The Rajdoot 175: lovingly called the ‘Rajdoot’ by the youth of that time has been an icon in Indian automobile history.
Escorts Group of India produced for the Indian domestic market a light two stroke motorcycle starting from 1966 that withstood many challenges during its life, eventually dying in 1999 brought down by stringent environmental norms.
Its unique look, solid performance, and pop-culture relevance have also secured its spot in the classic Indian motorcycle hall of fame.
The Rajdoot 175: Legacy of an Indian Motorcycle
The Rajdoot 175 – lovingly called the ‘Rajdoot’ by the youth of that time has been an icon in Indian automobile history.
Escorts Group of India produced for the Indian domestic market a light two stroke motorcycle starting from 1966 that withstood many challenges during its life, eventually dying in 1999 brought down by stringent environmental norms.
Its unique look, solid performance, and pop-culture relevance have also secured its spot in the classic Indian motorcycle hall of fame.
Origins and Manufacture History
The story of the Rajdoot goes back to 1961 when French company Motobécane signed an agreement with Escorts Group to manufacture their motorcycles in India.
The Rajdoot 175 was also a modified version of the Motobécane AV-175 and would find it various model no.”ave” and “aval” in foreign country like germany.
The Rajdoot 175 was introduced in Indian market in 1962 to withstand local tarmat and non tarmat driving conditions of India.
It was produced at the Faridabad factory of Escorts, thus, among the first few in the fledgling Indian motorcycles industry.
With imported vehicles being extremely expensive owing to the import restrictions back then, indigenous motorcycles such as the Rajdoot offered middle class people the means to move around at a price that they could afford.
Technical specifications and design
The Rajdoot 175 had a single cylinder two stroke, 175cc air-cooled engine. It put out, more or less, 7.5 bhp at 5000 rpm – a number which sounds nothing by the standards of today, but was actually quite good (enough to give the cub the title of the fastest production motorcycle in the UK) back then.
It had a three-speed gearbox with tank mounted gearshift, a unique feature for post war motorcycles.
Design 130mm drum brakes were used on the front and rear wheels. It was styled in the classic post-war Europe fashion with a round headlamp, sprung saddle seat and the iconic teardrop shaped fuel tank.
They were further disguised by the motorcycle’s frame that had full mudguards and a chain guard, lending a husky look to the motorcycle.
The bike’s wheelbase and ground clearance were adapted for Indian roads which made it widely acceptable in urban and rural areas as well.
The Rajdoot RD 350: The Fastest Book
The brand still exists, even though the normal production bike, the Rajdoot 175 was big hit for the company, who also used to build the infamous Rajdoot RD350 under licence from Yamaha from 1983-89.
Although it shared the Rajdoot moniker, that machine was a beast of a different nature altogether—a high performance, twin cylinder two-stroke machine that pumped out 30.5bhp and could top 170km/h.
Widely regarded as India’s first superbike, RD 350 further enhanced the Rajdoot name among the motorcycle enthusiast circles;
however, due to its low fuel efficiency and maintenance, the RD – now available in its 175cc avatar – had created a niche place for itself among the more practical options out there.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
The Rajdoot 175 was more than just a motorcycle with a viral backstory. In the 1970s and ’80s, it became a symbol of middle-class mobility and aspiration.
In many households, a Rajdoot was a big deal and “normally” it was only expected to be passed on from parent to child.
It became a widely popular motorcycle among government servants, postal workers, and field officers because of its ultrasturdy body metal frame and durability of usage for daily travelling.
Its basic technology enabled small-town mechanics to understand how to service it, making it a workhorse across India, from parched flat lands of north to hilly terrains of the south.
The Rajdoot also gained considerable pop culture notoriety, featuring in several Bollywood movies of the time, thereby becoming enshrined in the collective Indian imagination.
One of its most famous appearances on screen was in the 1973 film “Bobby,” which featured the Rajdoot GTS (a special version of which was even named the “Bobby”) and won numerous fans among the college crowd.
Postwar and Later Trade By the time the war ended, Fonssagrives’ fame had already peaked.
But after India liberalized its economy in the early 1990s, new rivals with newfangled designs and four-stroke engines started stealing market share.
Tougher emission standards were becoming a problem for two-stroke engines and customer demand was for something more fuel-efficient and less polluting.
Standard Rajdoot 175 regular production has ceased in the late 90’s era. But its influence lived on in countless thousands of motorcycles that saw years of service after that—due not only to their hardiness but also the existence of a ready supply of spares.
Collector’s Item & Restoration Movement
The Rajdoot 175 is now a relic that went from being everyday transport to a collector’s item. Old motorcycle collectors all over India restore these classics and collectors pay a premium for properly maintained examples.
“We’ll have organized rides and things like that.”Once each year, rallies and meets unite Rajdoot owners, who exchange restoration ideas and celebrate the motorcycle’s heritage.
Due to the Rajdoot’s design its restoration is a simple task compared to more modern complex bikes and therefore it is still popular among vintage bike lovers.
And a lot of owners are very proud to keep such motorcycles in original condition, and it’s indeed a a good piece of history of Indian automotive industry which has been soaked in the waters of time.
Rajdoot 175:
The Rajdoot 175 is more than just a motorcycle, it is a compelling chapter in India’s industrialisation history and personal mobility in the country. Its stripped-down layout, utilitarian construction and cultural significance cemented its presence not just on India’s roads, but in its collective memory.
With growing interest in classic and vintage motorcycles across the globe, the poor old Rajdoot is beginning to be regarded as a true Indian classic that should be cherished and preserved.
