2019 Yamaha YZF-R3 Full Road Test & Review 

Plenty of fun for such a small machine. I think it would surprise a lot of people how good it is.

Moto Journo Kris I’m in a roughy spot again I can get a 2017 Z650 for the exact same spot as the cheapest ninja 400 and I don’t know what to do. I don’t want a 650 especially a twin , that sounds like a bit much but idk

@@Fee.1 if you've never rode a bike before I mean I would love to have a 6:52 but you learn so much about the road if you just get a smaller bike my R3 I just got two weeks ago was the first bike I've ever rode and I've learned so much on it because it doesn't have that much power if they did I would have flew off of it the first day I've tried to learn it

It's a hard lesson to learn when you're young and after the biggest and best, but I think many of us mellow out a bit eventually. That's why I always sing the R3s praise, it's an amazing machine at the end of the day, and many people don't need an R1, although I'd never say no if someone was just giving me one!

I've been riding for over 10 years now and I've "downgraded" to the R3.......... such a fun bike. I think it's one of my favorite bikes!

@@MotoJournoKris if I was 18 maybe I would have got me a 650 or a 1000 but after being 36 and having a son and a wife now I don't think I would want to learn on nothing bigger than what an R3 because I just don't want to hurt myself and die because I was stupid on a fast bike and make my family suffer so I'm glad getting in my RS3 especially after all my homeboys just a doggone me when I first got it about all that little bitty small bike what are you going to do with that and then one of them come the day I bought it's like damn dog that thing is pretty badass I'm not going to lie for a 300 like yeah I know LOL

@@williamhughes205 With age comes a bit of wisdom, or at least I tell myself that these days, it's easy to get sucked into going a bigger bike (did that myself!), but honestly the smaller machines are great fun, and there's a different kind of satisfaction in riding a small bike to it's limits, where it's more the rider and not just having 100 or 200 hp on tap.

It's always worth having a look in person and jumping on the bike, finding that perfect bike fit is really magic, and can make such a difference, I have that with my Daytona, even though it's so impractical. Thanks for the compliment, still very much an area I'm working on but that's high praise!

Yea the smaller capacity machines make a lot more sense in my mind, the R3 is more comfortable, and you can actually use more than two or three gears legally. Plus you're not automatically doing license losing speeds just by revving it out a bit, in every gear.

Thanks! Been trying to make it a bit more visually interesting since I drone on a fair bit, lol!

@@MotoJournoKris nah, the dialogue moves along fine. You "blokes" do ride on the wrong side of the road, however.

R15 V3: bitch pls

@@ridingwithjon3048 Haha, works OK as long as we all do it.... you get the occasional driver who's a bit confused though, and just uses the middle, which can be scary.

Thanks!

Thanks! Hope I managed to convey some useful info!

@@MotoJournoKris I think you can replace Jeff Ware now 😉

Thanks! The R3 isn't too bad with the riding position and there's something very cool about the sportsbike look and ergonomics, but the riding position on the full sportsbikes can be a back and wrist killer. It can be a real love-hate relationship!

@@MotoJournoKris ok good to know, I'll have to check one out in person then. Thanks!

I thought the same thing too I wanted the nto3 so bad but my wife won't let me spend another two thousand to get one brand new so I got a 2020 r3 for 3500 and I thought the the right position was going to be bad but it's really not on the R3 its pretty good unless its cold out and u have to hunker down

Very nice, they are great machines!

Yea for sure, I'd be more inclined to go for a full gloss black option, although the matte stands out since you get a real gradient effect with different light conditions. I bet there's be a few people who totally black out the new R3 though, will be interesting to see how it looks.

I've got a quick run down on the R3 vs Ninja 400 here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WPTladm1Dwo.html But not with a second opinion! Something to incorporate in the future.

I didn't find the wind an issue if I tucked down, but if you're happier sitting a bit more upright like on the highway I'd say a taller screen will help cut down the amount of air hitting you. It's one of those mods that vary from person to person, sometimes it can lift the air flow just enough to make a huge difference, but someone 10-15cm taller may not get that effect at all.

It's quite surprising how much more room they engineered into the new version!

Moto Journo Kris Hi, I am contemplating to buy one, my daily usage is commuting to and from office (60 kms) and weekend touring (400kms). Which is better- old R3 or the new one? I am 5’ 10”, also how is headlight focus at night?

