2019 Yamaha R3 Test Ride Review [Beginner Bike]

Yamaha set out to disrupt the beginner bike market, and the 2019 Yamaha R3 does just that. With a 321cc parallel twin producing 36 horsepower and 19.8 lb-ft of torque, you're propelled to a top speed of 110mph. What it lacks in features it makes up for in feel and sheer pleasure as you carry your speed into any curve the roads can throw at you. Can the 2019 Honda Rebel 300 and 2019 Kawasaki Ninja 400 hold up?

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MotoVlog Camera: GoPro Hero 7 Black
Point & Shoot: Sony RX 100ii
DSLR: Sony a6500 w/ Sigma 18-35 f1.8
Audio: Sony 2 Channel Lapel Mic

Helmet: Shoei RF1200
Gloves: Dainese 4 stroke
Jacket: Dainese Air

#BeginnerBike

[DukeOfDC]

Thanks for the love on the last few videos! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!

[gronkgrunk]

Back in 2015, i walked into a showroom & saw the Gen1 bike. Asked for a test ride & booked one on the same day. Perfect as a daily commuter. Sporty engine but very forgiving. It's the best of 2 worlds as i can still ride it like a sportsbike (revving happily to 12, 500rpm redline) or cruise all day without any aches & pains.

It's not perfect in terms of outright power & budget suspension, but it'll do the job. Minor mods i did were the brake & clutch levers, upgrade to better tyres, K&N air filter & Akra slip-ons (stock pipes sounded like a sewing machine, lol)

4 years on & it still rides as good as day 1. This one's a keeper for me.
Just sharing my thoughts as a 25year rider.

[TDdd]

Just call it a motorcycle or a smaller motorcycle. Some people riding these are coming down from a larger bike because it's light with good mileage and wind protection. Those who grew up with 2-cycle bikes know that size means nothing.

[hectorallanrivera]

R3 best decision I made to get back into riding after 20+ year layoff. Thank you for the video!

[sammysam]

My brother has been teaching me to ride on his Yamaha yz250 for the last 6 months. For my first bike, he highly recommended the R3 and said to stick to it for a year. Another few weeks and I should be riding around

[danielharry]

Call it a 'small capacity sportbike' as it's not merely a beginner's bike. I love my CBR1000RR as much as the next guy but these late small capacity superbikes are fantastic. The Z400 I particularly like because being a naked the focus is less on the issue of speed. I reviewed the R3 also and what a fantastic bike and really better than outgoing R3 which this is really based on. Love your review man, keep on bringing it!

[danielnyman]

I think beginner-friendly works as a term for these bikes. the implication that 300ccs are beginner bikes implies that people who've been riding for a while don't still choose to have a 300 as their primary bike and that's quite wrong. they're light and flickable, an absolute joy on the backroads, and they get like 70MPG + insurance is almost nothing. and you actually get to rev them out beyond 3rd gear without being 85+ MPH on backroads.

[Dbaker]

"Small displacement supersport" there ya go

[andy]

2019 Yamaha R3 so awesome bike cheers Duke brilliant coverage reviews looking forward to seeing more this rest of year safe riding ❤️👍🇬🇧

[MotoAtheist]

I actually am amazed at the sounds of it. Doesn't sound weak or anemic at all. Sounds like a legit sport bike. Unlike the Nina 300 and 400... they both sound terrible.

[twowheelingtom]

DukeofDC, thanks again for another great video...The R3 is the one I've been looking at to get also. Cheers from Tennessee!!!

[RollinRetro]

I've got a 2015 R3 right now and I gotta say, I think for a first bike it is an excellent choice. The only complaint that I would have about the bike is that the blinkers Yamaha uses are the single most ugly thing on the planet. You'd think by 2019 that they would be using LED blinkers. But it is an easy remedy. Great video btw.

[mrsnapfish]

Great review and good personality just won me as a subscriber! Love the R3, so many people clown on it but it’s a great small bike!

[johnwhitten]

Duke, thanks for this review. Think I've watched it around 50 times. Aiming to buy the 2020 model come spring time.

[wildlifeshorts]

I’m upgrading to an R3 from a CBR250R. Not that big of a jump but I honestly don’t want to die this soon.

[SamXDesc]

This version was recently announced in Brazil, very recently. Thanks for the video, great review.

[awen]

I'm totally going bonkers trying to decide what to buy for my first bike. SO many YouTube videos! This one, though... with that bird at 7:31? This one instantly became more entertaining when I rolled that scene back and replayed it at 50% speed. That 'fabulous' narration totally made me rewatch that bit too many times, "Uhhmuhhgosshh! Ahh ULmosst killed dat buurrrdd." Liked and Sub'd b'cuz of... just sayin'.

[ilovepepsi]

First video i watched of yours liked and subd

[axmunir]

Hey you got one new subscriber here. Lol. I always been searching for which one better yamaha R3 or the ninja 400. Your channel did review both of them. Thanks bro.

[Braselton]

At the Moment the Top3 Small bikes are
Honda CBR500R
Kawa Ninja400
Yamaha R3
KTM Duke 390
Pretty much whatever brand you prefer since they all solid bikes that you'll probably keep for longer than you think.
There's just something fun ringing out a small bike & flicking it around.