The Yezdi Scrambler offers a smooth ride once you get a hold of its weight and wide handlebar
The Yezdi Scrambler offers a smooth ride once you get a hold of its weight and wide handlebar
We recently took a ride on the new Yezdi Motorcycle and Yezdi Scrambler which promises to be the most interesting as it is currently the only bike of its kind at this price point.
The Yezdi Scrambler cuts a pretty shape with its dirt style front fenders and slanted rear mudguard. Unlike the Roadster, which retains the Jawa-style engine cases, the Scrambler gets rectangular design cases that help identify it as a Yezdi. The shape of the kick-up pillion seat also doesn’t look as awkward in person as the original images suggested.
The Yezdi Scrambler has a footbrake lever that can be adjusted by a step, USB Type A and Type C charging outlets, and three modes for ABS, including an ‘off road’ mode that lets you control the system at the rear wheel. Allows to deactivate. However, all these details can also be found on Yezdi Adventure.
Notably, the Scrambler is loaded with optional accessories which include a headlamp grille, smaller windscreen, hand-guard, leg guard and rear luggage rack.
The Yezdi Scrambler looks good from a distance, but the quality and level of finish is disappointing. Some bolts are already showing rust, the handguards don’t fit well, there are open wires for the tail-lamps, and a rough finish is visible on the exhaust.
The Scrambler sits you upright with a wide handlebar and it’s not cramped into foot pegs like the Yezdi Roadster. Tall riders will find it comfortable, but with a seat height of 800mm, shorter ones won’t be put off either.
Our first taste of this motorcycle was on some off-road sections, which had a hard surface covered with loose stones. The Scrambler doesn’t deliver the most favorable feel for this kind of surface at first, but once you get used to the sensations of the relatively wide 19-inch front tires and firmly set suspension, it’s quite capable.
The Scrambler feels like a big, somewhat heavy bike, but it’s good enough to ride on the road once you get used to it and the fact that the wide handlebar feels heavy to carry from side to side . Ground clearance of 200 mm is generous, and even though suspension travel (front and rear 150 mm and 130 mm, respectively) is limited, compared to an adventure bike, it is set up a bit on the firm side, which helps with landing. Absorb it well.
The Yezdi Scrambler certainly isn’t as nimble, absorbent, or capable as the Xpulse 200, but it’s capable enough for you to go on a trail ride with your friends on their ADVs and still be a good deal.
On the road, the Yezdi Scrambler’s suspension feels pretty stiff, almost to the point of being stiff. You will definitely feel the impact of big bumps, but the bike tackles rough surfaces quite well. Handling is also good, up to about 80%, but if you start riding aggressively at high speeds, there’s a slight weave you can feel through the chassis, and it becomes clear that the bike Doesn’t enjoy riding in this fashion.
The Yezdi Scrambler’s engine is a mixed bag. It has an acceptable mid-range and has bounce until it reaches the 6,000rpm to 8,000rpm redline. The performance looks good, but the refinement isn’t that great. At low RPMs, the engine stutters and slams, and you’ll notice a lot of vibration if you spin it. What is good though is the 6-speed gearbox. The changes are smooth and precise, and the bike also gets a slip assist clutch.
Starting at ₹ 2 Lakh (ex-showroom), the Yezdi Scrambler price starts around the Honda CB350RS and Husqvarna Svartpilen 250. Although its finish levels are disappointing, the Yezdi is the only Scrambler at this price point that is more than just a dress up street bike and Classic Legends deserves applause for this.
,