Very true. So far, I have dropped 20lbs from my stock weight of 425lbs by installing the Termignoni exhaust, Li-Ion battery, removing the fender, and replacing many of the components with lighter magnesium alternatives.

I am planning on swapping the stock wheels with carbon fiber BST wheels with ceramic bearings within the next month or so to further lose another 14lbs.

From what I have done already, the handling has vastly improved and the changes to the unsprung weight will be phenomenal. The weight of the BST wheels is focused on the center vs the outside of the wheel thus eliminating much of the spinning mass. Cost is going to be around $4000 plus install.

 

@Sinjin great stuff, continue to keep us posted on the progress you're making

 

I would be happy to, however it certainly wasn't my intention to hijack this thread...

My main purpose for being here was to learn more about the R3, but the discussion topics are interesting conversation and apply to all models of sportbikes.

If there really is a sincere interest, perhaps I should start a new thread?

 

Make a thread

 

You didn't hijack anything!! Why not keep it going; we all know where it is

 

We can move it then if the moderators deem it more appropriate elsewhere...

Here are a few initial mods / upgrades...
Ducati Performance fuel cover, Rizoma reservoirs, R&G tank sliders, and SL ProGrip 717 grips.

 

I replaced the stock clutch with a Yoyodyne slipper clutch. It makes a significant difference even though the 899 has engine braking control which will blip the throttle to reduce rear wheel instability when downshifting. Even though it has 3 levels from which to choose, from off to intrusive, the slipper allows you to go from 5th to 2nd at 90mph with no wheel hop whatsoever.

The stock case is aluminum and in one piece. I replaced it with a two piece magnesium cover which is lighter weight and it allows you to replace the clutch cover with your choice of an aftermarket cover. I chose the Ducabike clear cover allowing the wet clutch to be exposed.

I also replaced the stock rearsets with the Rizoma RRC rearsets. Stock are smooth, but these are butter smooth with needlepoint bearings and 12 points of adjustability. They can also be changed to GP shifting.

Lastly, I also replaced the rear brake reservoir.

 

One of the first things I did was replace the stock levers with CRG carbon fiber levers. The brake is a shorty and the clutch is standard length since the clutch springs are so heavy to compensate for the amount of torque produced from the engine.

I am not a big fan of huge prominent bar end weights, so I put the Rizoma switch on the bike instead.

I also replaced the windshield with the Zero Gravity double bubble.

 

Getting rid of the long rear fender is a necessity.

New Rage Cycles has a clean replacement that moves the plate to just behind the exhaust header cover and the indicators are situated below the brake lights and are wide narrow LEDs instead.

There are several integrated options available which combine the brake lights and indicators, however they are not nearly as visible during the day.

On the front are R&G sliders and on the rear, Rizoma spools.

 

Good looking bike; tasteful mods... Good job!

 

Awesome bike! What do you ned an R3 for?0

 

Probably as a beater bike, don't have to worry about anything much with that!

My equivalent would a a Honda Grom... R3 and Grom, not as cool but you know what i'm trying to get at

 

Looking good Sinjin. Awesome Ride!

 

Thanks for the compliments! To be honest, I really didn't expect to own another bike so soon after purchasing and modifying my Monster, but the sportbike allure had been calling me for a long while and after taking the 899 out for a test ride during one of their demo days, I was hooked!

I kept the Monster thinking that I would spend time riding both, but it hasn't been out very much this past year.

So, what is everyone else riding?

 

Hey Sinjin, are you located in the US? Florida specifically?
Not to thread jack but we are looking for a Panigale to take measurements of and make some parts for.

 

On the comments from the 'exhaust sound' http://www.r3-forums.com/forum/489-yzf-r3-videos/3113-yamaha-r3-exhaust-sound-video.htmlvideo which there is a thread for already on here, the owner of the video confirms 115-118mph avg

 

On the comments from the 'exhaust sound' http://www.r3-forums.com/forum/489-yzf-r3-videos/3113-yamaha-r3-exhaust-sound-video.htmlvideo which there is a thread for already on here, the owner of the video confirms 115-118mph avg

just got to find a buddy with a truck to draft behind to break the 120mph barrier

 

We will know soon enough how fast it can go

 

still combing through the internet for news and reveiews on the R3...

found some onboard footage of the exhibition race they had in thailand for their new race track...

at 2:52 you can see the bike hit 163km/h...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpTOUaEDRIM

this second video is almost exclusively onboard footage, at 3:53 you see it hit 164km/h and following lap you see it reach 161km/h at 6:18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vKof2KSeQg

is that top speed??

who knows but its about 101 mph... im sure it can push it a little harder

 

this second video is almost exclusively onboard footage, at 3:53 you see it hit 164km/h and following lap you see it reach 161km/h at 6:18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vKof2KSeQg

is that top speed??

who knows but its about 101 mph... im sure it can push it a little harder

The rider is short shifting by 1500rpm in 4th and 5th gear.... this bike will easily pass 161km/h

 

is really fast for a bike of this power?

