2017 Yamaha YZF-R3 | Rider Tour Test

From high cliffs high over the Pacific Sea to the salty mist near the water's side, California's Course 1 along the Big Sur coastline seduces two-wheeled tourists with sensuous curves in a magnificent setting. If you're fortunate adequate to enjoy the roadway without traffic, the experience is assured a top spot on your ideal flights list. I rode it on a mid-summer trip to Large Sur with 2 buddies from my senior high school days, Steve Luick as well as Alan McKay. Curious to try touring on a smaller sized bike, I selected Yamaha's stylish 321cc DOHC parallel twin, the YZF-R3. Introduced in 2015, the Yamaha was late to the 300cc sportbike scene, however appeared charging at its street/track launching (Rider, July 2015, as well as on ridermagazine.com). Just how would it do with a little touring activity?
Yamaha R3 touring

The YZF-R3 is Yamaha's economical, obtainable access point into the globe of sportbikes.
With Chase Harper bags carefully fitted to the Yamaha's pointy rear and the solitary rear shock's preload cranked up (the only suspension change offered), the R3 prepared to travel. More than 100 miles of four-lane freeway in between home as well as Route 1 offered me an opportunity to test its traveling comfort and capability to hang with traffic. The R3 cruise ships at regular over-the-limit The golden state freeway speeds without breathing hard, its counterbalancer keeping things relaxed at the seat, bars as well as pegs. Though some vibration sneaks in at different rpm, I never ever found it irritating. Winding the fuel-injected 321cc up toward its 12,245 rpm redline is at the very least half the fun of riding the R3, helped by a throttle pulley that progressively magnifies grasp spin at the double 32mm throttle bodies. The electric motor has sufficient low-end torque not to shame itself, yet the experience I'll remember is striking 11 grand in 3rd or 4th prior to shifting up.

With some Chase Harper soft travel luggage affixed to the tail, the R3 produces an enjoyable, lightweight sport tourer.
Cambria was our very first stop. We picked up Alan, that 'd ridden his BMW F 800 GS down from Santa Cruz the night before. It readied to relax from the R3, though I would certainly made those initial 130 miles pain-free. The seating position is sporty but light, with top-mounted clip-on handlebars, reasonably rearset pegs and a comfortable, 30.7-inch-high seat that tapers for very easy ground control. My 68-inch framework was right at home and my rear wasn't grumbling. Neither was my upper body-- the R3's little windshield maintains buffeting to a minimum, as well as routes enough tidy air at my upper body to minimize the weight on my hands. The small instrument shell has an accurate speedometer (1 miles per hour error), a digital tach and also a conventional fuel scale with a low fuel indicator.

With some Chase Harper soft luggage affixed to the tail, the R3 produces a fun, lightweight sporting activity tourer.
Signing up with an unlimited line of cars grinding north, we had no choice but to take pleasure in the surroundings, which, as it turns out, is far better when not blurred by speed. The R3 putted along without overheating or preparing my legs. Needing a kick while in the doldrums, I 'd hang back a ways, snick down an equipment or two, then wind it out to the next equipment (yes, I'm quickly amused). Finally cleared up into a cabin at Ripplewood Hotel in Big Sur, we spent the cozy afternoon talking of motorcycles past, existing as well as future. The following early morning Steve and I adhered to Alan north to Carmel as he headed residence along even more stunning coast. Returning south, we struck groaning wind at Point Sur. The R3 stuck with traffic into the headwind, however crosswinds were challenging to manage on the 371-pound, totally gassed motorcycle.

The only suspension adjustment on the R3 is rear spring preload. Single discs front as well as rear manage stopping obligations, and ABS is a brand-new $300 choice for 2017. When the rate heats up, the suspension and brakes come to be the R3's restricting variables.
The adhering to day was my birthday, as well as fairly a present was awaiting me as we headed south before breakfast-- a nearly empty roadway. This is where the R3 revealed its guts. Agile as a cheetah, the Yamaha swaps instructions effortlessly on its eye-catching 17-inch cast light weight aluminum wheels. Velocity is a wrist twist away, and also the clutch as well as tranny are a smooth group. Michelin Pilot Road tires serve a lot of grip, however when pressing the bike, limits to the brakes and suspension end up being apparent. The Yamaha requires more stopping power than the single discs supply; they're not horrible, however the bike achieves rates that require excellent brakes, as well as these aren't. The KYB inverted fork is spongy, with weak rebound damping allowing the front-end recoil as well fast from impacts. The single back shock performs better, keeping the power and also rider on the ground. These are weak points, however, not deal-breakers. The R3 is a hoot on a smooth roadway, and penalty on rougher tarmac as soon as you recognize its restrictions. Needless to say, we made fast job of obtaining home.

Stylish good looks aside, the YZF-R3 is a comfortable, interesting device for any kind of kind of pavement work. In 1,000 miles on this bike, I don't think the smile ever left my face-- well, possibly on that particular slow slog north. The parsimonious double returned 54.2 mpg on the whole, shedding 87 octane fuel at an 11.2:1 compression ratio. With its 3.7-gallon storage tank and also incredible 26,600-mile shutoff modification period, touring is absolutely an alternative-- and an enjoyable one at that.

Arden’s Gear
Helmet: Scorpion EXO-GT3000
Jacket: Firstgear TPG Teton
Pants: Olympia Airglide
Boots: iXS Tarmac
2016 Yamaha YZF-R3 Specs
Base Price: $4,990
Warranty: 1 yr., unltd. miles
Website: yamahamotorsports.com
Engine
Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse parallel twin
Displacement: 321cc
Bore x Stroke: 68mm x 44.1mm
Compression Ratio: 11.2:1
Valve Train: DOHC, 4 valves per cyl.
Valve Insp. Interval: 26,600 miles
Fuel Delivery: EFI
Lubrication System: Wet sump, 2.7-qt. cap.
Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated wet clutch
Final drive: O-ring chain
Electrical
Ignition: Electronic
Charging output: 298 watts @ 5,000 rpm
Battery: 12V 7AH
Chassis
Frame: Steel diamond-type, engine as stressed member
Wheelbase: 54.3 in.
Rake/Trail: 25 degrees/3.74 in.
Seat Height: 30.7 in.
Suspension, Front: 41mm USD fork, no adj., 5.1-in. travel
Rear: Single linked rear shock, adj. for spring preload, 4.9-in. travel
Brakes, Front: Single 298mm disc w/ 2-piston caliper
Rear: Single 220mm disc w/ 1-piston caliper
Wheels, Front: Cast aluminum, 2.75 x 17 in.
Rear: Cast aluminum, 4.00 x 17 in.
Tires, Front: Tubeless 110/70-17
Rear: Tubeless 140/70-17
Wet Weight: 371 lbs.
Load Capacity: 350 lbs.
GVWR: 721 lbs.
Performance
Fuel Capacity: 3.7 gals., last 0.8 gal. warning light on
MPG: 87 PON min. (low/avg/high) 44.8/54.2/57.1
Estimated Range: 200.5 miles
Indicated RPM at 60 MPH: 6,500