@@hrishikeshgulkotwar4120 You might appreciate the extra room at 5'10" although at 5'9" I didn't notice it hugely, with that said if you're doing a lot of touring and the roads are bad, you might find the more relaxed suspension on the old version is a bit more forgiving. If you've got really nice roads and lots of twisties you might appreciate the more taut suspension setup on the 2019. The headlight throws a decent amount of light, better than old school lights, but not way above expectations/amazing.

Moto Journo Kris would it be possible for you to compare the rider triangle for both the bikes, same camera angle and side view of the bike, I want to know how much the 22mm drop in handle bar affects the saddle time?

@@hrishikeshgulkotwar4120 I'll try and get two images together at the same scale for a comparison and do a small video on the ergos.

I haven't seen one between the 2018 and 2019 model to be honest, although it would be interesting to put the two head to head. Everything I've seen only really does a run-down on the technical differences between the two, rather than ride comparisons. The Duke 390 is a great machine and the R3 would be an ideal addition to your garage by the sounds of it, the two are very different.

@@MotoJournoKris Can't Agree more..Duke 390 is like aggressive teenager with raging hormone however it has higher vibration and heats up like crazy in the tropical climate of India. R3 on the other hand give an elegant balance between sport and everyday commute and touring..it's butter smooth refinement is best in class..and it looks great..I personally like the Yamaha blue The big question for me now is should I wait for the 2019 R3 to be launched or pick up the 2018 model..I have the duke 390 since June 2017 so I've spent some decent time and it one hell of bike so surely want to keep it

@@EternalInfinity8 At their core the 2018 and 2019 are unchanged as far as that powerplant, but the 2019 model is a much sportier and stiffer suspension setup, and all the small updates do combine for quite a difference. I'd say it's a little more focused than the older R3, but whether that suits you will depend on what you're after. You don't lose out on waiting of course, when the new model arrives the older models will probably be available a little cheaper, or you might be able to test them out back to back.

I'm also waiting for the new R3 in India. I'd say considering how much it costs here, would be worth waiting for the 2019 model and paying the difference to get the best available.

The Ninja 400 benefits from the extra torque particularly in the low to mid-range, while the R3 is more linear and much smoother overall, if you don't have enough performance to get out of the way on the R3, the extra on the Ninja 400 is unlikely to save you. The main benefit the extra torque provides on the Ninja is being able to be much lazier with how you ride in my opinion, where you'll need to be a little more on the ball with the R3 to get the most out of it. Most people aren't using 100% of what's on offer though - or even coming close, so it largely comes down to the rider. I certainly wouldn't be worried about that situation on either bike, or the power difference on the road. On say a GSX250 I'd need to be more mindful of top speed, and highway overtakes, as that's more likely to become a limiting factor at high speeds with how I can react to some situations. Either are great machines, so go with the one you really like, and don't overly worry about spec sheets. Unless you're at the drags or battle keyboard warriors online its unlikely you'll ever realistically miss that power.

Worth the wait!

Me too

Yup

Not gonna happen Ur country is corrupt Too much mafia

19th December.

True, but you need a basic level of skill and confidence so as not to be a danger to yourself and others.

Great choice, what colour did you get? Any mods planned so far?

@@MotoJournoKris white with black and red pin stripes. Putting Yamaha integrated frame sliders on, red adjustable levers, SC projects exhaust and TST Industries LED brake light/turn signal combo, fender eliminator and flush mount turn signals up front. Didn't think I'd be spending so much money this quick but my best friend warned me that this hobby comes with a hefty price lol. All good tho I love it

@@HumanStateOfEmergency Very nice, that'll look sweet especially with all the mods. That's always the problem, you think, "It's a new bike, I'll just leave it a while' and a week later you've got all the mods on the way, with the next batch planned! Wouldn't have it any other way though.

Nah, the clip ons are perfect where they at. It will teach you how to ride a sportsbike properly. People like glossing over the ninja 400, but there is only one thing the ninja has over the yamaha; power. I prefer a machine that can do many things good than one thing great and the rest pretty average. It truly feels like the smaller brother of the r6.

Alex V I have 34 yrs of experience starting back in 1985 with the 600r from Kawasaki. I’ll set it up for me thanks. I have an sv650 for track days set up nice and aggressive. This is another tool in my line up that has its own purpose. Experience will teach you that

No unfortunately no white ones... They must have had to split up who got what! The R3 looks really nice in the white too.

I just bought the R3 2 days ago and i already changed these ugly turn signals :D

Really? It should be available now. I'll reach out to Yamaha and see what they say.

