The process is a straight forward one in Tamil Nadu state. If you inform your showroom that you’re going to take a fancy number, they give you an RTO disclaimer paper. Take that to your residence’s nearest RTO along with your Aadhar copy.

They show you the running number series. From this, you can choose any available number within 1000 numbers. For example, if the starting number in the running series is TN 11 BM 4501, then you can choose any available number until TN 11 BM 5501. Normal fancy numbers like 8055, 4848, 5001 etc. are like ₹ 2000. Super fancy numbers like the 1000s and the single digit ones require special permission from the TN Secretariat along with payment of ₹ 40,000 lol. I kid you not.

So here’s what you do - First you pay ₹ 300 as flag day contribution. It goes to our army veterans I hear. After this they allocate a number of your choice and generate a user name and password for you to make a payment of ₹ 2000 in Parivahan portal.

Login with the credentials, make the ₹ 2000 payment, generate a payment receipt in the same portal and show it to the RTO there and share it with your showroom. Essentially what you have done is you booked a fancy number. The rest of the registration process is normal, which the showroom takes care of.

The Evil eye:

Call me superstitious or whatever, I believe in evil eye! I put my bike down once already! Yikes! Almost suffered a cardiac arrest. But the gods are watching. No frame sliders installed yet. However, the bike escaped relatively unscathed. The R3 sticker had a portion of it torn off. I hope it will be the bike’s only scar for the rest of its life!

How it fell – The weight distribution is too perfect and there’s no grab bar. I lifted the bike off its side stand rather enthusiastically and tilted it a little too much on the opposite side! It promptly fell down, albeit super slow thanks to my reflexes. They were quick to tell me “it was at this moment he knew, he messed up”. Within a span of 2 seconds the bike fell, but slowly. Luckily the clip-ons and turn blinkers did not hit the ground! Still figuring out how that is possible!!!

A tip that I will follow from now to avoid a bike fall while maneuvering it: Sit on it with the side stand still on. Remove the stand after sitting and continue maneuvering it to the desired position. Man, I badly need a pillion grab bar.

Upgrades planned:

1. Must get a rear tyre hugger to escape the elephant-style self-slinging of mud.
2. Must get a front bumper extender to protect the down pipes, oil filter and radiator from getting muddy. OR
3. Must get an affordable down pipe grill. Damn they’re expensive everywhere!
4. Must fit OEM Frame Sliders (import from UK. Need some help please)
5. Must fit OEM Quick Shifter (import from UK. Need some help please)
6. PPF for fuel tank and fairing.
7. An LCD screen guard.
8. A metal cover to protect the rear disc brake’s reservoir container from mud.
9. To retrofit the MT15 grab bar onto the R3. Will come in super handy as I have something to hold on to while I pivot the bike on its side stand while parking. The grab bar’s mounting points in both MT15 & R3, are similar, but not same since the screw head seems very different. Need to research about it to understand the feasibility.
10. Get the R6 throttle tube - It elevates the R3's acceleration by many notches I hear! Basically, the R6 throttle tube provides lesser rotation requirement to wring the throttle’s full range.

Zero mechanical mods & electrical mods in my mind. See how specific I was, even about the hazard lights being stock! So, for me, no ECU flashing, no engine oil grade fiddling, no coolant grade fiddling, no performance air filters, no velocity stacks & no exhaust upgrade, even if it is a homologated full system Akrapovic one which is available in the USA. I wouldn’t even get a tail tidy and worry about its legality in India.

My ride shall be bone frigging stock with utilitarian upgrades only as enlisted above. One temptation I find difficult to stay away from is upgrading the hideous single tone horn! Sheesh, it’s horrendous yet loud and functional! The fear of losing warranty for the electricals keeps me thinking and I’m not sure. Want to fit the old Pulsar 220 / R15 dual horn.

