Classic Legends has been working on a resurgence and bringing its portfolio back on the map. These efforts can be particularly seen with Yezdi and BSA brands as the company recently launched BSA Scrambler 650 and Yezdi Scrambler 350. BSA Scrambler 650 review is out and you can read all about it here. I rode Yezdi Scrambler 350 in and around Pune city and compiled my thoughts on it.
Yezdi Scrambler 350 Review
Prices for 2026 Yezdi Scrambler 350 start from Rs 1.99 lakh and there were four colour options to choose from at launch. Prices vary depending on the colour option – Rs 1.99 lakh for Legacy Black, Rs 2.06 lakh for OG Yellow and Rogue Red, Rs 2.09 lakh for Rally Blue. Now, there is a new single-tone colour called Grey Panther without any sporty graphics, priced at Rs 2.06 lakh (all prices Ex-sh).
This new Grey Panther seems to be the only colour to get tank grips, colour matched with the Brown seat, while every other colour gets Black seat. In terms of design, Yezdi has completely overhauled Scrambler 350 and I liked what I saw. The fuel tank is from the new Roadster and there are pronounced radiator shrouds now that add muscle to this motorcycle.
Seat cover is new and the seat is still angled upwards at the pillion end, which can get uncomfortable for pillions. Side body panels now get an oval shape element which acts as a side number board like in a racing bike. There is a more pronounced belly pan, which is not made of metal, even though it looks like it. In fact, Yezdi has incorporated a lot of plastic or fibre components, more on it later.
The Show Stopper!
Then there is a beautifully finished fuel filler cap, which is centrally mounted and then it gets an off-set instrument cluster. Scrambler elements like braced handlebar and the front beak are present too. Yezdi Roadster looks the best from rear angle, where we can see a chopped-off fender, circular LED turn indicators and circular tail lights along with a tyre hugger.
Luggage rack which used to be offered as standard, is not standard anymore and it makes the package look prettier. 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wire-spoked wheels lend it a proper Scrambler look. The bronze finishes on the new 334cc Katar engine’s head and crank case look nice and lends a premium vibe. Also nice, is the brushed finish on exhaust end can.
There are still fins on the engine to sort of give it aesthetics of an air-cooled engine, even though this is a liquid-cooled engine. Only thing I would remove from Yezdi Scrambler 350 is its front beak as it makes it look convoluted and busy. Also, I would have either position the instrument cluster in the middle, or made the fuel filler cap off-set, like in BSA Scrambler 650. Other than that, Yezdi Scrambler 350 looks like a show stopper.
Ergonomics & Usability
In terms of ergonomics, seat height is 813 mm, which is not very tall. My 6-foot frame with long legs could easily flat foot on both sides. Shorter riders who felt comfortable on other bikes around the same seat height might not be able to flat foot here owing to the seat design, which is rather flat than being contoured to allow easier accessibility. The heel rest on rear footpegs protect pillion footwear from touching the exhaust end can. There are off-road footpegs and you can remove the rubber part for better grip.
Handlebar positioning is perfect for me and it should feel at home for most body compositions too. It commands a slight lean, which is not bothersome at all. Footpeg positioning for the rider is rather high which will yield a knees-up position. However, the slight lean and this knees up position puts the rider in a sporty or fun kind-of posture, which suits the overall personality of this bike. If I have to stand and ride, I probably need handlebar risers, but shorter riders should be fine.
One thing you will notice immediately is the lightness which has been introduced for the first time. The company has reduced weight extensively on this new model. Primary attribute in this regard is a new single-sided exhaust, which has helped shave a lot of weight between 10 – 12 kgs, depending on the variant and equipment chosen. New model kerb weight is 174 kg and I appreciated the lightness and usability it brings.
There are two USB ports, a Type-A and a Type-C and then there are four buttons to cycle between menus in the instrument cluster. Also, these buttons can cycle through the three Ride Modes – Road, Off-Road and Rain, which alters power delivery and traction control levels. Instrument cluster is a fully digital LCD unit which is not legible under sunlight. Even during the dawn or twilight, legibility is very poor.
Powertrain & Performance
At the heart of updated Yezdi Scrambler 350 is a new ‘Katar’ engine, promising a 30-30-30 philosophy. It means this engine has 30 horses, 30 torques and promises 30 km/l of fuel efficiency. This is a thoroughly reworked engine which is lighter in weight and the company has promised stronger performance, when compared to the preceding model. It is still a 334cc liquid-cooled engine with DOHC 4V head along with a slipper clutch and a 6-speed gearbox.
Spec sheet and promises aside, this engine feels much better to ride than the Alpha 2 engine seen in the predecessor. There is a lot of low-end torque with this new Katar engine and the bike will chug along quite nicely. It almost feels like a long-stroke engine without being one. This engine is relatively smooth and whatever vibrations you feel, are not spine-shattering. The new exhaust has a thump to it, which again feels like a long-stroke engine.
The gearbox is smooth to shift, but has short ratios. So, you will shift into higher gears relatively quicker. In 1st gear, the bike will start moving without any throttle inputs and you can maintain lower speeds in higher gears, which I quite liked. Especially the 4th gear where you can maintain speeds as low as 22 km/h and still flick the throttle for a clean pull all the way till around 65 km/h when you have to upshift.
Ride & Handling
Performance is genuinely impressive and you will wring the throttle to hear the sweet sound. The lightness helps big time and the fun riding posture lends a sporty overall riding experience. New Yezdi Scrambler 350 does not take a lot of effort to tip into a corner or to come out. 100-section front and 140-section rear tyres offer decent balance and cornering capabilities for a scrambler.
It is no supersport by any means, but it feels sporty for a Scrambler. From the moment you tip it into a corner and pull it out, it stays relatively composed and did not unnerve me mid-corner. The bump absorption is quite commendable even though this is only a scrambler and not an off-roader. The 200 mm ground clearance ensured I didn’t bottom out anywhere on off-road trails even at higher speeds.
0-100 km/h acceleration time we got from the Yezdi Scrambler 350 under 10 seconds, which is decent. Brakes were not the sharpest, but are par for this segment. When the Ride Modes worked, I observed that there was negligible difference between them in performance, but traction control does get sharper. Heating is improved as the new horizontal radiator kept engine temps in check, while not cooking my legs along the way.
Should You Buy One?
There is lots to like about Yezdi Scrambler 350 and very little to complain about. For starters, I love analogue dials on retro bikes and Yezdi Scrambler should have gotten one. Instead, the digital unit is not legible in sunlight. Fuel filler cap is not hinged. Sometimes Ride Modes changed, other times they didn’t. Fit and finish has vastly improved, but the unit I sampled had floppy rear tyre hugger.
New Yezdi Scrambler 350 looks better, rides better, feels better, stays cooler for longer and can hold 100 km/h speeds in 6th gear without numbing you. The Rs 2 lakh price point for this motorcycle is just icing on the cake, making this tempting product, irresistible. If you were in the market for a Jawa or a Yezdi, the new Scrambler 350 is probably the one you should check out first.
