Jawa Motorcycles Launches 3 New Bikes In India

The iconic motorcycle brand has made a comeback and looks to take Royal Enfield head on with three bikes heavily influenced by the original Jawa from the 80s

• Jawa Motorcycles has launched 3 new motorcycles in India - the Jawa, Jawa 42 and a factory custom bobber called the Perak.
• The Jawa and 42 are powered by a properly modern 293cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine. The Perak, on the other hand, employs a 334cc motor that makes 30PS and 31Nm of torque.
• Jawa, Jawa 42 and Perak have been priced at Rs 1.64 lakh, 1.55 lakh and 1.89 lakh, respectively. All prices ex-showroom Delhi. Perak will be available at a later date.
• Booking have started online while deliveries are expected to begin early next year.

The iconic motorcycle brand Jawa has made a comeback in India by launching a range of new bikes. The first bike, called the Jawa, pays homage to the Classic Jawa. The Jawa 42, on the other hand, is a slightly modern take on the classic Jawa design. Finally, there’s a factory custom bobber called the ‘Perak’ which gets a matte grey paint job. The Jawa is priced at Rs 1.64 lakh whereas the Jawa 42 and Perak are priced at Rs 1.55 lakh and Rs 1.89 lakh, respectively. All prices, ex-showroom Delhi. 

The new Jawa doesn’t stray away from its retro roots and features a similar design to the original, which is quite appealing. From the two, the standard Jawa features typical retro styling and gets a dome-shaped headlamp, which extends to form the cover for the front forks. Other design highlights include the vintage-style fenders, teardrop-shaped fuel tank garnished in chrome and a single seat with a pillion strap. Additionally, the bike also features spoked wheels, round rearview mirrors, a sump guard and body-coloured grab rails. It also gets an old-school instrument console reading out the fuel-gauge and speed.

The Jawa 42 features a low-set handlebar with sleek bar-end mirrors, an offset instrument console, a sporty front fender, and blacked out front fork covers and grab rail. The Jawa Perak gets an all-black treatment, lowered handlebars, a single tan-coloured seat, custom exhaust, upside-down bar-end mirrors, and a custom rear fender that incorporates the turn signals. Unfortunately, the Jawa Perak is still under development and would be available at a later date.

Classic Legends has managed to strike the right balance between classic design and modern elements in this pre-production form. Notably, the exhaust layout for all three bikes is similar to Jawas from the past.

Powering the Jawa and Jawa 42 is a Mahindra Mojo-derived 293cc, BSVI-compliant, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder mill that has been re-tuned to produce 27PS of power and 28Nm of torque. It runs a 6-speed transmission. We have ridden a version of this engine on the Mahindra Mojo and loved the motor's flat torque curve and meaty mid-range. Moreover, the company claims that the exhausts have the same nostalgic note from the older Jawa.

The Perak, on the other hand, is powered by a slightly bigger, 334cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, DOHC motor that gets a bigger bore but retains the stroke. It produces 30PS and 31Nm of torque. The motorcycle also gets a longer wheelbase for more stability and superior underpinnings.

As for mechanicals, the bikes employ a double downtube frame which houses a radiator. Though all three bikes use conventional telescopic forks up front, the Classic Jawa and 42 get dual shocks at the rear with 5-step preload adjustability. Braking duties are carried by a single 280mm disc up front with ABS while the rear runs a conventional 153mm drum brake to keep the cost down. Tyres measure in at 90/90-18 at the front and 120/80-17 at the rear. A low seat height of 765mm and a kerb weight of just 170kg should be a boon for short riders. 

The factory custom bobber, on the other hand, features a few updated mechanical components. It gets a 'swing cage' swingarm (like the Triumph Bonneville Bobber) to accommodate the monoshock, disk brakes at both ends with dual-channel ABS, and a slightly fatter Pirelli tyres.  

The Classic Jawa is available in three different colours - black, maroon, and grey, while the 42 is offered in six different paint schemes - teal, green, blue, lime, nebula blue and red. Booking have started online while deliveries are expected to begin early next year. The company has signed 105 dealerships across India with more set to follow soon. The Jawa and Jawa 42 will compete with the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and the UM Renegade Classic.