Yezdi Roadster 2025 | Photo Credit: Kaizad Adil Darukhanawala

The Yezdi Roadster has always been a bit of an enigma. It looked like a cruiser, carried the name ‘Roadster’, yet rode and handled like a bratty naked. That duality was what made it so endearing. It wanted to be ridden with the chassis, the ergonomics and the engine tune all demanding it. However, clunky gearshifts, intrusive vibrations and stiff suspension kept it from real greatness.

So when Classic Legends announced the updated 2025 Roadster, scepticism was a natural reaction. But a ride from Mysore to Madikeri and back was all it took to confirm that this motorcycle isn’t just a cosmetic refresh. It’s a more refined, better-balanced motorcycle that finally settles into a unique groove between its cruiser image and roadster attitude.

At first glance, the new Roadster leans even more toward the cruiser aesthetic. The stubby Harley-Davidson-like rear fender now exposes a fatter 150-section rear tyre, while the seat and handlebar have been reprofiled for comfort. The test bike, with its accessory flyscreen and rear-seat eliminator, looked particularly stylish. And in the new Shark Skin Blue shade, it had a calm retro charm that contrasted beautifully with its underlying energy.

Powering it was the 334cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder Alpha-2 engine producing 28.7 bhp and 3.02 kg-m. The brand’s focus this time was on its gear-based engine mapping; first gear offered quick bursts of acceleration, the next three delivered tractable mid-range performance, and the top two were tuned for relaxed highway cruising. A larger 47-tooth rear sprocket (two more than before) further improved responsiveness, making the new Roadster an eager companion in city traffic as well as on open stretches.

The test motorcycle had its decibel killers removed, lending the exhaust a raspier tone but slightly altering throttle response due to changes in back pressure; on stock bikes, expect a more balanced feel. However, the option to remove the decibel killers at service centres remains for those who prefer a livelier sound.

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Riders can now toggle between two modes, City and Power. The former caps top speed at 100 kph for everyday use, while the latter unleashes the bike’s full performance. Refinement has improved significantly, even though vibrations do creep in around 4.500 rpm and grow toward the redline. It’s a more controlled version of its old self that’s still spirited, but less rough around the edges.

Ride quality has also seen a noticeable improvement. The fork internals and reworked rear shocks do a commendable job of absorbing bumps and rough surfaces. On well-paved roads and twisties, the Roadster sheds its laidback cruiser persona and comes alive, feeling agile and willing to lean. The chassis feels communicative and the new suspension setup delivers a more engaging experience. Push too hard, and you’ll find its limits; the side stand and exhaust start scraping, and the rear end can feel a bit wallowy. The brakes offer decent bite and progression under normal riding, though repeated hard use can leave them slightly spongy.

The 2025 Yezdi Roadster may not be a complete reinvention, but it certainly irons out a lot of the issues that existed on the older bike. It continues to blur the lines between cruiser comfort and roadster attitude; only now it does so with more polish and maturity. At ₹1.93 lakh (ex-showroom), it’s a motorcycle that embraces its contradictions — relaxed yet restless, composed yet thrilling — and that’s what makes it a very interesting option indeed.

© Motoring World

Published on November 15, 2025