Classic Legends Track Day: RIding Classic Machines from Jawa, Yezdi and BSA on NATRAX

I have had the pleasure of riding various motorcycles – big and small – on a number of race tracks. However, I had never ridden a classic cruiser or an ADV on the track – until Classic Legends called us to NATRAX, Indore, to experience their offerings, that is. They had motorcycles from all three of their brands – Jawa, Yezdi, and BSA. Our playing ground was the two-wheeler handling track – a circuit composed of a few fast straights, some very technical turns, and lots of elevation changes.

Over two days, we had two track sessions. My first ride was on the Yezdi Adventure – an unusual choice, I know. But I was curious to see how this off-road ADV would perform on the track. Initially, I focused on learning the layout and figuring out my braking markers, for I was riding on this particular track for the first time. While the bike was decently fun, I found its braking performance lacking for the track.

Next, I hopped onto the BSA Gold Star. I wasn’t expecting much from this laid-back cruiser, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well its gearing suited the track. I could stay in third or fourth gear for the most part without worrying about the revs dropping too low. The bike’s strong low-end grunt helped it pick up pace quickly without requiring a downshift. The Pirelli rubber provided excellent grip, allowing me to explore the track even more. My only concern was the rear hopping under heavy braking.

My next machine was the Jawa 42. The first thing that hit me was how much lighter it felt in comparison to the Gold Star. Manoeuvring it around the track required much less effort, making it a more agile machine. However, the limiting factor of this bike was the wooden feel of the front brake and the short gearing. I found myself constantly shuffling through the six-speed unit.

Given the way the batches were scheduled, I ended up riding the 42 FJ last. As luck would have it, I had unknowingly saved the best for last. The FJ was light enough to be easily flickable between corners and yet had significantly better brakes than the regular 42. I was able to throw it around corners with more confidence. Plus, the slip and assist clutch made rapid downshifts effortless. Even as I went from around 110km/h to around 40km/h in just a few meters, the rear stayed composed, never stepping out of line. Of all the bikes I rode, the 42 FJ felt like the sportiest and best suited to my riding style.

I’ll admit that I wasn’t pushing these bikes to their absolute limits for the simple reason that this wasn’t a dedicated race track with a lot of run-off areas. But let’s not forget that most of these machines are designed more for aesthetics and relaxed riding than outright performance and handling. So, the fact that I could barrel into a corner, brake at the last moment, and still make it through smoothly speaks volumes about their capabilities. After the whole experience, I also realised that pushing bikes out of their comfort zone isn’t just fun but also enlightening. Who would have thought that the 201kg Gold Star would feel so at home on a technical track?