@@MotoJournoKris Thanks mate. You're right, it's available. They must've got it just recently. I wonder why we're not getting the white model. Cheers.

@@pukavita It really stands out in the white, it is a bit of a mystery!

In some parts of the world like here in Australia until you get your full licence there's a power to weight ratio limitation, which basically works out similar to the European A2 restriction of 35kw. In Europe theirs is staggered with a lower power option before A2 in some places, where here it's just the one bike for about 3.5 years until you can get anything. But yea basically 35kW (ish) and no larger than 660cc for Australia, Europe they can restrict larger bikes I believe.

Most markets seemed to miss out on one of the available colours, but we were lucky to get the red/silver here.

@@MotoJournoKris Dammit that color scheme is beautiful

Definitely. The R3 is down a bit of power and torque, as obviously the Ninja 400 has quite a capacity advantage, while I'd say brake power is also a bit less impressive out of the box, which does mean very new rider friendly. But the R3's suspension feels more premium, with a sportier setup overall. A lot of people go the Ninja because the performance figures on paper is attractive, but both are ideal options and will reach fairly similar top speeds. The character of the two bikes is quite different too, which is likely to appeal to different riders.

I haven't had a chance to test the R7 yet, but that MT-07 engine is a real gem so I definitely think it's viable. The only thing with the R7 is you're getting real sportsbike ergonomics, which are a little less forgiving in the early stages (easier to drop, require a little more commitment and confidence), where the more upright R3 is a little closer to a nakedbike. If you want the real racer feel the R7 will offer that, just not with a super peaky supersport engine. Conversely the R3 is a solid choice if you're after an easier and more forgiving starting point, and not sure how serious a sports bike you really want. The R3 is also super revvy which is a bit more like a supersport, the CP2 R7 engine has more torque, and to be fair more character too.

If you're all about outright power and performance the Ninja 400 would be the more obvious choice, it holds the advantage there out of the box and personally I don't see much value in adding a Power Commander or trying to tune for max power on bikes like these. I only go aftermarket exhausts for the looks, exhaust note and the weight saving is a bonus. However that's just me, I think for most people making that investment on a road bike, you're best aiming for the smoothest fueling and best low to mid-range torque, which is what a dyno expert should net you using a PC or piggyback module. But at the end of the day, if you have the money and want to have a go, more power to you. If you could tune out the rough transition to engine braking on a closing throttle with the Ninja 400, that would be one of my main (but still small) complaints about this bike fixed. Do I think it would be worth the cost of a PC and dyno time, plus tune? Not unless you're keeping the bike long term, and I'd say if you're after power, there'll be a strong reason to upgrade unless you specifically want to stay in the 300-400cc capacity. I had a PC on my FZ6N and it was nice to be able to load a map for my exhaust, but they were $200 second hand back then, and $300ish new. A Rapid Bike module on the Daytona was also cool, but the bike did prove temperamental with it fitted. Now if you prefer refinement over outright power then the R3 would be the way to go. I think in realistic terms most people wouldn't notice the performance difference unless they are jumping between machines, where you'll notice the extra torque from the 400. There's strengths and weaknesses for each bike, and a fair bit of subjectivity as to what you want as a rider, which really starts with which bike you like the look of more. That's purely my opinion though. I know some people love investing in their small capacity machines, and doing crazy things, which is really no different than customising any bike. I don't think chasing power on the R3 would be that rewarding or worthwhile though, but you could go super light instead. There's lots of options.

Moto Journo Kris ok so as a 32 year old adult’s first bike would you go with the Z400, the mt-03, or the duke 390, out of this class. And if you had the option to go with a 650, restricted or not, would you choose one of those instead or stick with your choice? Thanks again. And yea I agree, I could spend the money to sort a fueling issue maybe but otherwise wouldn’t spend much on mods here. The exhaust note of the Yamaha’s is awfully tempting on its own but practically I’m trying to acknowledge that power is much more useful

