The Duality Called Life

The new Roadster dabbles between being a chilled-out retro bike and a modern-day naked... and that's not a bad thing

- By Manaal Mahatme Photographs Kaizad Adil Darukhanawala

The Yezdi Roadster has always confused me. It looked like a cruiser, was named a 'Roadster,' yet handled like a bratty naked, and that was the part I loved. But I've also felt that it mirrored us on most days — sitting calmly through long meetings, while fighting the urge to scream, tear those papers and walk away... into the real world, beyond unrealistic targets and shortsighted goals. The Roadster wanted to be ridden hard; the chassis, ergonomics and engine tune all urged me. But the clunky gearbox, intrusive vibrations and stiff suspension always held it back — much like endless meetings, red tape and shifting targets keep us from ever doing our best work.

So, when Classic Legends announced the 2025 Roadster, it was going to take a lot more than a presentation and a spec sheet to convince me that its flaws were fixed and it wasn't just like another all-hands meeting promising 'big changes' at work. But a ride from Mysore to Madikeri and back did exactly that. Out on the open road, away from the cubicles and conference calls, the bike proved that, like life itself, its beauty lies in its ability to hold two truths at once — the grind we accept and the escape we dream of.