Yamaha YZF R3 Track Review

The R3 is powered by a 321cc liquid cooled, in-line, 2-cylinder engine which puts out 41.4bhp @ 10750rpm and an impressive 29.6Nm of torque @ 9000rpm. The red line begins at 12,500 revolutions per minute and this monster just loves to hit that line. As soon as I hopped on the R3 and hit the ignition, I knew this was no ordinary machine. The exhaust is a two into one pipe with a shorter muffler which makes a distinct low rumble. The in-line, 2-cylinder is a rev happy motor and going through corners was a real treat. We hit a top speed of about 168kmph on the back straight at BIC but I’m sure we could have gone faster. The engine is mated to a 6-speed, constant mesh transmission. Shifting is quick and the R3 will go through gears in a jiffy. However the 6^th gear is an overdrive gear for a higher top speed. The flow of power on the R3 is quite smooth while this bike felt more oriented for road conditions. Its track performance was admirable. The engine does not jerk too much while down shifting but what you do find missing is a slipper clutch which would have made things much better. 

The R3 has been set on a diamond type tubular frame which aids weight reduction. The bike sits on 110/70 R17’s in the front and 140/70 R17’s in the rear. The suspension set up is a non-adjustable telescopic fork in the front and a swingarm in the rear. Braking is facilitated through a single 280mm hydraulic front disc and a single 220mm hydraulic rear disc. The brakes are quite accurate with the front discs rendering precise stopping power. The suspension set up is more on the softer side and there is sufficient feedback to determine weight shifting. The MRF Zappers provide good grip on tarmac and we had ample of confidence while going through corners. The rider seat height has been set at 780mm which I felt was quite comfortable for most riders. The bike has a broad split saddle which could take some getting used to but is comfy none the less. 

The R3 is definitely a head turner but we feel there could have been additional colour options. The Black Lightening version is subtle and will not really set you apart from the other not-so-performance-oriented sports bikes out there. The Racing Blue version looks much better and would be an obvious choice for most. The bike comes with Split Reverse Slant headlamps which give it an aggressive look while the rear end has a crisp and pointy tail furnished with an LED stop lamp. The fairings add to the aggressive looks of the R3 and optimise aerodynamics of the bike. The switch gear on the bike has been ergonomically designed and is of good quality. The instrument cluster features an analogue tachometer on the left with a digital speedometer on the right. It also displays an odometer, two trip meters, water temperature meter, fuel gauge, a clock and fuel consumption.

The R3 will set you back by Rs. 3,25,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) and in terms of price it sits between the Ninja 300 and the much cheaper RC 390. It definitely has more power than the Ninja 300 but not as much as RC 390. The R3 scores more points over the Ninja 300 thanks to a better engine output and a better price point while we feel it beats the RC 390 in terms of build quality and brand value. The Ninja on the other hand comes with ABS and a slipper clutch which for some may be worth the additional cost and the RC 390 is cheaper and has better performance figures. The RC 390 however has a single cylinder engine while the R3 has a dual cylinder. After a comprehensive track test we felt that the Yamaha R3 is definitely a strong contender in the market and has a few points over its competitors. It has been engineered from a pedigree of race spec bikes with proven track records and is precisely perfect for its segment striking a fine balance between cost, performance and engineering standard.