2025 Yezdi Roadster first ride review: More than just a facelift?

The Yezdi Roadster and its siblings got off to a rocky start. Refinement issues, far from acceptable ride quality, and fit and finish levels that left a lot to be desired. However, Classic Legends has been revamping its model line-up since last year with changes to the engine and the chassis along with subtle tweaks to the designs to not only address all of the issues that plagued the earlier bikes, but also to make them that much more desirable. This move started with the Yezdi Adventure, and it was followed by the Jawa 350 and 42 FJ. And now, the Yezdi Roadster has gone under the scalpel. But does it come out the other side as the bike it’s meant to be, or do the changes not add up?

2025 Yezdi Roadster styling

The Yezdi Roadster gets tweaks to the styling that lend it the feel of a bigger bike. It sports a similar front-end design to the outgoing model but gets a completely redesigned tail section, courtesy of a chopped and wider rear fender. The wider 150-section rear tyre adds to the roadster's appeal, and the top-end Shadow Black colour comes with multifunctional blinkers that double up as taillights, further enhancing its roadster-esque silhouette. The rest of the bike however, remains largely the same from a design stand point. What Yezdi has done to keep things interesting is offer tonnes of customisation opportunities. From headlight cowls to taller windscreens, to flat handlebars that replace the stock hydro-formed unit, a rear pillion seat rest, a plethora of guards for the bike and then some more. We have seen a few of them in action, and these accessories actually do a stellar job of giving the bikes distinct identities.

2025 Yezdi Roadster engine and performance

Powering the Yezdi Roadster is essentially the same engine in its Alpha 2 generation. What that means is that the engine receives a bunch of internal changes which are focused on improving the riding experience drastically, without taking away any performance. To that end, the 2025 Yezdi Roadster produces 28.7bhp of power and 29.62Nm of torque. We got to ride the bike in very interesting conditions – great roads in some areas and some severely questionable roads elsewhere. Apart from that, we also went up and down the fabled Chamundi hills and settled into a cruise on some fast highways. A little caveat before we proceed though. The decibel killers on our motorcycles were taken off – meaning that the throttle response is likely to have been different from stock, owing to the fact that back pressure will not be perfectly calibrated anymore. That being said, the Yezdi certainly sounded like a whole lot of fun. Coming back to the changes, you now get revised gear ratios, a two-teeth large rear sprocket and a bunch of other internal revisions to improve the quality of the riding experience. And to give credit where it’s due, the 2025 Yezdi Roadster certainly feels a notch above the model it replaces when it comes to the riding experience.

The first gear is tuned for quick acceleration, with the second, third and fourth gear being geared (see what I did there?) for better tractability. Fifth and sixth gears are the best for settling into a relaxed cruise, and right off the bat, the new motorcycle feels more refined and smoother. The engine continues to retain its punchy nature, while the gearbox is slick and tactile with precise shifts. The clutch action is light, and the overall riding experience is effortless. You also get ride modes with the 2025 Roadster as well as an engine map that caps the speed to 100kmph in the City mode and unlocked the full performance in the Power mode. Refinement has gotten a lot better than its predecessor now, but the Yezdi isn’t perfect. Minor buzzing makes itself felt around 4500rpm and post 6500rpm, it does get prominent, but never too annoying. You can settle into a relaxed cruise at around 85 to 90kmph in sixth gear and that’s when everything feels sorted. All in all, the Alpha 2 treatment to the engine makes the Yezdi much nicer to ride.

2025 Yezdi Roadster chassis, ride and handling

The chassis of the 2025 Roadster remains mostly unchanged but it does sport a new subframe and a revised swingarm to make way for a wider 150-section rear tyre. The 41mm telescopic front fork hardware remains unchanged but it now receives a new tune. The twin rear shocks are new, with a bespoke tune and they are mounted differently as compared to the earlier bike. The Roadster gets centre-forward footpegs, and when coupled with a 795mm seat height, this makes for a relaxed riding triangle. Get going and it is immediately apparent that the new Yezdi Roadster is leagues ahead of its predecessor when it comes to the ride and handling characteristics. It feels much more composed and settled, compared to the older model which felt like it had too busy a ride. Even when it comes to soaking up undulations or mid-corner bumps, the 2025 model feels better-sorted now. Sharper bumps still cause the bike to rebound quickly, especially from the rear, but it is decidedly better than before and that helps unlock the next piece of the puzzle.

Coming to the handling, the 18-inch wheel and a 100-section front tyre along with the relatively lazy rake might mean that this motorcycle isn’t meant to carve corners – but it proves you wrong. The Roadster feels nimble, planted and stable through most corners and feels like a proper roadster should. Stopping power comes from ByBre-sourced 320mm front and 240mm rear disc brakes, which are aided by dual-channel ABS from Continental. With a 100-section front tyre slapped on an 18-inch wheel and a relatively lazy rake, you would hardly expect this bike to be much of a handler. But it proves you wrong and how. It feels nimble, stable and planted through most corners. It feels like a proper roadster should. Stopping power comes from ByBre-sourced 320mm front and 240mm rear disc brakes aided by a dual-channel ABS from Continental. Braking performance is ample but the lever does have a tendency to come in closer to the handlebar as riding becomes harder. What is more concerning is that when you’re riding in the twisties, the braking performance doesn’t just reduce but you need to pull the brake lever a lot more than you’d like.

One aspect that really impressed me however is the seat comfort. I’m a fat guy and have a tendency to sink into the seat fairly early on in the ride, which then causes discomfort. But on the Roadster, the seat is very nicely padded and has just the right amount of stiffness, and softness, while also being supportive. Big props to the team that worked on the seat.

2025 Yezdi Roadster customisation and verdict

From the factory, the Yezdi Roadster will have the option of six custom kits and more than 50 customisation options. Prices for the Roadster used to start at ₹2.09 lakh for the Sharkskin Blue, and go up to ₹2.25 lakh for the Shadow Black colour. But with the new GST rates, these prices have dropped down, with the motorcycle now getting a price tag ranging from ₹1.93 lakh to ₹2.08 lakh, ex-showroom. Even without the reduction in price, I feel like the Yezdi Roadster is a great buy. It’s finally the motorcycle it should have been all along – an honest to god roadster that has the go to match the show. It’s not perfect, but it is loveable and has a character of its own. Most importantly, it doesn’t seem hidden in the shadow of a certain other motorcycle anymore. Is it more than just a facelift then? Absolutely. Should you get the 2025 Yezdi Roadster? If you want a motorcycle with classic neo-retro styling and handling that comes relatively close to modern sporty nakeds, I would now happily recommend the Roadster to you.