Will Santa Ride In The 2019 Yamaha R3 This December?

Yamaha India has sent out a "Block your date" invite to us for the launch of a new product in Chennai on December 19. While the Japanese brand is tight-lipped about the mystery product, the new bike could be the all-new R3 according to our sources. The current Yamaha R3 has been on sale for almost four years and was given a facelift at the 2018 Auto Expo when it received dual-channel ABS and Metzeler rubber. 

The 2019 Yamaha R3 gets a redesigned front fascia with twin-LED headlights, larger windscreen and new fairing. According to the Japanese brand, the new windscreen and fairing have made it more aerodynamically efficient and its top speed is up by 8kmph. On the features front, the semi-digital dash has been replaced with a modern-looking all-digital instrument console. Riding ergonomics on the new Yamaha R3 is also sportier as the clip-on handlebars have been lowered by 22mm. 

Another major update is the inclusion of KYB 37mm USD fork, replacing the telescopic unit as seen on its predecessor. Whether Yamaha India carries forward the same-spec for the R3 in our country or replaces it with a telescopic fork, remains questionable. However, we really hope that we get the Euro-spec Yamaha R3 here. Braking hardware (with dual-channel ABS)  and the monoshock unit have been carried from the older bike. 

Powering the new Yamaha R3 is the same 321cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled motor pumping out 42PS and 29.6Nm of torque. We expect the India-spec R3 to be BS6-compliant, and it remains to be seen whether it maintains the same power and torque figures. The bike features a 6-speed transmission, however a slipper clutch has disappointingly been given a miss.

In terms of price, the current R3 retails for Rs 3.51 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). If Yamaha does manage to get the Euro-spec bike to our shores, expect a pricing of between Rs 3.70 lakh and Rs 3.90 lakh (ex-showroom).