I have a 2015 R3 that I’ve put 32,000 miles on. I live in Houston and I’ve taken the R3 all the way to Colorado Springs and back. It’s a phenomenal bike and it can definitely handle the stress of highway traffic. I’ve even been able to get mine up to 113MPH. I love my R3 and I don’t plan on selling it, even when I upgrade.
I have a 2017 R3 since 2018 and I gotta say to newer riders or riders in general, it was worth every penny! All of my friends were/are getting higher cc bikes (ex: 600cc) but I'm over here having a blast with my R3, trust me it's worth it
I had a GSX-R 250 (JDM) back in the day, and it was an absolute blast to drive on the smaller roads. Similar performance to the R3 (45 hp, 112 MPH, but ~46 lb lighter). It had everything the much bigger bikes had, 4 cylinders, water cooling, 16 valves, MASSIVE brakes for its size (2x 276mm with 4-pot calipers) and full fairing, but in an ultra-small package. One finger on the brake was plenty for normal braking, and 2 would get you all the stopping power you could ever want. 4 fingers would be suicide! It was a short-stroke engine though, so it would need revs like you would not believe. 7K to do 50 in 6th, and 5K would quickly fry the spark plugs, so it had to be kept above 6K when moving. It felt like a much bigger bike at 13-16K, and would redline at 17K. :) It was very small though, and even though I'm "only" 5'8, there was no doubt that it was designed for the Japanese market only. To get tucket behind the screen, I had to really bend down and put my elbows on my knees.
I love how this guy doesn't sit there and talk about nothing in first person camera like other people. Props bro we need more people like you who do outside view angles where we can actually see the bike
I can tell you guys how it handles the freeway/constant high Rpms. Just like any modern engine that's designed for high rpm in a street bike. If there's enough oil and coolant in it and those are on operation temperature, you basically cannot damage/destroy the engine. Even sitting constantly on the limiter say riding constant 100miles/hour, it would just laugh at you and say :give me more fuel bro and let's go! If you treat your bike right it'll just be fine.
@Terms and Disagreement well it depends where you live and ride. Also I was referring to the R3 not to bigger bikes. On a Hayabusa it wouldn't be possible to "cruise" for that long on the limiter lol.. But technologically it is possible. I tested this on multiple vehicles. One Mazda mx5 first gen.,2k trip almost constantly on the limiter, the car was just fine. The other one was a 2013 Honda cb 125. Bought it brand new ,broken in carefully, then I was riding it pinned for two years and 12500 kms.(highway,city) The bike had no issues at all,didn't even use oil.Granted the the top speed of that was 105 km/h so 60mph. Unreal how good modern engines are 🤟
I’m gonna call bull on that one... had a friend who rode a 650... trying to keep up with my bike and other 600cc supersports... cause him to overheat after 10-15 mins of none stop limiter ... No engine likes that and you’ll find out soon enough something will break that should have lasted you 200k miles will live maybe a 1/4 of that
@@Texarmageddon As you can see on my previous reply I tested it out on two different occasions. This was my experience, but there will be exceptions. There are a lot of factors. Outside temp, coolant levels,oil level,quality, and temp. This only works if you really take care of the engine. Always using the highest spec oil,and regular oil changes. Your friend might have gotten the bike second hand and it could have been abused previously with old oil,or low levels,cold high revs,bad fuel etc. Actually there was a long term test of Mobil 1 motor oil in the US. Many years ago,they bought a brand new BMW 325i and put it on the dyno. They ran the car in, then used it with all possible revs,also on the limiter, high revs for highway use and lower range for the city,to copy all possible circumstances.The car ran constantly, they only stopped for fuel,and the regular scheduled service,using Mobil 1 oil.The car ran 1.000 000 miles!(1.6m kms) Then they took it apart and inspected the wear and tear of the engine. Well,everything was within specs,no significant damage was registered! That is why I said it is possible to use something hard and still have it working great ,if it gets the deserved care and services.
@@Texarmageddon To be fair though, 650cc's are usually street oriented bikes, which are not designed to run at high RPMs, since they are designed more for torque & producing power lower in the powerband. Supersports on the other hand don't have much power until you get past the 8-9k RPM mark, so manufacturers design the engine/coolant/oil systems to handle that amount of stress. CC's isn't everything, the intended purpose of the bike plays a lot into it's performance.
I've been riding a 2015 R3 for almost 2 years now, honestly, it has more than enough GO on the freeway, and super comfortable. I constantly have to be mindful of not go too fast, way too easy to get a ticket riding this thing.
I understand the new R3 has improved greatly from the original. That said, I remember the first time I found myself on a superhighway with my wife's 2015 R3, I was more than impressed. I can only imagine how good the new ones are. My wife still owns it and I enjoy riding the Hell out of it!
As a 125cc user for 2 years I can't imagine that bike to not have enough power to ride on the highway, it's impressive how you talk about these bikes as if they are not able to do the same things as the 1000cc or similar. Now that I have upgraded to an R3 I am having a lot of fun and I don't think that I will need more power for any reason. Good video!
Dude I've ridden an R3 for 2 weeks! took it on the highway and a dude who rides a 600 told me that the R3 is performing like a 600. I think we should show more appreciation for these 300cc bikes. In Jamaica we are used to 150, 200 and 250cc so when a 300 Japanese bike is introduced that's like GOLD for us.
I would love to see more videos like this. I do a lot of highway commuting to get to work and I currently have a 2015 yamaha R3 and I absolutely love it. I bought it brand new and have about 15K miles on it and I've had absolutely ZERO issues other than regular maintenance but I'm thinking of upgrading to a bigger bike but no one seems to give reviews about sport bikes on the highway
@@illuforce i used to have yzfr125 back when i was 16. The bike can handle all you give to it. Never had to even adjust the valvels. Just keep changing the oil and the bike will go long way :)
I rode my 2015 R3 from Chula Vista to LA and back, that’s about 280 miles round trip and it was nice. LA rush hour traffic was nothing with that bike, lane splitting was fun. Also I forgot to add I had a passenger for the whole time too.
