Yezdi Scrambler

The Yezdi Scrambler is, as the name suggests, the scrambler offering from Yezdi. It comes with a rugged design and styling that screams “scrambler,” with large spoke wheels and a powerful 334cc engine. Here’s how the bike performs in the real world:

The Yezdi Scrambler’s design is quite rugged. It features a round headlight with a grill, combined with a raised front fender similar to what we see on motocross bikes. The front fork is covered with fork gaiters, making it look off road-ready. The handlebar is tall and comes with knuckle guards for protection and visual appeal. 

The bike features twin upswept exhausts and the rear section is a chopped-up unit with a small taillight and round indicators. 

The Scrambler gets the same single-pod digital instrument console as the Yezdi Roadster. While the console is fairly info-packed, it gets tricky to read under direct sunlight. Other than that, the Scrambler gets 3 ABS modes, but more on that in the Handling and Ride Quality section.

The Yezdi Scrambler offers a neutral and upright riding posture. Its riding geometry is really comfortable and can accommodate long rides without any discomfort being felt. The long single-piece seat also adds to the overall comfort that the bike is able to provide. It is neither too soft or too hard, striking that perfect balance in terms of comfort. 

The Scrambler features the same 334cc liquid-cooled engine that we have seen on the Jawa Perak. But the engine here comes with a different turning and is not only more performance-oriented but borderline crazy. The engine urges the rider to push harder and rev its guts out all the way to the redline.

Although the Scrambler’s performance sounds exciting, the almost gruff nature of the engine means it gets tricky for the Scrambler to reach its full potential. We know a short-stroke engine won’t be a smooth operator, but this one could still have been smoother.

The bike has vibes, with a mild buzz creeping in at the foot pegs at around 4000rpm. As the speed rises, the vibrations progress over to the tank and can finally be felt at the handlebars. This may get a little distracting as the redline inches closer.

Lastly, the peaky nature of the engine also means tractability becomes a bit of a challenge. Under 3000rpm, anything less than half a throttle above the third gear will feel vibey. This leads to a situation where the rider will be constantly working the gearbox and making sure the revs stay high enough during commutes or even on highway trips.

The wide handlebar, mid-set footpegs and tank grips of the Scrambler keep the rider locked in place. The suspension setup that is a bit towards the firmer side helps the bike stay stable around corners. The bike, overall, is highly agile and almost feels like a street naked when it comes to handling on road.

But this good performance on road limits the bike’s performance off-road. The Yezdi Scrambler has 200mm of ground clearance, with 150mm suspension travel at the front and 130mm at the rear, but the firm nature of the suspension allows some of the jolt to filter through while going on bumps and potholes. 

The grip from the tyres could’ve been better, particularly on rocky terrain - especially on the wide front rubber. But there’s an easy fix for that: replace it with one that has a smaller section.

Coming to the brakes, the bite from the 320mm front disc is quite strong and inspires confidence, and there’s also a steady progression from the lever throughout the braking action. The bike also offers three ABS modes: Road, Off-road and Rain. The difference comes down to the level of ABS intervention, with Road and Rain modes having greater intrusion. The difference between the two is minimal but the Rain mode, overall, has the quicker intervention.

Finally,  Off-road mode switches off the ABS in the rear. It gives greater control by allowing the rider to lock the rear wheel, something that is useful when riding offroad.

The Yezdi Scrambler is an interesting bike, offering good performance with that rugged scrambler appeal. It is more of a scrambler-style motorcycle than a hardcore scrambler that you would take off-road, since its suspension is a bit firm and engine refinement could be better. But even then, the bike is a lot of fun and provides a very comfortable riding experience. If you are looking for a scrambler-style bike, then the Yezdi Scambler is a good choice.