Yezdi Scrambler review – it wants to play

A month after the new range of Yezdis was launched, Classic Legends has finally given us a chance to sample these machines. We were only given a couple of hours with each bike, so we won’t be able to tell you about performance, highway manners, city comfort and fuel efficiency. All that will have to wait till another day, but for now, we can tell you what each bike has to offer in terms of the riding experience. This article is about what I think is the most interesting Yezdi of the lot, the Scrambler.

Yezdi Scrambler: design, features and quality

The Scrambler cuts a handsome shape with its dirt style front fender and chopped rear mudguard. Unlike the Roadster that retains the Jawa style engine cases, the Scrambler gets the rectangular design cases that help it identify as a Yezdi. The shape of the kicked up pillion seat also doesn’t look as awkward in person as the original images suggested.

As for features, the Scrambler has a footbrake lever that can be adjusted by one step, a USB type A and type C charging outlet, and three modes for the ABS, including an Off road mode that lets you deactivate the system at the rear wheel. All these details can also be found on the Yezdi Adventure.

It's worth noting that the Scrambler you see here is full of optional accessories, including the headlamp grille, small windscreen, the handguards, the leg guards and the rear luggage rack.

While the Yezdi Scrambler looks good from a distance, the quality and finish levels are disappointing. A couple of bolts are already showing rust, the handguards don't fit well, there are exposed wires for the tail-lamp and there is a rough finish visible on the exhaust. 

Yezdi Scrambler: riding experience

The Scrambler seats you high up with a wide handlebar and it's not cramped in the foot pegs like the Yezdi Roadster. Tall riders will find it comfy, but with an 800mm seat height, shorter folks won’t be put off either.

Our first taste of this motorcycle was on some off-road sections with a hard-packed surface covered in loose stones. The Scrambler is not the most friendly feeling thing on this kind of surface at first, but once you get used to the sensations of the relatively wide 19-inch front tyre and the firmly set suspension, it is quite capable.

The Scrambler feels like a big, somewhat heavy bike, but it's actually quite nice to ride off road once you get used to that and the fact that the wide handlebar feels heavy to move from side to side. The 200mm of ground clearance is generous, and even though the suspension travel (150mm and 130mm at the front and rear, respectively) is limited compared to an adventure bike, it's been set up a little on the firm side, which helps to absorb landings well.

This bike is definitely not as nimble, absorptive or capable as the Xpulse 200, but it is capable enough that you could head out on a trail ride with your friends on their ADVs and still have a good amount of fun.

On the road, the Scrambler’s suspension feels rather firm, almost to the point of being harsh. You will feel the impact of bigger bumps for sure, but the bike deals with rough surfaces decently well. The handling is also decent up to about 80 percent, but if you start riding aggressively at higher speeds, there’s a mild weave that you can feel through the chassis, and it becomes clear that the bike doesn’t enjoy being ridden in this fashion.

The engine on the Scrambler is a mixed bag. It has a very decent midrange and there is a surge from 6,000rpm till it hits the 8,000rpm redline. The performance feels quite good, but the refinement isn't as nice. At low RPM, the engine clunks and clatters and you'll find quite a bit of vibration if you rev it out. What is nice though is the 6-speed gearbox. The shifts are smooth and precise, and the bike gets a slip assist clutch as well.

Yezdi Scrambler: price and rivals

Starting at just over Rs 2 lakh (ex-showroom), the Yezdi Scrambler is priced in the vicinity of the Honda CB350RS and the Husqvarna Svartpilen 250. While its finish levels are disappointing, the Yezdi is the only scrambler at this price point that is more than just a dressed up street bike and Classic Legends deserves applause for that. 

Also See:

Yezdi Roadster review: the entry-level Yezdi

Yezdi Scrambler, Roadster, Adventure video review