2017 Yamaha YZF-R3 | Rider Tour Test

From high cliffs high above the Pacific Ocean to the salty haze near the water's edge, The golden state's Route 1 along the Big Sur shore seduces two-wheeled travelers with sensuous curves in a spectacular setup. If you're fortunate sufficient to appreciate the road without web traffic, the experience is ensured a top spot on your ideal rides listing. I rode it on a mid-summer escape to Big Sur with 2 good friends from my senior high school days, Steve Luick and also Alan McKay. Interested to try touring on a smaller bike, I picked Yamaha's sporty 321cc DOHC parallel double, the YZF-R3. Presented in 2015, the Yamaha was late to the 300cc sportbike scene, however appeared charging at its street/track launching (Cyclist, July 2015, as well as on ridermagazine.com). How would certainly it do with a little touring activity?
Yamaha R3 touring

The YZF-R3 is Yamaha's cost effective, accessible entry point into the globe of sportbikes.
With Chase Harper bags carefully fitted to the Yamaha's sharp back as well as the solitary back shock's preload cranked up (the only suspension modification offered), the R3 was ready to take a trip. Greater than 100 miles of four-lane freeway in between house as well as Path 1 offered me a possibility to evaluate its taking a trip convenience as well as capacity to hang with traffic. The R3 cruises at normal over-the-limit California freeway rates without breathing hard, its counterbalancer maintaining things loosened up at the seat, bars and pegs. Though some vibration slips in at numerous rpm, I never ever discovered it aggravating. Winding the fuel-injected 321cc up towards its 12,245 rpm redline is at the very least half the enjoyable of riding the R3, helped by a throttle pulley-block that progressively amplifies grip twist at the double 32mm throttle bodies. The motor has sufficient low-end torque not to embarrass itself, but the experience I'll bear in mind is striking 11 grand in third or 4th before changing up.

With some Chase Harper soft travel luggage attached to the tail, the R3 makes for an enjoyable, light-weight sport tourer.
Cambria was our very first stop. We got Alan, that had actually ridden his BMW F 800 GS below Santa Cruz the evening before. It was good to unwind from the R3, though I 'd made those very first 130 miles pain-free. The seating setting is sporty however mild, with top-mounted clip-on handlebars, moderately rearset secures and also a comfortable, 30.7-inch-high seat that tapers for very easy ground control. My 68-inch structure was right in your home as well as my back had not been whining. Neither was my top body-- the R3's little windshield keeps buffeting to a minimum, and also directs sufficient clean air at my upper body to minimize the weight on my hands. The portable instrument covering has an accurate speedometer (1 miles per hour mistake), an electronic tach and also a conventional gas gauge with a reduced gas indicator.

With some Chase Harper soft travel luggage connected to the tail, the R3 creates a fun, lightweight sporting activity tourer.
Joining a limitless line of cars grinding north, we had no choice but to appreciate the scenery, which, as it ends up, is much better when not blurred by rate. The R3 putted along without overheating or cooking my legs. Needing a kick while in the doldrums, I 'd drop back a means, snick down a gear or more, after that wind it bent on the next equipment (yes, I'm quickly delighted). Ultimately settled into a cabin at Ripplewood Hotel in Big Sur, we invested the warm afternoon talking of motorbikes past, present as well as future. The next morning Steve and I complied with Alan north to Carmel as he headed house along even more stunning shoreline. Returning southern, we struck groaning wind at Factor Sur. The R3 stayed with traffic into the headwind, however crosswinds were tough to manage on the 371-pound, fully gassed motorbike.

The only suspension change on the R3 is rear springtime preload. Solitary discs front and also rear take care of stopping duties, as well as ABS is a new $300 alternative for 2017. When the rate heats up, the suspension as well as brakes end up being the R3's restricting variables.
The complying with day was my birthday celebration, and also quite a present was awaiting me as we goinged south prior to morning meal-- an almost empty roadway. This is where the R3 revealed its mettle. Agile as a cheetah, the Yamaha swaps directions easily on its attractive 17-inch cast aluminum wheels. Acceleration is a wrist spin away, and the clutch as well as tranny are a smooth team. Michelin Pilot Road tires serve a lot of traction, yet when pressing the bike, restricts to the brakes and suspension end up being noticeable. The Yamaha requires much more stopping power than the solitary discs provide; they're not awful, but the bike acquires speeds that require excellent brakes, and also these aren't. The KYB inverted fork is spongy, with weak rebound damping allowing the front-end recoil too quick from effects. The single back shock carries out better, maintaining the power and cyclist on the ground. These are weak points, though, not deal-breakers. The R3 is a hoot on a smooth road, as well as fine on rougher tarmac when you know its limitations. It goes without saying, we made quick work of obtaining house.

Sporty excellent appearances aside, the YZF-R3 is a comfortable, exciting device for any kind of kind of pavement work. In 1,000 miles on this bike, I do not believe the smile ever before left my face-- well, possibly on that sluggish slog north. The parsimonious twin returned 54.2 mpg on the whole, burning 87 octane fuel at an 11.2:1 compression ratio. With its 3.7-gallon storage tank and extraordinary 26,600-mile valve 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