Yamaha YZF-R3 [2016-2017] (Standard)

After making the Indian consumers wait for almost a year since its global unveil, Yamaha has launched the YZF-R3 for the Indian market. With a design identical to its quarter-litre sibling, the R3’s design is heavily inspired by the bigger Yamaha supersports motorcycles. The fairing gets a twin headlamp unit with an air intake and a pilot lamp in the centre while the rear section gets a sharp pointed tail.

The R3 is built around a lightweight diamond-type semi-trellis steel frame, which also packs a rebored version of the quarter-litre liquid-cooled parallel-twin motor. The instrument console integrates a shift indicator light, fuel consumption indicator, fuel-injector diagnostics, gear position indicator and engine temperature indicator.

The R3’s 321cc engine delivers 41bhp and 27Nm of torque, through a six-speed constant mesh gearbox. In terms of suspension, the R3’s lightweight 10-spoke alloy-wheels is supported by the conventional 41mm KYB front forks and a KYB rear mono shock with a seven-step preload adjuster. Globally, Yamaha offers ABS as an optional extra and we expect it to be the same for the Indian market and the braking hardware comprises of 298mm floating disc brake in the front and a 220mm disc at the rear.

The YZF-R3 is sold in two paint schemes midnight black and racing blue. Like the Kawasaki Ninja 300, the YZF-R3 is being sold as a completely-knocked-down (CKD) unit. For now, there is no ABS variant but we are expecting the Japanese manufacturer to introduce that model with a higher price tag.