Yezdi Roadster

The Yezdi Roadster is a neo-retro roadster like offering from Yezdi that pays homage to the evolution of the brand over the years. Interestingly, it comes with a cruiser-like design but the riding posture and overall feel of the bike gives it a roadster character of sorts. Here’s what the  bike feels like in the real world.

The Yezdi Roadster comes with an interesting design that incorporates a variety of different elements and gives the Roadster the appeal of a larger bike look and feel. The front section is similar to that of the Harley-Davidson Street Rod, with the tiny LED headlight and round bulb-type turn indicators. 

The bike looks like a typical motorcycle from the Classic Legends lineup which includes brands like Jawa and Yezdi. The side panels and overall shape of the motorcycle is similar to the Jawa 42 with the same kind of twin-exhausts but in a larger package. The rear section features a small round tail light and similar bulb type indicators as seen on the front.

The bike overall looks good, but the fit and finish levels aren’t up to the mark. The wires look unclean and the welding finish on certain parts like the frame and swingarm looks rather unfinished. There’s also a bit of inconsistent gaps in the bike’s switchgear and body panels.

The Yezdi Roadster is powered by the same 334cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine as the Jawa Perak. The engine has been re-tuned to suit the roadster character of the bike. Our first impression of the motor was that it revs freely and offers quick acceleration making the bike quite enjoyable to ride. The 2023 update hasn't changed this character.

What has changed is that the bike has now become much more tractable, and can easily ride at lower speeds in higher gears. The old knocking and juddering has been minimized and the bike overall feels much calmer, all thanks to the addition of a new gearbox, piston and an updated crankshaft.

The bike is now a lot smoother than before, especially down the rev range but vibrations at the higher revs persist. When riding above 100kmph the vibrations can be felt at the handlebar as well as footpegs. The general rule is that higher the revs, more bothersome the vibrations become. While the bike is much better than before, we would have liked it more if it was a bit more refined.

Although the chassis used on the Roadster is the same as that used on other Jawa bikes, there have been a few modifications done. 

The rake angle is different and the wheelbase is also longer. This has made the Yezdi Roadster feel quite different, first of all the bike enjoys corners and feels absolutely stable when going through. It doesn’t need the same kind of push for quick directional changes like the other Jawa bikes, thanks to the wide handlebar which gives a lot of leverage. The easy going nature of the bike has also made it a fun machine to ride in the city.

Suspension on the Roadster is a bit towards the firmer side, and though it doesn’t come off as stiff it still makes you slow down when traveling through poor roads.

Coming to the brakes, the 320mm front disc has a strong initial bite and steady progression afterwards. No matter what speeds you are riding at, the brakes can easily get the bike to a stop and does inspire confidence. 

Going by the looks, the Yezdi Roadster looks like a cruiser at first glance but the riding stance and overall feel is that of a Roadster. The bike offers a somewhat neutral riding stance thanks to the wide handlebar and center-set footpegs but taller riders will find it a bit cramped. The seat is also well cushioned and can accommodate both short commutes and long trips.

One of the main issues when sitting on the Roadster is that riders will see the outer end of their palms brush up against the bar-end mirrors on the handlebar. Taller riders with larger hands will see this happen a lot. Another issue is that the rider's boot will brush against the large side panel and leave marks.

But overall, the bike is able to give a comfortable riding experience. It isn’t at cruiser levels but for a roadster it is decent.

The Roadster comes with a single-pod LCD instrument console which gives readouts like speed, fuel level, odometers and trip meters. The console looks good but has limited visibility under direct sunlight. 

The Yezdi Roadster overall is a decent bike, it provides good performance, handling and comfort. But there are a few issues like vibrations at higher revs, if Yezdi is able to sort this out then the bike will undoubtedly be a better product. What sets the Yezdi apart from the competition is that it offers a very different riding experience. Unlike the competition which focuses on providing that laidback cruiser experience, the Roadster gives an unapologetic bratty nature with its high revving engine. It also keeps the rider on edge thanks to the flat handlebar, upright riding posture and revvy nature. If that is something you are keen on then the Roadster is the right choice for you.