2018 Yamaha R3 BS4 Launch in Few Months [Official]

2018 Yamaha R3 BS4 launch details…

Unlike CBR250R, Yamaha’s R3 was always expected to see a return. Yes, we do NOT expect Honda to really relaunch the BS4 CBR250R in the same current version (related report here). Many readers have asked us – when will Yamaha relaunch the R3 in India?

So I got a chance at Fazer 25’s launch and asked Roy Kurian, Vice President (Sales & Marketing), Yamaha India about the motorcycle.

BikeAdvice: “With the Fazer 25 (and FZ25) you are saying that you are providing the owners of 150cc FZ/Fazer an option to upgrade within Yamaha, what about the buyers of R15..? When will they have an option of an upgrade from the same (R) family?

Roy Kurian: ‘We had the R3 which has been temporarily discontinued in the Indian market. It will be brought back very soon“. He, in fact, fell short of saying ‘in about three months’ confidently.

Yamaha R3 BS4 Launch

2018 Yamaha R3 Around Nov 2017- January 2018

Until there was an official word from the company, there was always an uncertainty about it and this is for the first time Yamaha has, on record, said that the R3, adhering to updated BS4 emission norms, will be relaunched in India in some time.

Yamaha R3 BS4 launch India
2017 R3 in white



It must be noted that R3, which was sold in India till March 2017, was a BS3 compliant model and hence could not be retailed after the BS4 emission norms kicked in from 1st April 2017. Yamaha India imports the R3 via CKD kits sourced from Thailand. Which means that, till Yamaha Thailand gets the upgraded model, India will have to live without it.

We pitted the R3 against the legendary RD350 – Click pic to read the very interesting comparo

The good news is that Yamaha has been allegedly caught testing an updated 2018 R3 in Indonesia – a first for a South-Asian country. So, expect the motorcycle to bow down in the coming few months in India as well. Even if it gets delayed we expect new R3 to be introduced here within this financial year.

Also Read: Do NOT Believe Rumours; R15 v3 India Launch Not Planned

We sincerely hope that Yamaha plonks the 300cc with ABS, like the recently introduced Benelli 302R which is the only offering in this segment with the safety tech.