Yamaha R3 vs KTM RC390 Comparison Review

Yamaha R3 vs KTM RC390 Comparison Review

  

Pricing & Features:

The Yamaha R3 is priced at a whopping 3.61 lakhs, on road Delhi, whereas the KTM RC390 is much affordable to buy at a price tag of 2.37 lakhs, on road Delhi. Both bikes are
fully faired and features split seat for rider and the pillion, the KTM RC390 is equipped with USD forks, light weight cast aluminium swing arm and an ABS. The Yamaha's R3 on the other hand doesn't get an ABS and USD forks, but that doesn't make it bad at all. The Yamaha R3 features a twin cylinder motor against the hammering single cylinder of the KTM RC390.

P.C. Tushar Pawar

Price, On Road, Delhi:

Yamaha R3: 3.61 Lakhs Rs.

KTM RC390: 2.37 Lakhs Rs.

Performance & Tractability:

The Yamaha's are always been know for the out right performances and yes even the R3 lives up-to it. 0-100 kmph mark on the Yamaha R3 is achieved in about 5.2 seconds which is marginally slower that 4.6 seconds of the KTM RC 390. Low speed tractability on both the bikes is not welcoming, but the Yamaha R3 has good refinement due to its twin cylinder motor where the RC 390 keeps on vibrating.

Power to Weight Ratio (PS/ton): Yamaha R3 - 246, KTM RC390 - 259 (difference 6%)

Torque to Weight Ratio (Nm/ton): Yamaha R3 - 175, KTM RC390 - 211 (difference 17%)

P.C. Tushar Pawar

Power (PS@rpm): Yamaha R3 - 41.4@10750, KTM RC390 - 43@9000

Torque (Nm@rpm): Yamaha R3 - 29.6@9000, KTM RC390 - 35@7000

Kerb Weight (kg): Yamaha R3 - 169, KTM RC390 – 166

Displacement (cc): Yamaha R3 - 321, KTM RC390 – 373.2

Build Quality & Refinement:

The Yamaha R3 has extremely well built quality, fit and finish are way high with its razor sharp design. Engine refinement and exhaust note are soothing for human body. Even at high revs engines maintains its smooth buttery refinement and delivers vib free body structure. The KTM RC 390, built quality is also high standards. Engine refinement is lacking at lower engine speeds due to single cylinder motor, but once you pass 4k mark on the rev counter the RC 390 is a pleasure to drive. At some locations Bajaj has taken low cost initiatives, but that could me overlooked upon when compared with the bike's price.

Handling & Ride Quality:

Handling is pleasure on the Yamaha R3, but the MRF tires make it worse and sometimes dangerous as well. Bike can be handled well and leaned on sharp bends at higher speeds, but the tires become hard easily and within 5-8k kilometers compound losses stickyness. Even at mild aggressive acceleration from still R3 losses the tail grip. Suspension on the R3 is soft and absorbs bumps, but that doesn't mean the bike feels unstable at higher speeds. The rear tire section should had been off higher width though for the kind of performance the R3 offers. The KTM RC390 has a complete different story though to tell, the bike has quite hard suspension at both ends. Which actually helps the bike

Tyre Size:

Front: Yamaha R3 – 110/70 - 17, KTM RC390 - 110/70 - 17 Tubeless

Rear: Yamaha R3 – 140/70 - 17, KTM RC390 - 150/60 - 17 Tubeless

Wheelbase (mm): Yamaha R3 – 1380, KTM RC390 –1340

Comfort & Ergonomics:

On comfort side, the Yamaha R3 looks missing on but in reality that's not the case. The suspension setup and the seat cushion are extremely well designed, primary as well as secondary ride is a pleasure by not compromising on the handling. On the RC 390 it is a different case, as the suspension is stiff and the seat cushion is not well bolstered. If you look closely every third RC 390's seat cushion will be modified.

Seat Height (mm): Yamaha R3 - 780, KTM RC390 - 820

Fuel Efficiency:

The Yamaha R3 has a fuel efficiency is about 25-28 kmpl, on the other hand the KTM RC 390 gives a mileage of 25kmpl in mixed conditions. KTM's mileage can drop to 22 kmpl in hard accelerating conditions on long open roads.

Fuel Cost (for usage of 40,000 km): Yamaha R3 -  1.0 Lakhs Rs. KTM RC390 -  1.12 Lakhs Rs.

Reliability & After Sales Service: 

Yamaha's bikes have been very reliable as comparable as Honda's, Yamaha spares are comparably costlier than to other competitors but it justifies the quality what they sell. Yamaha also has over 800 touch points for the ease of customers against the 250 of the KTM's. But KTM owners have a huge advantage due to parts localization from Bajaj auto. The cost of ownership comes down as Bajaj also shares some parts on their own motorcycles well.

Resale & Cost of Ownership:

Yamaha owners will surly have upper hand at the time of selling the motorcycle, as people are in love with the twin cylinder motors. And also the price at what the bike will be available will be quite affordable to a new biker. But talking about the cost of ownership, the Yamaha spares can cost quite high compared to the KTM RC390 and can really put a hole in your pocket. On the other hand the RC390 resale price will be comparatively lower mainly due to its initial cost and less interest of second hand buyers. But the spares cost and maintaining the RC390 will be much cheaper, all thanks to Bajaj for localizing the vendors for the KTM motorcycles in India.

Basic comparison of the spare cost of the two motorcycle will give an idea of what can happen with your pocket.

Wear and tear parts	Yamaha R3	KTM RC390
Airfilter	545	283
Spark plug	90	175
Front brake pads	3250	200
Rear brake pads	860	215
Engine filter	370	75
Chain sprocket kit	5900	1600

Replacement at 15,000 km total cost	11015	2548
Expenditure for 3-5 years for 45,000 km	33045	7644

Resale Price (after 3-5 year 40,000 km):

Yamaha R3 - 1.6 Lakhs Rs.

KTM RC390 - 1.0 Lakhs Rs.

Total Cost of Ownership (Price + Fuel Cost - Resale Price):

Yamaha R3 - 2.99 Lakhs Rs.+ 33045 Rs.

KTM RC390 - 2.49 Lakhs Rs.+ 7644 Rs

Verdict:

The Yamaha R3 is an awesome package in competition with the RC390, but the cost of the Yamaha is way high due to 70% import duties imposed on the product. If you keep the price factor aside and don't care about the cost you can blindly go for the Yamaha R3, but if you wish to keep price under check you should go with the KTM RC390 as it has all in it.