from Race Bike to Naked Bike

I’ve always believed that when a motorcycle manufacturer takes a sport bike, strips off the fairing and alters the riding position for one that is easier on a rider’s body, the result is a much better motorcycle. The resulting naked bike retains the agility of the sport bike, but is tailored to accommodate a much broader range of rider. With that in mind, Yamaha’s designers took the popular YZF-R3 and converted it into the all-new MT-03.

“Converted the YZF-R3 into the MT-03” is a rather simplified statement, but for Yamaha, the redesign was a cost-effective way to add a new model to its lineup that is easily accessible and affordable for new riders. The new MT-03’s design also is good because the R3 has a proven track record, as seen by its dominance in the Lightweight Sport Bike road race championship, which the model was ridden by the championship’s