“The 200th Kruzak is to conquer the roads, and Yamaha is to argue with the wind and feel life more vividly,” says my friend, the owner of the new Yamaha YZF-R1 2022 motorcycle.
Greetings to all car enthusiasts and bikers! Today I want to share the enthusiastic reviews of one of my friends about the brand new 2022 YAMAHA YZF-R1 bike he recently purchased on the occasion of his birthday.
Comrade, by the way, is a long-time fan of the Japanese automobile industry (he has a 200th Kruzak and 2 Japanese motorcycles). As he himself says, “The Toyota Land Cruiser is for conquering territories, and motorcycles are for arguing with the wind and more acutely feeling the line between life and death.”
In addition to the city cycle, my friend also sometimes races in a club, so he ran the bike in all fall.
Specifications
The Yamaha YZF R3 has excellent performance for such a small bike. This is ensured by its advanced filling, designed to satisfy the wishes of an inexperienced motorcyclist. Of course, a motorcycle cannot give the same feelings as some “liter” representative of the sports class, or even a “liter” naked bike, but for a model of such small dimensions the dynamics are simply excellent.
Fact 4
Despite the fact that this motorcycle has a fairly high rider position. Thanks to this, as well as shifting the center of gravity as low as possible and reducing the wheelbase, it was possible to achieve good stability, high maneuverability and excellent cornering control.
The bike is excellent, although not for everyone. I’ll add a little on my own: the motorcycle is equipped with innovative solutions, which, in my opinion, will affect demand.
Almost always when Yamaha introduces new technology, previous models lose value and are left with die-hard supporters of the model and year. Fans are trying to get a new, cooler bike.
Engine
The engine here fits perfectly with the size and weight of the bike. This two-cylinder in-line unit produces 42 hp. power and 30 Nm of torque. This allows it to reach a speed of 187 km/h, which is enough for a training, albeit sports, bike. Accelerating to hundreds of kilometers will take a decent time of 6.5 seconds, which in the context of its intended purpose is not a minus.
After spending a whole day on the Yamaha R3
In terms of ergonomics, I was very impressed with the seating comfort. After spending a full day on the Yamaha R3, I have no complaints. Thanks to the location of the steering wheel, which is represented by clip-ons, the driver sits on the bike as if reclining, which, of course, I liked. However, with my height of 185 cm, the position of the footrests caused me some discomfort. Because of their placement and the seat height of 77.98 cm, my legs were too bent and pinched, and it was not comfortable for me to press the gear lever with my foot. Of course, this is not a terrible drawback, thanks to which one can abandon the idea of buying this motorcycle, but after a whole day of riding the R3, my legs were still tired. Probably, drivers shorter than me will like the bike's driver's triangle better.
The build and finishing quality of this Yamaha motorcycle is comparable to its competitors. The R3 features an analog tachometer and shift indicator, both of which can be programmed by the driver. On the right is a clearly readable LCD speedometer. The console displays all the important information and is equipped with such necessary instruments as the already mentioned gear indicator and a fuel gauge that shows the fuel level in the 14-liter fuel tank.
Dimensions and weight
Together with a fully filled 13-liter gas tank, the YZF R3 weighs only 169 kg, which is not surprising given its small capacity. If the bike had an aluminum frame, it probably would have weighed even less, but for some reason the designers found steel a more viable option.
The dimensions of the YZF R3 are small. The wheelbase here is only 1380 mm, the seat height is 780 mm, and the length is 2090 mm. All this makes the bike quite an interesting option for riders of average height. At the same time, for taller people such a car can be very, very inconvenient.
Good day, gentlemen and ladies. I want to tell you the story of buying my first Yamaha R3 bike, my experience in using it, and also give some non-obvious tips for beginners. It will turn out to be a long read, with a lot of water, personal experiences and revelations, but isn’t that what motorcycles are about?
I’ll immediately give a few numbers and statements, in particular for those who are impatient:
- My height is 175
- Weight - 65
- Motorcycle 2022, but pre-style
- Bought new from a dealer in May
- Warranty 3 years unlimited mileage
- Mileage 15000 km
- Maximum speed - 192 mph
- Willie only does it with the clutch
- Up to hundreds in about 5-6 seconds
- Consumption, depending on mode 3.5-8 liters
- Tuning: crash pads
My experience
Since childhood I wanted a bike, of course a sport. I always had my eye on the R6 and CBR 600 - very beautiful bikes, the design of the liters didn’t suit me at all. The first bike appeared in the sunny country of Southeast Asia - a Chinese replica of the Honda Win 125cc. I skated, however, only for a couple of months. In fact, I haven’t gained any experience - everyone drives there like crazy. Nevertheless, I became even more excited about this whole thing. He returned to the CIS, enrolled in a motorcycle school, completed his studies, and passed his license.
