Yamaha listened to its fans and announced that it’s going to launch the updated twin-cylinder R3 and MT-03 in India in December 2023. The R3 was previously on sale in India and was discontinued with the introduction of BS6 norms in 2020. However, the MT-03 was never sold in India before and is the streetfighter version of the R3.
Yamaha R3 and MT-03: What is the plan?
The plan is simple. Both the R3 and MT-03 will be introduced here as CBU units from Indonesia and if they garner enough attention, Yamaha will eventually switch to CKD production later. But since they will be CBU units, the pricing will also be higher, hence the bikes will be expensive.
Yamaha R3 and MT-03: What to expect?
The Yamaha R3 and MT-03 are comparable in Specs since they share a similar platform. While the Previous-gen R3 in India had a 42 Hp Liquid-cooled, 4-valve Parallel-twin DOHC engine, the MT-03 has the same engine but produces a slightly lower but negligible 41.4 Hp. Both the bikes will have a 6-speed gearbox. The Streetfighter is also slightly less heavy than the R3 since it doesn’t have fairings. Both the bikes, despite having a powerful engine, has decent mileage of 25-35 kmpl.
Apart from that, the new-gen R3 will come with numerous upgrades like a fresh design, LED headlamps, and USD forks. The MT-03 on the other hand will have a similar design language to that of the MT-15 but mostly will be similar to it’s faired sibling, the R3. Both the bikes will likely also have a fully digital instrument cluster, dual-channel ABS, and more.
Yamaha R3 and MT-03: Previous-gen R3 vs Upcoming R3
Although engine wise, both the versions are similar, the new R3 has bought some improvements including 37mm KYB inverted forks and adjustable mono-shock at the front and rear, dual discs with dual-chgannel ABS, a more aerodynamic design and aggressive look with split LED headlamps, LED indicators, fully-digital instrument cluster and a new purple paint job.
Yamaha R3 and MT-03: Why CBU can be an issue?
Since both the bikes will come as CBU units, the prices will be higher than CKD units. So, consumers might think it’s overpriced and ignore the bikes no matter how good they are. Yamaha will have to make sure the bikes stay within the proper price range to fight against the competitors.
Yamaha R3 and MT-03: Pricing and Rivals
With the first Indian MotoGP race taking place recently, Yamaha showcased the bikes alongside the race at Buddh International Circuit. The MT-03 was also shown alongside the MT-07 and MT-09 to dealers in India previously. The Previous-gen R3 was sold in India for 3.51 lakhs, Ex-showroom, while the MT-03 is expected to come at a price range of 3.2 to 3.5 lakhs, Ex-showroom. Considering both the bikes will be CBUs, the pricing may be higher.
The R3 when launched will compete with the Apache 310RR, Kawasaki Ninja 400, Aprilia RS 457, Benelli 302R, BMW G 310 RR and KTM RC 390 in the Indian market. On the other hand, the MT-03 will compete with the likes of KTM 390 Duke, BMW G 310 R and Apache RTR 310.
