2019 Yamaha YZF-R3 | First Ride Review

2019 Yamaha YZF-R3
Yamaha’s top-selling motorcycle overall last year was the YZF-R3, and for 2019 it’s even better, with a noticeable suspension upgrade and a fresh new look. (Photos by Brian J. Nelson)

Glittery, feature-laden flagship products may be sexy, but in today’s world the bread-and-butter models are the ones that return the most bang for the least buck. So it’s no surprise to me that the roughly $5,000 YZF-R3 was the top-selling Yamaha motorcycle overall in 2018, a spot it swaps regularly with another inexpensive grin factory, the FZ/MT-07 (read our Road Test Review here). The R3 debuted in 2015, a bit late to the lightweight sportbike party, but it immediately impressed us with its fun factor and everyday usability.

Read our Tour Test Review of the 2016 Yamaha YZF-R3 here!

2019 Yamaha YZF-R3
Resculpted gas tank is lower and wider, the better to tuck in and hang off.

For 2019, the R3 got a makeover that included a new upside-down 37mm KYB fork with revised settings, new triple clamps, an updated KYB rear shock, new radial Dunlop Sportmax tires, a redesigned fuel tank, lower clip-ons and a facelift that ties it to its YZR-M1 (much bigger) brother. While we like the new look, it’s the suspension updates that take the littlest YZF to the next level.

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2019 Yamaha YZF-R3
New gold 37mm upside-down KYB fork has a stiffer spring and increased compression and rebound damping. Single-disc, two-piston front brake is a bit disappointing, however.

Up front, the spring rate was increased by 20 percent and both rebound and compression damping were also dialed up, addressing our complaint in the 2016 test above that the fork was “spongy, with weak rebound damping letting the front-end recoil too fast from impacts.” A new cast-aluminum top triple clamp and forged-steel lower triple clamp combine with the stout USD fork to create a much more planted feel that provides better feedback than before, an immediately noticeable improvement. It’s also a better match for the 7-step preload-adjustable rear shock, which got an 11-percent stiffer spring, 10mm higher preload, increased rebound damping and, interestingly, slightly decreased compression damping.

2019 Yamaha YZF-R3
Footpegs are sporty but not too high; combined with the 30.7-inch seat, ergonomics are quite comfortable for this 5-foot, 9-inch, 34-inch-inseam rider.

Overall it works very well in combination with the steel trellis frame; as I tossed the 375-pound (claimed, wet) machine through the banked corners of Palomar Mountain, feedback from the front end let me focus on having fun rather than worry about running out of talent (or traction).

Speaking of traction, for some reason the first-gen R3 wore bias-ply tires rather than radials. An easy enough aftermarket swap, but for 2019 Yamaha has sensibly shod the R3 with proper radial Dunlop Sportmax GPR-300 rubber. We’ve had good experiences with Sportmax tires in the past, and this is no exception; the R3 stayed glued to the pavement even on damp mountain roads and when keeled all the way over on a favorite set of technical twisties. If there is a sport riding shortcoming, it’s the brakes; the meager two-piston caliper at the front and single-piston at the rear just aren’t up to the demands of what is otherwise a very capable machine.

2019 Yamaha YZF-R3
Removing the right side fairing reveals the rev-happy 321cc parallel twin. Despite low gearing it’s at its best between 6,000 and 11,000 rpm.

Under the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” category is the 321cc liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4 valve-per-cylinder parallel twin, which spun out 35 horsepower at 10,600 rpm and 19 lb-ft of torque at 9,200 when we last put it on the Jett Tuning dyno. Gears first through fourth are rather low, maximizing grunt, but there’s an interesting bump in both power and torque right after 6,000 rpm.

2019 Yamaha YZF-R3
A nearly 50/50 front/rear weight distribution, updated suspension and well-matched chassis combine to make the R3 quite the capable canyon carver.

The result is impressive roll-on performance even at a high gear-to-speed ratio. For example, I found myself traveling at just under 30 mph in fifth gear, when suddenly our ride leader poured it on and pulled away. Without downshifting I whacked the throttle open, and the little R3 responded by pulling hard (relatively speaking of course) all the way to 11,000 rpm. Highly entertaining, but also practical for freeway commuters.

2019 Yamaha YZF-R3
LCD instrument includes a bar tachometer, gear indicator, speedometer, engine temperature, fuel level, clock and switchable odometer, two tripmeters, oil tripmeter, fuel reserve tripmeter and average/instant fuel economy.