Insight for beginners: be sure to go to a motorcycle school. There they teach you how to brake correctly, how to look, they teach counter-steering, they teach you how to balance, and they tell you a bunch of interesting and useful things.
Why it’s important: looking at how my dad rode the R3, I became scared for the bike, of course he has experience in Java and Izha, but damn it, this is completely different. People really think that the main brake is the rear one, and they are sincerely surprised that the bike doesn’t brake or turn at all - the clip-ons are rumored to be, they don’t turn at all. And they ride like bikes. Motorcycle school is a must have.
Purchase background
I buzzed the bike into the ears of everyone I knew. Of course everyone is against it. I didn’t notice how I spend all my free time looking at reviews of small-capacity cars and R6s, leafing through advertisements for sale, etc.. I think everyone has had this.
Babos wasn’t there much, I was looking at a used Kawasaki Ninja 250. And, of course, I was looking at advertisements for the R6. On the one hand, I wanted to buy a “dream”, but something inside me told me that there was no need to rush. And I didn’t want to take the 2009-2010 bike - carburetors, it’s not clear how they were raped (but 100% of them were raped), and the restyling looks much cooler.
And then, after the dubious 600s and small 250s, I discovered a new class of 300s. I saw the 300th Cava, but then I discovered that there are RC390, R3 and CBR300. I started monitoring the price tags - but there were no old ones, all 2016+, but I decided that I could handle it.
I looked through a bunch of reviews, and realized that Kava 250 is no longer needed - it will become boring after the first season. Kava 300 - the design is not mine at all, the Honda looks like a moped and the choice is between the RC390 and R3. Although the Yamaha is assembled in Indonesia, the RC390 is assembled in India - I don’t like Indians at all. It took me a long time to learn about the advantages of one or two cylinders, about the advantages of RC, but I realized for myself that Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki make good sports. And by that time I had already bought myself hifi speakers from Yamaha, and the brand had penetrated my soul - there are three tuning forks on the logo, and I’m a feeble player, but I play all sorts of instruments.
Once I was drinking with a friend, and I once again enthusiastically told him about my dream and that I didn’t have enough money to start the season, and my regret that I would only be able to buy a new one at the end of the season. A friend expressed his concerns about the bike and especially the sport, and while drunk they decided that if they were to take it, it would be the MT-03 - it doesn’t look like a sport =) I wake up in the morning, my friend says - let’s go to Dolgan, let’s go to the dealer. No, well, it’s awkward, of course, but let’s go.
Purchase
We called the dealer - they have the MT-03 - they have it. Great, let's go.
I arrive, the interior is glass, the entire MT line is there, and out of the corner of my eye I see the R3. Blue =)
2 hours I toiled between MT-03 and R3. I sat alternately on both. What can I say about the seating position - MT, its steering wheel is like a steering wheel. This makes your back straight and you sit upright. The R3 has clip-ons, you lean forward slightly, and it seemed like the saddle was a little higher. I was tossing between the two, but I realized that R3 is dearer. I’m a little interested in MTV, where my bike has a similar seating position - tilted forward. Yes, and the MT was in gray - so-so, but the black one had to wait a month. And then the consultant, the person who bought the R6 as the first bike and miraculously survived after two accidents, told me one very correct thing:
Insight: Take what your heart desires. Why it’s important: And then it dawned on me. Yes, other motorcycles can be more powerful, they can be more reliable, they can be better, 1 second faster. With the rational part of your brain you will convince yourself that you bought something that has some logical basis, but emotionally something will be missing. You need to buy a bike with emotions. After all, we don’t take it for anything else, right?
Equipment
Equipment is expensive, but you can’t skimp on it. Lancarra in one of his videos said something like this: “We did a study and determined that the asphalt in July is as hard as in December.”
My starting set was as follows:
- Shoei helmet - you can’t go anywhere without a helmet. I won’t even say that it’s a must-have.
- Alpinestars motorcycle boots, high - despite a lot of accidents (and who doesn’t), I saw a certain pattern that many impacts fall on the side. And in the legs there are a lot of small and fragile bones, and it is very difficult to collect them in a heap, even with a slight blow.
- Alpinestars gloves - when we fly head first, we instinctively put our hands forward. Riding a bicycle taught me this with 7 broken fingers and skinned palms.
