The Yamaha MT-03 is set to make its debut in our country next month and will go up against the KTM 390 Duke. Before the street naked motorcycle reaches your nearest Yamaha dealership, here is everything you should know about it.
Styling
Borrowing its styling from the MT-07, which is also expected to be launched soon, the MT-03 sports a radical front end with aggressive lines and creases all over its bodywork. The rear end, however, is the same as its fully-faired sibling, the R3. It comes with LED turn indicators and a projector headlamp flanked by LED DRLs.
Features
Just like the R3, the MT-03’s list of features consists of a dual-channel ABS, LED lighting and an LCD instrument cluster. It is fitted with a slipper clutch and upside down forks as well. However, when compared to its rivals like the KTM 390 Duke, KTM 250 Duke, BMW G310 R or the Honda CB300R the MT-03 is underequipped and misses out on features like Bluetooth connectivity, quickshifter or ride modes as well.
Engine
Powering the motorcycle is a 321cc, parallel-twin engine that is liquid-cooled. This motor is the same unit as the R3 and offers 40.4bhp and 29.4Nm. It uses a six-speed gearbox with slipper clutch. Its hardware includes upside down forks up front, a monoshock and discs at both ends with ABS.
Expected pricing
Now, we expect KTM to price the Yamaha MT-03 around Rs 3.5 lakh, just undercutting the fully-faired R3. With this pricing, it would be slightly more expensive than the 390 Duke that costs Rs 3.10 lakh, ex-showroom.