Classic Legends invests ₹350 crore in product development, targets 500 dealerships with upgraded Yezdi Adventure launch

So far, ₹350 crore has been dedicated to product development, while the remaining budget will be focused on expanding global distribution, marketing, and introducing new models, revealed co-founder Anupam Thareja in conversation with CNBC-TV18.

Building on the success of their 2024 Adventure Bike of the Year, the recently launched Yezdi Adventure boasts a 334cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine delivering 29.6 horsepower and 29.9 Nm of torque. It pairs with a 6-speed gearbox featuring optimised gear ratios and revised fuel mapping for enhanced smoothness and performance.The bike maintains its robust off-road capability with 220mm of ground clearance and a 15.5-litre fuel tank.
Design updates give the Yezdi Adventure a fresh, distinctive look. It features a unique twin-LED headlight setup — a dual-chamber reflector on the right and a single projector on the left — complemented by twin LED pod taillights.

Additional aesthetic and functional enhancements include redesigned front and rear fenders, a new beak, a rear rack, an adjustable windscreen, and six new colour options (three matte, three gloss). On the technology front, the bike now offers traction control and three ABS modes tailored for Road, Rain, and Off-Road riding conditions. The ex-showroom price stands competitively at ₹2.14 lakh.

While currently holding a roughly 5% market share, Classic Legends remains optimistic about future growth. “The classic segment is small in volume but significant in value and profit,” said Thareja. “Our market share will grow as the segments we enter grow. We create the segment, then lead it.”

He highlighted the company’s three pillars for success: “Market share is a combination of product, pricing, and distribution. We have the products; we have competitive positioning; and we’re building distribution rapidly.”

To that end, the company plans to ramp up its dealership count to 500 across India before the upcoming festive season. “We want to make our products accessible to more customers and improve service reach,” Thareja added.

Internationally, Classic Legends targets presence in 24 countries by year-end, focusing on markets like the US, Australia, Japan, and Latin America. “We are expanding in seven countries already and expect to be in 24 by year-end,” he said. “These are largely developed markets with growing demand for heritage-inspired motorcycles.”

On the corporate front, Classic Legends is adopting a measured approach towards an initial public offering (IPO). “We don’t have any pressure to go public for fundraising or exits,” Thareja said. “We will do it at the right time — when the market and the company are ready.”

Meanwhile, the company is strengthening its leadership with an executive council and actively searching for a new CEO following the departure of Ashish Joshi to the UK earlier this year. “The right leadership is critical. It could be internal or external, but it must be the right person,” he noted.

With three additional model launches planned before the close of the financial year, Classic Legends is poised to deepen its foothold in the market, leveraging its strong product pipeline, expanding distribution, and sustained investment to capture a larger share of the classic motorcycle segment.