2024 Yezdi Adventure First Ride Review: Finally A Good Recommendable ADV

Classic Legends has been on an updating spree, refreshing its existing products with small but significant tweaks aimed to make the riding experience far more enjoyable. It started with the Jawa 350 in January and over the course of the year, most of its products have been revamped. Now, it is the time for the Yezdi Adventure to shine. And much like its brethren, the ADV too is showing a lot of positives.

The Changes

There are again just a handful of changes that Classic Legends has brought to the Adventure. Firstly, the 334 cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled motor, which Jawa-Yezdi calls the Alpha-2 series of engines, receives the same set of engine internal tweaks that are aimed to make the riding experience a whole lot calmer and quieter. While output numbers are more or less the same, 29.2 bhp and 29.8 Nm, each gear has its own dedicated engine map. As a result, the driving characteristics in the first three gears are vastly different from the next three. 

Next up, the bike had to become slimmer and lighter. So, the two areas where the energies were focused were the exhaust and the massive tank rails. The revised exhaust layout serves not much functional gain beside making the front end slimmer, and as a result the new bash plate can neatly wrap around the belly. The new compact tank rails save eight kilos in the process and technically should make for easier handling.

Lastly, Yezdi engineers have paid heed to the owners’ feedback. As a result, the suspension tune is altered to better suit everyday riding conditions and not just one where only a specialised rider can enjoy.

The Impact

Straight away you notice the engine being a whole lot more refined than before. At 100 kmph in 6th gear with the tacho needle hovering at 100 kmph, there are barely any vibrations to speak of. 110 kmph seems easily doable and anything beyond that is where it is unpleasant. It feels the nicest below 6500 rpm and you would not like to keep revving the motor to its full extent at all times.

Yet, it is still a quick 350 cc engine. It will get up to highway cruising speeds in a rather rapid manner, it will obey your command if you want to ride it fast and it still has the youthful spirit that every Yezdi should possess. 

However, with the engine update, there is versatility added into the mix. While we couldn’t test out the commuting experience thoroughly on our brief test day, what gave us a positive impression is the fact that the engine doesn’t shudder or knock at lower revs. There is adequate drive at 2000 rpm without feeling like it is going to bog down, and it can be ridden in fourth or fifth gear nicely at decent city speeds. 

This bodes well for off-roading too as no longer do you have to keep the throttle wringing to keep moving. It doesn’t need to be in the right gear at all times as it gives you the necessary leeway to take things at a controlled pace. Hence, this provides the rider with great confidence when conditions become far from ideal, like it was on our test day.

Another bit that aids in building confidence when riding over tricky surfaces is the new pliant suspension tune. This helps the bike stay flat and neutral, giving the rider solid control over the bike while off-roading. Yezdi has achieved this by altering the spring rates with a softer initial stroke followed by a firmer one. This helps the bike glide over the smaller road imperfections while the more serious ones, well they are felt but the ride doesn’t become unpleasant.

Price Bump?

Yezdi has taken a leaf out of Royal Enfield’s playbook and introduced a new colour option for the Adventure at a lower asking price. Here are the new prices:

For about the same moolah, you could get the Suzuki V-Strom SX or the Royal Enfield Scram 411. The quarter litre V-Strom is an excellent commuter with a chilled attitude for fast paced touring. It isn’t quite as capable while off-roading but does the job over rough terrain. The Scram 411 in essence is the old Himalayan 411 with a smaller 19-inch front wheel. The lovely bottom heavy torque makes it quite charming to ride. However, it too isn’t quite as well balanced as an overall do-it-all motorcycle. 

In that regard, the Yezdi Adventure feels more robust and has rugged capabilities that serve it well when you take it off the tarmac or just want to munch in the miles. And given the engine tweaks, it should be easier to live with on a daily basis. Thus, it becomes a good recommendation for those who are seeking an ADV motorcycle on a reasonable budget. What remains to be seen is just how this motorcycle fares in the long run. The fitment levels have improved and parts quality seems to be visually better than the first iteration, so the initial signs are positive.