The future

Keep a tab on this article. I’m yet to receive a courier from Yamaha. They give a starter kit which consists of a can of RS4GP oil, Yamaha T-shirt, Valentino Rossi style Oakley sunglasses, PVR Gift card worth 3K, Extended warranty & RSA. As for MT03, they give a Casio-G watch instead of the Sunglasses. The other 5 items are the same. Will share pictures of the unboxing as soon as I get it.

More ownership experiences will be updated as promptly as possible. A ton of thanks to all those who read every word this far. I hope to give you all good pointers in deciding about purchasing your very own R3. Trust me, you can never go wrong with an R3! Tips, tricks, hacks to maintain the bike are welcome. I’m all ears. Love & Peace to all.

Best,
V.Max

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Over the years, I owned many motorcycles such as Kawasaki Ninja 300, Yamaha R3 and TVS Apache RR 310. I even had the Yamaha MT-15 and Aerox 155 for a while.

BHPian vinbex recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi all,

I am an architect with my own practice and I also teach at a private college full time based in Kerala. Slowly reaching the middle age category, happily married! Have been riding some form of two wheels since I was six starting from the Bajaj Sunny. I am not a hyper tourer, but have been using my bikes almost daily for my work.

Coming to my journey on two wheels, just like most other boys of our generation, I was waiting to get my license to get hold of a bike and start riding, though I used to ride scooters regularly before that. I have been lucky that my parents were more than supportive and got me a Pulsar 200 (black) in 2009. It was the DTSI version with the aluminium end can and drum brake at the rear. Absolutely loved it and learnt the nitty-gritty of bike riding from this bike. A year later, I plonked the Pulsar 220 front fairing and projector setup on it and enjoyed it for another year before selling it.

One of the few images I have. Those days were without smartphones.

The big bike buck had bitten. The Ninja 250R was launched in 2009, though I hardly knew anything about it in 2009. But come, 2010, 11 I was smitten by it and I had read almost all the posts on online forums.

I wanted the Ninja in lime green. It was also the time the CBR250R was launched, but something in me wanted the Ninja badly. Got the Ninja in November 2011 and enjoyed a good 6 years with it. Got riding longer distances and enjoying it. However, my profession did not entirely allow me to use it to its full potential. At a time when Kawasaki started jacking up their spares and service prices, I started to think it was time to change, but did not know what to get.

From our ride to Mahabalipuram from Chennai

I parted with him in 2018 and had almost decided to get the R3, but went with the RR310 which was newly launched in 2018. A decision I regret to this date. Going from a parallel twin to a single will never be appealing how much you try. Though both had almost the same power figures, the refinement and drivability were totally different. I never test rode the RR310 and went with the online reviews. The first batch of bikes had terrible vibrations and I could hardly feel my palms after a brief 20-minute ride.

From our ride to Mudaliyarkuppam, Chennai. My riding buddy since Ninja days.

Also, my short experience of riding the R3 was always at the back of my mind. The butter-smooth engine, vibe-free nature and comfortable stance were something I loved when I took the R3 for a short spin. It came back to bite me and I sold the RR310 in four months and got a pre-owned 2015 R3 as the new one was discontinued due to the BS4 norms back then and the new ones weren’t launched yet. Yes, selling a brand new vehicle and getting a three-year-old one… the cycle will repeat!

From our ride to Yelagiri

That began a journey knowing the bike inside out completely. I could completely strip down the bike fairings and put them back in less than half an hour. This was also the time I could afford to spend a lot of time with the bike on the weekends. I learnt a lot of things hands-on. Previously with the Ninja, I was scared because if anything went wrong, it would burn a hole in my pocket. But with the R3, I knew what I was doing and parts were relatively much cheaper. My profession allowed me longer and more frequent rides and I enjoyed every mile.

Then COVID hit and like many others, finances took a beating. The bike was lying around unused for months. I would start him up and ride around my apartment, keep him covered. I missed riding. But as things opened up, life brightened up and I started teaching as well and he started running again. A car purchase put an end to my daily use of the bike. I started loving car drives a lot more and occasionally took my bike for work.

