Amit Saraswat 
Yamaha has launched the 2024 R3 super sport and MT-03 hyper naked motorcycles in the Indian market. The R3 retails at INR 4.65 lakh whereas the MT-03 is priced at INR 4.60 lakh ex-showroom. Both motorcycles will be brought to the Indian market via the CBU route.
Yamaha R3 Supersport
The Yamaha R3 doesn’t carry any major changes over the model that was on sale in the market earlier. It continues to carry the R1-inspired design, featuring a twin-pot LED headlight up front. The motorcycle boasts a nearly 50-50 weight distribution and claims to offer great handling at high speeds.
The Yamaha R3 comes with upside-down folks at the front and a mono-shock at the rear. In addition, its 573mm long swing arm is said to offer great stability at high speeds. Braking duties are handled by 298mm disc at the front and 220mm disc at the rear, which work in conjunction with dual-channel ABS.
Yamaha MT-03 Hyper Naked
The MT-03 shares all of its mechanicals with the R3 while boasting a naked body design. It draws inspiration from the larger MT range of motorcycles. Up front, it gets a mean-looking headlight console, which boasts two LED projectors. Over the R3, the MT-03 offers a more relaxed riding position and a different handlebar design and positioning.
Twin-cylinder powerhouse
Both the Yamaha R3 and MT-03 share the same 321cc liquid-cooled twin-cylinder engine. The engine runs on a DOHC setup and contains 4 valves per cylinder. The result is 42PS of power at 10,750rpm and 29.5Nm of torque at 9,000rpm. Unlike their respective rivals, the R3 and MT-03 lack features such as riding modes, 6-axis IMU or quick-shifter, which at the asking price, should have been offered.
How do they stack up?
In comparison to their respective rivals, both the R3 and MT-03 come around as expensive motorcycles, which is understandable since these are direct imports from Indonesia. The recently launched Aprilia RS 457 retails at INR 4.1 lakh ex-showroom and offers a lot more equipment than the R3. The MT-03, on the other hand, doesn’t have any direct rivals in the country but enthusiasts wouldn’t shy away from stacking it against the KTM Duke 390, which retails at INR 3.10 lakh ex-showroom.
