Home / Motorcycles / Travel and Adventure

This Ridiculously Affordable New Retro-Styled Motorcycle Has No Business Looking This Good

The approachable yet agonizingly elusive throwback bike packs some surprisingly clever little wrinkles too.

Close-up of a matte black motorcycle fuel tank with a subtle, stylized "59" design and the text "YEZI" on the side. The tank has a smooth, curved shape and is part of a sleek, modern motorcycle.Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published

·

Updated

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

If you’ve been reading Gear Patrol’s motorcycle coverage regularly the past few months, you may have seen a story or two about BSA, a beloved UK name that has found new life thanks to a surprise benefactor.

Based in Mumbai, Mahindra & Mahindra owns brands making everything from tractors to two-wheelers. The latter is where BSA comes in, as M&M’s Classic Legends group has revived beloved bikes such as the Gold Star and Bantam, among others.

Matte black motorcycle with a retro design, featuring a large rear tire, dual rear suspension, and a single seat. The fuel tank has the number "69" printed on it, and the side panel displays the word "ROADSTER." The motorcycle has round rearview mirrors, disc brakes, and red rear lights illuminated. The background is black, highlighting the bike's sleek and modern aesthetic.
I believe this paint job is what Spinal Tap’s Nigel Tufnel would refer to as “none more black” — in a good way.
Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles

True to its name, Classic Legends has also brought back other brands, including Yezdi, an Indian brand that began life in Prague, under the name Jawa, in 1929. Naturally.

In August of 2025, however, it’s turning heads with its latest Roadster, a combination of style, rideability and price so compelling, you might consider moving to the subcontinent.

Brass tacks

The Roadster reminds me of other Indian bikes I love that do not try to blow you away with their power.

Instead, they pack just enough for solid urban riding — and the occasional two-lane twisty jaunty — while keeping the size and price incredibly reasonable.

Close-up of a black motorcycle engine showing detailed components including the cylinder head with cooling fins, bolts, hoses, and a textured cover plate. The engine has a matte finish with some metallic elements and visible wiring.
The Roadster’s engine ain’t big, but it doesn’t need to be to beat gridlock and zip along country roads.
Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles

Here the beating heart is a liquid-cooled 334cc single-cylinder engine making 29 horsepower and 21 pound-feet of torque.

Those numbers put it squarely in the neighborhood of Royal Enfield’s various 349cc bikes, which in my experience are super fun if not exactly “highway ideal.”

Rear section of a matte gray motorcycle with a black leather seat, featuring illuminated red turn signals on both sides, a red reflector below the fender, and the brand name "YEZDI" embossed on the rear fender.
The extra-wide chopped fender is a stock feature with welcome aftermarket vibes.
Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles

Adding to its reliable performance are a  320mm front disc, 240mm rear disc and dual-channel ABS, plus telescopic forks and twin rear shocks.

Together with a seat height of 31.3 inches and a wheelbase of 56.7 inches, that adds up to a super-approachable, beginner-friendly ride.

Bells and whistles

Those compulsory figures alone make this bike super appealing at a price that converts to just under $2,400, but Yezdi snuck in some elements that plus things up a bit more.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the retro silhouette is a timeless banger, while the gorgeous matte black paint scheme also hits.

Matte black Yezdi Roadster motorcycle with a quilted seat, round headlight, and disc brakes on both wheels, shown in a side profile against a dark background.
The Roadster combines lovely throwback looks with a nicely balanced seat height and wheelbase even newer and shorter rides should be able to manage.
Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles

However, it’s just one of five options including “Savage Green” and “Bloodrush Maroon.” 

The Roadster can be further personalized via six factory kits with a range of handlebars, visors, crash guards and touring add-ons.

2025 yezdi roadster pillion
My favorite bonus feature is this detachable pillion seat, which I really did not expect to see on a sub-$3,000 bike.
Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles

Meanwhile, the chopped, extra-wide rear fender doubles as support for a detachable pillion seat, which can be attached and popped off in seconds, depending whether you’re looking to carry a passenger or rock some old-school bobber style. 

Pro tip: Keep that extra seat close at hand, because while you might roll up the party solo, this bike has enough juice to have someone begging for a ride.

Availability and pricing

The 2025 Yezdi Roadster just launched in India for roughly $2,400 USD, though if it ever came to the States, it might cost close to double that amount. Time will tell if that will ever happen, but considering Classic Legends is bringing BSA to the US, anything is possible.

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

Read More