Yamaha R15 & R3 70th Anniversary Editions Launched In Brazil, India Launch Soon?

Yamaha Motor Company has launched the R15 and R3 70th Anniversary Editions, celebrating seven decades of the two-wheeler giant. The limited editions have been launched in Brazil. However, an India launch could be on the cards in the coming months. Founded in 1955, Yamaha has turned out to be one of the most successful two-wheeler brands globally, and continues to push the envelope across segments, along with motorsport.

To celebrate seven decades of Yamaha, the R15 and R3 70th Anniversary Editions come with a host of special upgrades and will be produced in limited numbers. The Yamaha R15 70th Anniversary Edition is restricted to 1,200 units, while the R3 limited edition is restricted to a production run of just 600 units.

Both bikes come with red and white livery inspired by the racing colours on Yamaha bikes in the 1960s, along with the gold-finish tuning forks badge. The heritage paint scheme pays tribute to Yamaha’s Grand Prix machines from back in the day, and is a welcome addition to the racing blue colour scheme that’s staple for Yamaha otherwise. The bikes also get the special 70th anniversary edition decal on the fuel tank and gold-finished USD front forks. 

There are no mechanical changes to either motorcycle. The Brazilian-spec Yamaha R15 draws power from the familiar 155 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled motor with Variable Valve Actuation (VVA). The engine produces 18.5 bhp and 14.7 Nm of peak torque, paired with a 6-speed gearbox. On the other hand, the Yamaha R3 draws power from the 321 cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine, tuned for 40.7 bhp and 29.4 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed gearbox.

Other mechanical hardware includes a monoshock rear suspension, disc brakes at either end, dual-channel ABS, an assist and slipper clutch, and more with the R15 and R3. There’s no word on Yamaha India planning to bring the limited edition version to the market here. However, given the brand’s strong following and the popularity of the R15, this would be a worthy edition. Moreover, the return of the R3 in the new and updated avatar, would just be right, given the fact that it qualifies for the 18 per cent GST bracket, giving it a significant advantage over the Aprilia RS457 and Kawasaki Ninja 500.