Then the next lockdown hit us and that was when I had to really sell the bike to manage my finances and priorities. The decision was difficult but practical. I was hardly using the bike, it was nearly 6 years old and 45000kms and I was hardly getting time on the weekends to tour. Sold him for a very good price and was without a bike for nearly 9 months. The longest I have been after getting the license! I thought my bike life was done, I would never get another bike in my life. I sold all my bike-related stuff like the paddock, helmets, gloves etc. I even told my wife-to-be, I was no longer a biker. Innocent soul believed me only to be dismayed later!

From our ride to Munnar.

I got married in between by the way and my wife has been one of my biggest pillars of strength for such decisions. The ever-increasing fuel prices led me to the next purchase.

The Aerox 155. My travel of around 45kms daily through decent roads required something which was easy to handle and without gear, but rode and felt like a bike. The Aerox ticked all the boxes. I test rode it with a pillion and felt comfortable on normal roads as well as highways. It was set. But a week after I started taking it for work, I started developing pain from my head to toe. Every bump on the road was felt. Every little imperfection. I am 6 ft tall, probably the height also played a bit. I kept quiet for a while thinking I would adjust to it. But three months down the line, I was in complete pain because of the poor suspension setup on the Aerox. It’s a beautiful scooter and I absolutely love it and would purchase it again if I could. But I realized whatever engine you put in, a scooter is a scooter and it will never do what a bike does and commuting 45kms daily on a scooter is going to ruin my health.

Decided to part ways with it in three months and get an MT15 as it had a similar engine and economy figures. Once you become a family man, economy is something you consider on a priority basis! Got a new one and rode without any fuss. Great bike, but hard suspension again, but much better than the Aerox. But then it’s a single-cylinder engine with 19 PS power and I wondered whenever I rode it, why it felt different. I hadn’t ridden a single-cylinder engine bike daily for nearly 11 years. I pacified myself saying, it's serving its purpose. It's taking me safely and back and giving incredible mileage compared to the R3.

Fresh after taking delivery

But one day, just as I was scrolling through YouTube, I came across a video of some random 300cc bike and kept watching as I was jobless. Then, all of a sudden, there was this scene wherein the R3 emerges from behind traffic with both headlights on and he says, there’s nothing that beats this King in this segment. I still have that screenshot with me. The moment I realized what I was missing. That made me skip a beat. It made me think deeply. I missed the R3. I missed that parallel twin feel, the grunt, the comfort. I wanted it so badly.

The screenshot which changed my life.

Back then I also thought if I should get the R3 or get a used Ninja 650 instead. It would have more power and the absolute screamer of an engine was tempting. But the upkeep costs and budget constraints led me to the R3.

From Malampuzha ride with my wife

This was no easy job to convince my family. It was the third bike in less than 9 months and I am sure a lot of people would call me crazy. I told my wife; it was going to be my last bike as it’s the best in the segment and it’s a keeper. I picked up a pre-owned 2018-end R3 and sold the MT15. Yes, it repeats again! I followed my heart. A matte black monster. I removed all the red decals and made it absolutely stealthy. Replaced all the fiber parts as they had become aged. I did all that I could to keep him in the best shape possible. Made him as good as new, well almost as I was without any thoughts of an upgrade. He was doing all well and I started doing trips with my wife as well and she enjoyed them too. It was a lifestyle change for us. I had test-ridden the Triumph Trident and the Tiger 660 sometime back and realized their power is hardly usable in the city, but they were definitely addictive!

From Valparai ride

Completely black!

This was when I started thinking of planning an upgrade, well not immediately, but after a year. Initially, the plan was to get the USD forks on the R3. That was all I needed to make him perfect. But once the new R3 was launched and I started getting the spares prices, things started taking a turn. It would cost almost 70k for the system. My mind went like, “Should you spend that amount on a six-year-old bike? Rather get a used 650cc bike by putting in a bit more.” This thought struck and I started looking at options like Ninja 650, Trident 660, Tiger 660 etc. They all cost around 5-6 lakhs on the used markets. That’s when I got into the CBR650R category. It was going to be an upgrade. Why not go full monty?

