It’s been the seemingly
unlikely weapon of
choice for many track
day punters due to its
thrill per dollar factor
amaha’s R3 took the learner bike market
by storm back in 2015. This was for good
reason, not only was it an easy bike to ride
for first timers, but it was a surprisingly good all-
rounder, a bike that was at home in the hands
of a returning rider or even on the race track. It’s
been the seemingly unlikely weapon of choice
for many track day punters due to its thrill per
dollar factor, and it forms the bulk of the grass
roots racing category in many Supersport
classes around the world.
2015 was a massive year for Yamaha. Most will
only remember the all-new big bang R1, which
was sculpted to look just like Vale’s M1, and just
two years later a new R6 entered the market,
which also got the MotoGP looks. But Yamaha’s
little R3 continued along unchanged. Finally, the
2019 R3 has now had its morphing phase, and is
the mini-GP replica we always wanted it to be.
WHAT’S NEW
Although the 2019 machine has got a new,
much sexier look, the basics of the R3 remain
very similar. The donk is the same reliable liquid-
cooled DOHC, four-stroke parallel twin that
it’s always been, and the frame is the proven
steel diamond chassis of the first model. The
swingarm, wheels and rear suspension linkage
are also unchanged, but that’s pretty much
where the similarities end.
The first striking thing I noticed when laying
eyes on the R3 is the similarity to its larger
capacity stablemates – with its beautifully
proportioned fairing which although slightly
lower than before gives more protection.
Yamaha says that the new fairing is worth
another 8km/h of top-end speed, which will
certainly help those racers out there, and on
the road it will benefit those searching for more
economy. To my eyes there isn’t an angle of
displeasure in sight. The lines of the whole bike
flow, and it looks like its bigger brothers so much
that if one is passing by, it’s hard to tell them
apart.