[Mike-the-Bike]

The marketing photos and videos (along with the pre-production bike I saw in January this year) all show aluminum heel guards with slotted perferations, which save weight and look great. The heel guards on my R3 are solid metal and look like crap. I plan to drill them and work on the finish by brushing or polishing. Any thoughts on this production change by Yamaha?

 

[JerseyR3]

I'm sure it's probably a money saving move ??,,We have to remember these R3's are made and or assembled either in Thailand or Indonesia..this is why they are a drop in the bucket $4990.00 US

 

[Bird]

I put some cheap aluminum ebay specials from china. Anything is better than the stock very heavy metal plating they used to make them. Why on earth do the stock ones weigh like 6 pounds each? Is there a reason? The aluminum ones look like they work fine and weigh a fraction of stock. My pictures are poor but you get the idea.

 

[pattonme]

steel is very cheap. Punch them, dip them, done. Aluminum is more expensive just from a raw materials standpoint and the process to weather proof much more involved.

 

[Aufitt]

And if they had made them from aluminium, new riders would drop it and say they are too expensive.


They just cant win.

 

[Warriorhd]

I agree with you that they cheaped out. All promo pics show the nice slotted ones, which look much better. They also cheaped out by not providing a rear tire hugger. How much could that possibly cost. Not much more than the ridiculous piece of plastic they use behind the rear shock. Despite the low price tag of this bike, they cut many corners that Kawasaki did not cut on the Ninja 300; granted Yamaha has the slightly bigger engine. I would not be surprised to see Kawi strike back with a bigger engine. If they can just do something about that green they like to use....

 

[Kojiiro]

They just cant win.

Lol right?

All the cheap parts to nit pick and we are talking about heel guards?

 

[Warriorhd]

Demanding customers. lol

 

[Aufitt]

I agree with you that they cheaped out. All promo pics show the nice slotted ones, which look much better. They also cheaped out by not providing a rear tire hugger. How much could that possibly cost. Not much more than the ridiculous piece of plastic they use behind the rear shock. Despite the low price tag of this bike, they cut many corners that Kawasaki did not cut on the Ninja 300; granted Yamaha has the slightly bigger engine. I would not be surprised to see Kawi strike back with a bigger engine. If they can just do something about that green they like to use....

And what does a 'Hugger' do that the shock guard doesn't?
Except add unsprung weight.


People smarter than us design these things.


As for Ninja quality!? is that a joke? r3 has nice bushes in the levers, no slop in the controls, neat tidy wiring clips, light feel at the controls etc etc etc ,so many small things you know your on a Yamaha from the first moment.


*I raced a heavy shitty Ninja for 2 years, there is no department where its better, especially quality, Hondas and Yamahas have always been leagues ahead in that dept, let alone riding dynamics.

 

[Capn Kirk]

I put some cheap aluminum ebay specials from china. Anything is better than the stock very heavy metal plating they used to make them. Why on earth do the stock ones weigh like 6 pounds each? Is there a reason? The aluminum ones look like they work fine and weigh a fraction of stock. My pictures are poor but you get the idea.

Thanks for the photos! They look pretty sharp compared to the OEM plates.

 

[Bird]

Thanks for the photos! They look pretty sharp compared to the OEM plates.

They are a bit beat up from shipping but for $16 I am happy the focal point is not the silver heel guards.