2015 Yamaha R3 – First Look Review

2015 Yamaha YZF-R3 in  Team Yamaha Blue/Matte Silver
2015 Yamaha YZF-R3 in Team Yamaha Blue/Matte Silver

Entry-level sportbikes have been coming on strong lately, with the recent release of the all-new KTM RC390, the updated-for-2015 Honda CBR300R and the Kawasaki Ninja 300, which received a major revamp for 2013.

Now Yamaha is getting into the game, as it announced today at the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo), in Orlando, Florida.

2015 Yamaha YZF-R3 in  Rapid Red
2015 Yamaha YZF-R3 in Rapid Red

Introduced by recently retired Yamaha MotoGP racer Colin Edwards and his wife Alyssia, the all-new 2015 Yamaha YZF-R3 a chip off the supersport block, with sharp, angular styling like its 600cc R6 and 1,000cc R1 big brothers. It is powered by a 320cc, liquid-cooled parallel twin with DOHC, four valves per cylinder, a 180-degree crank and fuel injection, held in place by a steel frame. The transmission has six gears and final drive is via chain.

The fully faired R3 has a 30.7-inch seat height and an LCD instrument panel. Suspension is by KYB, with a 41mm fork with 5.1 inches of travel and a single shock with 5.9 inches of travel. Braking is handled by dual discs (ABS is not available) and the wheels are 10-spoke cast aluminum.

The YZF-R3 will be available in Team Yamaha Blue/Matte Silver, Rapid Red or Raven for $4,990, starting in March 2015.

In related news, Yamaha also announced that an all-new YZF-R1 will be unveiled at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy, on November 3, 2014.

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