This is the comment I’ve been looking for my whole life, nice to know that as a heavier guy my weight wouldn’t effect a smaller displacement bike... thank you.
im 6-5 300lbs and been waiting to hear input from a heavier rider that owns one of these . im a beginner and when im out looking at bikes , i inquire about the r3 and the ninja 400 and most folks are steering me towards the mt07/mt09/xrs900 market stating that those lower cc bikes wouldnt be able to put out enough power. this comment gives me a little more to think about now
I'm 511 320 pounds And a buddy of mine used to have a little 50CC Honda dirt bike that I used to be able to pop wheelies on... This was probably 20 years ago but I was still probably no less than 280 pounds..
Had mine for almost a year now, love it all around. Little quirks like no where to mount a phone mount, weak battery life, and limited aftermarket parts but overall I love it.
I mounted a ram long arm just in front of the gas tank. You kinda have push the plastic back a tiny bit to access the bolt, but it mounted perfectly and sits just shy of getting in the way of the steering at all, and puts itself in the perfect position for a tuck too.
My 2015 hits about 110mph top speed on freeway. Plenty fast enough. But passing is a bit different story. At high RPMs it can struggle if you're trying to overtake quickly. That said, I've had mine on the track and on the twisties and I keep up with most 600's and 1000's (other than in the straights). It's a really awesome little bike and you will become a better rider for riding it if you put in the time and effort, especially on the track.
I have been hoping to find a vid like this, definitely going to swing in the R3's direction now for first bike. I dont highway alot, like i work 2km from home but to get anywhere nice is about 2 hours or so away and this seems perfect
Looks like the simple addition of a 'double bubble' windscreen would dramatically add to this gem of a small displacement motorcycle...Yamaha Accessory Catalogue shows one available.
I took my 2021 on the highway and man that thing ran .. I did some mods to it straight pipe muffler k&n air filter .. on the highway this thing sounds like a beast
Imagine this little bike having a 100+ hp that would be bloody sweet for track/commuting/touring.Already it's a bloody sweet machine,I rode my r3 for like 1000 kms (18+hrs approx) straight with some breaks here and there and it handled effortless.Everytime this Reminds me of how reliable this japanese motorbike really is.
watching this video 4 years later becuz im looking into a 2024 r3, i notice and recognized and is so wild to me ive watched this channel a few times and never noticed this... i dont know if its the same area in the new videos. im located in douglasville and i go to kennesaw decently often and recognized the roads. this video is very helpfully for multiple reasons. THANK YOU
I’ve ridden all over the PNW with my 2020 R3. I’ve been through Seattle, Portland, Eugene, up the mountain pass to Bend. Hits 70-85MPH easily, 7,500-8,000RPM’s at brisk paces. I’ve topped it at 114MPH a few of times. I love this little bike, it’s my first, and I don’t need to be mobbing down the highway at 140MPH+. Going to ditch the Yoshimura R77 slip-on for a Toce full system, and TST WORX Pack. I can’t wait for track days. This bike is confidence inspiring, and so much freaking fun in the corners and around the city streets.
Thanks so much for posting this video, I’m sold of the 2020 R3 now instead of an older model. You really made my day with this upload, I’m liked and subscribed and ready to see what other great quality videos you put out next. Bless up! ✨💯💜🏍💨
Nice vid! I have a 2015 R3. So jealous of the updated fairrings, inverted forks and beautiful triple tree plate. So I “downgraded” from my Honda CBR650RR to an R3. I love both bikes. I don’t miss the brutal ergos on my previous sportbikes. The R3 is more than capable on a highway especially after some mods like a full exhaust, dynojet and ECU flash. I do miss the acceleration and torque of my Inline4 600 vs my parallel twin 321cc. If I get a new bike and go up going to a PTwin 400 or 650 isn’t much of a huge upgrade really. It’d have to be a 700 like an MT07 or Tenere which I am considering. I also like the CB650R which is a bit of an oddball. It’s a midsize displacment but 4 cylinders which used to be more common than the now ubiquitous ParallelTwins and V-Twins. For now, I’ll stay on my R3. I keep my wishlist updated. If/when I upgrade it’s going to be my first naked or adventure bike I think. Getting old now and time to move on from sport bikes. 🙂
I did a demo ride on a 2020 R3 a few weeks ago, and I'm anxious to sell my 2009 Concours14 in order to pick up an R3. Big change, but the R3 will definitely be better for commuting and riding the local backroads, and even short trips. The 688-pound Concours14 is a freeway missile for sure, but it's a bit of a bulky pig in most other situations. I still have to fix up my 2003 BMW R1150RT-P so I have a comfortable touring bike for long-distance trips and rallies. I've been riding since 1989, averaging over 10k miles per year since 2002, and my 51 year old body (with 30" inseam) is ready to get back on a smaller bike for most jobs. Many say the 300-class are "beginner bikes" but this experienced rider knows the right tool for the job when I see it. Actually, I would argue that until recently, 250-400cc bikes were NOT beginner bikes, as you needed to be in just the right gear to stay in the powerband, and that the torquier 500cc twins were better-suited for beginners. Nowadays, the light weight and better fuel delivery makes the smaller bikes more capable all around. And then there's the old adage: "it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast, than to ride a fast bike slow." It's gonna be so much more fun wringing the neck of an R3 through my local twisty roads than tiptoeing in 2nd gear on the C14. Anyone want to buy a well-sorted 2009 Concours14?
I can see the point of a Concours, not so much a 'Busa or ZX14. Those big pigs seem pointless, when you can have a GSXR1000 or ZX10 that are just as fast and 100 pounds lighter. Back to your Concours, is your BMW that much better? But yes, I can see having a smaller bike for everyday around town use. Have you tried a Ninja 400, though?
