Yamaha continues its extensive new model introduction programme with the news that the R-series will be expanded with the arrival of the all-new YZF-R3.

Designed to comply with the A2 licence regulations, the sporty YZF-R3 has been developed as a lightweight supersport bike for everyday use. As well as being aimed at new riders, it fills the gap between the YZF-R125 and the YZF-R6, making it an ideal step up model for 125cc owners who are looking to move on.

With its lightweight chassis as well as a smooth, powerful and efficient 321cc inline twin cylinder engine, this aggressively styled sports bike is designed for daily use in urban and highway situations.

Developed with the aim of creating a ‘lightweight supersport bike for everyday use’, the YZF-R3 is a stylish and practical performance model that’s ready to open up the world of R-series to a new generation of riders who are looking for cutting edge design combined with exciting performance and excellent value.

The YZF-R3 is powered by an all-new 321cc inline twin cylinder 4-stroke DOHC 4-valve engine that benefits from much of the advanced technology seen on Yamaha’s larger capacity supersport bikes.

The clear development concept behind this new engine was to create a ‘supersport machine you can ride every day’, and the architecture of the new powerplant is designed to ensure good rideability in the low to mid-speed range, together with a strong and responsive character at higher rpm.

At the same time as creating a dynamic new engine that is both practical and exciting to ride, Yamaha’s engineers have also ensured that this efficient new 320cc inline twin also delivers good fuel economy.

The new YZF-R3 engine has been designed using cutting-edge technology that has already helped to establish the R1 and R6 as two of the most respected supersport models available today. The result is that this new inline 321cc DOHC 4-valve engine has a sporty free-revving character with strong performance across the range, making it an ideal step-up model from the YZF-R125.

Featuring a bore x stroke of 68.0mm x 44.1mm and running with a compression ratio of 11.2:1, this compact engine develops 30.9kW/42PS @ 10,750 rpm, with maximum torque of 29.6Nm/3.0 kg-m @ 9,000rpm.

The YZF-R3’s exciting and responsive supersport engine performance is ideally matched to the newly-designed chassis, making this new A2-licence category model the clear choice for new riders who want to experience R-series technology – while it also represents an ideal step up for current YZF-R125 owners looking to upgrade.

And here's a video feature Colin Edwards: