A naked Yahama R3?

The naked 250-400 cc segment is being ruled by the KTM Duke 390. Despite being a single cylinder, the bike has the grunt of taking on some of the established competition even slightly over its segment. However, its popularity may be hit in the near future thanks to a certain Japanese manufacturer which has been known in India to offer some crazy performance motorcycles.

Patent images of another naked Yamaha have been leaked and published at Visor Down. These are purportedly photos of MT-03, the naked version of the R3, which is expected to be launched not just in Europe but in other markets as well. The MT-03, elder sibling of the recently unveiled MT-25, will sport the twin cylinder mill from the R3 and power output will be around the same ballpark of 42PS and 29.6 Nm as well.

In comparison the single cylinder Duke 390 churns out 43.5 PS. A recent speculative report states that Yamaha India, post the R3, is going to launch this naked R3 to India as well. They say that it will be called as MT 320 and like the R3, it will also be brought here via the CKD route and expect a showcase at the Auto Expo next year, followed by its launch within some months thereafter.

Yamaha may not call it simply as MT-03 because from 2006 to 2013 they used to sell a 660 cc motorcycle by the name MT 03. MT 320 will specify the motorcycle’s capacity (which in this case is 321 cc). Yamaha MT 320, if it is real and coming here, will be a competition to the Z250 and Benelli TNT 300.