And I suppose that’s the point of the R3: it’s affordable, but now it’s an even more capable sportbike that should lengthen its buyers’ “out-growing” timeframe. Yamaha’s research indicates that the average R3 owner is 32 years old, and for 63 percent of them it’s their first motorcycle. For more than three-quarters of them, the R3, likely their only bike, does double-duty as a commuter, a fact supported by my own anecdotal evidence as seen on my daily commute.

2019 Yamaha YZF-R3
Radial Dunlop Sportmax GPR-300 tires stuck well even on our cool, foggy, damp press ride.

The trick is walking (riding?) that fine line between sporty and comfy, and even with its 20mm lower clip-ons that now attach under the top triple clamp, I found the R3’s ergonomics to be a fantastic balance between the two. The day after our 140-mile press launch ride, I logged more than 154 freeway miles riding from Oceanside, California, to my home in Camarillo, and despite wearing a backpack I experienced no ill effects: no pain and no numb hands, bum or feet. Plus, despite keeping up with 75 mph California traffic, I only went through 2.4 of the 3.7 gallons in the tank, for a respectable 65 mpg.

2019 Yamaha YZF-R3
Bring a friend: the little R3 has a 353-pound load capacity.

There’s a lot to like about the 2019 Yamaha YZF-R3: good looks, sporty yet comfortable ergos on a well-balanced chassis, vastly improved suspension and a price that’s unchanged from last year ($4,999/$5,299 for the ABS model). We’ll continue to put miles on our test bike, so look for updates and a full Road Test Review in the coming weeks.

2019 Yamaha YZF-R3
The non-ABS 2019 Yamaha YZF-R3 is available in Team Yamaha Blue or Matte Black; the ABS version is available in Matte Black or Vivid White.

2019 Yamaha YZF-R3 Specs
Base Price: $4,999
Price as Tested: $5,299 (ABS model)
Warranty: 1 yr., unltd. miles
Website: yamahamotorsports.com

Engine
Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse parallel twin
Displacement: 321cc
Bore x Stroke: 68mm x 44.1mm
Compression Ratio: 11.2:1
Valve Train: DOHC, 4 valves per cyl.
Valve Insp. Interval: 26,600 miles
Fuel Delivery: EFI
Lubrication System: Wet sump, 2.7-qt. cap.
Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated wet clutch
Final drive: O-ring chain

Electrical
Ignition: Electronic
Charging output: 298 watts @ 5,000 rpm
Battery: 12V 7AH

Chassis
Frame: Steel diamond-type, engine as stressed member
Wheelbase: 54.3 in.
Rake/Trail: 25 degrees/3.74 in.
Seat Height: 30.7 in.
Suspension, Front: 37mm USD KYB fork, no adj., 5.1-in. travel
Rear: Single linked rear shock, adj. for spring preload, 4.9-in. travel
Brakes, Front: Single 298mm disc w/ 2-piston caliper & ABS (as tested)
Rear: Single 220mm disc w/ 1-piston caliper & ABS (as tested)
Wheels, Front: Cast aluminum, 2.75 x 17 in.
Rear: Cast aluminum, 4.00 x 17 in.
Tires, Front: 110/70R-17H
Rear: 140/70R-17H
Wet Weight (claimed, as tested): 375 lbs.
Load Capacity (claimed, as tested): 353 lbs.
GVWR: 728 lbs.

Performance
Fuel Capacity: 3.7 gals., last 0.8 gal. warning light on
MPG: 87 PON min. 64.7 avg.
Estimated Range: 240 miles
Indicated RPM at 60 MPH: 6,500

6 COMMENTS

    • From my point of view, the R3 & the N400 are almost twins. IMHO, the R3 looks a bit better, while the Ninja has bigger brakes and more torque. The torque is probably a bigger issue than the horsepower difference.

      The prices are the same, and the looks are close. Other than the stink-bug rear ends that seem to be popular these days, both the R3 and the baby Ninja appear to be terrific bikes.

      It would be nice to see some two-up road tests to see whether these can actually carry a passenger. Even though these are official rider-only bikes, the truth is that beginning riders will eventually want to give friends and/or spouses/girlfriends a ride. Taking your date on a bike ride has been a wonderful thing for years, and shouldn’t be ignored, even for “smaller” bikes.

    • Casting my mind back…I recall the Ninja being more powerful on paper (we’ve Dynoed neither) but the R3 really impressed me with its roll-on performance. Suspension might go to the new R3, brakes to the Ninja. Comfort…I’m 5’9″ and I really liked the Ninja’s size. It is a little lighter than the R3 but not as cramped. We’ll try to get hold of one to compare directly with our R3 tester and I’ll post a follow-up! -JS

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