Yamaha R3 And MT-03 Track Ride Review: Why Yamaha?

Yamaha’s big bikes’ return to India isn’t as sweet as we had hoped, and it has not got to do much with the bikes themselves

Our first reaction to the news of Yamaha bringing its big bikes to India was “Yes, Yamaha!” However, just a few hours after experiencing the lovely R3 and the mild-mannered MT-03 at the Buddh International Circuit, the prices for the two were announced and I, as well as most of you enthusiasts, immediately thought “Why Yamaha, Why?” Because these two 300 cc Yammies are certainly arriving at a premium that is only bettered by the Kawasaki Ninja 400. So, are there any redeeming qualities on these two Yamahas that will make you overlook the steep asking price?

Sweet Relaxed Motor

The motor remains unchanged from the last time the R3 was on sale in the country. The 321 cc parallel-twin mill makes the same 42 bhp and 29.5 Nm. And it is completely devoid of any electronic intervention. So no ride by wire, no riding modes, no traction control or whatever. And the same holds true for the MT-03. In fact, even the gearing and final drive between the two motorcycles is identical.

Even though the motor might be the same, it is on the R3 that it feels more potent and worthy. Sure, aerodynamics do have a say but on the main straight at the BIC the R3 was clearly holding a higher top speed than the naked. But on both bikes, there's not much sense of drama or action. Yes, there's much joy and love to be extracted but it all is concentrated right at the top of the rev ceiling. For which you need a race track or an open highway where this engine can happily sit at triple digit speeds with no vibrations as such to complain about.

Sport Comfy

Both bikes from the tank onwards remain the same, Both feel cramped for taller and larger riders. And while the MT seems to be the more comfortable posture on paper, I genuinely think the R3 is the more confidence inspiring stance and one that will keep you engaged for longer. Plus, with the upper body not contorted to suit just the racer's mentality like it is on the R15, the R3 would definitely be a whole lot better for touring as well.

What A Chassis!

This is where you'll find the biggest difference between the two bikes and it all again comes back to how to sit on the bike. Because you are loading up the front on the R3, it turns in well and is a joy to ride fast. The new USD fork does a way better job of providing that good front end feel, something that was quite lacking in the previous model.

Yes, the tyres aren't quite as neat as you get a sense of them not turning as well as you ask them to but that's the issue with CBU products. Yamaha has to stick with the Dunlops.

And the tyre issue becomes even more apparent in the MT-03. As the front end feels light and flighty. You have to commit a bit more and force the bike even more into the bends, which then could lead to a bit of twitchiness. I know, this might not become as apparent in the real world but that sense of amazement is lost, which is a bit disheartening.

Despite the small bumps on the main straight of the BIC, where both felt quite absorptive, it would be hard to comment on the overall ride quality of the two Yamaha 300s. Braking performance was adequate but again there weren’t any major hard braking zones to deal with. So all of this remains to be seen for our road test video.

Stylish, Premiumly Built But No Fanciness

The R3 has adopted the outgoing R6’s design language and looks pretty handsome. While there’s not much new in terms of design in the latter half, the front end refresh certainly gives off a sportier appeal to the supersport. In that sense, the MT-03 does look like the elder sibling of the MT-15. You get a similar face as the 155 cc naked, the bulkiness is more apparent and the typical cyan colour combination is visually exciting. Both bikes have managed to maintain the high quality levels that Yamaha used to be known for and we couldn’t find anything disparaging to say about the finish and build of the bikes.

Now I'm not going to say that every bike definitely needs to have colour TFT screens, connectivity suite, quickshifters, slipper clutch, traction control and what not but if Yamaha could provide it on the R15 V4, it is sincerely a big miss on these 300s. And I would've definitely liked a quickshifter here and the slipper clutch as it would've just increased the finesse levels of riding this R3 fast around a racetrack.

Hard To Overlook

Ultimately, at ₹ 4,59,900 for the MT-03 and ₹ 4,64,900 for the R3, it becomes a very hard decision to shell out that much moolah for them. Especially, the naked as for nearly a lakh and a half rupees less you could get the far more thrilling and enjoyable KTM 390 Duke if you are seeking something spirited or for nearly half the price, the Triumph Speed 400 would give you nearly the same sense of easy riding that you are seeking.

The R3 is still a sweet motorcycle, one that I hold in high regard for just how nice the riding experience is in nearly every possible riding scenario. Had Yamaha even matched the Aprilia RS 457, one could make a case for it but with the Italian sport bike making quite a lot of more performance, comes loaded with techno wizardry and looks like a bombshell on two wheels, while being half a lakh more affordable, it becomes nearly impossible to recommend the R3. Plus, KTM’s third-gen RC 390 is also coming in 2024.

So, once again, while the Yamaha R3 and MT-03 is ushering in the new wave of big bikes from the Iwata-based bike maker, hard to digest pricing strategies is only going to detract buyers away from the brand. And that is quite a disappointing conclusion to this tale’s chapter.