After a lot of research and understanding the bikes and their maintenance, I figured out the Honda was the best choice as it offered an inline four, fairing, decent maintenance etc. The Ninja 650 was a parallel twin and I was worried that I would outgrow it very quickly. Had ridden the Trident, and though it felt great, I missed the fairing and inline-four feel. Then there was the Z900, but Kawasaki’s expensive maintenance kept me away from it. But here was a catch, the CBR was a very rare bike, hardly found on the used market, and those that were there were extremely priced. But I was in no hurry as I had a year to make this plan work. Also, the CBR was the most practical choice in terms of useability, maintenance, touring etc. It could go like a missile, but also potter around town. The pillion was comfortable, spares were cheap and an average of nearly 25 kmpl was perfect.

I spoke to my wife about the plan, though apprehensive in the beginning, she realized how much it meant to me and supported me with conditions…We fixed a budget and split it into three. A part would be achieved by selling the R3, the next would be a loan and the third was something I had to make additionally by doing something other than my work. When we reached that amount, we would get the CBR. As I said earlier, I am an Architect and an Assistant Professor. I started working in the evenings in another firm to get that additional income as well as learn new stuff which I thought was the best I could do rather than starting a YouTube channel or something as it's completely not my field. (No offense to YouTube channel owners, I enjoy your content)

I added a lot of CBR owners on Instagram just to get connected and see their lives with the bikes. Spoke to a few of them. This was in December 2023. And then I also test rode the CB 650R, to get the feel and it just felt amazing. The pillion was also happy and that was a positive. I checked Olx and kept finding high-priced less used ones way out of my budget. I had only seen one in my town, never ridden one. Saw one for sale and thought maybe I should at least try and sit on it, but it got sold before I could even see. There was another one on Olx which was within my budget, but after multiple attempts, I could not go and check the bike. Fate, I believe!

First taste of the 650 engine from Honda

The CBR I couldn't meet and missed - part 1

The CBR I couldn't meet and missed - part 2

By this time, I had realized that it was not going to take a year and my other family matters would not allow me this luxury at that point. Something my wife also agreed to. A CBR owner texted me on Insta stating his friend’s vehicle is up for sale, but it's priced high. I just asked him to send the details and I contacted the owner. We spoke and exchanged a number of texts, but I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get it. I also got the number of the CBR owner in my place and told him I was looking for one. He incidentally told me there’s this bike which a dealer has and he will settle the deal without the Akra exhaust for an amount which was close to my budget. I immediately asked him for details and Tada! It’s the same bike. Felt like things were falling into place. I was traveling to Bangalore the next week for work and the bike was also in Bangalore. The dealer also told me to confirm quickly as the CBR in the used market sells like hotcakes. But I did not hurry. I wanted to see the bike and ride it in person and then decide. If not this one, something else would come!

First glimpse of my bike to-be through pics

I traveled to Bangalore and the first impression was not great. The bike is a 2022 model but it was covered with dust and mud and had bug splatter all over. It did not look like a 2-year-old bike. I rode the bike to see if that side was clean. And boy it was wonderful. The inline-four pull and symphony. I quickly got adjusted to the riding posture. The weight was felt at turns and slow speeds, but otherwise, it felt absolutely smooth. I discussed it with my friends who had accompanied me and they suggested we don't go by looks alone. If the engine is good, we can always get the bike cleaned and polished. I too felt it was right and it was hard to ignore the other goodies as well. The quickshifter, MRA visor, frame sliders, spools, fork sliders, extended warranty, engine warranty, RSA etc all come within my budget. I thought really hard about it and after a good night’s sleep, paid the token and confirmed the deal. The CBR650R was going to be mine. I asked him for a couple of weeks to arrange for funds and sell my R3 which he was more than happy to accept.

The big day. Saw him in person and it was decided.

