The Japanese bike maker, Yamaha recently unveiled its plan to launch the MT-03 in India, adding another super bike into its product portfolio. The new Yamaha MT-03 was first showcased at the 2015 EICMA Motorcycle Show held in Milan last month. Yamaha has also revealed that they will be launching the naked version of the R3. The MT-03 will be showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo in February with a possible launch by mid-2016 followed by a launch in India as well.
The new MT-03 is no more than the street fighter version of the Yamaha R3, with modern looks along with a compact taillight unit, exposed frame and muscular fuel tank. It shares most of its parts with its fully-faired sibling. The MT-03 is much suited to ride in city driving conditions with a comfortable riding stance. The Japanese company has changed the handlebar to employ a single piece wide unit for a more upright position.
The Yamaha MT-03 is powered by the same 321cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine that is also found on the R3. The motor is capable of producing 42 PS of power, 29.6 Nm of torque and comes paired to a 6-speed transmission. Weighing 165 kg, the bike is neither too light nor too heavy. Braking power will come from disc brake setups at both the front and the rear.
The MT-03 will compete against the likes of the KTM Duke 390, Kawasaki Z250 and the Benelli TNT300 in our country. Pricing being a key factor, Yamaha is expected to price the bike somewhere between Rs. 2.8-3.0 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) as the YZF-R3 costs Rs. 3.25 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). Its pricing is estimated keeping in mind that the company will locally assemble the upcoming motorcycle in India. Yamaha might also showcase the MT-03 at the upcoming Auto Expo.
Stay tuned for more updates!