@@captainamerica9353 hi I want to ask a question newbies to biking so am really hoping to get a bike am really in love with the R7 buh doing my finding I heard It can go on long tour why can’t? And what bike do you think will be comfortable in sitting position and that won’t be cost too much for a long distance riding since they said r7 can’t go on long distance and I don’t know why Than you
@@_hm-te7pg , I have not seen or ridden an R7, but have years of riding experience. I think it would make a good all around bike. They are not too expensive, not crazy fast, but look "sporty" and have plenty of power for freeway riding. What do you ride now?
@@captainamerica9353 oh great thank you the issues is just that you will some people here that will say ok the bike is good and some will say no it’s not and it’s confusing I really like the r7 just want to get it for school and cruising only not for track and be able To go from state to state on highway I don’t have a bike yet buh I can try to ride not really good in riding that what makes me come here to do some findings about it. Am really wishing just to have two which is r3 and r7 I heard the r3 is comfortable when riding it for long distance cause of how the seat was placed.
The answer is yes. I just purchased a 2020 R3 for my first bike, I weigh in at 215lbs and can coast on the freeways in TX at 70 (at about 7k to 8k rpm). Just drop to 4th gear and you'll have pull.
@@salskars6637 I am 5 ft 8 in. Little hefty. But although my weight is up there, the bike has no issues at highway speeds. I am able to slide back and tuck easily, and as a side note, even in a not so aggressive position or pretty much just relaxed, slightly leaning forward will get you out of wind. With the stock screen, you'd definitely have to lean in slightly, but they have double bubbles for that "issue". And cant make a video due to no cameras.
@@salskars6637 I have been riding the bike as it came from the dealership brand new, and have had 0 issues with bottoming out or any issues riding on the pothole infested roads in my area.
@@oscarm2997 - deecaliboy (on utube) is riding all stock except, a wider back tire and rear sets. Check out his channel. My area is like a stagecoach trail. Yamaha just knocked it outta the park with this bike.
I've made a couple of vids about this. It is a very subjective topic - some people think a grom is fine for the freeway, and some people think you need a litre bike. I rode the R3 for a few months, pretty much all freeway commuting and ended up selling it because it just isn't made for freeway cruising. Yes it can handle it, but there are so many better options if all your saddle time is going to be spent over 100 km/h
@@salskars6637 haha. I just dont ride it as much anymore. It's been a great bike. But I ride my mt-10 most of the time and no use in the r3 just sitting there. Somebody needs to enjoy it.
I was actually planning to get a version 2 r3 but ended up with version 1. Anyhow, it still runs great at almost 50000 kilometers. What I like about it is that, i dont have stress getting parts because components of the new version still fit version 1, only the fairings, brakes and front suspension are different.
I’m considering the BMW G310R for my first bike, mostly commuting to work. 65MPH-80MPH would be ideal speed. I live 10-12 mins from work mostly highway. I weigh 155lbs is that reasonable for this bike?
You gotta keep this baby bike on the boil. I went on a endurance run, 1100km in a single day, almost all hwy riding. Never left fourth gear, kept the bike running 11.5K rpm for almost 12 hours, and the bike was totally fine.
So I’m about 6’2 and 247 lbs said that having had a R3 for my first bike I can say yes it can do the high way. But I never liked it every time I merged on or changed lanes it felt like a absolute dog. Now in the video chase says the bike felt stable and he wasn’t straining the engine. The way I would describe the R3 on the high way is it always felt like the bike was on stilts and that the engine was gonna go bang. I feel part of this is because I was a bit to big for the R3. Only had the bike 6 months definitely recommend it for a first bike but once you upgrade to something else you won’t look back.
A consent up and down on the throttle (RPM)...I'm so glad I paid cash for my Ninja 400 2019 with abs...has lot's of power and I don't have to run the piss out of it to pass or stay ahead of traffic...still the R3 is a great small bike for newbies...and is plenty for the mountains...but for the money I would rather have the 400 Ninja...
The cute R3 is more than capable on the highway. You can pull past cars for passing if needed. Sure your buddies on an R6 can take off on you on the straights, but in the city you'll be the one laughing. If I had the money I'd own both, but if I had to choose one it might be the R3 for many reasons. Honestly the main thing I love about bigger bikes is the sound, but that's about it.
I have 23 R3 and it shreds. Yeah I'm not doing 150 or anything but it cruises just fine at 90-95. It goes faster but that's when you start pushing it and really having to tuck down. I rode for about an hour on the interstate at between 80-95 with no issues
@@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03 Yeah, you're probably right. Sorry. Just get a little tired of people referring to the R3 as a first bike .... like everyone wants to move up an R6 or R1. I also fly a small plane, but that doesn't mean I want to move up to jets, lol.
@@jbl7092 you can if you want to you CAN fly. Lol that was a joke probably but hey a small plane pilot (obviously got license) he or she can fly so yeah they can upgrade
I drove mine on a 600 mile road trip and it was perfectly find took it to the shop to make sure the bike was all well and had no issues besides needing a oil change
Some countries actually ban these bikes on the highway. Motorcycle laws are crazy AF here in the Philippines. They only allow 400CC and up. I wish we can ride bikes like these on the highway
A windscreen and a front and rear sprocket swap and your good to go on the interstate...to be exact swap to a 15t front and a 41r and this will keep your stock chain length...
I had a 2017 Yamaha R3 and I was able to keep up on the highway at 80mph. The max speed with the throttle pinned was 99 mph, stock. One negative about riding the R3 on highway for a long time is the vibration through the stock grips-numbing/tingling of my hands. Positive note is that the bike is light and easy to maneuver. You’re still able to pass cars on the highway. You can go through the gears and not break the speed limit.
