While Yamaha R9 hogged all the attention, the 2025 R3 slipped by silently, or maybe that was the plan. But why? After all, in Team Blue’s existing line of supersports, this was the only bike that was yet to flaunt the new design language.
And boy has it taken that time to actually look dazzling. Yes, it gets the same Cyclops treatment like the rest, but the LED DRLs flanking the headlight makes a big difference. Thanks to the new design, people won’t have to buy winglets, for now the new fairing incorporates some aero elements. Even the tail section is all new, and in sync with the other members of the ‘R’ family. And then there’s the new LCD console that’s a bit larger and more feature-rich than the outgoing model.
Under the fancy fairing is the same 321cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that belts out 41.42 bhp and 3 kgm. While the performance numbers haven’t changed, Yamaha did add a slip-and-assist clutch. And that concludes the list of updates.
Yes, the 37-mm KYB forks and monoshock are the same as before and so is the 298-mm / 220-mm disc brake setup. Heck, even the tyres are the same as before. And just like the previous model, the only safety net is that of dual-channel ABS. Thankfully, the kerb weight of 195 kg has also remained the same as before.
The lack of ride-by-wire, traction control, ride modes and a quickshifter are a big miss, considering what the competition is offering. And with the debut of the Aprilia RS 457, and with the 2025 KTM RC 390 on the horizon, the Yamaha already feels out of its depth.
Is it time that the R3’s 321cc powerplant receive a serious upgrade, or is Yamaha keeping the R3 ‘accessible’ while silently developing a four-cylinder YZF-R4? We really hope that it’s the latter.
