Yamaha YZF-R3 Long Term Report December 2016

Guardian Angel

There’s no two ways about the fact that the long-term R3 is a hot property around here at autoX. It’s been over 10 months since the bike was handed over to us, but still, we – as in Arup, Jared and I – can’t seem to get enough of the motorcycle. I admit that I’ve been fortunate enough to have the bike for well over two months now, and I am trying to make the most out of it.

Over the Diwali weekend, I took the R3 to my hometown – Dehradun, and beyond. I can’t stress on it anymore, but this thing can easily qualify as a sports tourer. It has ample grunt, the handling is sweet, the suspension is surprisingly pliant over bad stretches of road and above all, it’s an utterly comfortable motorcycle to munch miles on.

When you’re in the hills on a motorcycle, it’s kind of obligatory to do some enthusiastic corner carving exercise. And the R3 doesn’t disappoint one bit when you’re pushing it around a bend. Yes, the tyres aren’t all that great, but they aren’t a killjoy either. Most of the people also complain that it doesn’t have ABS or slipper clutch. Now while those bits matter a lot, from what I’ve experienced so far, it’s a very forgiving machine as is. I have never, ever, experienced a lock-up or skid while riding the R3 – yes, even when I ride like a lunatic, it doesn’t lose its composure. Overall, I am 100 per cent in love with this motorcycle.