After the launch of YZF-R3 in August 2015, which received positive response from biking community in India, Yamaha is working on bringing the naked version of the motorcycle, the MT-03, to India.

A report from Gaadiwaadi indicates the MT-03 has just been patented in India with an estimated launch date in early 2016. The launch is expected to happen at the 2016 Auto Expo at Greater Noida.

The new Yamaha MT-03 is basically a stripped-down version of Yamaha YZF-R3 and styling similar to its 250cc sibling, the Yamaha MT-25.

The MT-03 will remove the front fairing from the YZF-R3 and will come with a single-pod headlight over the twin in faired version. The motorcycle opts for a more conventional single piece and wide handlebar and dumps the clip-on handle bars. The design of Yamaha MT-03 will be true to the street bikes with a muscular tank, small tail lamp and exposed frame.

The motorcycle will be powered by a 321cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled motor churning out 41.6bhp at 10,750rpm and peak torque of 29.6Nm at 9,000rpm. The mill is mated to a six-speed constant mesh gearbox.

The dimensions of the new Yamaha MT-03 are similar to the MT-25. The MT-03 weights just 165kg, about four kilograms less than the YZF-R3, which should give the naked street fighter a slight power-to-weight advantage over the faired version. The motorcycle will feature disc brakes for both wheels while ABS might be optional.

The MT-03 will assembled in India to keep the pricing competitively. Following the trend of pricing the naked version lower to its faired version, Yamaha MT-03 is expected to be affordable than the YZF R3, which is priced at Rs 3.25 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi.

The Yamaha MT-03 will rival the likes of Benelli TNT300, Kawasaki Z250 and the KTM 390 Duke in India.

It seems that Yamaha has taken performance segment seriously and MT-03 will be the first motorcycle in the MT-series motorcycle in India. The MT-07 might also make it to India in late 2016.

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