Rajdoot 175: In the days before digital dashes and slippery fairings, when motorcycles were built with a different ethos.
One that centered around a dogged and never-ending pursuit for simplicity, longevity, and unwavering reliability.
In that pantheon was the Rajdoot 175, the legendary bike that powered India’s roads from the 1960s until the early 2000s.
Produced by Escorts Group in partnership with Yamaha Japan, The Rajdoot 175 has struck a chord with millions of people from the rural to the urban people here for its bare bone nature and timeless character.
A Sturdy and Practical Design
There was nothing fancy about the Rajdoot 175 design. It had an angular fuel tank, severely minimalist side panels and twin, round headlamps that made it look ready for work.
It will never win a beauty contest by today’s aesthetic standard but its form was evolved purely by function.
An up right seating position, with wide bars and a long seat made it a great bike for long hauls and daily commuters.
Back at that time, when the concept of a motorcycle leaned more on the side of mechanical reliability over style quotient or gadgets on-board, the Rajdoot was perceived to be quite a beast with its solid built and sturdy appearance.
High clearance and metal fenders meant you could conquer rutted roads and muddy village tracks without flinching.
A Relinable Engine for All Your Ground Travel
The Rajdoot 175 was powered by a small, 173cc, 2-stroke, single-cylinder motor which did not seem very powerful on paper but had great torque.
What it produced may not have been earth shaking (approximately 7.5 bhp), but it was more about practicality than performance.
Coupled to a 3 speed gearbox, riders loved its smooth power and the classic 2-stroke ring-a-ding that resonated through quiet suburban streets.
The number one virtue of this motor was its ease of maintainence. It could run in dust, withstand overloading and still keep going for a long time without much attention.
For the rural communities that, service centers being few and far between, found this invaluable.
Performanceride and Versatility Use
The Rajdoot 175 was a load-lugger and could carry two passengers along with goods and even commercial goods, in some cases.
And with its excellent suspension system of telescopic forks at the front and dual shock absorbers at the rear, the ride quality was always soft even on bad roads.
It also had a rugged chassis that could take years of use without tiring.
It was widely used by farmers, small traders, even postal workers, who found it would keep on keeping on without complaint.
Low Cost, Low Maintenance
One of the prime factors contributing to the massive popularity of the Rajdoot was its accessible pricing.
Purchase price and running costs were both very low. Spare parts were abundant and cheap.
Many local mechanics could repair it without any special tools and the bike’s layout was easy to work on, even for someone who had never owned a motorcycle.
Fuel consumption was quite good considering it was a 2-stroke, 35-40 km/l while not great even for that long ago, was pretty decent enough, it being 1:100 multi-grade oil fuel mix, also okay at that time.
It held a lot of gas, which meant you could ride it all day without having to constantly fill up which was another reason it was ideal for rural areas.
Pros
Robust, durable construction for all those challenging environments
Basic engine design helped simplify repairs
Formidable brakes and cushy seats
Experience in rural and semi-urban areas will be preferred
Reliable and long-lasting
Cons
Today>> Out of style design
Low power and top speed
not so green 2-stroke engine
No modern amenities such as disc brakes or electric start
(The company is no longer in business, so spare parts can be scarce these days.)
Rajdoot 175: Verdict
The Rajdoot 175 wasn’t just a motorcycle, it was a companion that generations of Indian riders had put their trust in.
It was an emblem of dependability and hardiness when newfangled features didn’t count for much.
It has long since disappeared from the market but it has left traces in epic tales of journeys that spanned continents, punishing terrains and the mere pleasure of owning something that just wouldn’t die.
For collectors and aficionados the Rajdoot is a slice of living history you could straddle.