@@Fee.1 I'd make sure you fit and feel comfortable on the Z400 and MT-03 as some taller riders I've talked to have found them on the small side, where for me at 180 cm it wasn't really a consideration or issue. If I was buying one today say to replace the Ninja 400 we own, it really comes down to some pretty subjective points, rather than picking one over the others because I think it's better. I haven't owned a KTM so the Duke is a cool choice (or a Svartpilen 401!), I really like the MT-03's parallel's to the MT-10 on styling, while the Z400 would continue having a Kawasaki in the garage and the Ninja 400 has proven not only a great bike, but also bullet proof (with the Z400 basically the same machine). I would say the Kawasaki is probably the most new rider friendly, you can release the clutch and it'll basically just roll along without stalling on a flat piece of road, so for the less confident rider that will be huge. I'd say the 300-400s offer great value, being so much cheaper than the 650s, and will also be an easier starting place, plus I think for many riders help you learn more. The 650s make more sense to me for older riders with a bit more cash and who are thinking about purchasing a machine that they won't just upgrade in a year or two. Being a bit more mature is helpful with the extra performance, as is hopefully have some experience driving, if you've never ridden before and pick something more powerful. Also insurance can be a crippling cost or simply unattainable, so again being older and hopefully having an insurance history to get coverage to protect your bike if you go for something more expensive really helps, especially if buying new.

Moto Journo Kris thanks I really appreciate you taking the time to answer in such detail. What social media platform do you use the most? Aside from Facebook because I hate that place. :P

@@Fee.1 Hopefully I'm being of some help! To be honest I mainly use here on YT, and I chuck some photos up on Instagram.

They are two quite different machines, I'm not sure I'd call it an upgrade but if you want a faired sportsbike styled machine the R3 is a great option, and very different to the G 310 R! The newer R3 does have quite stiff suspension so on really rough roads it will be a bit less comfortable.

@@MotoJournoKris thanxx alot...looking forward to 2019 Yamaha r3

@Jeff Crouch where is it available ?

@Jeff Crouch Yep, they seemed to only send it to some markets.

Im actually living in France, no one gots that bike version xD

Surprisingly it actually doesn't, but engine braking is very smooth and linear. Normally I'm a bit proponent for the sporty bikes having one, but I think the R3 does extremely well without!

Good question, I believe the 2019 model is the V3 in some markets, while here in Australia it's still the V2 version available. That could change in the future of course. If you're interested in knowing whether we'll get the V3 let me know and I can see if I can find out.

@@MotoJournoKris pls do, cause this year maybe in july or august i'm planning to study in australia (international student) and for me i think the r15 would be the best bang for buck road bike for me. i know i could go for the r3 but for gas consumption i think the r15 would be better (correct me if i'm wrong) also i prefer supersports over naked cause i own one (r15 v1).

also i'm a new subscriber to your channel :)

@@silentshift444 Thanks for watching and subscribing!

@@silentshift444 I'll check with Yamaha, I know there was great deals on the V1 when the V2 rolled out, while the V2 is now priced around $5.5k new, compared to the R3 at $7.8k. Looking at the used market I'd imagine the R15 is available a fair bit cheaper than the R3 however, and will be cheaper to run in most scenarios.

It should be ideal for you, it's very narrow across the seat and between the legs with a nice low seat height for an easy reach to the ground.

I can confirm. I currently own a 2017 r3 and have been riding it for about 2 years and it fits perfectly. Good flat foot for both sides. I am 5’6”

To be honest I'm not sure it really needs it. I can see the modes helping on big powerful bikes where you might want a rain mode to up all the safety features and bring down power, or on something like a Multistrada where it's really a few different machines in one, but on a 300 or 400 if the fueling is done right it shouldn't be necessary. I'm sure we'll eventually see that once everything becomes RbW though.

@@MotoJournoKris completely agreeing to you but Yamaha R25/R3 is little inclined towards touring hence is the design to go with its character of touring where else you see, Honda gave CBR250RR a super sport design and character too, 250RR's character and design compliment each other. In CBR250RR A rider can enjoy both the adrenaline rush of race track and fun of touring, easy going in the flick of a button that is what I meant. In Indonesia CBR250RR outsales R25 by a huge number, even though it is considerably expensive than the later and that is because of that character and appeal. In most of the countries, where 600cc and litre class bikes are not localy made or assembled, these big bikes comes almost in same price tag with just couple of grand difference in $, which is why giving a taste and versatility in a single bike is a great option I guess. In India we do not get Yamaha R6, it is not even officially sold and custom duty for importing such bikes is 100% If am right.

@@nirajtanti8618 Definitely, that's a great point. I think the market is so competitive on these little machines that every point of difference helps, and the people buying them will actually spend more if they think the value is there.

250RR 🤩🤩

It's a hard choice! Try sitting on both and see what you think of them in person, and if you can test ride them and see which you prefer the ride of. There's some subtle differences but they are both great options.

