Yamaha YZF-R3

The bike feels large with its 2090 mm length, 720 mm width and 1135 mm height. There is 165 mm of ground clearance, and a much shorter by comparison, 1380 mm wheelbase. The pointy R1 style nose hides a twin headlight setup. Going backwards the wide front, give way to a narrow windshield. Being a fully faired bike, the engine is almost completely covered by the fairing. This is great for an entry level bike. The proportions of the bike are well thought out and do not look out of shape anywhere. The tail section ends sharply and while there is a pillion seat, only the bravest souls will ever use it. The pointy tail end, houses an LED taillight. The bike executes the big bike look very well, which is the route taken by most of these design exercises. The only bad criticism can be levied against the indicators, which seem like an afterthought. Available in Race Blu and Raven Black colours, it looks equally good in both. The Race Blu option does get you body matching blue wheels though. Speaking of wheels, the bike rides on 17-inch wheels with 110/70 and 140/70 tires. The analog tachometer with the digital instrumentation is especially informative with a shift timing indicator lamp as well as a gear position indicator.

Yamaha’s chassis engineers have been hard at work honing the lightweight diamond type frame for better handling and acceleration. It comes with a long R1 style aluminum swingarm that gives it a stable ride. Largest in class 41 mm Kayaba telescopic front forks and the monocross are tuned for comfort with a lot of travel. But the whole setup makes the bike a very good handler and the lightweight 166 kg bike can carve up the road as long as it is smooth.  The 780 mm seat height can serve very well for riders of all heights. The windshield works very well and sends most of the wind over the helmet. The mirrors are large and don’t vibrate at any speeds. The rubber could have been wider though. 

The heart of this machine is a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected inline twin engine with a DOHC configuration featuring 4 valves per cylinder. This powerhouse churns out an impressive 42 PS at 10750 rpm and a torque of 29.6 Nm at 9000 rpm. The difference becomes apparent when compared to the Ninja's power output of under 40 PS. Notably, this engine thrives when pushed to higher revs, and fortunately, the bike responds positively to this demand. Its true prowess is revealed between 7000 rpm and 10000 rpm. Transitioning through the 6-speed gearbox provides instant power with a simple downshift. Fuel efficiency is estimated to be around 11 kmpl.

The lightweight nature of the bike makes the single front 298 mm disc with the four piston caliper setup more than enough. If that isn’t enough the rear gets a similar but smaller disc brake. The brakes are alright for the most part but hard braking is not the most promising. Which is where the lack of ABS comes in as a shock. The presence of this system in other markets with the 2017 upgrade makes this even more annoying.

The Yamaha YZF R3 excels as an introductory sports bike, showcasing a balance of power and handling akin to higher-end super sports models. Its attributes make it a potential gem for beginners, possibly serving as an excellent learning platform. Adding to its appeal is that it comes at a significantly lower price point than its closest rivals. A truly advantageous offer that's hard to pass up.