I own a Yezdi Deluxe 250 1987 model that I bought in 2002. Being acquainted only with the RX’s and other 100cc Japmobiles, it was quite a risk I was taking. While looking for a bike, I narrowed in on the Yezdi and the Suzuki Shogun...both 2-strokes but worlds apart, I didn’t know then.
At home, my people wondered why I wanted to buy bikes that were out of production, but somehow I convinced them....I’ve ridden and like the Shogun for a lot of reasons...but somehow I felt I was a little old for it ( being all of 22 then), and this way, I decided on a Yezdi.
I bought one near my house for Re.5, 500...I didn’t know the first thing abt it then....and I gave it to a local ’Yezdi mechanic’ who I’d heard of. To make a long story short, the bike was delivered to me in less than perfect condition....even thought the looks were fine even then. I remember mornings when I had to kick at least 50 times to get the bike started....
I struggled for a few weeks b4 I found another mechanic who though not a specialist made it start fine and work ok...even thought the shocks were rock-hard. it was then that I read something abt a Yezdi/Jawa club, and I went to meet the chaps in the Madras (thats where Im from) chapter...and came to know of another mechanic, a ’Yezdi specialist’. Wonder of wonders, it turned out to be true this time, and when I got back my bike after the repairs, I couldn’t believe it was the same one I’d used for so many months. It was truly a wonder.
My interest in this bike was furthered after a few trips to the mechanic, and after a few nights spent searching on the net, I came to know abt the marquee’s (JAWA)reputation. I’ve since become a Yezdi fanatic :-D and have met up with similar petrolheads..... this was a bike that defined ’savvy’ and ’being in’ for an entire generation....and even now I turn heads when I ride my bike ( and I’m convinced they’re not looking at me).....you see a peculiar smile on the faces of Jawa/Yezdi riders...one of pure joy and contentment....and when you ride it, you’ll know why.
I’m not even going into any of the wonderful technical features of the bike...the heavy piston, that gives more torque/kg than any production bike in India today, the auto-clutch feature, the interchangeable front-rear tires, the provision for a stepnee (did I spell that right?), the only one on an Indian bike.....as the company logo puts it succinctly, ’’Forever bike, Forever value’’......truly a great bike!!!
Anyone interested in this bike can log on the Yezdi/Jawa owner’s club on Yahoo groups...and anyone who needs a mechanic in Madras can go to Sekar/’Jawa’ Paneer, Sudugaadu Road, Triplicane. And btw, for those who want to know, I get 32-34 kmpl mileage.