Yamaha’s A2 legal R3 sports bike gains a fresh new look, aero, and more for 2025

Yamaha have upped the spec of their A2-legal R3 sportsbike for 2025 with not only a fresh look but also added tech and an uprated chassis.

• Related: MCN’s guide to the best A2 friendly motorbikes

While the changes are relatively small, they have a big impact on the R3’s visual appeal and should help it be more competitive in the WorldSSP300 race series.

The most obvious upgrade comes from the R3’s styling, which is now much more aggressive and in keeping with the MotoGP-inspired R Series look. Retaining the twin-eyed face of before, the 2025 bike uses a central projector headlight with LED positioning lights either side giving a sharper front profile, something that is helped by a sleeker fairing. And one that is also more aerodynamic.

Tucked below the duct at the front of the bike are winglets inspired by those on the M1 MotoGP bike, which Yamaha say create maximum aerodynamic efficiency when combined with the new side fairing and tail wing. Given the bike makes just shy of the 43bhp A2-licence maximum, they may be more style than function.

To make the R3 even more accessible, Yamaha have slimmed down the side covers by up to 13mm and increased the seat’s width by up to 6mm – aimed at making its 780mm seat appear even lower as the rider’s legs are less obstructed.

Yamaha claim a fully fuelled weight of just 170kg, which is actually 1kg more than the outgoing model.

When it comes to the A2-legal parallel-twin engine, Yamaha have done what was needed to get it through new Euro5+ regulations. Power and torque remain unchanged at 42.6bhp and 21.8lb.ft respectively but there is a new Assist and Slipper clutch, which is claimed to reduce lever-effort by 17% with the lever positioned 5mm closer to the bar to make it easier for riders with small hands to operate. A quickshifter (up only) is an optional extra, with the price still to be confirmed.

Finally, Yamaha have responded to two of the major gripes about the R3 – its old-school looking front end and lack of smartphone connectivity.

While there was nothing wrong with the old model’s telescopic forks, the 2025 bike’s 37mm KYB inverted items with their radially mounted front brake have bags more kerb appeal, and the new multi-function LCD dash has connectivity.

The R3 joins the R125, R7 and R9 as Yamaha’s road-legal sportsbikes with the R6 and R1 GYTR and Race track-only models.

Yamaha are yet to announce a price for the 2025 R3 but when it arrives in dealers in November it shouldn’t be significantly more than the 2024 model’s £6508. Colour options are Icon Blue and Midnight Black.