Advice needed: Buying & using a 30 year old Yezdi motorcycle as a daily

I would be purchasing a bike that is 30 years old at best. Spare parts and reliable mechanics who won't scam me would be hard to find.

BHPian MVM recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Ever since I could comprehend my surroundings I have loved cars. I am fascinated by machines in general; hence, my tastes lie in cars which rely more on mechanical aspects than electrical ones. Hence I prefer cars than use internal combustion rather than electricity. Since these are the last few decades of internal combustion I wish to enjoy them not just as an admirer but as an active participant.

I was never inclined towards bikes up until a few months back when I first noticed the bike my neighbour owned. This bike was in pristine condition but was never parked on the street. The owner rarely rode the bike except for short trips on the weekends. I had never noticed nor paid attention to this bike but one day I saw him start the bike and heard the glorious sound that followed. My father then told me that the bike was a Yezdi and that he had owned one during his college days. My fascination with the bike soon turned to obsession and I began to learn as much as I could about these bikes and the Ideal Jawa brand. Since I had to focus on my studies I decided that I would purchase a bike once my exams had ended and I had acquired my license. I used to read the articles on Team BHP regarding Yezdis and check the used bike websites for examples.

But I had to come to grips with reality. I would be purchasing a bike that was 30 years old at best. Spare parts and reliable mechanics who won't scam me would be hard to find. I tried to reason with myself and those who dissuaded me by saying things like "That bike doesn't have many parts that can go wrong" and "Oh I can buy a replacement carburetor from Pacco". After a while, I began to realize the issues that come with owning a bike like this and the idea of owning a Yezdi and riding it to college doesn't seem to be as problem-free after all. (Poor gas mileage, scarcity of spare parts, Rudimentary lighting systems, difficulty in finding unabused examples with valid registration, lack of tubeless tires, etc.)

I hence decided to ask the members of this esteemed forum for advice on whether I should pursue the idea of buying a Yezdi or getting a more modern motorcycle. If the latter is the better option please offer suggestions for a good bike with classic looks for under 1.5 lakh rupees.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

As someone who owns a 25-year old Jeep, I will reply with a resounding NO. Their makers designed these machines to last 10 - 12 years, not 30. The build quality even when new was pathetic (by 2022 standards), reliability even when new was patchy, spares will be hard to find, the mechanic will become your best friend and you'll be missing out on a lot of creature comforts + modern amenities.

Safety is especially important as if something breaks on a bike, your body meets the tarmac!

Keep such an old vehicle as a weekend toy, that's what my '97 Jeep is. For everything else, get a modern motorcycle.

Here's what BHPian boniver had to say on the matter:

Since you're in Bangalore, the mecca of 2 strokes in the country, my answer is a resounding YES! Go ahead and fulfil your dream, parts are still available and so are mechanics. Try to find a model with a CDI if possible, and I promise you, you'll spend the best years of your life with the bike. These bikes run best when they're used daily, so your use case is perfect. Go for it while you still have the chance!

Here's what BHPian Gypsian had to say on the matter:

As an erstwhile Yezdi owner I advice you not to go for old Jawa or Yezdi if you do not know the basic stuff or cant manage the niggles yourself. Especially when you go with model having pointer ignition system, it is most certain to cause troubles, you must be lucky to find one with CDI ignition type which came in very limited models. As GTO rightly said, these machines are for the weekend. Coincidentally even my thread on two strokes was posted today. Cheers

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.