After one year of owning the R3, I bought a 2005 Yamaha R6. The power difference was big, but I really enjoyed it thanks to taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). My advice to brand new riders with no experience in riding, please take the Basic Rider Course from MSF so you understand and feel comfortable riding any bike. The R6 was an awesome bike to ride, but for my type of riding of commuting to work, and traveling 45 minutes(one way) to visit my girlfriend, it wasn’t comfortable and practical. I’ve rode it from Wisconsin to Illinois for the day and I had a sore back. Because of this, I sold the R6, and bought a 2007 Yamaha FZ1 for the sport touring, more upright riding position. The ‘07 FZ1 has the power, and friendly riding position that I rode to MN and back in one day (500 miles) with less back pain than I would’ve on an R6.
did London (uk) to Paris (fr) 5/6hours no problem only stopped for fuel 2 times (before boring the euro tunnel and just before arriving at paris .. super comfortable
Heck yes it is great on highway. I am 5’5 so I don’t even tuck and get no windblast. Just be mindful what gear you are in but yes I can cruise at 85 rock solid. Most people don’t even know it is a 300. 56 mpg and telepathic steering make it awesome.
Rode my R3 from Oklahoma City to Amarillo last year. It was fine. Never felt like I needed more power. It drank fuel like a mofo though. Especially after I had no choice but to fill up with 87 octane gas one time. I think I went through that tank in 100 miles.
Rode my R3 many many times on the highway with no issues! It’s a little light so you gotta be on your toes when you pass a semi or something, but she hangs at 75-80 no problem!
As a soon to be 2022 Yamaha R3 owner the only thing I was worried about is how the bike deals with wind gust/semi trucks since the interstate I use to go to work is heavily populated by semis.
I’m 45 and definitely a newbie on a motorcycle. At 5.10 168 I think this is the right bike for me. Just something to have some easy fun on. I guess the question is should I go new or used?
Obviously used especially if Newbie and 45 you will crash a lot Probably. I recommend buy shittty chinese bike for 2 dollars and practise on that. In recommend Lexmoto or CFMOTO company
My first bike was a ninja 300. They are 296cc. It would go 108mph. Thats straight and seemingly downhill. I suspect it was electronically limited. Dunno. The r3 is 321cc so it goes 114-116ish mph. So yes. Its fine for the highway. It was the ninja 250 that kinda sucked on the highway when riding stock. Since their top speed was about 96mph. Which is plenty fast for the highway but you are in 6th gear high rpm the entire time and thats why they discontinued them.
I have a 2015 R3 that I’ve put 32,000 miles on. I live in Houston and I’ve taken the R3 all the way to Colorado Springs and back. It’s a phenomenal bike and it can definitely handle the stress of highway traffic. I’ve even been able to get mine up to 113MPH. I love my R3 and I don’t plan on selling it, even when I upgrade.
Checking up 2 years later how is the r3 handling and how many miles?
^ What this guy said give us an update foo
@@kaideleon5727 what they said^
@@Fazer1971 yeah^^ also how tall are you???
@@donbagari I'm 5'10
I have a 2017 R3 since 2018 and I gotta say to newer riders or riders in general, it was worth every penny! All of my friends were/are getting higher cc bikes (ex: 600cc) but I'm over here having a blast with my R3, trust me it's worth it
Good to know. Thanks for the endorsement.
How is the posture on the r3 for the back ?
@@Atimoz it’s not too aggressive, but you can lean forward so the wind isn’t too harsh on you. It’s decent but nothing like a naked bike
I had a GSX-R 250 (JDM) back in the day, and it was an absolute blast to drive on the smaller roads. Similar performance to the R3 (45 hp, 112 MPH, but ~46 lb lighter).
It had everything the much bigger bikes had, 4 cylinders, water cooling, 16 valves, MASSIVE brakes for its size (2x 276mm with 4-pot calipers) and full fairing, but in an ultra-small package. One finger on the brake was plenty for normal braking, and 2 would get you all the stopping power you could ever want. 4 fingers would be suicide!
It was a short-stroke engine though, so it would need revs like you would not believe. 7K to do 50 in 6th, and 5K would quickly fry the spark plugs, so it had to be kept above 6K when moving. It felt like a much bigger bike at 13-16K, and would redline at 17K. :)
It was very small though, and even though I'm "only" 5'8, there was no doubt that it was designed for the Japanese market only. To get tucket behind the screen, I had to really bend down and put my elbows on my knees.
The cinematography is off the charts! You weaving in and out of traffic in that 1 shot was dope!
I love how this guy doesn't sit there and talk about nothing in first person camera like other people. Props bro we need more people like you who do outside view angles where we can actually see the bike
Its way harder doe most people film alone for this u need at least 2
I can tell you guys how it handles the freeway/constant high Rpms.
Just like any modern engine that's designed for high rpm in a street bike.
If there's enough oil and coolant in it and those are on operation temperature, you basically cannot damage/destroy the engine.
Even sitting constantly on the limiter say riding constant 100miles/hour, it would just laugh at you and say :give me more fuel bro and let's go!
If you treat your bike right it'll just be fine.
@Terms and Disagreement well it depends where you live and ride.
Also I was referring to the R3 not to bigger bikes.
On a Hayabusa it wouldn't be possible to "cruise" for that long on the limiter lol..
But technologically it is possible.
I tested this on multiple vehicles.
One Mazda mx5 first gen.,2k trip almost constantly on the limiter, the car was just fine.
The other one was a 2013 Honda cb 125.
Bought it brand new ,broken in carefully, then I was riding it pinned for two years and 12500 kms.(highway,city)
The bike had no issues at all,didn't even use oil.Granted the the top speed of that was 105 km/h so 60mph.
Unreal how good modern engines are 🤟
I’m gonna call bull on that one... had a friend who rode a 650... trying to keep up with my bike and other 600cc supersports... cause him to overheat after 10-15 mins of none stop limiter ...
No engine likes that and you’ll find out soon enough something will break that should have lasted you 200k miles will live maybe a 1/4 of that
@@Texarmageddon As you can see on my previous reply I tested it out on two different occasions. This was my experience, but there will be exceptions. There are a lot of factors.
Outside temp, coolant levels,oil level,quality, and temp.
This only works if you really take care of the engine. Always using the highest spec oil,and regular oil changes.
Your friend might have gotten the bike second hand and it could have been abused previously with old oil,or low levels,cold high revs,bad fuel etc.
Actually there was a long term test of Mobil 1 motor oil in the US.
Many years ago,they bought a brand new BMW 325i and put it on the dyno.
