2024 Jawa 42 vs 2024 Royal Enfield Classic 350: Image Comparison

Which retro-style roadster should you go for?

The updated 2024 Jawa 42 has been launched in India, and the bike goes up against the Royal Enfield Classic 350, an updated version of which was unveiled recently. If you are someone looking for a retro-style bike and don’t know if you should go for the Jawa 42 or the 2024 Royal Enfield Classic 350, then this image comparison is for you.

Design

Design and looks are quite subjective, and both the bikes offer a unique look and design. The Jawa 42 goes for a more modern look, with the matte black finish on the engine and exhausts.

The Royal Enfield Classic 350, maintains that retro charm with the chrome finish on the tank and old school Royal Enfield badging. 

Which design is better depends on what you are looking for, if you are someone who wants a proper retro-style motorcycle then the Classic 350 makes sense as it offers an authentic retro experience with its Chrome finish and overall design. If true retro isn’t what you want, then the Jawa 42 makes more sense as it is able to strike a balance between modern and retro quite well. 

Performance

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is powered by a 350cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine which produces 20.2PS and 27Nm. 

The Jawa 42 on the other hand is powered by an updated 294cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, J-Panther engine that produces 27.32PS and 26.84Nm. The brand also claims that the engine has been tuned to be more refined than before. 

Overall, in terms of outright power and performance on paper, the Jawa 42 takes the lead.

Underpinnings

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is suspended on a telescopic fork and twin shock absorbers, it rolls on 19-inch front and 18-inch rear spoke wheel, with tube tyres. Braking duties on the Classic are handled by 300mm front and 270mm rear disc brake with dual-channel ABS.

The Jawa 42 on the other hand, gets a telescopic fork and twin gas charged shock absorbers. It rolls on smaller 18-inch front and 17-inch rear alloy wheels, with tubeless tyres. Braking duties are handled by a 280mm front and 240mm rear disc, with dual-channel ABS. The base variant comes with single-channel ABS.

In terms of underpinnings, the Jawa with its smaller wheel sizes in theory would make for a  more agile bike, whereas the Royal Enfield Classic 350 offers better brakes.

Features

The Jawa 42’s top end variant offers a digital instrument console, which gives readouts like speed, fuel level, time, odometer and tripmeter readouts. The Classic 350 on the other hand gets a semi-digital instrument console, with an analogue speedometer and a digital inset for readouts like fuel-level, tripmeter and odometer readouts. On the emerald and stealth variant, the Royal Enfield Tripper navigation module comes as standard

Overall, in terms of features, both the bikes are somewhat similar, but the console on the Classic looks a bit more classy.

Which Bike Should You Go For?

This question isn’t easy to answer, as both the bikes offer very different things. The Jawa 42 feels more like a modern take on what a retro roadster is, whereas the Classic 350 is an authentic retro roadster, with the design, styling and overall riding experience.

If you are someone who wants a retro style motorcycle, which at the same time offers modern features such as a digital instrument console along with a design that strikes a balance between retro and modern. Then the Jawa 42 will be a good choice. The top end variant we talked about here comes at an ex-showroom Delhi price of Rs 1,89,142.

The Classic 350 on the other hand is a better option, if you are someone who is looking for that authentic retro experience. The bike earlier came at a price starting at Rs 1,93,080 (ex-showroom) and going all the way up to Rs 2,24,755 (ex-showroom). Royal Enfield hasn’t announced the 2024 Classic’s prices yet, but we expect a hike of around Rs 3,000.