balance between sporty and practical. For that 70km daily commute, it’ s spot on.
STYLING AND PRESENCE I went for Yamaha blue, because … is there really any other choice? The R3 looks sharp, with lines that make it appear bigger than it is. It’ s not as aggressive as the RC390, but it’ s clean and purposeful. Park it next to a litre bike, and, to my eyes, it still holds its own.
LIVING WITH IT Right now, the bike is stock. I’ m tempted by a full exhaust and an ECU flash, which could unlock as much as 20 – 25 % more power, a big jump( from a low base). But for now, I’ m enjoying it as is. The only annoyance is there doesn’ t seem to be a luggage solution yet. I had a Ventura rack on the Hornet, but there’ s nothing on the R3 so far. For now, it’ s a backpack commute. Nothing money won’ t fix, I guess.
STACKING UP The KTM 390 Duke has more power( 44 hp vs 41 hp), a TFT dash, and aggressive styling. But it’ s more expensive, and great dealer support matters to me. Kawasaki’ s Ninja 500 is the performance king of the class with a bigger engine and better midrange. But, again, price and dealer proximity tipped the scales. Oh, and, conventional forks. In comparison, the R3 is the sweet spot- affordable, reliable, and fun. It may lack the tech and
torque of its rivals, but it nails the basics and looks great doing it.
EXPERIENCED RIDERS If you’ re an experienced rider considering downsizing, ask yourself what you really need. For me, it was a fun and affordable commuter that wouldn’ t punish my wallet. The R3 ticks all those boxes. Yes, it lacks point-and-shoot power, but it makes up for it with character and cornering confidence. And in the right hands, these little bikes can embarrass bigger machines on a twisty road. So, I recommend not to dismiss the A2 class. Decide what you value, and you might find that less really is more.
HEART STRINGS The Hornet will always have a place in my heart. But for where I am now, which is costconscious, commuting, but still craving fun, the R3 is the right bike at the right time. And every time I flick it into a corner, I know I made the right call. Stay tuned for what it’ s like to live with.
66 KIWI RIDER