They ran the car in, then used it with all possible revs,also on the limiter, high revs for highway use and lower range for the city,to copy all possible circumstances.The car ran constantly, they only stopped for fuel,and the regular scheduled service,using Mobil 1 oil.The car ran 1.000 000 miles!(1.6m kms)
Then they took it apart and inspected the wear and tear of the engine.
Well,everything was within specs,no significant damage was registered!
That is why I said it is possible to use something hard and still have it working great ,if it gets the deserved care and services.
@Terms and Disagreement ok gotcha bro ✌
@@Texarmageddon To be fair though, 650cc's are usually street oriented bikes, which are not designed to run at high RPMs, since they are designed more for torque & producing power lower in the powerband.
Supersports on the other hand don't have much power until you get past the 8-9k RPM mark, so manufacturers design the engine/coolant/oil systems to handle that amount of stress.
CC's isn't everything, the intended purpose of the bike plays a lot into it's performance.
I've been riding a 2015 R3 for almost 2 years now, honestly, it has more than enough GO on the freeway, and super comfortable. I constantly have to be mindful of not go too fast, way too easy to get a ticket riding this thing.
still got it how much
I understand the new R3 has improved greatly from the original. That said, I remember the first time I found myself on a superhighway with my wife's 2015 R3, I was more than impressed. I can only imagine how good the new ones are. My wife still owns it and I enjoy riding the Hell out of it!
the new one is exactly the same under the hood.
@@heytchap I stand corrected. I was led to believe there were suspension changes front and rear. Thanks!
William Wintemberg The suspension is completely changed, it now has inverted forks and lower bars for a sportier feel/tuck.
Thank God I'm not the only one who thinks so
@@heytchap Engine was never the problem, everything improved besides the engine. The r3 actually feels like a sportbike.
As a 125cc user for 2 years I can't imagine that bike to not have enough power to ride on the highway, it's impressive how you talk about these bikes as if they are not able to do the same things as the 1000cc or similar. Now that I have upgraded to an R3 I am having a lot of fun and I don't think that I will need more power for any reason. Good video!
I have a 2015 R3. I ride it everyday. I live in L.A. so I'm always on the freeway and I do canyon runs. It handles both just fine.
Dude I've ridden an R3 for 2 weeks! took it on the highway and a dude who rides a 600 told me that the R3 is performing like a 600. I think we should show more appreciation for these 300cc bikes. In Jamaica we are used to 150, 200 and 250cc so when a 300 Japanese bike is introduced that's like GOLD for us.
I'm glad you are excited about a 300 but an r3 will never perform like a 600. Even the 600 twins out perform these a2 bikes by a noticeable amount.
Wait till you see a hyabusa
Full tuck on that bike is when you kick out the passenger pegs and put your feet back on them. Try it, super comfy.
It's a "Kyle" edition because Kyles are known for drinking Monster and being crazy
Aman Shaikh and punching that damned drywall
Aman Shaikh I was thinking that
Anyone on a 300 cc wouldn’t know what that means
Did you mean X Æ A-12 ?
K I L L
I’m glad to know that the R3 has good overtake power on the highway. Wanted to see it in practice!
I would love to see more videos like this. I do a lot of highway commuting to get to work and I currently have a 2015 yamaha R3 and I absolutely love it. I bought it brand new and have about 15K miles on it and I've had absolutely ZERO issues other than regular maintenance but I'm thinking of upgrading to a bigger bike but no one seems to give reviews about sport bikes on the highway
I ride my yamaha yzf r125 on the highway so your r3 should be more than fine.
Can you ride a r125 for long periods of time?
On the highways
@@illuforce sure but you should keep it around 100km/h because the engine could be damaged if you redline it (133km/h) for too long.
@@illuforce i used to have yzfr125 back when i was 16. The bike can handle all you give to it. Never had to even adjust the valvels. Just keep changing the oil and the bike will go long way :)
Julian Mes yea that’s overly stressing the 125 my friends
I’ve had everything from 750s to 1300 big twins and this motorcycle will be my next bike.
I rode my 2015 R3 from Chula Vista to LA and back, that’s about 280 miles round trip and it was nice. LA rush hour traffic was nothing with that bike, lane splitting was fun. Also I forgot to add I had a passenger for the whole time too.
Love my 2018 R3 even with me being 270lbs and 6ft she takes everything with ease! An amazing bike the r3 is!
This is the comment I’ve been looking for my whole life, nice to know that as a heavier guy my weight wouldn’t effect a smaller displacement bike... thank you.
That is one thing concerning me too. I'm 230lbs. Its good to know I can ride it.
Great comment, what I've been waiting for. Now I know at 5'11" 160lbs the R3 will be great for me.
im 6-5 300lbs and been waiting to hear input from a heavier rider that owns one of these . im a beginner and when im out looking at bikes , i inquire about the r3 and the ninja 400 and most folks are steering me towards the mt07/mt09/xrs900 market stating that those lower cc bikes wouldnt be able to put out enough power. this comment gives me a little more to think about now
I'm 511 320 pounds And a buddy of mine used to have a little 50CC Honda dirt bike that I used to be able to pop wheelies on... This was probably 20 years ago but I was still probably no less than 280 pounds..
Had mine for almost a year now, love it all around. Little quirks like no where to mount a phone mount, weak battery life, and limited aftermarket parts but overall I love it.
I mounted a ram long arm just in front of the gas tank. You kinda have push the plastic back a tiny bit to access the bolt, but it mounted perfectly and sits just shy of getting in the way of the steering at all, and puts itself in the perfect position for a tuck too.
My 2015 hits about 110mph top speed on freeway. Plenty fast enough. But passing is a bit different story. At high RPMs it can struggle if you're trying to overtake quickly. That said, I've had mine on the track and on the twisties and I keep up with most 600's and 1000's (other than in the straights). It's a really awesome little bike and you will become a better rider for riding it if you put in the time and effort, especially on the track.
