Joining the likes of BSA, Ariel, Levis, Brough, Hesketh, Matchless, and Norton, there is another European vintage name coming back from the abyss and relive the glory days of the 20th century. Say hello to Jawa Motorcycles, with love from Prague, Czechoslovakia. (err… or India??)
While we know that it would take at the least a couple of years to see their first iterations of what is touted as ‘The grand revival’, JAWA has gone ahead and launched their brand-new edition of its iconic 350 motorcycles and a 660 Vintage. This time, carrying a four-stroke engine with single overhead camshaft to be able to comply with the Euro - IV emission norms.
Last year we had featured an exciting piece of news about the Indian auto major Mahindra and Mahindra’s subsidiary, Classic Legends Pvt Ltd. (CLPL) purchasing the iconic British biker BSA Motorcycles and rights to the JAWA brand. With this, they plan to launch new products which “will capture the character, DNA, and ethos of these brands”, and that it will “develop products that are in sync with the DNA of the BSA and Jawa brands”.
During the strong stunt from the 50’s till the 90’s, Jawa motorcycles were a thing to own and to be proud of. JAWA was one of the top motorcycle manufacturers and exported its 350 into over 120 countries. Another famous model in the 1970s was the 350 Californian. It appeared in the typical black and red coloring from Californian beaches to New Zealand. Unfortunately, they were phased out and became a collector’s item.
Jawa 350 Vintage
Now though, the company has launched the JAWA 350 Retro which is built as a replica of the JAWA type 634 motorcycle, a mass-produced motorcycle in the 70´s and 80´s of the last century. It will be sold to the countries of Central America, United Kingdom, and Russia.
It carries a retrofit design on a modern day chassis, running on the modern four-stroke single cylinder engine too. It features a stylish makeover, yet succeeds in maintaining the iconic JAWA figurine with the tank build. Classy round headlamp with twin analog instrument clusters adores the front fascia. Shallow front fenders, spoked wheels and swept back single extended unit saddle reminds us of the 80s’ and 90s’ designs taking major share here.
The four-stroke, air-cooled, SOHC engine carries a 343.5cc motor that is capable of churning out 23 hp @ 5250 rpm and an impressive 24 lb-ft @ 4750 rpm. The power is belted out through an age-old 4-speed transmission unit. Modern day amenities like the electric starter and all critical ABS makes an entry to confirm with evolution. And it is Euro IV compliant.
Telescopic suspension units at both ends are not the best in the segment but do the job with head held high. A 280mm disc braking unit at the front with 2 piston caliper and a 160 mm drum brake at the rear handle the stopping controls. All this comes with a price point of CZK 99,930 ($ 4,000).
Jawa 660 Vintage
The 660 Vintage scrambler runs on similar lines of the 350, building on elements for design cues with more premium equipment on board. It will also be sold to the countries of Central America, United Kingdom, and Russia along with the 350.
Similar to the 350 Retro, the 660 Vintage carries the same retrofit design on a modern day chassis and runs on the modern four-stroke single cylinder engine setup. The cluster panel, however, carries a larger LCD housed between the round pods that looks more modern than that on the 350.
Unlike the 350, the 660 gets liquid cooling, and hence you will find a radiator sitting behind the forks. Also, the twin exhaust units are bigger, and the ends pout more upwards. Don’t miss the fatter rubber at the rear making it look sporty to look at from this angle.
The four-stroke, liquid-cooled, SOHC engine carries a 660cc motor that is capable of churning out 36 hp @ 6000 rpm and an impressive 47 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm. The power is belted out through a modern 5-speed transmission unit. Modern day amenities like the electric starter, fuel injection and all important ABS makes an entry to confirm with evolution. And it is Euro IV compliant.
On the equipment page, the 660 does one better than the 350. Telescopic suspension units at the front do the job with head held high, and a mono shock unit at the rear gets individual settings of rebound damping and spring preload. Dual 305 mm disc braking unit at the front with floating double piston caliper and a 220 mm radial four-piston disc brake at the rear handle the stopping controls. All this comes with a price point of CZK 179,830 ($7,400).
Both the 350 and the 660 Vintage will not be manufactured by Mahindra, but by the Czech Republic leg itself. This helps keep our stars aligned for us to see this brand making the grand comeback for sure.
Reviving itself to be a lifestyle brand, in the next couple of years, Mahindra will manufacture Jawa bikes at its Pithampur plant and will then export them to our shores (although, no official word is out on this). Of course, we hope for a true "renaissance" here, perhaps with tapping the opportunity to re-enter the market with due seriousness and quality that the brand deserves and give enthusiasts joy of owning a legendary brand and becoming a part of JAWA’s rich history.
It is said to be showcased at the 2018 EICMA and should hit the roads post that. Nonetheless, these bikes will not carry the Mahindra branding but will remain the classic Czech brand of yesteryear – Jawa.Hoping Mahindra could bring in the same quality of sharpness and calibration, typical of the British motorcycle of a time that was!
Only time will tell us if Mahindra can actually revive the Jawa brand to its original glory, given the fact that two-stroke motors will never return. Sad.