- Alpinestars leather jacket - at that moment, when your bike is on the side, and you are peacefully sliding on your back along the asphalt, it is better to relax and think about high things, rather than howl from the pain of your skin rubbing off on the asphalt. A friend of mine jumped out of a car at 60 km/h - he had a skin transplant on his entire back.
- Arai helmet for number two
Insights
- Equipment is expensive, but necessary. Bikers are divided into those who have already fallen and those who have not yet.
- Bots, well, just a must have. Problems with legs, if something happens, are not always solved. There is a video somewhere by Gav about how a guy was collecting money to amputate his leg, after 3 operations on it. There really are a lot of bones and they are very fragile and very difficult to put back together.
- Jacket or turtle - it's up to you. But remember that turtles are extremely rare in the city. Most of the turtles that hang in motorcycle showrooms are designed for enduro. There are other turtles for the city - there are special anti-scrolling protections that are designed for the city. Please check this point when purchasing.
- The helmet is only integral. About 30% of all helmet impacts occur in the jaw area.
- If you ride someone as number two (and you will), either buy him/her a helmet. Or give your helmet to number two. Driving 70 without a helmet becomes unbearable - tears flow and all sorts of crap flies into your eyes (you will not be tempted to accelerate faster). And the second number will be safer. Remember, you are responsible for number two, his life is in your hands, don’t forget this.
Review of Yamaha R3
Frisky, nimble, forgives mistakes.
Great bike for the city. At traffic lights you are faster than 95% of cars. It’s a pleasure in traffic jams; it’s nimble, light, and controllable.
Overall, this is my first bike and I don't have much to compare it to. However, he is very malleable. Easy to control, enough power to push when needed, but not enough to make mistakes unforgiving.
During this season I skated 15,000, and I understand that this will also be enough for the second season. I don't get bored with it. You can push it, the bike is very playful. The same Kawasaki Ninja 250 remains in the rearview mirror. Up to 60 mph you do 600s from the 90s, then they catch up.
In general, both the lows and highs are good; no obvious drops in power are felt. Nevertheless, I like to ride in the range from 7000. There are no complaints about the engine, and I think it’s not for nothing that Yamaha gives a 3-year warranty without mileage limitation.
A little bit faster:
- He will shave a hundred square meters very quickly.
- 101 mph is third gear at 11,000 rpm
- 140 - also, absolutely no problems, very playful and cheerful.
- 155 is dialed quite well too. This is already the fifth gear after 11500
- 164 is more difficult to type, but confident.
- 172 mph is about 11,200 on the tachometer. It’s getting quite slow. In general, in order to gain speed above 160 you need to hide under the glass.
- 180 is already difficult. Here you need to lie on the forecastle and the weather is good
- 192 is my maximum speed, on the highway, in good, warm, windless weather. At the same time, I caught up to this speed for about 3 minutes. At the same time, the tachometer speed was already almost in the red zone.
Consumption depends very much on driving style. If you keep the revs in the 5000 range, then about 3 liters. But somehow I was driving along the highway at a speed of 168 to 174 - the tank was full. After 160 km, the last division began to flicker - about 2 liters remained. Let me remind you that the tank is 14 liters.
The sound of the bike is interesting, but I don't have enough volume in traffic jams. Few people hear you. Somehow I caught up with the CBRR R600 and Hayabusa with forward flows - in front of them the cars moved to the sides more cheerfully than in front of the ambulance. But they are not afraid of me alone and often do not hear me.
The seating position is comfortable, with a very subtle hint of sport, but not sport. I often travel 150-300 km a day - it feels quite comfortable. The maximum I gave in a day was 640 - it’s difficult, you can feel the trembling in your hands, and your legs are numb.
The cats have taken a fancy to the gray dog. If you leave it somewhere in the parking lot, you come and there are paws there. But my relatives’ cat got under the cover and left a couple of scratches on the seat during the rain.
Insights for beginners: I’m an adherent of 300 now, 250 will quickly get boring, but 300 can be a bit more challenging and playful. You won’t get tired in one season.
On this note, I will conclude the first part of the article, expect the second part in the near future, it will contain:
- R3 operating experience
- Bike maintenance
- My breakdowns
- Comparison of R3 and R6
Chassis and brakes
The disc brakes here are sufficient: the disc diameter is 220 mm at the rear and 298 mm at the front. The front telescopic fork has 130mm of travel, while the monoshock swingarm has 5mm less travel. In general, the exterior looks quite elegant, but does not shine with special luxury or individuality.
