2025 Yezdi Roadster review: A big step up from before

The Yezdi Roadster receives several updates, and we recently had the opportunity to ride the bike through some beautiful roads in Karnataka to bring you our review. The bike gets some cosmetic changes and is powered by the 334cc, Alpha 2 engine. Additionally, Yezdi is also offering a lof of customization options for this new model. 

The front end features a similar styling to the older model, with a round LED headlight. Two small changes at the front include a sharper rake angle and a hydroformed handlebar. However, the main design difference is evident at the rear with a new sleek bobber-style tail section, and the number plate and tail light sit on the tyre hugger. It also has a reprofiled rider and pillion seat and a new, wider section MRF Steel Brace radial tyre – the front is a non radial MRF Zapper tyre. Additionally, the rear seat and grab rails can be removed for an even cleaner rear look. 

The build quality and fit and finish levels are good, and the paint quality is a big step up from before. However, when compared to something like the popular Classic 350, it is still not as premium-feeling. 

With my height of 5’7, I was able to fit well on the Yezdi Roadster. It has an accessible 795mm seat height, and I was placed upright in a commanding position with the nice, wide handlebars. Even my legs were placed ahead in a comfortable position, but I would have liked the footpegs to be placed slightly more towards the rear. This is a matter of personal preference and will vary from rider to rider. 

The reprofiled seat was surely the highlight of the entire ride experience. I felt no discomfort after hours of being in the saddle and completing almost 280km over two days. This goes to show that the Yezdi Roadster makes for a good highway tourer as well. 

The updated Roadster gets the 334cc, liquid-cooled, Alpha 2 engine, which puts out 29.1hp and a peak torque of 29.6Nm. The rear has a 47-tooth sprocket, which is now 2 teeth larger and gives the bike quicker and punchier acceleration. The bike feels smoother in the low range rpms, has a light clutch action, and slick gearshifts. Once the revs cross 5,500, there are noticeable vibrations that creep in on the handlebars and pegs. 

The bike feels in its element cruising at 90kmph, and it is also a tractable motor, being able to do slow speeds of 30kmph in third gear. I did feel like the fuelling could have been better, as there were times it felt inconsistent. 

Yezdi have also added a feature to improve fuel efficiency. When the bike starts up, it is by default in city mode, which restricts the top speed to 100kmph. To activate the performance mode, a rider has to long-press the small M button on the left-hand side switchgear. On the go, the mode can be switched under 30 kmph. There is hardly any difference in acceleration and the city mode essentially restricts the top speed. In theory, this sounds like a good idea, but given that it mostly just restricts the top speed, it doesn’t seem very functional. It’s also irritating that the bike automatically resets to City mode on each key cycle.

Yezdi has reworked the suspension at both ends for better comfort. With my lightweight frame of 57kg, I did find the rear on the stiffer side, however, riders who were heavier (around 75-80kg) found it more plush. The front fork has 135mm of suspension travel, while the twin rear shocks offer 106mm of travel. With the sharper rake angle, the bike tips into corners quickly, and it’s effortless to change direction. The new MRF Steel Brace rear tyre offers really good grip, and the bike feels planted through twisty roads. 

The Yezdi Roadster gets disc brakes at both ends with ByBre calipers. The front brake lever lacks initial bite, after which you suddenly feel strong brake power kicking in sharply. I had to get used to how these brakes engaged, as they are sharp but require a rider to get used to modulating them to smoothly get to a halt. 

The Yezdi is quite basic in terms of features and has a round LCD screen displaying basic information. The info is laid out well, but the unit is barely visible under harsh sunlight. The console can also be adjusted for a better viewing angle, but it is not the brightest on sunny days. The only safety feature is dual-channel ABS. It misses out on a traction control system, but for the level of performance, TC is not really required. 

What it misses out on in features, it makes up for with customization. With this generation of the Roadster, Yezdi is offering over 50 types of customizations to enable different riders to personalize their bike according to their liking. The top-spec variant of this motorcycle can be had in a black color scheme with a flat handlebar, bar-end mirrors, sleek indicators, and the rear indicators also incorporate the brake light into them. This gives the bike a really clean look. 

Compared to the older model, the updated Roadster is a big step up. It has better build quality, offers quicker acceleration, and lovely handling abilities. Despite being a roadster, it can comfortably handle long-distance riding, and that does make it quite a usable bike.

Another advantage is that with the new GST rates announced, the bike is going to become more affordable. At the launch, it was priced starting at Rs 2.10 lakh and going up to Rs 2.26 lakh. Now, it will be priced between Rs 1.94 lakh and Rs 2.08 lakh (all prices ex-showroom prices), making it more accessible.