Lovely video.I was confused about buying a 2023 MT 03 but now all my doubts r cleared. Love from India:)
I ride mine around 80 miles on i75 frequently for work, and it does just fine
that weaving thru traffic shot was gorgeous 🖤🖤
I have been hoping to find a vid like this, definitely going to swing in the R3's direction now for first bike. I dont highway alot, like i work 2km from home but to get anywhere nice is about 2 hours or so away and this seems perfect
man, the way you cruising on the road...makes me wanna buy the r3 right now
i was going to buy a bigger bike but honestly i might just get an r3. it does everything i need and is way cheaper.
Looks like the simple addition of a 'double bubble' windscreen would dramatically add to this gem of a small displacement motorcycle...Yamaha Accessory Catalogue shows one available.
I took my 2021 on the highway and man that thing ran .. I did some mods to it straight pipe muffler k&n air filter .. on the highway this thing sounds like a beast
It always works. If I don't hit that like button, Chase never resumes with the video.
Imagine this little bike having a 100+ hp that would be bloody sweet for track/commuting/touring.Already it's a bloody sweet machine,I rode my r3 for like 1000 kms (18+hrs approx) straight with some breaks here and there and it handled effortless.Everytime this Reminds me of how reliable this japanese motorbike really is.
watching this video 4 years later becuz im looking into a 2024 r3, i notice and recognized and is so wild to me ive watched this channel a few times and never noticed this... i dont know if its the same area in the new videos. im located in douglasville and i go to kennesaw decently often and recognized the roads. this video is very helpfully for multiple reasons. THANK YOU
I’ve ridden all over the PNW with my 2020 R3. I’ve been through Seattle, Portland, Eugene, up the mountain pass to Bend. Hits 70-85MPH easily, 7,500-8,000RPM’s at brisk paces. I’ve topped it at 114MPH a few of times. I love this little bike, it’s my first, and I don’t need to be mobbing down the highway at 140MPH+. Going to ditch the Yoshimura R77 slip-on for a Toce full system, and TST WORX Pack. I can’t wait for track days. This bike is confidence inspiring, and so much freaking fun in the corners and around the city streets.
Thanks so much for posting this video, I’m sold of the 2020 R3 now instead of an older model. You really made my day with this upload, I’m liked and subscribed and ready to see what other great quality videos you put out next. Bless up! ✨💯💜🏍💨
Oh yeah. I'm one of the many that asked for this video. Much appreciated. Awesome editing, shots, commentary etc...
Thanks Chase!
I almost wanna go ride my wife's R3 right now and not my R6 lol
J & Shay imagine passing an R6 on a racetrack on a R3
@@hathaway.1166 depends who's riding it lol
Dude that swerve in swerve out close to the end was nice
Worth a few replays: 8:33
Glad you guys have highways my country have 3 highways and they are trash too
I drive a X Max 300 now, but looking to upgrade to the Yamaha R3. Thanks for the vid.
Nice vid! I have a 2015 R3. So jealous of the updated fairrings, inverted forks and beautiful triple tree plate.
So I “downgraded” from my Honda CBR650RR to an R3. I love both bikes. I don’t miss the brutal ergos on my previous sportbikes. The R3 is more than capable on a highway especially after some mods like a full exhaust, dynojet and ECU flash.
I do miss the acceleration and torque of my Inline4 600 vs my parallel twin 321cc. If I get a new bike and go up going to a PTwin 400 or 650 isn’t much of a huge upgrade really. It’d have to be a 700 like an MT07 or Tenere which I am considering. I also like the CB650R which is a bit of an oddball. It’s a midsize displacment but 4 cylinders which used to be more common than the now ubiquitous ParallelTwins and V-Twins.
For now, I’ll stay on my R3. I keep my wishlist updated. If/when I upgrade it’s going to be my first naked or adventure bike I think. Getting old now and time to move on from sport bikes. 🙂
I did a demo ride on a 2020 R3 a few weeks ago, and I'm anxious to sell my 2009 Concours14 in order to pick up an R3. Big change, but the R3 will definitely be better for commuting and riding the local backroads, and even short trips. The 688-pound Concours14 is a freeway missile for sure, but it's a bit of a bulky pig in most other situations. I still have to fix up my 2003 BMW R1150RT-P so I have a comfortable touring bike for long-distance trips and rallies. I've been riding since 1989, averaging over 10k miles per year since 2002, and my 51 year old body (with 30" inseam) is ready to get back on a smaller bike for most jobs. Many say the 300-class are "beginner bikes" but this experienced rider knows the right tool for the job when I see it. Actually, I would argue that until recently, 250-400cc bikes were NOT beginner bikes, as you needed to be in just the right gear to stay in the powerband, and that the torquier 500cc twins were better-suited for beginners. Nowadays, the light weight and better fuel delivery makes the smaller bikes more capable all around. And then there's the old adage: "it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast, than to ride a fast bike slow." It's gonna be so much more fun wringing the neck of an R3 through my local twisty roads than tiptoeing in 2nd gear on the C14. Anyone want to buy a well-sorted 2009 Concours14?
I can see the point of a Concours, not so much a 'Busa or ZX14. Those big pigs seem pointless, when you can have a GSXR1000 or ZX10 that are just as fast and 100 pounds lighter. Back to your Concours, is your BMW that much better? But yes, I can see having a smaller bike for everyday around town use. Have you tried a Ninja 400, though?
@@captainamerica9353 hi I want to ask a question newbies to biking so am really hoping to get a bike am really in love with the R7 buh doing my finding I heard It can go on long tour why can’t?
And what bike do you think will be comfortable in sitting position and that won’t be cost too much for a long distance riding since they said r7 can’t go on long distance and I don’t know why
Than you
@@_hm-te7pg , I have not seen or ridden an R7, but have years of riding experience. I think it would make a good all around bike. They are not too expensive, not crazy fast, but look "sporty" and have plenty of power for freeway riding. What do you ride now?