The next two weeks were crazy! The R3 was not getting sold as I was already the third owner and it had done around 43000 kms. People wanted it for the price of an R15. That was creating pressure as I thought the R3 had great demand and it would get sold pretty quickly. Finally, someone came with a decent offer and I felt it was good enough and we agreed to close the deal within two weeks as he also had to get the funds ready. The second week, I asked the owner to change the Akra to the stock exhaust and that was when another bullet hit me. The ignition sensor failure light pops up on the CBR. I had booked tickets for Thursday night and Thursday evening, and this news hit me. The owner tells me, the service centre needs time till next Wednesday to sort it out. Not sure what to do, I had no option but to wait for further info from the service centre. Meanwhile, I got my funds ready and set for transfer without hiccups.

On Friday afternoon he called and confirmed it was just some wiring issue and it has been rectified. Now the exhaust swap is only pending which would be done by Saturday morning. So, I booked tickets for Saturday night after confirming with him thrice. I did not want anything to go wrong again. The exhaust swap is done, the bike is back and rolling. I got a call only late evening confirming this… absolutely tensed up until then. Settle the deal with the dealer for the akra and sort the balance funds. Board the bus with butterflies in my stomach. I was going to ride a superbike for such a long distance for the first time in my life; around 450kms with no one for company. It was the first ride on the CBR for so long.

Catch some sleep on the bus to ensure I am not tired for the long ride the next day. Reach on time in Bangalore. Freshen up at my friend’s place, have breakfast and leave. My mind is in one place, body is in another. The excitement, the joy, the fear, the tension everything just kept convoluting inside. Finally, reach the owner’s place and check the bike and ask my wife to transfer the funds confirming that the bike is perfect. It was dusty again and stuff, but I did not care. The fund transfer had one minor hiccup again, but my wife sorted it out and we were ready for the key handover. One of the biggest joys in my life had come true. I was the owner of an inline four beauty from Honda. Bid goodbye to the owner’s friend. The owner had gone to Mumbai to get his next superbike…

The official handover - I am the owner now.

Filled up the tank and headed to my friend’s place with him in his car as pilot. The roads were terrible, which gave me enough time to adjust to the slow speed capabilities of the CBR. Reached his home safely, packed up and got ready for the long haul. Bangalore to Thrissur. Glad his house is located in Electronic City, I could hit the highway within ten minutes. The first experience of opening the throttle made me smile ear to ear. It was pure joy. Took it easy for the first few kilometers before gaining speed. Soon, I was doing good speeds and covering good distances without any issues both to the bike as well as myself. The temperature was pretty high, but I was completely covered and the sun was not in my face. Stopped every hour to let my wife and friends know I was okay and the current location and hydrated myself with water and fruits.

Starting from Bangalore

Somewhere en route

Closer to the destination -Thrissur, Kerala

Kept going and at some point started feeling the rear tyre was losing grip. Stopped and checked but it had enough air. Thought it was my feeling. Finally, I reached home after a 7 hour ride including breaks. The only time it felt difficult was when the Sun was on my face from 4pm to 6pm between Erode - Coimbatore - Palakkad. Otherwise, it was perfectly smooth. I wasn't even tired, to be honest nor had any sort of body ache. Took my wife for a short spin before showing my parents my prized possession.

For a few days, I had the best of the Japs - The CBR 650R, the R3 and the Baleno.

The next week was spent getting to know him better. Getting the Puja done at the temple after a good wash, swapping the tyres and then finally handing him over for a good detailing session. Done! He looked as good as new and my OCD was satisfied. He was ready to go. The following week, I took him for a short 110km ride along with my wife to Athirappilly Falls near Thrissur, Kerala and back. Could not open him up much as the roads were all twisty and patchy, but the short stretch of highway was excellent. The next ride was with my close riding buddy to Travelounge, Walayar which is around a 150 kms ride. The roads were excellent but peppered with speed cameras. My plan is to take him for rides whenever possible on the weekends or holidays. I believe there’s no point in having a superbike in your garage and bragging about it. Looking forward to continuing this thread with updates about my bike and rides in the future. Hope you all like it.

