India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd's 321cc fully-faired YZF-R3 won the Indian motorcycle of the year award for 2016 at an event held in Delhi on 18 December. The award was given to YZF-R3 after a group of leading automobile journalist tested the motorcycles launched in 2015 on various parameters at Lonavala on 4 December.

After the evaluation, the Yamaha YZF-R3, Honda CBR 650F and DSK Benelli TNT 300 were declared the top three from a number of motorcycles that include Mahindra Mojo, Benelli 600i, TNT 899, TNT 1130, TNT 600 GT, Bajaj CT 100 etc. The motorcycles were judged on factors such as price, fuel efficiency, styling, comfort, safety, performance, practicality, and technical innovation, value for money and suitability for Indian conditions.

Yamaha's much-awaited YZF-R3 made its debut in India on 11 August with a price tag of Rs 3.25 lakh. The YZF-R3 is sold in India as CKD (Completely Knock Down) units from the company's manufacturing plant in Indonesia. The motorcycle is powered by a twin-cylinder, liquid cooled, 321cc engine that develops 41.4bhp at 10,750rpm and 29.6Nm of torque at 9,000rpm mated to a six-speed transmission.

Yamaha YZF-R3 is 2090mm long, 720mm wide, 1135mm tall and has a wheelbase of 1380mm. The module offers a ground clearance of 160mm, and comes with a fuel tank capacity of 14-litres.

The Yamaha motorcycle is equipped with a telescopic fork suspension at front and monoshock at the rear. The 17-inch alloy wheels shod in 110/70 section front and 140/70 rear tyres are tamed with of 298mm disc upfront and 220mm disc at the rear.

The Harley-Davidson Street 750 won the IMOTY award for last year. The Royal Enfield Continental GT won the award for 2014, KTM 200 Duke for 2013 and the Honda CBR 250R for 2012.

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