- Sharper styling with LED lamps
- More powerful engine
- India-spec R3 will get similar updates
The 2019 Yamaha YZF-R25, which is sold in India in the guise of the YZF-R3, has been rendered by a Japanese media house. The rendering shows the quarter-litre sportbike featuring sharper styling and LED headlamps.
Reports suggest that the YZF-R25 and R3 will undergo a design overhaul for 2019 to help it keep up with the competition. While the current bike already looks aggressive, the new R25/R3 will get sharper styling inspired by the 2018 YZF-R6. It will also benefit from LED headlamps and a new fully-digital instrument console. The changes are not just on the surface, but run skin deep. The reports further suggest the new R25/R3 will ride on inverted front forks and will get an update for the powertrain. The new R3 is expected to churn out 46 horsepower, as opposed to the current unit’s 41 horsepower.
When it was first launched, the YZF-R3 had impressive specifications to back it up. Now though, Honda has come up with the new CBR250RR and Kawasaki has fielded the bigger and more powerful Ninja 400. In face of such competition, it is quite obvious that Yamaha will have to evolve to survive. Interestingly, the scenario is a lot different in India. While there is no chance of the CBR250RR being introduced here, the Ninja 400 is way too pricey to pose a threat for the R3. Nevertheless, we can expect the new R3 to be introduced here a few months after it goes on sale globally.