@@captainamerica9353 oh great thank you the issues is just that you will some people here that will say ok the bike is good and some will say no it’s not and it’s confusing I really like the r7 just want to get it for school and cruising only not for track and be able To go from state to state on highway I don’t have a bike yet buh I can try to ride not really good in riding that what makes me come here to do some findings about it. Am really wishing just to have two which is r3 and r7 I heard the r3 is comfortable when riding it for long distance cause of how the seat was placed.
I have 19 bike in my collection, I’ve been riding for 18 years… the R3 is more than enough for commuting and some type of fun in corners.
Ready For The 2021 R3!!! Test Lets Goooo
Makes me miss my 2018 r3 :/ beautiful bike. Especially for beginners
The answer is yes. I just purchased a 2020 R3 for my first bike, I weigh in at 215lbs and can coast on the freeways in TX at 70 (at about 7k to 8k rpm). Just drop to 4th gear and you'll have pull.
Please do a video. How tall are you? Can you still slide back far enough to tuck? I'm curious.
@@salskars6637 I am 5 ft 8 in. Little hefty. But although my weight is up there, the bike has no issues at highway speeds. I am able to slide back and tuck easily, and as a side note, even in a not so aggressive position or pretty much just relaxed, slightly leaning forward will get you out of wind. With the stock screen, you'd definitely have to lean in slightly, but they have double bubbles for that "issue". And cant make a video due to no cameras.
@@oscarm2997 - Good info. Thanks for the feedback. A double bubble would look good too. Have you tweaked the rear shock at all?
@@salskars6637 I have been riding the bike as it came from the dealership brand new, and have had 0 issues with bottoming out or any issues riding on the pothole infested roads in my area.
@@oscarm2997 - deecaliboy (on utube) is riding all stock except, a wider back tire and rear sets. Check out his channel.
My area is like a stagecoach trail.
Yamaha just knocked it outta the park with this bike.
I've made a couple of vids about this. It is a very subjective topic - some people think a grom is fine for the freeway, and some people think you need a litre bike. I rode the R3 for a few months, pretty much all freeway commuting and ended up selling it because it just isn't made for freeway cruising. Yes it can handle it, but there are so many better options if all your saddle time is going to be spent over 100 km/h
All facts
Making me want one even more!!! Thanks for the great content.
I got one that's fixing to be for sale... lol
@@peterblt942 -Damn, don't stop there. Tell us why... or did your "friends" pick on you, did you out grow it?
@@salskars6637 haha. I just dont ride it as much anymore. It's been a great bike. But I ride my mt-10 most of the time and no use in the r3 just sitting there. Somebody needs to enjoy it.
@@peterblt942 - Exactly. Sell it this spring to an aspiring rider.
@@peterblt942 I'll take it in a few months. I'm serious. Where do you live?
I was really like wow, this looks like Atlanta. Then you mentioned it
I was actually planning to get a version 2 r3 but ended up with version 1. Anyhow, it still runs great at almost 50000 kilometers. What I like about it is that, i dont have stress getting parts because components of the new version still fit version 1, only the fairings, brakes and front suspension are different.
Yeah Thanks for the R3 highway test👌🏍️
wow your 3ed person shots are great!
I have had an R3 for the last 2 years, it handles highways like a king.
Have you ridden a bigger bike on the freeway? Or only smaller displacement bikes?
Also have one. Never had a problem.
@@desertfresh3740 Rode a CB500F, I found my R3 much more enjoyable because of longer gears.
Going to look at a Monster Edition in 2 days. Nice looking bike.
Ecu tune and cams that thing would be a holy Grail power to weight ratio.
That R3 looks great for the traffic top 1 chase 😀🏍️. From north of England Uk
Even my less powerful BMW G310R does fine on Swiss highways (75 mph/120kmh)
@Terms and Disagreement Well i'm 52 kg / 115lbs lol
so do my cbr250r and like 60 kgs
wish canada got that nice bwm :(
I’m considering the BMW G310R for my first bike, mostly commuting to work. 65MPH-80MPH would be ideal speed. I live 10-12 mins from work mostly highway. I weigh 155lbs is that reasonable for this bike?
@@suyashtilak8371 where do you live? I believe that bike is only for indonesian, thailand and japanese market.
I ride my r3 80-90mph all the time for pretty good distances
i ride my r3 here in the philippines every single day to work
You gotta keep this baby bike on the boil. I went on a endurance run, 1100km in a single day, almost all hwy riding. Never left fourth gear, kept the bike running 11.5K rpm for almost 12 hours, and the bike was totally fine.
impressive numbers! must've decreased your fuel efficiency, though.
So I’m about 6’2 and 247 lbs said that having had a R3 for my first bike I can say yes it can do the high way. But I never liked it every time I merged on or changed lanes it felt like a absolute dog. Now in the video chase says the bike felt stable and he wasn’t straining the engine. The way I would describe the R3 on the high way is it always felt like the bike was on stilts and that the engine was gonna go bang. I feel part of this is because I was a bit to big for the R3. Only had the bike 6 months definitely recommend it for a first bike but once you upgrade to something else you won’t look back.
Highway run in Atlanta! Brave man
A consent up and down on the throttle (RPM)...I'm so glad I paid cash for my Ninja 400 2019 with abs...has lot's of power and I don't have to run the piss out of it to pass or stay ahead of traffic...still the R3 is a great small bike for newbies...and is plenty for the mountains...but for the money I would rather have the 400 Ninja...
Agreed, I bought both and ended up selling the R3 as the Ninja is just better for freeway
Wow - excellent video - I am running out of reasons not to buy the R3 over the next tiered/600cc bikes!
The cute R3 is more than capable on the highway. You can pull past cars for passing if needed. Sure your buddies on an R6 can take off on you on the straights, but in the city you'll be the one laughing.
If I had the money I'd own both, but if I had to choose one it might be the R3 for many reasons.
Honestly the main thing I love about bigger bikes is the sound, but that's about it.
LOVE your videos Chase! Thank you.
I have 23 R3 and it shreds. Yeah I'm not doing 150 or anything but it cruises just fine at 90-95. It goes faster but that's when you start pushing it and really having to tuck down. I rode for about an hour on the interstate at between 80-95 with no issues
The R3 makes a decent first bike
@@jbl7092 wooooowwwww jeez dude 😆 your fucking mad or something?
