The Indian motorcycle market has been on a roll for a while now. Numerous motorcycles have been launched in all kinds of categories and some of them have been impressive. While the flurry of launches has kept us busy, we’d never miss a chance to try a new motorcycle, not the least bit one that promises to be a knockout. So once again, we found ourselves flying; the setting was Pune, the weather fantastic, and the motorcycle… Yezdi Adventure. 

Motorcycling aficionados already know the brand and its history which goes back more than 50 years. The Yezdi name holds a lot of clout among motorcyclists and why not, after all, who can forget the Roadking? So when the news broke that Yezdi was making a comeback, it caused a stir. Among the motorcycles launched, the Yezdi Adventure was the one that truly made waves. It looked purposeful and had the performance to back it up. 

Now, after just a few years, Yezdi has decided to update the motorcycle to make it an even more enticing prospect. According to the brand, the new Yezdi Adventure is an improvement on almost all fronts. We decided to hold off echoing that verdict for a while… at least till we got some saddle time, which we did. Now the question is… is the Yezdi Adventure better than ever? And is it ready for the challenging stage that the Indian motorcycle market has become? Let us find out. 

We will start with the looks. The Yezdi Adventure looks the part and it does the job well. It gets the message across without being too loud or fussy. The message is as follows: “You are looking at an adventure motorcycle made by a brand that is known for its rugged motorcycles.” On that front, we agree with it. The beak, the tall stance, the high-mounted exhaust and all else; there’s little on the motorcycle that does not scream for some off-roading.

In addition to the visual bits, there are functional bits as well which aid that particular pursuit. A metal skid plate and engine guards further echo the call of off-roading. So regardless of the angle you look at it, the Yezdi Adventure will seem like a thoroughbred off-roader. All that if you miss the dual-purpose tyres over a cursory glance. 

In addition to off-roading, another theme that the Yezdi Adventure has to stick to is modern-classic. That too it does well. The round headlamp, broad shoulders and slightly boxy approach shout classic. LED lighting, rider aids, a fully digital instrument cluster, switchable ABS, and a USB charging port shout modern. So in terms of looks, there’s little to dislike about the Yezdi Adventure. 

The real star of the show is the engine though; a 334cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that makes 30 bhp of power and 30 Nm of torque. The numbers remain largely unchanged but there have been a host of changes in the engine. The new mill, dubbed Alpha 2, has been refined and tuned further to extract as much from it as possible. The addition of slipper clutch and gear ratio changes further augment the changes in the drivetrain. 

In addition to those, there is further optimization and fine-tuning which makes this new engine a peach. Even if you look at the numbers on the spec sheet, it looks so balanced and even. And it is. The powerband is nice and wide and there’s torque everywhere in the rev range. That makes the Yezdi Adventure very tractable and very exciting when you want to kick some dirt.

The 6-speed transmission and engine itself go a long way in delivering the power in the most predictable manner. On the highways, you will find yourself cruising at a brisk pace without the engine huffing and puffing. In the same beat, you can jump off the tarmac, onto a trail, and sideways through every corner because the engine makes it very much possible. 

When you wring the throttle, the dollops of torque sent to the rear wheel not only propels you forward on the road, it can also help you get your ‘sideways’ on a trail. You can use that grunt to steer or just to show off; the Yezdi Adventure looks pretty cool either way. You also get three riding modes; Road, Rain, and Off-Road. These modes alter the power delivery to suit the terrain and the riding conditions. We stuck to our guns though and used only Road and Off-Road. 

That is how much confidence the Yezdi Adventure inspires. The geometry, the dimensions, and the chassis; everything plays a part in making this motorcycle so much fun off-road. There is 220mm of ground clearance so everything you can throw at it, it’ll scale over. The geometry ensures that there’s a balance between stability and feedback. So on the highways, it can cruise on a rock-solid line and off the road, you will find it quite communicative which makes the process a lot of fun. 

The robust steel frame is complemented by the long travel suspension. 200mm of travel on the front and 180mm on the rear makes the Yezdi Adventure ideal for not just soft trails but fairly rocky terrain as well. Also, the suspension is well-judged and does not feel too squishy on the road but absorbs nearly everything that you can expect to encounter on an excursion. Through ruts and dips and jumps, you can expect the suspension to hold its own with ease. The brakes are more than adequate and the option to disengage ABS on the rear is a godsend for off-roading. 

There is one thing that we believe could have been better. It is nitpicking but it is what it is. The Yezdi Adventure tips the scales at 188 kg which is not a lot considering the rugged nature and the add-on protection bits but still, if it weighed a little less, it would have made this really good motorcycle splendid. On the move, the weight dissipates rather quickly but at a standstill and at slow speeds, it makes its presence felt. 

In terms of ergonomics, the Yezdi Adventure is spot-on. The seat is spacious and comfortable and we are sure that long riding sessions will come easy on this motorcycle. The reach to the handlebars is nice and relaxed for the highways and saddling alike. The wide handlebars present a lot of leverage to control the motorcycle. So the riding triangle is just what one can expect it to be. The windscreen is a boon on the highways. 

Overall, apart from the weight which is a tad bit more than I would have expected or preferred, the Yezdi Adventure is a very capable motorcycle for both touring and off-roading. The power is ample but not intimidating, the handling is very neutral and likeable, and the ergonomics are spot on. The riding modes, switchable ABS, and other modern bits also go a long way in making the Yezdi Adventure an exciting proposition. 

Now, the price starts at INR 2,09,900 lacs (Ex-Showroom). For the money, you get a Tornado Black Yezdi Adventure which offers a lot for the price tag. We believe that Yezdi Adventure is worth the moolah for what it brings. Still, a little less would have been a little more… Anyway, that’s wishful thinking.