From the detailing session

From the Athirappilly ride

From the Walayar ride

The same ride buddy - back again with his Gen 1 CBR 250R

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Other motorcycles included in this comparison include the Yamaha R3, TVS Apache RR 310 and BMW G 310 RR.

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Aprilia RS 457

What you'll like:

• Mini-superbike looks with spot-on proportions and exciting colour schemes that grab attention
• Powerful 457cc twin-cylinder motor that produces a segment-best 47 BHP & 43.5 Nm is effortlessly fast and has a wide torque band with good rideability
• Easy-going nature with sport touring ergonomics, light clutch and positive gearshifts
• Excellent handling with a communicative and forgiving chassis, well-tuned and adjustable suspension setup and grippy tyres
• Touring potential with a 13L fuel tank, optional high windscreen, optional USB charging and provisions for strapping luggage
• Exudes quality - excellent paint finish, best-in-class 5" colour TFT instrumentation, aluminium dual-beam chassis and triple clamp upper plate, etc.
• Made in India. Pricing has been well-received and undercuts equivalent twin-cylinder rivals significantly

What you won't:

• Looks can be polarizing for a mature customer. No hint of subtlety with either the design or colour schemes
• Lacks the top-end rush of some rivals. Torque band is very wide and useable, but drops closer to redline
• Brakes could have better initial bite. Rear brake especially feels spongy, at least for track usage
• Lack of IMU/Cornering ABS. Few good-to-have features like USB charging, bi-directional quickshifter, TPMS, adjustable clutch and brake levers, etc. are offered only as accessories
• Aprilia's tiny dealer and service network is a concern

Review Link

KTM RC390

Launch Discussion

Kawasaki Ninja 400

Launch Discussion

Yamaha R3

Review Link

TVS Apache RR310

Ownership Review Link

BMW G 310 RR

Launch Discussion

Here's what BHPian VW2010 had to say about the matter:

The best bike would be the Ninja 400 at RC390 price. Now we know that is not happening so as a proper chapri bike owner I am choosing RC390. The smiles it gives every time you ride it are so infectious that I am never selling my RC390. The parts are cheap and getting the bike up and running even after a fall is not heavy on the pocket and it's a rocket. I have the shortest sprocket and it jumps at every opportunity. Love my RC390.

Here's what BHPian AtheK had to say about the matter:

Nice comparison thread, but completely moot without getting a chance to ride the RS457. On paper, RS457 is a clear winner and maybe in reality also, but would be good to test ride and see what works the best for you.

The single-cylinder bikes would be vibey compared to likes of R3, Ninja 400 and RS457 so probably a good comparison will be to keep it between the twins and maximum throw the RC390 in the mix.

Here's what BHPian vattyboy had to say about the matter:

Voted for Others

RE 650 twins

Yes, this is a 650cc bike but the price is quite similar to the other bikes mentioned.

This 650cc engine is a gem, have a sweet whistle-like exhaust note and it is so smooth to ride.

I own an RR310 but if I am in the market today, I would buy an RE 650 twin even though I am happy with my RR 310, as my age is going up, my taste in bikes is changing.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Since I wanted the front suspension to be a little stiffer, I went with a slightly thicker fork oil.

BHPian nkrishnap recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

An update after a long time.

16,000 km milestone

Mileage Updates

Got the HSRP plates installed on the bike

There was a mild leakage from the front fork. Got the spring and oil seal replaced along with a slightly thicker 15W grade oil. I wanted the front fork to be a little stiffer.

Apart from this, got the brake pads changed. Front had worn out a lot more than the rear ones. Got both the front and rear brake pads replaced along with the brake fluid as it was already older than 2 years.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

On the track, I rode faster on my stock R3 than I ever did on my souped-up RC and was able to put in many more laps than I could generally manage.

BHPian rep_movsd recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So I got an R3 exactly one year back (I live in Bangalore)

Some Background

I had mostly ridden only Enfields - Lightning 535, Standard 350, Machismo, Classic 500 - I even did 2 to 3 track days on my 535 bullet in 2011-14 (imagine!)