@@MotoJournoKris i tried to talk to the salesman today at the shop but he was so rude didn't want to to talk to me just kept going to other customers instead and handed me a business card. Maybe they judge me by looks. But yes if I find a good shop ill definatley test them both

@@Dallass66 That's the challenge, and that's why I try and stick with the shops/businesses with good service. I've got a little shop I visit right nearby for rego checks and small/easy generic stuff, while there's a great Kawasaki dealer I take the Ninja 400 too and another great Triumph dealer I take my 675 too. When I was looking at getting the 675 (and a fair bit younger) I had a similar experience with one place, and a few return visits to pick something else up that no one else had in stock was the same. Each time I ended up walking out empty handed, once after standing at the counter with a handful of stuff I wanted to buy for 10 mins, while multiple staff chatted and ignored me. It can also be hard to get a test ride if you're a new rider, but that's no excuse for the rude treatment!

@@MotoJournoKris its crazy they kinda judge you when you are possibly a potential buyer of a bike or whatever, skip over you just to talk to other people who may be wearing motorbike gear etc. Ill go to other small towns to shop ones who have time to appreciate their customers. thanks for your videos they really help us beginner rider out

@@Dallass66 Yep it's pretty sad, especially for younger and new riders, you're a potential rider they could be building some loyalty with, which can last a lifetime of buying new bikes and gear... Plus new riders are what keep the industry going in the long term.

I guess it's a bit of a subjective one on the exhausts, a lot of the feedback I hear about the massive standard exhausts on the superbikes is negative, with riders wanting something more compact and sporty. The R3 is a bit more like the R6 in that regard with a smaller exhaust. The bigger exhaust on the Ninja does suit the bike though.

Apprently coming by end of the year so finger's crossed

The full power supersport category seems to be a hard sell these days, so they might be a little worried how a lower power version would go sales-wise. I know a lot of people asked for a supersport style MT-09, with the triple engine, and some people converted the MT-07/FZ-07 with fairings which was quite cool.

Yeah I think the same, it would be so nice to have a 3 cylinder supersports bike or a 700 2 cylinder.. And the Mt07 has to finally get Upside-Down and LED headlights

@@kappa3052 A small premium on the MT-07 for fairings and better suspension would be an easy bike to sell surely, especially with the MT07 having such a good reputation.

That is stupid. They have the complete line up that covers every rider in the supersport category. They have nice machines designed for torque( Mt series). Why waist resources on a bike they don't need to make or the client wants.

@@alexv5581 Actually they don't have an entry level 600 supersport style machine to compete with the Ninja 650, especially for markets where new riders are restricted to 35kW or offering more around that 70hp region, ie something between the R3 and R6. There used to be the FZ6R but it wasn't anywhere near as good as the MT-07, and probably wasn't that successful as a result. Also nothing wrong with daydreaming about possible future models.

I think we got lucky on that one!

They just don't have a heap of bite, I wouldn't say bad. For new riders they are ideal, you do need to use a bit of force at the lever for full power but that makes it easier to control and harder to panic and get ABS activation or lose traction. Granted I'm not that heavy, so for much heavier riders they might find it a bit limiting with the bike having to pull up a fair bit more overall weight. Different pads would add more bite.

Yep, it's not an auto, will need more revs in second, but very doable unless you're trying to do a hill start.

@@MotoJournoKris yeah it's possible I just know I stalled out trying to take off halfway and 2nd and haven't try it again because I'm not trying to burn my clutch out but I'm sure anything's possible

That sounds a bit like the Motostars 2018 R3 training bike I got to test at Luddenham Raceway, had a lot of those upgrades and took the bike to a whole new level for the track. Would have been a bit harsh for me for the road though. We had the CBR250R a number of years ago, but it was replaced by the CBR300R which is a lot more laid back. I think they push the CB500s harder for those who want a big more performance, with no sign of the CBR250RR so far!

@@MotoJournoKris I thought the cbr 250 rr was coming to Thailand in 2015 but it has just arrived and its expensive around 12 K ozzy here. And for a 250 its to expensive. As for my R3 it's 1 step below a gyrt supersport 300 race spec it doesn't have the cam or pistons in it. The supension is good as they are fully adjustable so for the road I run the comp soft and preload and tweak it harder for the track. But when you see the cbr 250 to the r3 the quality of the Honda kills the R3

@@RTK171 Yea I was interested to see that Honda, as I hadn't heard about it previously, and it looks to offer performance more like the R3/Ninja 400 as well as having great styling. That's quite pricey for a 250 though like you say, is it mainly aimed at racers?

That initial angle in the video isn't the best of the new front end, I reckon it looks pretty good from most angles, but looks are subjective!