Things will be a little slow on Asphalt & Rubber today, as we are out near Willows, CA testing the new Yamaha YZF-R3. We will be spending the first part of the day on a 120-mile street ride, and then following that up in the afternoon by riding the new “West Course” at Thunderhill Raceway.
You can follow our thoughts on the bike live via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also try searching for the hashtags: #YamahaR3USA & #FirstRideR3 for the thoughts of our colleagues as well.
Yamaha’s entry into the small-displacement space, the YZF-R3 specifically fills a void in Yamaha’s lineup for a small-displacement, learner-focused, sport machine.
In the American market, the R3 goes head-to-head against the Honda CBR300R and Kawasaki Ninja 300. While we will have our full review out by the end of the week, the tale of the tape looks like the following:
| Yamaha YZF-R3 | Kawasaki Ninja 300 | Honda CBR300R | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 321cc | 296cc | 286cc |
| Engine Configuration | Parallel-Twin | Parallel-Twin | Single-Cylinder |
| Power | 41hp | 39hp | 30hp |
| Wet Weight | 368 lbs | 379 lbs | 357 lbs |
| Seat Height | 30.7″ | 30.9″ | 30.7″ |
| ABS | No | Optional (+$300) | Optional (+$500) |
| Price | $4,990 | $4,999 | $4,399 |
Photo: Yamaha USA
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