In 2013, I rode my brother's Duke 390 for some days (realized how good modern bikes are!) and in 2015 I picked up an RC 390 that I used 90% only for track days. After about 10 to 15 track days, I decided to switch to a smaller bike to unlearn bad habits and I got my friend's old R15 v1.

The Yamaha really won me over - had never ridden anything so smooth and easy. In 2019 I decided to go to CSS track school and I got an R15 V3.

If I admired the R15 before, now I was literally blown away with the V3 - that VVT tech made a 150 cc feel like it was a 250 cc.

I did 3 to 4 track days on the R15 v3 and then went back to my RC390 now fully modified for track only (powertronic ECU, YSS, race fairing, slipper clutch, RC-Boi brake MC etc.)

After COVID I kept getting better on track with the RC for a while, but I hit a plateau and the bike was feeling really hard to push. It may be a mental thing and probably I am not a great rider but riding the RC felt like a huge effort - can't relax even for a millisecond. I also had a high-speed fall (no injuries thankfully) on track due to a tank slapper coming out of a fast corner. This also affected my stress when riding the RC.

I always had some desire to buy an R3 - I had heard very good things from track buddies who rode it.

So I decided to do what I did before - redo CSS training once and do it on an R3.

By sheer luck or divine intervention, I found a perfectly maintained R3 with only 3500 KM on it for (ONLY) 3 Lakh in Nov 2022.

Owner was a real gentleman and was only selling because he had no time to ride. He had kept it in showroom condition. He wanted to sell it to someone who would appreciate it.

The moment I rode it back home, I was completely a Yamaha fanboy. I have never felt so happy riding a bike as I did with this...

I rode it to Chennai for CSS and had an absolute blast on the track.

For the first time in years, I was riding fast and my body and mind were completely relaxed. It was like the bike read my mind and did exactly what I needed.

I did 3 long group rides after that - BR Hills, Yercaud, Gokarna and really enjoyed myself.

I thought that this bike was so awesome for touring, let me not ride it seriously on track till I got better tires, frame sliders and so on, so the next track day I had my RC 390 shipped and rode this to Chennai.

On the track, the moment I rode the RC (after a gap of 10 months) it felt like going from a Ferrari to a diesel tractor. My RC is highly souped up and way better than any stock machine, but still, it felt totally loose and rattly suddenly.

After one 20-minute session, I gave up on the RC and switched to my R3 for the rest of the 3-day event.

To keep it short, let me just say that I rode faster on the stock R3 than I ever did on the RC and was able to put many more laps than I could generally manage (mostly because I didn't have to exert so much mentally and physically).

To top it off, I actually broke my all-time lap record too.

I wrote a long post on substack describing this track day.

Since then I have slowly "decorated" my R3 with small accessories over the past few months:

• GB Racing engine covers (ubuy)
• Flush mount indicators (ubuy)
• Radiator and front protector grill (ubuy)
• Stem nut with Ram Mount ball (ubuy)
• Removed the cat con, but retained stock exhaust for a better sound and 4-5 KG weight reduction
• Fuel-X Lite

Planning to add:

• Bigger windscreen
• Diablo Rosso 3 tires
• Steel brake lines
• Lithium battery (I have an old Shorai that is still working, is about 3 KG lighter)
• Rear-sets
• Frame and fork sliders
• Radial master cylinder kit
• Foldable levers
• LED headlight bulbs
• YSS rear shock
• R6 throttle tube
• Adapt the MT 15 grab rail to this (it mounts on the rear footpeg bracket)
• When the new R3 is released, I will find out if any of the parts from that are retro-fittable to this 2018 model - maybe the slipper clutch and USD front forks

Will add pics and more observations soon

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Yamaha R3 competes with the KTM RC 390, TVS Apache RR 310, and Kawasaki Ninja 400.

