2023 Yezdi Adventure: First Ride Review

The Visuals

The Yezdi Adventure does look like a solid adventure motorcycle. This has been achieved by following an intelligent design language that makes the bike look rugged and more prominent than it is. Like the typical ADVs, the Adventure also gets the front beak, decently sized windscreen, and a large fuel tank that allows the bike to have minimum fuel stops. Plus, the presence of a 21-inch front wheel and fork gaiters takes the ADV design aspect to a new level. However, there’s this large metal frame that also acts as a crash guard. This makes a bike look a bit ugly, and sadly, this is an optional item that must be purchased at the dealership.

Then, the split seats have been made thicker to accommodate riders who are on the heavier side. A few more things like handguards, headlight grill, and the tail rack make the bike look off-road ready.

There’s another visual aspect that I like about this bike, the rectangular-shaped instrument cluster. The layout goes well with the ADV theme and shows relevant data while riding in the city and also long distances.

The Package

The motor on the Adventure is a known 334cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine, which makes around 30bhp of peak power and 30Nm of peak torque. This motor is mated to a six-speed gearbox. For the 2023 model, the engineers at the company have made some engine improvements to offer better refinement and NVH. A larger rear sprocket has also been installed so that the bike can churn out better low-end performance. It also claims a redone muffler for better exhaust notes. However, this wasn’t noticed in my brief period with the bike.

The other features have been carried forward from the older model – a fully digital instrument cluster, full LED lighting, USB port, and a neatly integrated Type-C port. The cluster has Bluetooth connectivity, meaning there’s a turn-by-turn navigation system. The 2023 model is also the only adventure bike in the segment with multiple ABS modes – Road, Rain, and Off-road. Off-road is when the ABS on the rear wheel is turned off for better adventure fun.

The Ride

The last time we rode the Yezdi Adventure, we had discussed its off-road capabilities. But this time, we’ll be looking into its on-road capabilities first because most of the changes and additions have been made to make life easier on the tarmac. The main highlight of this revised engine is how quieter and nicer it has become. The brand says some work has gone into getting the NVH down, which is easily noticeable. The motor sounds much nicer in the low and the mid-range.

Twist that throttle a bit more aggressively, and you will notice that in the higher revs, the engine sounds refined and peppy. These changes do bring a particular joy when riding on the road. Due to the bigger rear sprocket, this Adventure loves to accelerate quicker. In the never-ending line of traffic signals in Bengaluru, I was usually the first guy to go off the line and reach the next signal first. It is clear that the sprocket change was done to make the city riding experience easier. However, there’s a downside to this. The top speed has decreased considerably, so the Yezdi Adventure no longer does 120kmph comfortably. You can try reaching this mark but must hide behind that windscreen for better aerodynamics.

I’m a big fan of Yezdi’s sitting ergonomics. The riding triangle is highly comfortable for a tall guy, too. The pegs are large enough to hold off-road boots, the view from the saddle is quite lovely, and the wide handlebar assures you reasonable control. Even while riding hard within city conditions, the combination of comfortable seating, proper weight distribution, and good low-end allowed me to ride the bike for five to six hours without needing much break. But the front brake loses feedback and power after a while. This could be because the Adventure weighs almost 200kg, and the continuous braking must have heated the brake pads.

Take the Yezdi Adventure off-road, and you’ll see a completely different side of the bike. This bike can take a lot of beatings. I jumped the bike multiple times, and some were quite hard. The front fork tubes ate up all of it. With a ground clearance of 220mm, this ADV could go through some giant boulders without a scratch on the sump guard.

I love the fact that the slow-speed trail ride on this ADV is stress-free, and the credit goes to the stand-up ergos and weight balance. With an option to switch off ABS at the back, this Yezdi allows some friendly slides.

Should you buy it?

The new Yezdi Adventure is perfect for someone who wants to enter the world of travel and exploration but spends weekdays commuting to work. The bike has all the essentials to make the daily commute easy and comfortable. The combination of a potent motor, upright seating ergos, comfortable seat, and great view from the saddle makes daily riding easy. Plus, city riding dynamics are much better with the new sprocket at the back. And when the road ends and the off-road world begins, the Adventure feels at home and allows you to experience the wilderness comfortably and without making you tired. The Yezdi Adventure offers good value at Rs. 2.47 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). However, much work is still needed to make the cycle parts look and feel better. Plus, the spares availability has always been a problem for this brand. If Yezdi took care of these two aspects well and soon, bikes like the Adventure could make a big difference in the segment.

Photography by Kapil Angane