Will new Yamaha R3 be 320cc?
So say bike sites in Indonesia, where R25 is already made
YAMAHA'S soon-to-be-launched R3 could have a 320cc engine, according to bike websites in Indonesia, where the 250cc R25 version is already in production.
The R25 is already close to Kawasaki's Ninja 300 in peak performance figures. Both are parallel-twins with the Yamaha making 35.5hp and 16.7lbft compared to the Kawasaki's 39hp and 19.9lbft. With 320cc instead of the previously expected 300, it's likely the R3 would have the edge over the Ninja.
Yamaha has filed trademark applications for the name ‘YZF-R3’ and UK sources confirm a surprise launch is due soon, so the question seems to be when rather than if we will see the R25's bigger brother. It's expected to be for European and US markets.
Indonesian website tmcblog.com is among those saying it will have a 20cc advantage over the competition, which will also include Honda's forthcoming single-cylinder CBR300R.
Of course, it's possible Yamaha could yet be outgunned by a new four-cylinder 250 from Kawasaki.
