YEZDI ROADSTER
The Yezdi Roadster is the most affordable and is a good place to start to set context. For starters, these Yezdis share engines with the Jawa Perak — the 334cc, liquid-cooled motor, with new internals. Yezdi has also tuned all the engines differently, while the radiator is new as well. The Roadster has got typical retro-cruiser styling cues like the kicked out front fork, the round headlamp, the simple tank followed by the split seat that sits on top of the rear fender. It gets a 17-inch front wheel with an 18-inch rear — alloy wheels at that, with tubeless tyres. You’ve got tech which is on par for the course as well with the LED headlamp and LCD cluster.
How does it ride? Well the engine has certainly got punch, making 29.2bhp and 29Nm. It revs out quickly and gets the motorcycle moving with intent straight off the line. The Roadster isn’t particularly light at 184kg, but it is worth noting that it is the lightest of the lot. In terms of its characteristics, the engine makes its power high up in the rev range — it starts getting a move on past 6000rpm and peak power comes in at 8000rpm. It doesn’t like being too low in the revs and it does judder a bit. You need to wring the most out of the engine to get it moving along fast. When you do, the revs climb quickly and it does pick up pace impressively. NVH, though, isn’t its strong suit — you feel a lot of them at the pegs and the tank.
In terms of the way it handles, it is typical of a cruiser — it has a long wheelbase and a relaxed steering angle and that gives it a slightly lazy, but stable characteristic in the corners. You’ve got to put a little bit of effort to get it tipped over but once it is, it remains stable.
In terms of ergonomics, the Roadster reminded me a lot of the Harley-Davidson Street Rod. It has a low seat of 790mm and that should make it accessible to a lot of riders. The seating position doesn’t have the pegs kicked forward like a typical cruiser, but slightly backward set giving your lower body the sensations of being on a sporty motorcycle. I didn’t like the positioning of the bar end mirrors — when you apply full lock on the motorcycle, they bite in to your wrists.
The Roadster has plenty of rivals – within the Classic Legends umbrella itself, there’s the Jawas 42, Perak and the Jawa. Royal Enfield and Honda have offerings in the Classic 350 and the H’ness 350. Benelli even has the Imperiale 400. So the Roadster certainly has its work cut out for it, though I must say that it does have its own unique charm and character. It may not be as polished as some of the other products out there, but it has the attitude, that’s for sure.
THE ENGINE MAKES ITS POWER HIGH UP IN THE REV RANGE