 

About what you would expect really. By comparison, the closest thing to it is the Ninja 300 which is 25cc less displacement, but has a similar engine and top speed is about 106 mph. Other bikes with about 300 ccs. are usually not quite so fast. My CB300F has a top speed of 87 mph. The CBR300R top speed is about 95 mph. A Vespa 300 goes about 80 mph tops. 115 mph is certainly possible for the R3, but I'm guessing it will be closer to 110 mph in the production model. 278-321 ccs. is a very nice size. It's fast enough for freeway speeds, yet the bike is small so it handles well and gets great mileage. What all these bikes lack is good acceleration. It's adequate an allows you to get ahead of most traffic, but many motorcycle riders want better acceleration than you get on the 300s. Race bikes like the Gixxer 1000 go zero to 60 mph is about 3 seconds. The 300s will be 5-6 seconds which by comparison is slow, but still faster than the vast majority of cars and trucks.

 

I don't see why people care too much about top speed. In track you are using 40% - 100% of the throttle back and fourth. While on street it's a death wish.

 

In my old age I have figured out that pain hurts... So I ride pretty conservativley.. I live in the mountains of central va. I ride a 2007 FZ6 now, and will get my R3 at the end of this month(they say). I look forward to the tons of back roads and the skyline drive, but will also revisit the tail of the dragon in deals gap NC.. Speed is for the young guys I guess.. stay safe!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPhPMwfvh_4
187 km/h. It also looks like the r3 has more high-end torque than the Ninja 300.

 

115?

While I can't say it won't do 115, you'd need to be of smaller stature than I. Gettting to 97 wasn't too difficult, but it did take some time. I would regularly run out of straight road before I could go any faster. Under optimal conditions...maybe. A svelt(er) rider, on a flat road, in a draft, with some U4 running through it's veins.....;-)

 

Don't know if you saw that Revzilla review but the guy who is over 6 feet was able to get it to 106mph.

 

I didn't see that review yet...thanks for pointing it out. I didn't read that he got 106mph, (in the comments?) but I could fit 2 Seans in my shadow. ;-). I've got him by a few *cough* pounds and I punch a much bigger hole in the atmosphere at speed. It'll certainly do better than a "ton". How much more? Hopefully we'll all find out soon enough.

 

5'5" ~160lbs

with my weight I was able to get this bike up to 107 mph. up to 100 mph seemed very easy for my R3. 102-107 was creeping up. Don't think I plan on finding out where I can top this out at.

 

the smaller CB300F seems to top out at around 100mph, according to this vid :

https://youtu.be/lrU87qWQ4Ps

 

ok, just bought a new raven. I have to give my two cents on this. can the R3 do 115 mph? I don't think so. I watched the video of the guy doing a review from the west coast hitting 107. I can believe that. Here in FL at sea level and pretty solid humidity, say 80-85% maybe even 90% on a hot 94 degree day. I easily hit 102 mph on two highway passes. I think those over seas vids are running different sprockets and not calibrating their speedo. I am only 160 lbs. To compare my 108 lbs GF can run the stock Honda CBR300R up to 95 mph. I an hit 95 on the same CBR. I can hit 96 on a CBR300R that has a dyno jet fuel controller and been dyn'ed. It would take me a good distance to hit 105 on it he R3 and I doubt I could go to far past. That is my opinion. not bashing any one. I just wish riders would help us by posting their bikes mods when they run a top speed test. not to dis them, or bash them. I would like to know their setup so I can think about the products and how good they are. maybe the rest of us would love to know how you can hit 110 or 115 o a quarter liter bike. I have heard people claim 120 on the Ninja 300. that is my two cents. if you can tune or mod a bike like this to hit those top speeds, please share. cuz some of us would rather us real world research when shopping for performance parts.


any way....I doubt I will be running that fast any time soon, again, lol.... the bike felt very good on the high way and very nice at the 102 mark. my GF both have pushed the cbr 300r and compared to the R3. both can handle the speeds, and the R3 is a fine bike.