Yezdi is Back: Jawa-maker Classic Legends expands its mid-size motorcycle portfolio, work afoot on EVs too

What’s more? In its new avatar the Roadking could soon sport an electric heart too as Classic Legends is working on electric motorcycles under the Yezdi brand even as it launches petrol-powered motorcycles on Thursday.

The company will begin sales of three different motorcycles under the Yezdi brand through 300-odd sales outlets starting Thursday. Priced between Rs 1.98-2.19 lakh ex-showroom Delhi, the motorcycles come across three different styles – Roadster, Scrambler and Adventure.

While Classic Legends stuck to the retro theme with all the Jawa motorcycles, it is taking a slightly modern flavour with the Yezdi brand. The three motorcycles sport contemporary designs and digital instrument clusters.

The company also recently revived the iconic British motorcycle brand BSA in the UK. The motorcycles will eventually make their way to India, Classic Legends co-founder Anupam Thareja told ET in an interview.

Work on electric versions of Yezdi was also at an advanced stage, Thareja said.

“Can we launch an EV tomorrow if we have to? Yes. Will we launch it? I don’t know,” he said, explaining that the company’s plate was already full as it markets the three brands across different geographies.

Classic Legends first revived the Czech brand Jawa in 2018 to an overwhelming consumer response but soon lost the plot in the face of mounting operational issues, leading to angry customers and cancelled bookings. The Covid-19 pandemic magnified the troubles of the fledgling company.

Having learnt from its past experiences, the company wants to take a second stab at a market dominated by Eicher Motors-owned Royal Enfield. Several companies have tried challenging RE’s dominance in the mid-size motorcycle segment – from Bajaj to Honda – but none have made a convincing dent in RE’s market share.

Classic Legends doesn’t reveal its sales figures, but data from the government’s vehicle registration portal show that about 69,000 motorcycles have been registered so far since the launch of Jawa. The data are incomplete however, as Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and a few union territories are not yet on the platform. That can add up to 20% more to the numbers.

The company expects to sell at least thrice as many Yezdis as it sold Jawas.

“Yezdi was around for thrice as long as Jawa. Its sales were ten times as much. We have similar kind of expectations from the brand,” Thareja said. The company can produce between 20,000 and 30,000 Yeszdi motorcycles a month based on supply chain constraints, he said.