The updated Yezdi Roadster brings forth a retro spirit, wrapped in a modern package, but how does it perform? We find out.
Photography: Saidatta Naik
Say the name Yezdi and instantly bikers think of nostalgia, raw exhaust notes, and that old-school charm. And for 2025, Yezdi has updated the Roadster, and we recently had the opportunity to experience the update up close. We rode the bike from Mysore to Coorg, and here is what we have to say.
At first glance, the Roadster means business. It’s low and long, which gives it a pretty stance. The tank is sculpted, the headlamp is round, and the overall look and feel is neo-retro. It’s not flashy, but it packs a commanding attitude, and on the road, it grabs eyeballs. Look closely, and you notice modern elements that adorn the Roadster. The bodywork is minimal with a simple fuel tank, side panels, and a chopped rear fender. The round LED headlamp and the tank feature the Zoroastrian ‘Faravahar’ as a logo, and the number 69 decal on the tank and the rear fender. The pillion seat is removable if you prefer riding solo. The engine casings will remind you of the older generation of the two-stroke Yezdi motorcycles. The ignition key slot and the steering column lock are situated on the right side, unlike the conventional position near the instrument cluster. Yezdi is keeping basic things like the instrument console digital, which lends it a touch of modernity. The rear fender holds the LED turn indicators, and the rear tyre hugger holds the LED taillamp. Yezdi has surely managed to bottle the nostalgia, doing so in a modern package.
Powering the Roadster is a 334cc, four-valve, liquid-cooled single-cylinder motor. On paper, it makes around 29PS and 29.6Nm of torque. But it’s not just about numbers, it’s about how it feels when you twist the throttle. The Alpha2 engine is mated to a slick-shifting six-speed gearbox and a slip-and-assist clutch. The ratios have been managed well enough to provide good rideability in the city and on the highway. You can manage to roll from as low as 25kmph on the third gear without lugging the engine. On the open highways, the taller gearing makes it easy to cruise at the legal speed limits. The slip-and-assist clutch reduces the lever effort and makes working the gearbox an easy affair.
Liquid-cooling keeps the engine temperatures in check. Occasionally, the radiator fan comes on, more so if riding in city traffic, though on the highways, you will not be bothered by it too often.
For features, Yezdi has kept it simple. The Roadster features an all-digital console with speedometer, tachometer, trip meter, gear position indicator, and even a clock. Simple and informative! Additionally, the Yezdi Roadster comes with two ride modes: City and Power. City mode limits the power delivery and speeds to 100kmph, while in power mode, the bike opens up completely, wanting to go on and on. However, connectivity and navigation features are missing, which would have been highly appreciated.
Seating on the Roadster is pure cruiser. You sit upright, arms slightly stretched, just enough, and feet slightly forward. For city commutes, it’s comfortable, and on the long rides, you won’t feel cramped. We rode it from Mysuru to Coorg, and the bike had so much excitement to deliver. Exiting the city meant navigating traffic, bumpy road patches, and quick overtakes, which tested the Roadster’s abilities. The engine in that case proved to be a gem. Just twist the throttle, and off it goes.
Quick starts, overtakes and low-speed riding, the engine was never out of breath, and the power on tap was more than enough to leave the traffic behind. The 41mm front telescopic forks with 135mm travel and the dual rear shocks with 106mm travel are on the stiffer side; that said, they do absorb small bumps, but will slow you down for most of the bad roads and potholes. You will enjoy the surefooted handling of the Roadster, thanks to the stiffened chassis. The engine pulls with enough grunt when you wring the throttle hard, but once past the 4,000rpm mark, there is a significant amount of buzz on the handlebars and the footpegs, which subsides above 5,000rpm. Highway riding can get tiresome due to the windblast, forcing you to take more frequent stops.
With the seat being slightly softer, shorter rides are comfortable, but that is exactly what turns back on you on the long rides, and even with the upright ergonomics, you will have to move around in the seat to look for comfort when riding at a stretch. The one thing that complements the overall riding experience is the braking, where a 320mm front disc and the 240mm rear with dual-channel ABS, provide ample bite that inspires confidence while quickly shedding speed. The ABS calibration is excellent, and it triggers only when it’s necessary, especially if braking hard on bad roads, gravel or slippery surfaces. For short spirited rides, the Roadster is fun; however, for longer rides, there is some scope for improvement.
So, at ₹1.94 lakh ex-showroom, the Yezdi Roadster is a motorcycle that offers a muscular design, has ample nostalgia, and is fairly reliable. There are a few chinks in its armour, which we hope Yezdi would iron out in future iterations. With all that said, the Yezdi Roadster does make for a great choice if you are in the market for old-school charm mixed with a bit of modernity.