Yamaha has announced the launch of the R3 in India. The bike will be imported into the country via the CBU route and comes with a price tag of Rs 4,64,900 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The Yamaha R3 looks similar to the R15. The fully-faired motorcycle has dual LED headlamps up front with a familiar Yamaha-style intake in the centre. It comes with a digital instrument console, which doesn’t offer Bluetooth connectivity.

The R3 is powered by a 321cc, liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that makes 41.4 BHP @ 10,750 rpm and 29.6 Nm @ 9,000 rpm. The engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox with a conventional clutch; no slip-and-assist clutch on this one.

The R3 features an upside-down fork at the front and a monoshock at the rear. The brake setup consists of discs supported by dual-channel ABS.

In India, the Yamaha R3 competes with the KTM RC 390, TVS Apache RR 310, and Kawasaki Ninja 400.

The Yamaha MT-03 will rival the KTM Duke 390, while the R3 take on the KTM RC 390.

According to a media report, Yamaha is all set to launch the R3 and MT-03 in India on December 15, 2023. The bikes will be sold through select Blue Square dealerships across 100 cities. 

The Yamaha R3 is a fully-faired bike that will be positioned above the YZF R15. It is powered by a 321cc, liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that makes 42 BHP and 29.5 Nm.

The MT-03 is the naked version of the R3. It uses the same 321cc engine and is expected to compete with the KTM Duke 390. The R3, on the other hand, will rival the KTM RC 390. Both bikes will be imported via the CBU route.

Yamaha had showcased its new range of big bikes in India in April this year. Apart from the R3 and MT-03, the line-up included the R7, R1M, MT-07 and MT-09.

Source: Autocar India

Apart from the R3 and MT-03, the line-up included the R7, R1M, MT-07 and MT-09.

Yamaha has initiated the launch process for the R3 and MT-03 in India. The bike maker has notified its Blue Square dealerships regarding the upcoming launches and has confirmed that the bikes will be available in the middle of December 2023.

The Yamaha R3 and MT-03 supplies will be based on online customer bookings via the Yamaha India website. The dealer list for the online booking will be finalized by November 30.

The Yamaha R3 is a fully-faired bike that will be positioned above the YZF R15. It is powered by a 321cc, liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that makes 42 BHP and 29.5 Nm.

The MT-03 is the naked version of the R3. It uses the same 321cc engine and is expected to compete with the KTM Duke 390. The R3, on the other hand, will rival the KTM RC 390.

Yamaha had showcased its new range of big bikes in India in April this year. Apart from the R3 and MT-03, the line-up included the R7, R1M, MT-07 and MT-09.

Source: Rushlane

The R3 is expected to rival the Kawasaki Ninja 400 and soon-to-be-launched Aprilia RS 457.

According to a media report, Yamaha is planning to launch the R3 and MT-03 in India this December.

The Yamaha R3 is a fully-faired bike that will be positioned above the YZF R15. It is powered by a 321cc, liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that makes 42 BHP and 29.5 Nm.

The R3 is expected to rival the Kawasaki Ninja 400 and soon-to-be-launched Aprilia RS 457.

The MT-03 is the naked version of the R3. It uses the same 321cc engine and is expected to compete with the KTM Duke 390.

Both models will be sold via Yamaha's premium Blue Square dealerships.

Source: Autocar India

The Yamaha R3 will compete with the KTM RC 390, Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the likes.

Yamaha has confirmed that it will roll out the R3 and MT-03 in India by the end of this year.

The Yamaha R3 is a fully-faired sports bike that borrows styling cues from other big bikes in Yamaha's line-up. The MT-03 is the naked streetfighter version of the R3 and offers a more upright riding position.

The Yamaha R3 and MT-03 share the same engine. Both bikes come powered by a 321cc parallel-twin engine that produces 41 BHP @ 10,750 rpm and 29.6 Nm @ 9,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox.

The bikes are equipped with an upside telescopic fork at the front and a mono-shock at the rear. The brake setup consists of a 298 mm disc at the front and a 220 mm rotor at the rear.

In India, the Yamaha R3 will compete with the KTM RC 390, Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the likes.

Source: Bike India