When everyone was expecting Yamaha to launch R25 in India, it surprised everyone by announcing that it will launch YZF-R3 instead. The bike will straight away be pitted against the likes of KTM RC390, Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Hyosung GT250R. These three bikes are currently sold around the Rs. 3 lakhs mark in India and the latest two-wheeler from Yamaha is expected to be priced similarly.
To be launched on 11th August, the bike is already on sale in many countries and has received a positive response everywhere. It has a 321 cc engine which produces 42 bhp and 29 Nm of torque. This kind of power is enough to push the bike till 180 km/h. The bike is expected to create the same impact as its 150 cc sibling had in 2008. But, that was 7 years ago. The sports bike scenario has completely changes now and the Japanese manufacturer will face a tough competition from its rivals. Let us have a look at its opponents.
When YZF-R3 will land on Indian shores, RC390 will prove to be the toughest rival. The Austrian bike has a bigger engine- 373cc, more power- 43 bhp and 35 Nm of torque and the biggest headache for Yamaha would be its price which stands at a meagre Rs. 2.10 lakhs (ex-showroom). RC 390 is small, nimble yet an unbelievably fast bike.
Ninja 300 is probably the only direct competition of the bike. Both of them have a twin-cylinder engine of around 300 cc capacity. Power output of the Kawasaki is also similar at 39 bhp and 27 Nm of torque. The only thing it lags behind in is its steep price of Rs. 3.6 lakhs (ex-showroom).
YZF-R3 will see this one off easily. It is a twin cylinder quarter litre bike priced at Rs. 3.02 lakhs (ex-showroom). This one does not have the power output to match the performance of YZF-R3. It produces just 28 bhp and 22 Nm of torque. Till now this had a chance because of the price tag of Ninja 300 but when YZF-R3 will arrive here, its game over for GT250R.
