Yamaha YZF-R3 & MT-03 initial impressions: Motorcycles for purists

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Yamaha Motor India was once known for being a brand that wanted to sell motorcycles that enthusiasts would want. The manufacturer used to sell the YZF-R3 but it was then discontinued when the BS6 emission norms came into effect. Since then things have been slow and cold. However, earlier this year, Yamaha announced that they would be launching the YZF-R3 and MT-03 in the Indian market. This sparked a lot of hype around the brand once again. So, when Yamaha invited us for a few laps of both motorcycles on the Buddh International Circuit (BIC), we could not say no.

By: Paarth Khatri
| Updated on: 20 Dec 2023, 17:57 PM

Yamaha MT-03 Yamaha YZF-R3
The MT-03 and R3 use the same underpinnings.

It is important to note that we only rode both motorcycles for just 15 minutes which is 4 laps of the race track. So, these are only our initial impressions and not a full review.

Yamaha R3 and MT-03: Looks and ergonomics

Yamaha R3 Yamaha MT-03
Both motorcycles look quite impressive and high quality.

In terms of looks not much has changed since the last time, the R3 was on sale in the Indian market. It now comes with all LED lighting, a fairing and a design that is inspired by its elder siblings. The golden forks do add a bit of character and premiumness to the looks of the motorcycle. Being a sportbike, the R3 comes with slightly rear-set footpegs and clip-on handlebars. Having said that, the ergonomics are not as committed as one would imagine. In fact, they are more accommodating than the R-15 which was quite surprising for me.

Then there is the MT-03 which has a transformer-like front-face and looks like a larger version of the MT-15. The motorcycle just gets twin slim LED Daytime Running Lamps and a projector headlamp. The one thing that is a bit of an eyesore is the fact that the horn is placed right below the headlamp. Being a naked streetfighter, the riding triangle on the MT-03 is more upright and comfortable than the R3. However, because there is no fairing, the wind blast on the MT is a lot more than the R3.

Yamaha R3 and MT-03: Smooth engine

Yamaha R3
The ergonomics of the R3 are more accommodating than the R15.

Both motorcycles are powered by a 321 cc, parallel-twin engine that is very smooth and delivers power in a very linear fashion. The engine dishes out 41 bhp at 10,750 rpm and a peak torque of 29.5 Nm at 9,000 rpm. The engine comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox which unfortunately does not get a slip-and-assist clutch. Because of this, under aggressive downshifting, the rear would start to hop. Moreover, the gearbox would get stuck while shifting from 4th to 5th and then from 5th to 6th. The engine can pull cleanly even at higher gears and slow speeds and speaking of speeds, it can stay all day long at 100 kmph doing 6,000 rpm. We were able to clock a top speed of around 172 kmph on the R3 whereas the MT-03 did 169 kmph.

Yamaha R3 and MT-03: Features

Yamaha MT-03
The MT-03 looks striking. The only eye sore is the placement of the horn which is directly below the projector headlamp.

There are no fancy features on the R3 and MT-03. It just comes with a digital instrument cluster that shows various information including a temperature gauge and a gear position indicator. There is no Bluetooth connectivity or USB port to charge mobile devices. Fortunately, the motorcycles do come with all LED lighting and dual-channel ABS.

Yamaha R3 and MT-03: Who should get one?

Well, this is where things get a bit interesting. Yes, people have been waiting for these motorcycles for a long time now but Yamaha is bringing them to India through the CBU route. What this means is that they are priced high. The MT-03 costs ₹4.60 lakh whereas the R3 is priced at ₹4.65 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom. The recently launched Aprilia RS 457 is priced at ₹4.1 lakh ex-showroom and it does look more exotic, offers more features and is more powerful as well. But, if you are a purist, someone who just wants a pure basic motorcycle without any of the fancy features then your heart will deviate towards Yamaha’s motorcycles.

First Published Date: 20 Dec 2023, 17:57 PM IST

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Yamaha R3 and MT-03 launched in India, likely to light up sub-400cc bike market

by with One Comment Electric vehicles cars

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Yamaha Motor India has finally launched the R3 and the MT-03 in the Indian market. They are priced at ₹4.65 lakh and ₹4.60 lakh respectively. Both prices are ex-showroom and the motorcycles will be sold through Yamaha’s Blue Square dealerships. As of now, the motorcycles come to India as a Completely Built Unit and it is expected that the manufacturer might drop the price if the demand is high enough for them to use the Completely Knocked Down route.

By: Paarth Khatri
| Updated on: 15 Dec 2023, 18:28 PM

Yamaha
The Yamaha R3 and the MT-03 come into the Indian market via the import route.

At this price, the motorcycles are quite expensive. For reference, the KTM 390 Duke costs ₹3.11 lakh ex-showroom and the recently launched Aprilia RS 457 is priced at ₹4.10 lakh ex-showroom. Because of the pricing, the Aprilia now seems more value for money as it will have more exclusivity factor and comes with more electronic aids as well.

Both motorcycles share the same 321 cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine that produces 41.4 bhp of peak power at 10,750 rpm and 29.6 Nm of maximum torque at 9,000 rpm. The engine is very smooth but because of its high-revving engine, the rider would need to twist the throttle in case he or she needs to exploit that power. Having said that, the engine is also tractable and does 100 kmph at 6,000 rpm without any vibrations.

Yamaha is using a 6-speed gearbox for the engine. Unfortunately, there is no slip-and-assist clutch on offer because of which under aggressive downshifting the rear does start to hop. Having said that the gearbox is quite smooth for the most part.

Also Read : IBW 2023: Aprilia RS 457 launched at ₹4.10 lakh in India

The R3 and the MT-03 are quite basic in terms of features. There is no traction control, riding modes or Bluetooth connectivity. The motorcycles only get a dual-channel ABS, all LED lighting and a digital instrument cluster that only shows basic information.

First Published Date: 15 Dec 2023, 15:15 PM IST

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2025 KTM 390 Adventure spotted testing in near-production avatar

by with No Comment Electric vehicles cars

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The next-generation KTM 390 Adventure is currently under development and is set to get massive upgrades over the outgoing version with a more off-road focus. And now, the latest spy shots that have emerged online are attributing towards the same. The 2025 KTM 390 Adventure was recently spotted testing in a near-production guise and the images reveal a great deal about the upcoming motorcycle.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 13 Dec 2023, 21:11 PM

2025 KTM 390 Adventure Spy Shot
The 2025 KTM 390 Adventure test mule reveals a slimmer, more Dakar Rally-inspired motorcycle with possibly a 21-inch front wheel (Cycle World)

The next-generation KTM 390 Adventure will get a massive overhaul with completely new styling and a slimmer design. The adventure tourer appears to be inspired by the Dakar rally bike with the semi-fairing, a high-set front fender and a slim rear. The bike also appears to get a new frame with the main frame being a trellis unit likely to be shared with the new-gen 390 Duke, while the subframe appears to be all-new and a square-section tubular unit. This should bring more flexibility to the 390 Adventure over the current model.

2025 KTM 390 Adventure Spy Shot
The next-generation KTM 390 Adventure will get a new chassis and the larger 399 cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that debuted on the 390 Duke (Cycle World)

The styling is radical as we’ve come to expect from KTM. The test mule gets vertically stacked LED headlamps surrounded by LED DRLs inspired by bigger models in the brand’s portfolio. The bike also appears to be running on 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoked wheels, which will be a big departure from the current 19-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel setup. The move will help the 390 ADV become more off-road friendly and take on the competition rather well. Expect the alloy wheels to be available as an option with a more touring-friendly variant.

2025 KTM 390 Adventure Spy Shot
The 2025 KTM 390 Adventure is expected to arrive globally in the second half of next year (Cycle World)

Also expect to see upgrades to the adjustable suspension at the front and rear, while KTM will also add better braking systems with dual-channel ABS, cornering ABS and traction control. The big change on the new KTM 390 Adventure will be its newly-developed 399 cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine shared with the new 390 Duke. The motor is tuned for 45.3 bhp at 8,500 rpm and 39 Nm of peak torque at 6,500 rpm, mated with a 6-speed gearbox. The new motor was certainly impressive as we found on the KTM 390 Duke ride but also more tractable than before, which should work with the new 390 ADV.

Watch: 2023 KTM 390 Adventure: First ride review

More details should be available in the weeks to come. The new KTM 390 Adventure is expected to arrive in the second half of 2024 globally and will make its way to the Indian market soon after. Expect prices to see a hike with the latest iteration that will continue to be built in India for domestic and international markets. The 350-500 cc segment though is a lot more competitive this time and the KTM 390 ADV will take on the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, and BMW G 310 GS in this space.

First Published Date: 13 Dec 2023, 21:11 PM IST

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In pics: 2024 KTM 990 Duke showcased at EICMA 2023

by with No Comment Electric vehicles cars

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KTM 990 Duke uses a new 947 cc, liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that produces 121 bhp and 103 Nm. It comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 14 Nov 2023, 18:35 PM

2024 KTM 990 Duke
1/11

KTM has unveiled the 2024 990 Duke at EICMA 2023. The motorcycle will be going on sale in the global market in the coming months. The new motorcycle will sit above the 890 DUKE GP in the lineup and will be produced at KTM’s main plant in Mattighofen, Austria.

