Jawa 42 Bobber - First Ride Review: Likes and Dislikes

Does the Jawa 42 Bobber tick all the boxes that the Perak missed?

Jawa kicked off the Indian factory bobber fad with the Perak, back in November 2019. However, its list of flaws – besides the perceived impracticality as a strict single-seater – meant it didn’t appeal enough to the Indian riders’ hearts and minds. So has Jawa learnt from its mistakes, and will the similarly styled (and aptly named) Jawa 42 Bobber succeed where the Perak didn’t? Let’s find out, courtesy what we liked, and didn’t about the Jawa 42 Bobber.

Eager performer

Things like a long wheelbase, forward-set pegs and supportive, scooped seat are all usually associated with Ladakh and the ‘dug-dug-dug’ soundtrack. The 42 Bobber, though, is anything but! The Jawa 42 Bobber’s 334cc liquid-cooled mill, which we first saw on the Perak, and then the Yezdi trio sports the same specs: 30.6PS and 32.7Nm. But the engine tune has now been altered slightly for a smoother power delivery, especially in the mid-to-top revs. 

Moreover, the gear ratios here are spaced decently apart, due to which you won’t always need to shift through them when hustling through the twisties. And even when you do, the light action on the slip-and-assist clutch will hardly bother you. So yes, though Jawa has used the word ‘meander’ to describe the 42 Bobber, what it hasn’t specified are the speeds you’ll be able to effortlessly carry when doing so.

Light handling

Continuing with the ‘meander’ motif is the 42 Bobber’s ease of handling, something not easily evident from its 1485mm wheelbase. The light, neutral feel to the chassis makes direction changes almost as easy as an everyday streetbike, and the wide handlebar, supportive seat (which can be moved 30mm forwards and backwards) and tank pads give an upright, yet locked-in aesthetic.

Moreover, the broad, grippy tyres (100-section front, 140-section rear) and composed yet firm suspension setup (with a 7-step preload adjustability out back) means you can easily filter through traffic during the week, and carry quite a bit of lean out on the weekend twisties, and all the while not need to worry about mid-corner bumps throwing you off your line. 

Reassuring brakes

The final piece of the puzzle comes in the form of the 42 Bobber’s capable brakes. You get discs front and rear (280mm front / 240mm rear) and though they may not be the largest rotors out there, the party trick is the superb setting on the Continental-sourced ABS. As a result, you get commendable feel and feedback, which makes modulating the brake pressure even at high speeds a breeze. Even the sudden stops at high speeds, to avoid the odd jaywalker, stray animal or pothole, are handled without fuss. 

Engine lacks refinement

Though the Jawa 42 Bobber’s motor is the same one as on the Yezdi bikes, it isn’t as trashy. And yet, it still has a long way to go before being characterised as ‘refined’. Even at moderate speeds, a mild buzz creeps in at the handlebar and footpegs at a mere 4000 to 4500rpm, which subsequently spreads all the way to the seat and tank by the time you hit 7000rpm. Now, though it isn’t a dealbreaker, it’s still something that’ll weigh on the back of your mind, and keep you from truly enjoying your ‘meandering’ experience on the twisties.

Inconsistent feature set

At a glance, the 42 Bobber’s list of features makes it the best-equipped bike in the Jawa lineup. You get LED illumination all around, a digital instrument console, and a USB-A and USB-C charging port on the handlebar. 

But there are still some chinks in its armour. The LED headlight, though bright, lacks both a wide spread and sufficient throw, even on high beam. The instrument console, too, a straight lift from the Yezdi bikes, gets the same cluttered layout, and its negative illumination makes it hard to read in direct sunlight. 

Next, the left side switchgear employs a switchcube; but the absence of ABS modes (like on the Yezdi bikes) or Bluetooth connectivity means only two of the buttons are useful, and that too just for toggling through the tripmeter.

Minor ergonomic misses

The 42 Bobber’s higher handlebar, relaxed footpeg position (set 155mm forward than the Perak) and, as mentioned earlier, more supportive and adjustable seat, makes it a package that will appeal to a wider pool of riders of varying stature. That said the wide ‘bars might make u-turns more of a stretch for shorter riders. And despite the generous relocation, the footpegs will still end up bruising your shins: occasionally when moving the bike in the parking lot, and almost without fail when putting the side stand! 

Lacklustre bottom end

Conventional logic states a quick-revving, liquid-cooled engine means instant push right off the line, right? Well, not with the 42 Bobber. You see, the 42 Bobber is the happiest in the mid-range and top-end, and not really meant for the daily commute. Try to stick to anything below 3500 or so revs, and you’ll not only need to contend with the jerky throttle response (almost as if the engine is egging you on) but also the rattle-like engine note when pulling from low speeds, even in third gear. 

Verdict

The Jawa 42 Bobber, by its very nature, isn’t meant to be a mass-market product, and those looking for ‘conventional’ options can very well go for a wide variety of choices; one of them is even the 42 Bobber’s cousin!

Back to the matter at hand, then. The 42 Bobber is for riders with a strong sense of individuality. A devil-may-care attitude, even. The 42 Bobber spells out the inherent human need to break away from tradition, and choose a bike that can only be justified by how it tugs at the heart-strings, rather than one quantified by the digits written on a cheque. 

Yes, it may not be equipped to handle all sorts of roads and traffic conditions, and you may find yourself grounding the pegs quite easily if you push it too far on the corners. And still, hustling it down those twisties, the sun glinting off the beautiful paint, and the engine roaring away to glory, you’ll want no other steed!