Rajdoot 350cc: In a miraculous a comeback that’s got the pillion pummeler community in a tizzy, the legendary Rajdoot badge is finally coming back to Indian streets in the form of all-new 350cc bike that is guaranteed to get the gym-going “boys” all lathered up.
And this is a highly composited resurrection of an iconic Indian motorcycle name that suggests somebody is finally trying to tap into the intersection of fitness culture and motorbike zealotry that has resonated with young Indian riders.
Rajdoot 350cc A Legendary Name Reborn
Rajdoot, that the 1960s to 1980s era witnessed as the ruler of the Indian roads with their robust and dependable motorcycles, had lost all traces of itself over the liberalization of the Indian automotive sector.
Now, with new owners and vision, the brand is to be reborn in a sympathetic and modernized guise which both honours the past and moves forward to the present in both design and technology.
“The Rajdoot of old was all brawny and raw, with no nonsense of mass proportions,” Rajdoot Motorcycles CEO Vikram Sharma said. “This is exactly what connects with the health-conscious young generation of today that seeks strength, endurance as well as individuality in its personal lifestyle as well as in the cars it drives.”
Design: Muscular Minimalism
The latest Rajdoot 350cc follows what its designers describe as ‘muscular minimalism’ – which is a product design philosophy that co exists with beauty and purpose of clean lines and imposed aesthetics over ruggedness and workmanship.
With a unique exoskeleton-inspired frame that aesthetically resembles human musculature, the bike evokes an instant association with the fitness crowd.
The aptly shaped fuel tank designs knee recesses which may pinch a bit, depending on your thigh meat, but show rather than hide the frame, and the side panels offer a hint of skeletal eloquence not unlike a set of ripped oblique muscles.
Serving pedal-pumping realness for the modern day gym bunny, the motorcycle will be released in protein-supplement-hued hues such as “Midnight Mass,” “Creatine Crimson,” and “Whey Platanium”.
“We wanted a machine that would not look out of place parked outside a high-end health club,” says Arjun Nair, Head of Design. “The aesthetic is intentionally in-your-face and unapologetic – just like the attitude of committed fitness consumers who have unlimited confidence and aren’t afraid to stand out and tell the world that they take their fitness seriously.”
PERFORMANCE: Sturdy and Durable Built from Strength and Endurance parties.
Powering the Rajdoot 350cc is an all-new 350cc single-cylinder engine good for 23bhp and 28Nm of torque, underneath which is a muscular architecture.
These may not seem like huge figures next to some rivals, but the engineering team has intentionally tuned the powertrain for mid-range grunt and low-end torque, rather than top-end performance figures.
The end product is a bike that does well in an urban setting, delivering strong acceleration from a dead stop or ticky-tacky traffic…important requirements when running out to the gym either before or after hillclimbing at work, if you know what I mean.
The five-speed gearbox is optimised with close ratios in the lower gears for quick acceleration in town, in contrast the fifth gear has been strategically made taller for easier highway cruising.
Most notably, in the use of what Rajdoot call “Progressive Resistance Technology” in the throttle mapping of the motorcycle, a feature that, unlike a typical cable-operated one, adds resistance to the throttle as the engine revs, similar to a resistance setting on a modern gymnasium machine.
“The throttle’s genuinely a bit of a wrist workout,” Nair says, smiling. “It’s a gentle but purposeful nod to fitness culture and a marker of brand identity even on the specific occasions when you’re out on your bike.”
Ergonomic: Fit Most Body Shape
Understanding the variety of physiques in interested in fitness enthusiasts, ranging from the stocky bodybuilders to lean calisthenics guys, the Rajdoot 350cc comes with adjustable ergonomics to suit different body sizes.
Handlebar position is now customizable through multiple mounting options, while the footpegs can be raised or lowered to ensure the desired leg room.
It’s a low 800mm and both short people and tall people can touch both feet to the ground thanks to a split seat design that also provides plenty of support under the lower back (important for riders who have worked out with their legs recently).
Sharma added: “Post a hard work-out, comfort was also a key factor we considered”. “We performed intensive ergonomic testing with fitness enthusiasts of all types to ensure that the bike remains comfortable when muscle fatigue is setting in.”
Digital integrated Fitness Tracking meets Motorcycling
Unique to the Rajdoot 350cc, the digital cluster comes with fitness tracking options making it an industry-first feature for an Indian motorcycle.
Riders can also connect their fitness wearables to the bike via Bluetooth, which makes the heads-up display show the calories they burned during the ride, in addition to the speed and fuel level display.
A companion application for your smartphone lets you track your motorcycling as workouts and map every pinpoint location elevation changes, which can be compared to heart rate to deliver a full picture of what physical requirements were asked for you to endure throughout each ride.
“A lot of fitness freaks already monitor their full body workout,” says Sharma. “We’ve had our pulse on the transformation in fitness and mobile technology and where things are going, so the ability to have access to data and insights that would not only advance their riding aspirations, but also bring added motivation while on the bike, is powered by tangible, easy-to-digest information that is a game changer,” said Jason Sanford, senior director of AN Giobics.
Building the Community, Not Just Mere Sales
Recognizing that the culture of fitness grows out from a sense of community and shared experiences, Rajdoot is marketing itself in an unusual manner.
The brand won’t be rolling out the traditional dealership model, but the focus will be on “Rajdoot Fitness Garages” where the company is setting up shop, a hybrid sort of place which on one hand serves as a motorcycle showroom and on the other hand will have open slots and basic workout equipment for fitness enthusiasts.
They will establish these points as hubs for regular group rides that end with outdoor workout sessions, fostering connections among like-minded riders.
Similarly, the firm will team up with well-known fitness influencers to act as ambassadors for the brand, mounting further connections with the motorbike and fitness subcultures.
Rajdoot 350cc Positioning in the Market and Price
Priced in the region of ₹1.75-1.95 lakh (ex-showroom), the Rajdoot 350cc comes across as a viable alternative to existing players such as the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and the Jawa Forty Two, with its distinct, fitness-focused brand identity acting as an enabler.
“We are not just selling a motorcycle; we’re selling a membership to a culture centred around physical strength, discipline and a rugged individuality,” says Sharma.
“What makes the Rajdoot 350cc appealing to the new generation of riders is that it is an extension of their own personality and fitness-focused lifestyle.”
With the launch date closing in, the eyes of the motorcycling fraternity are fixed to see whether this risky business of segmenting the market towards a particular lifestyle proves to be successful in India’s not so united two wheeler space.
A resounding success could have made the resurrected spirit of the Rajdoot a new template for boutique motobikes targeted by culture and community rather than by life stage.