Yamaha R3, MT-03 India launch on December 15

Yamaha has confirmed that it will launch the R3 and MT-03 in India on December 15, with deliveries slated to begin by the end of the month.

1. Available in over 100 cities
2. Sold through Blue Square dealerships
3. Rivals include KTM 390 Duke, BMW G 310 R, Kawasaki Ninja 300

The Japanese manufacturer’s plans to reintroduce the R3 and bring in the MT-03 have been brewing for some time now. We first got up close with the two bikes for a walkaround at the Madras International Circuit back in July, and then learned at the Indian MotoGP round that the bikes would be launched in December. We now have an exact date for that price announcement, and are also currently getting a chance to swing a leg over the two models in Thailand.

Soon after the launch on December 15, deliveries will take place across over 100 cities nationwide. However, these two models are not going to be made available at all showrooms. Yamaha says it will sell the R3 and MT-03 through select Blue Square dealers across the country.

The fully faired YZF-R3 will be returning to the Indian market, having been previously sold here in the BS4 era. Its naked sibling, the MT-03, will go on sale in India for the first time. Both models are powered by the same 321cc parallel-twin engine producing 42hp and 29.5Nm, housed in the same diamond-type frame. The last time it was here, the R3 sported a conventional telescopic fork, but this time around, both bikes will get an upside-down fork, and a monoshock at the rear.

As far as pricing is concerned, these two bikes will sit towards the expensive end of the spectrum because they will be brought in as CBUs (initially at least) and not CKDs. So don’t expect them to be able to match the KTM 390 Duke (Rs 3.11 lakh) and RC 390 (Rs 3.18 lakh), but at the same time, they shouldn’t be as exorbitant as the Kawasaki Ninja 400 (Rs 5.24 lakh) either.