Yezdi Scrambler First Ride Review: Brash And Unapologetic

Of the three bikes that Yezdi chose to make a reappearance with, the Scrambler grabbed the most attention. Why, after all, the designers got the styling spot on for a scrambler! But have the Yezdi engineers done an equally exciting job?

Pin It To The Max
The origins of the Scrambler's 334cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled motor are known already. The old Mahindra Mojo's engine was fast-revving and peppy, and it's the same that has continued with all Jawa and Yezdi motorcycles. However, the motor on the Scrambler has its own engine tune, which is the lowest amongst all the Yezdis and even the Perak.

But that certainly won't matter as you set off. The Scrambler springs off the line rather eagerly; it likes to be revved hard, all the way to its 8500rpm redline. The closely stacked lower ratios of the six-speed gearbox also contribute towards it being a peppy little thing. Triple-digit speeds are achieved easily, and there's certainly more performance on offer if you want it.

You can't ask it to be utilitarian, conventional, or even sensible because scramblers of the past weren't any of these. They were meant to be ridden fast, and this one can indeed hustle. So, if you are expecting it to cruise nicely at 100kmph or swing it around town in an orderly fashion, you are picking the wrong motorcycle.

However, one area that continues to remain underwhelming is engine refinement. Unlike the Adventure, where the buzz kicks in after 6000rpm, the vibes on the Scrambler start creeping up right from 4000rpm, and they get harsher after 6000rpm. The harshness of the vibes, especially the ones at higher revs, discourage high-speed mile-munching. At 100kmph, you will feel the engine's chatter, but it is manageable.

The engine's free-revving nature hurts its tractability quotient as well. It grumbles and shudders at low speeds in higher gears. That said, given the brash and no-effs-given theme of the motorcycle, one shouldn't be too bothered by having to work the gearbox a fair bit then.

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Hare Scramble
The telescopic fork and twin shocks have a healthy amount of suspension travel on paper. Plus, the ground clearance on offer is more than some adventure motorcycles on sale in India. So you would expect it to glide over most gnarly obstacles, right?

Yes, it does clear the obstacles but does not glide over them. You need to have supreme off-roading skills and less technical sections for it to show its true colours. One cannot relax astride the Scrambler. Get on a stretch of rough open road and let it rip as it goes banzai! It is only then that the suspension remains settled, absorbing the rough stuff with ease. However, if you go trail riding or exploring the wilderness with the Scrambler, it just won’t be as effortless.

There is one minor qualm with the bike, which could have been easily avoided. When attacking the treacherous sections, the front often tends to deflect off rocks and stones, never digging in to carve its own path. A simple fix would be to opt for a narrower front section tyre. The wider front tends to skip about a fair bit, becoming rather unsettling.

Its on-road manners are pretty similar as well. When riding conservatively, sharp bumps and ruts filter through to the rider quite easily. It is only when you pick up pace and start hustling the bike that it dampens the imperfections out. Thankfully, it doesn’t feel unsettled and remains a hoot.

Speaking of which, you will relish the sporty handling of the Scrambler on your weekend rides. It is capable of carrying incredible lean angles with ease. It is unapologetic in its mannerisms, almost KTM 390 Duke-like. That said, tyre struggles continue here as the MRF Kurve block pattern tyres are slightly skittish.

Worth The Hustle?
The Yezdi Scrambler stays true to its genre. It looks rugged, goes fast, and can scramble. It isn’t an adventure motorcycle, and you have to be sure that your definition of off-roading will involve nothing more than fast dirt tracks. In the affordable performance scrambler space, the Yezdi Scrambler is probably the closest thing that looks and gives out the right vibes of its segment. It isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. Heck, it isn’t even a cup of tea, more like a shot of espresso added to a tall Americano.