2024 KTM 990 Duke
2/11

KTM 990 Duke will be competing against other litre-class naked motorcycles. As of now, KTM has no plans to launch the 990 Duke in the Indian market. KTM used to have the 790 Duke in the Indian market but they weren’t able to sell it. 

2024 KTM 990 Duke
3/11

Powering the 990 Duke is a new LC8c engine that is Euro 5+ compliant. It is a 947 cc, parallel-twin engine that is liquid-cooled. It puts out 121 bhp of max power at 9,500 rpm and a peak torque output of 103 Nm at 6,750 rpm. It comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox and the rider can also opt for a quickshifter.

2024 KTM 990 Duke
4/11

The KTM 990 Duke has been developed around a completely new steel tube frame. The subframe is an aluminium diecast part with an integrated airbox and air intake under the seat. 

2024 KTM 990 Duke
5/11

Moreover, the swingarm is also new and the triple clamp is made out of forged aluminium. The wheels of the 990 Duke measure 17 inches and are taken from the 1290 Super Duke R but slightly modified to incorporate the double-sided swingarm. They are wrapped in Bridgestone S22 tires as standard.

2024 KTM 990 Duke
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The frame is suspended by 43 mm WP Apex open cartridge forks in the front that have 140 mm of travel and at the rear, there is a WP Apex monoshock 

2024 KTM 990 Duke
7/11

The front suspension setup comes with compression and rebound adjustment that can be done through clickers that are present on top of the forks. The rear suspension can be adjusted through a 5-click setting for rebound and with manual preload adjustment.

2024 KTM 990 Duke
8/11

Braking duties are handled by a pair of 300 mm discs with 4-pot calipers, while a single 240 mm disc mated to a single-piston caliper handles the braking duties at the rear. 

2024 KTM 990 Duke
9/11

The motorcycle also comes with traction control, wheelie control, launch control and even cruise control as part of the package. There is lap timer, switchable ABS and even lean angle data. 

2024 KTM 990 Duke
10/11

In terms of features, the 990 Duke is equipped with LED lighting, a USB Type C charger and a 5-inch coloured TFT screen. There are five riding modes – Rain, Street, Sport and the Performance and Track mode are optional.

2024 KTM 990 Duke
11/11

The headlamp is quite unique and has an industrial design. It still has KTM’s fang-like design language that we have seen on other motorcycles. There are LED Daytime Running Lamps and a twin-projector setup for the main headlight.

First Published Date: 14 Nov 2023, 18:35 PM IST

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KTM RC 125: All you need to know

by with No Comment Electric vehicles cars

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The KTM RC 125 is the brand’s most affordable full-faired offering in India and the motorcycle is one of the sharpest tools you get if you want to hone your riding skills. The 125 cc motorcycle borrows heavily from its older siblings right from the top-tier hardware, sharp design language and even the colour options. Does the KTM RC 125 make sense for you to buy this festive season? Let’s take a look at what the bike has to offer.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 25 Oct 2023, 20:18 PM

KTM RC 125
The KTM RC 125 is the brand’s most affordable fully-faired offering on sale

KTM is retailing the updated RC 125 that arrived last year. The motorcycle gets a single halogen unit with integrated turn signals that replace the previously found twin-projector headlamps. The Austrian bike maker has also used a tweaked the rear sub-frame on the motorcycle for a more spacious and flat pillion seat. The changes bring down the overall weight of the motorcycle by 3.4 kg, while the fuel carrying capacity has gone up to 13.7 litres.

Also Read : 2024 KTM 390 Duke First Ride Review: The pocket-rocket is back

The KTM RC 125 also gets a TFT instrument console with an ambient light sensor that adjusts to changing light conditions automatically. The handlebar also gets height adjustability up to 10 mm, to toggle between race and everyday riding.

Power on the 2023 KTM RC 125 comes from the tried and tested 124 cc, single-cylinder engine. The motor gets a larger airbox and offers better lower-end performance. The liquid-cooled motor is tuned to produce 14.7 bhp, which makes it one of the most powerful 125 cc offerings on sale in India. The motor is paired with a 6-speed gearbox.

With respect to the hardware, the RC 125 packs USD forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear. Braking duties are handled by a 320 mm disc at the front and a 230 mm unit at the rear. The motorcycle gets dual-channel ABS as standard with the Supermoto mode, sourced from Bosch. The KTM RC 125 takes on the Yamaha R15 V4 in the segment and both motorcycles are excellent machines to learn the track skills on. The RC 125 is priced at ₹1.90 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

First Published Date: 25 Oct 2023, 20:18 PM IST

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