Page 13 - Nov 2024.cdr

2025 Yamaha YZF-R3 Is Now the Coolest Way for
Young Riders Into the World of Supersports
It's a busy week for Japanese bike
maker Yamaha, which has
unleashed into the world these
days no less than three new
Supersport motorcycles aimed at
cementing its hold on the
segment. There's no question
about it that the R9 we've already
discussed is the highlight of the
new range, but that flagship model
would not mean all that much
without a way for newbies and
young riders to be drawn to the
range. And that's what the R3 we
have here is meant for.
Yamaha gave birth to the R range
back in 1998, when it unleashed
the R1, and upped the ante one
year later with the release of the
R6 and YZF-R7. It then took an
almost decade-long break, which
ended with the launch of the R125
in 2008. Closer to our time, in
2015, the revised R1 and the R1M
offshoot brought MotoGP-level
Editorial sponsored by City Bowl Recovery
motoring into the world, and then
the R7 completed the offering in
2021.
Earlier in 2024, the track-bred R1
GYTR and R1 Race were
unleashed as well.
Caught somewhere in between
those two-wheeled motorized
monsters is the R3, a bike meant
for younger riders who need to get
their appetite for fast motorcycles
to an appropriate level. For 2025,
a series of visual enhancements,
as well as some technical
upgrades, have been imagined to
make the offering irresistible.
At its core the motorcycle remains
the same as it ever was, with a
321cc in-line two-cylinder four-
stroke engine seated inside the
frame. The unit is capable of
delivering a satisfying 42
horsepower and 29.5 Nm of
torque, and it has been upgraded
with the fitting of forged aluminum
pistons, shortened conrods, and
offset cylinders, just like in the R1.
The engine is backed by a new
assist and slipper clutch designed
to ease aggressive downshifting,
while the suspension system
aiding the ride in its mission of
providing thrills comprises
inverted front forks. The bike's
weight is kept low, at just 375
pounds (170 kg) fully fueled,
helping riders exert better control.
Visually speaking the R3 is quite a
different beast from what came
before. The front end has been
revised with the fitting of a new
twin-eye headlight setup. Winglets
designed to increase aerodynamic
efficiency feature an air duct
inspired by Yamaha's MotoGP
motorcycles, while the layered
fairing that was installed is there
to improve cooling.
Yamaha went for a new LCD
instrument cluster and now allows
smartphone connectivity and
charging through an USB socket.
The seat of the machine sits at a
distance of just 780 mm from the
ground, and it is slimmer than
before (by six mm).
As far as the paint job is
concerned, the R3 gets the same
makeover as the R9 (or the YZF-
R9), more specifically two new
hues, Icon Blue and Midnight
Black (that's Tech Black for the
flagship).
Yamaha will start selling the 2025
R3 in November. Dubbed YZF-R3
on the American market, it sells
there from just $5,499, not
including the $600 destination
charge.
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