Here in the North East, motorcycle riding season is slowly arriving.

Several years ago, I sold my 1995 Harley-Davidson 1200 Sportster. I sold the Sportster because it sat in the barn without being ridden very much. (it had 50k miles on it when I sold it)

For quite a few years it was my only bike and I used it for everything including Touring/day trips.

I also have a 2013 Harley-Davidson Road King which is much better at Touring than the Sportster.

After selling the Sportster, I realized I sometimes missed having a bike that was smaller, lighter, and more nimble than the Road King.

So earlier this year I started researching smaller/lighter machines. I selected a 2023 Yamaha YZF R3 sport bike.

It's 321cc displacement, EFI, 180 degree crankshaft, balance shaft, parallel twin cylinder, liquid cooled, double overhead cams and four valves per cylinder.

It's rated at about 42 crankshaft horsepower at 10,700 rpm with a 12,500 rpm redline. Fully fueled and ready to ride, the R3 weighs 375 pounds.

Below about 8500 rpm, the R3 is as spirited as a Vespa motor scooter. But if you use the powerband, say 9000 rpm up to redline, it's quite fun riding!

I am still getting accustomed to the sport bike riding position, and as the weather becomes milder I am accumulating some break-in mileage on the new bike. (175 miles on the odometer now)

I have ordered a Graves Motorsports carbon fiber/titanium muffler and a rear fender eliminator so I can remove that fugly plastic abomination on the rear of the bike.

The R3 is for short trips in nice weather, I'm not very concerned about wet weather riding and removing the fender/raising license plate and rear turn signals.

This new R3 is the seventh motorcycle that I have owned, I am well above 175,000 miles riding miles on motorcycles now.

I visited my local Yamaha dealership, they informed me that new product could not be ordered, and they had nothing in stock. (COVID supply chain issues still in play for powersports stuff)

They suggested calling around and I soon found a dealership about two hours driving time away that had exactly what I wanted, including the color, and incoming within a week or so from when I called.

They took a credit card deposit over the phone, and I brought the new machine home on a trailer 10 days later.

FYI:

The new R3 is 8.9 pounds per hp.

The sold 1200 Sportster was 11.5 pounds per hp.

The Road King is 12.7 pounds per hp.

My new R3 performance parts are due in this Wednesday and will be installed shortly!

Riding the R3 for those 175 break-in miles, I scratched the rear section of the plastic fuel tank cover right in front of the drivers seat. (from riding coat zippers)

I sourced an aftermarket neoprene fuel tank cover/protector on that rearward section of the plastic fuel tank cover.

Thankfully, it appears the blue color isn't painted there, it's colored plastic, and I successfully polished out the zipper scratches before installing the neoprene tank protector.

YZF R3e by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

Good looking bike! Sport bikes scare me. I probably spend 75% of my time on my 250 dual sport in the bottom 3 gears exploring the desert

Congratulations! I've never had or ridden a sport bike, but I bet they are a blast.

In fairness, you should probably do the pounds per horsepower calcs with you on it. I bet that would even things out a bit....

It's the same old fat guy on all three bikes!

SWEET! Very pretty too. You may find yourself riding that more than you think.



I have essentially the same bike in Kawasaki colors. Bought it from my daughter when her health forced her to give up riding.

Just took it out for a quick ride this afternoon. 50° is a bit brisk for my taste but it was time! I got it too late last year to put any serious miles on it, I need to attempt a longer ride (100+ miles) to see how the different ergonomics affect my back/hips/knees. If I'm comfortable on it at those distances, I might have to consider selling the FJ.

Congratulations on the new sport bike. She looks quick and nimble. Love the color also.

Unfortunately, the rough roads in my area make riding a sport bike challenging. I sold my 2017 CBR1000rr and ended up buying another Africa Twin 1100.

Stay safe out there.

My brother who lives in South Carolina has an extensively modded Yamaha R1. (1000cc)

He has the full titanium exhaust, re-flashed ECU, extensive lightening, quick shifter, all the high performance goodies.

His Yamaha R1 machine is 2 pounds per hp.

I have always had an impulse control problem around high performance vehicles, and I have extensive high performance street car and drag racing experience.

The Yamaha R3 gives me the sport bike riding experience, without the "death wish" experience.

Here's hoping anyway. I do understand riding motorcycles will always be somewhat risky, but 2 pounds per hp would have me in the ground in a month.

So I guess it IS good for me that I understand my weakness.

That looks so cool. Just absolute fun from one end to the other.

You guys are going to have me buying V-Tail's wife's old bike and restoring it.

Congratulations on the new bike. Just a suggestion, if you haven't taken a safety course in a few years (or ever) now would be a good time. Even experienced riders learn things when they take classes. Check with your area community colleges to see if the offer the MSF Basic Rider Course (BRC) or the Basic Rider Course 2 (similar to BRC but you use your own bike).

Good luck and ride safe.

2 pounds per horsepower???

I'd be either dead from bravado or comatose from fear the first time I rode it!

Congratulations! Nice bike.

I picked up a Yamaha Tracer 9 gt just last weekend
It’s a beast!

Congrats on the nice new ride. Love the color.

Nice bike...congrats!

Congrats on the new bike! I also got an R3- Used 2015. I don't know if it's just me, but Im still getting used to the engine braking on this thing.

The TST Industries tank protectors match pretty well with the R3s

https://tstindustries.com/tech...aha-yzf-r3-2019.html

quote:

Originally posted by cee_Kamp:

....So earlier this year I started researching smaller/lighter machines. I selected a 2023 Yamaha YZF R3 sport bike.....


...

I really like riding smaller, lighter, motorcycles and although sport bikes are not my preference anymore I probably would choose the same one if I were in the market for a 300-400cc one. Gotta love Yamaha blue and it will nicely compliment your RK, congratulations!

quote:

Originally posted by cee_Kamp:
My brother who lives in South Carolina has an extensively modded Yamaha R1. (1000cc)

He has the full titanium exhaust, re-flashed ECU, extensive lightening, quick shifter, all the high performance goodies.

His Yamaha R1 machine is 2 pounds per hp.

I have always had an impulse control problem around high performance vehicles, and I have extensive high performance street car and drag racing experience.

The Yamaha R3 gives me the sport bike riding experience, without the "death wish" experience.

Here's hoping anyway. I do understand riding motorcycles will always be somewhat risky, but 2 pounds per hp would have me in the ground in a month.

So I guess it IS good for me that I understand my weakness.

Nothing wrong with that. Liters aren’t for everyone. My R1 is also very heavily modified. Flashed, tuned, Full Ohlins and Brembo. It’s a beast. You just have to know when and where you can exploit the power. For a tall guy mine is perfect because I can use all the midrange WFO out of turns and back off from the top of the tach. I’ve met plenty of people who just can’t be judicious with the throttle. But that’s a personal problem, nothing with the machine. If you have the tendency to take things too far you made the right decision.

Congrats. That is a good looking bike. You will have a blast on it.

I just picked up a Ducati Panigale V2. The first 600 miles are the most difficult. I hope to finish them ASAP. I am only at 180 but hopefully before the end of the month, I will have that first service done.

Congrats!! Great looking Yamaha.

I’m a huge fan of the small mill thrill aka 250-400cc sport bike motorcycles.

That looks like a super fun ride. Enjoy!!

Nice. I looked at the R3 when I was shopping for a second bike -- one primarily bought to teach my daughter how to ride, but one that's become a light, nimble second toy for me as well. I ended up with a Ninja 400. These little bikes are a heckuva lot of fun...enjoy!

Congrats on the new ride, imagine it will be fund to cruise the back roads on it....