@@jbl7092 “ego BS”
😆 your clearly in a jackass mood
@@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03 Yeah, you're probably right. Sorry. Just get a little tired of people referring to the R3 as a first bike .... like everyone wants to move up an R6 or R1. I also fly a small plane, but that doesn't mean I want to move up to jets, lol.
@@jbl7092 bruh 😆
@@jbl7092 you can if you want to you CAN fly. Lol that was a joke probably but hey a small plane pilot (obviously got license) he or she can fly so yeah they can upgrade
thats the bike i have except i have the 2021 and ride it doing top speed for a good while and it runs amazing
321cc
42hp
2 cylinders
170kg
R3🖤
Even with the Kyle stickers I gotta say this R3 almost looks better than most Liter bikes these days Imo.
I drove mine on a 600 mile road trip and it was perfectly find took it to the shop to make sure the bike was all well and had no issues besides needing a oil change
Some countries actually ban these bikes on the highway. Motorcycle laws are crazy AF here in the Philippines. They only allow 400CC and up.
I wish we can ride bikes like these on the highway
A windscreen and a front and rear sprocket swap and your good to go on the interstate...to be exact swap to a 15t front and a 41r and this will keep your stock chain length...
I thought the vid just proved the R3 doesn't need a swap. It's good to go.
I have ridden my cbr 250 from St. Louis MO to Dallas TX. R3 can do it easily.
In southeast asia even 90-100cc can handle highways reving almost behind or over the redline in long rides.
People love hearing the engine and the rider. The music is not important
I had a 2017 Yamaha R3 and I was able to keep up on the highway at 80mph. The max speed with the throttle pinned was 99 mph, stock.
One negative about riding the R3 on highway for a long time is the vibration through the stock grips-numbing/tingling of my hands.
Positive note is that the bike is light and easy to maneuver. You’re still able to pass cars on the highway. You can go through the gears and not break the speed limit.
What did you switch to? which bike?
After one year of owning the R3, I bought a 2005 Yamaha R6. The power difference was big, but I really enjoyed it thanks to taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF).
My advice to brand new riders with no experience in riding, please take the Basic Rider Course from MSF so you understand and feel comfortable riding any bike.
The R6 was an awesome bike to ride, but for my type of riding of commuting to work, and traveling 45 minutes(one way) to visit my girlfriend, it wasn’t comfortable and practical. I’ve rode it from Wisconsin to Illinois for the day and I had a sore back. Because of this, I sold the R6, and bought a 2007 Yamaha FZ1 for the sport touring, more upright riding position. The ‘07 FZ1 has the power, and friendly riding position that I rode to MN and back in one day (500 miles) with less back pain than I would’ve on an R6.
I’ve taken a Suzuki gsx125 to the highway and it did brilliant.
I have a cbf 600 s Honda but is of the opinion that a good 300/400cc bike is more than enough as a do it all bike.
Regards from rsa
Im very sad because chill riding doesnt exist in this era no more
did London (uk) to Paris (fr) 5/6hours no problem only stopped for fuel 2 times (before boring the euro tunnel and just before arriving at paris .. super comfortable
Heck yes it is great on highway. I am 5’5 so I don’t even tuck and get no windblast. Just be mindful what gear you are in but yes I can cruise at 85 rock solid. Most people don’t even know it is a 300. 56 mpg and telepathic steering make it awesome.
Rode my R3 from Oklahoma City to Amarillo last year. It was fine. Never felt like I needed more power. It drank fuel like a mofo though. Especially after I had no choice but to fill up with 87 octane gas one time. I think I went through that tank in 100 miles.
lol, How was it on oil?
@@salskars6637 no issues there.
@@justinrstone - good deal. Thanks
It's not straining because its R3 is 321 cc vs the Honda cbr 300 is 286cc....quite a difference there
I got my r3 to 115 on the highway I guess because I’m that small lol, I’m 5ft 2in and 145lbs. Love this bike. 😍
Rode my R3 many many times on the highway with no issues! It’s a little light so you gotta be on your toes when you pass a semi or something, but she hangs at 75-80 no problem!
Cbr281r having a bit under powered trouble on high way in California. Should have bought a R3
3:58 that was sweet asf
As a soon to be 2022 Yamaha R3 owner the only thing I was worried about is how the bike deals with wind gust/semi trucks since the interstate I use to go to work is heavily populated by semis.
update?
@@avab2813unfortunately, he has been taken by the wind and passed away 🕊️
I got the mt03 2021 and I love the 🏍
I’m 45 and definitely a newbie on a motorcycle. At 5.10 168 I think this is the right bike for me. Just something to have some easy fun on. I guess the question is should I go new or used?
Obviously used especially if Newbie and 45
you will crash a lot
Probably.
I recommend buy shittty chinese bike for 2 dollars and practise on that. In recommend Lexmoto or CFMOTO company
Great video. Just wondering why the soundtrack sounds so "draggy" and distorted. Kinda like it's slowed down.
Glad I hit that "Like" button or we wouldn't of got started
My first bike was a ninja 300. They are 296cc. It would go 108mph. Thats straight and seemingly downhill. I suspect it was electronically limited. Dunno. The r3 is 321cc so it goes 114-116ish mph. So yes. Its fine for the highway. It was the ninja 250 that kinda sucked on the highway when riding stock. Since their top speed was about 96mph. Which is plenty fast for the highway but you are in 6th gear high rpm the entire time and thats why they discontinued them.
Entire time the high way looked familiar just to notice you were near kennesaw.
So basically a new windscreen with a little bit more wind coverage and your golden.
Pat W I made the same comment! 👌🏻
Great for highway riding; particularly on windless days without any trucks.
anyone else just not enjoying chases content as of late?
So much fun with easy handling and of course no engine heat! I would not ask for more
I'd like to own an R25 someday. 🙏
Great video, inspiring!👍