The small-bore beginner-bike category is bursting at the seams. In the last few years we've seen an influx of exciting new bikes including Kawasaki's $4,999 Ninja 300, Honda's $4,399 CBR300R, Yamaha's $4,990 R3, and KTM's $5,499 RC390. (CLICK HERE to read the 2015 Small Sportbike MC Comparo)
The R3 is the latest bike to roll into our garage. This is a spicy little sportbike, and one Yamaha suggests makes the most power in its class. However, Yamaha doesn't offer any specific power figures for the R3 so we strapped it to our Dyno Jet dynometer to get actual rear-wheel figures. Watch the dyno run, above.
The Yamaha’s 37.3 horsepower at 10,800 rpm and 20.0 pound-feet of torque at 9,200 rpm is pretty impressive, but how does it compare to the competition? Here’s how they stack up.
*Regarding the RC390, we don't have one yet, but we do have a Duke 390 which has the same engine and powertrain as the RC390. The Duke will have to serve as a stand in until we get an RC. (UPDATE: CLICK HERE to see the dyno test results from the RC390)
Power is just part of the equation here. We’ll be evaluating these bikes’ manners, handling, ergonomics, features, and sporting performance in an upcoming episode of On Two Wheels. Look for that early next month.
