Yamaha just unveiled a facelifted version of one of its small displacement sport-naked – the MT-03. It is essentially a naked iteration of the Yamaha R3 and uses the same engine and hardware, but with more comfortable and upright ergonomics.
For 2020, the biggest update on the MT-03 comes in the form of a new design. The outgoing model was based on the MT-07 and used a single headlight. This new bike gets twin pilot lights, and an LED headlight under it, much like the MT-09 and the MT-15. The engine is the same one seen on the R3 – a 321cc parallel-twin engine that makes 42hp and 29.6Nm of torque. Hardware, like the 298mm front disc and 220mm rear disc, is identical to the R3’s too. In the US market, the KYB USD fork and pre-load adjustable monoshock are also carried over. However, in India, we still get the previous-generation R3, which comes with the older design and telescopic fork.
The new MT-03 will also be the first to enter the US market, where it will carry a price tag of $4,599 (Rs 3.27 lakh, approximately). For reference, the R3 costs $5,299 (Rs 3.77 lakh, approximately) in the US and the older-gen model sold here carries a price tag of Rs 3.51 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). There’s still no word about when the MT-03 or the updated R3 will make their way to India, but when they do, they will most certainly come with an increased price tag.
Azaman Chothia
