IT WAS IN 2015 THAT THE YZF-R3 was first launched in India. It marked an important blip in the enthusiasts' timeline because it was a motorcycle that bridged the gap between beginner-level sport machines and the more serious stuff. It was a friendly yet fast motorcycle that offered the thrill a rider expected without being too demanding. Emission norms removed it from our reach for a while. Now, in 2023, as it makes a comeback, Yamaha took us to Thailand for a three-day tour so we could properly experience all that the latest R3 has to offer.
We rode 700-plus kilometres around northern Thailand's beautiful countryside and towns. Somehow, each corner unfolded before us a landscape that was more magical than the previous one. Even when faced with such stiff competition, the R3 stood out. Some of us may be familiar with the previous model but Yamaha have given the latest R3 a completely new front end. The LED headlights are separated by an air duct and the whole thing is placed in an aggressively shaped cowl. The top extends in a smooth arc to accommodate a bubble-type windscreen. Below the cowl, a new upside-down (USD) fork steals the show. The fairing has been reworked to accommodate the front cowl and it is a significantly more seamless design than before. The 14-litre fueltank is the last in the list of aesthetic changes and the most shapely of them all. It flows into the rider's seat quite nicely and its contours immediately make one feel like they are astride a much larger machine.
From the seat onwards till the end of the motorcycle, nothing has changed compared to the previous iteration. However, it is a timeless design and does not feel out of place with the latest styling changes. As an owner of a 2016 R3, even I am hard pressed to pick a favourite between the two. Standing on 17-inch wheels, all the proportions look just right and as before, we do get blue wheels with the blue R3.
Denne historien er fra January 2024-utgaven av Bike India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 2024-utgaven av Bike India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
TVS Racing Dominates Pro Stock Classes
TVS Racing teammates Sarthak and Chiranth put on a good show as they went on to dominate the two Pro Stock categories at the third round of the Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (INMRC)
Bagnaia Bounces Back at the Red Bull Ring
Francesco Bagnaia continued Ducati's Red Bull Ring domination at the 2024 MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix, reminding everyone why he is the reigning champion
Inside Michelin's Top-secret MotoGP Lab
Michelin has been MotoGP’s exclusive tyre supplier for almost a decade. We get a rare peep inside the company’s MotoGP lab and see how its racing tyres are made—by a giant 3D printer
'The use case is very different for a two-wheeler versus a car'
Oben Electric is focused on building Z a sustainable future on the back of fresh funding and new showrooms in major cities. We speak to Madhumita Agrawal, Founder and CEO of Oben Electric, for an insight into the firm’s views and plans
A Dream Realised
Standing on the podium at the conclusion of a motorcycle race has been the dream of many a motorcyclist, including yours truly. This is how it did really happen
Starting from Scratch
Triumph generously handed us a Scrambler 400 X and asked us to accompany them for three days as they rode down to the coast and back. We were delighted to oblige
'CHATTER CAN MAKE THE TYRES JUMP UP AND DOWN SIX MILLIMETRES'
Chatter is MotoGP's C word and is playing a big part in this year's MotoGP championship, helping Ducati dominate and causing KTM big headache. So, what is it and how do engineers fix it?
No Stopping the Streetfighter
The new Ducati Streetfighter V4 comes with some changes.We find out if it makes a difference on the road
Tiger Touring
The engine of this motorcycle has been updated and here is why the GT makes a compelling argument as a tourer
Nimble and Competent
The TVS Jupiter made a resounding advent when it was launched a decade ago. For 2024, it gets some noteworthy changes and now this scooter takes the fight to the Honda Activa
