The Yamaha YZF-R3 May Make A Comeback After All

The test mules spotted in Delhi may not be the Yamaha R15 V4...

The internet has been abuzz with speculations on the arrival of the Yamaha R15 V4 ever since the spy shots of a new supersport emerged. But does Yamaha really need to update the country’s beloved 155cc faired bike? Or is the Japanese bikemaker preparing for the return of the YZF-R3? We have a few reasons to believe it’s the latter.

New Bodywork
The test mules spotted seemed bulkier than the current-gen Yamaha R15 V3. Look closer and you’ll notice the fuel tank is more muscular and the body panels are now more inspired by the new Yamaha R7. It’s the same with the tail section, which appears to have wider panels compared to the current model.

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Relaxed Ergonomics
The Yamaha R15’s clip-ons are aggressively set inwards, which make it a good bike for the track, but it tends to be uncomfortable for everyday use. On the other hand, the Yamaha R3 has always been comparatively more comfortable for handling everyday duties, and the test mules seem exactly that. The handlebar appears to be away from the rider and the footpegs aren’t set too high either.

Updated Suspension
The Yamaha R3’s price tag of Rs 3.26 lakh, while offering mediocre tyres and a simple telescopic suspension deterred many buyers from purchasing the bike. However, the new model, in foreign markets, sports a USD fork and an axial brake setup, which even the test mule sported, cementing our theory.

Yamaha Motor India has been on the road to redemption with some interesting changes to its pricing strategy. After slashing the price of the FZ 25 by a huge margin, the brand launched the new Fascino 125 Hybrid, which is now cheaper than the outgoing model.

The 2022 Yamaha R3 will face competition from another Japanese bike, the Kawasaki Ninja 300, priced at Rs 3.18 lakh. Will Yamaha be able to price it aggressively or will it again lose to the likes of the 2021 KTM RC 390 which is due for an update soon? Let us know what you think in the comments below.