Jawa Standard Review
Bike Tested: Jawa Standard; Road Test No. 1185; Test Location: Mumbai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 1,95,780/- (Single-Channel ABS); Rs. 2,10,250/- (Dual-Channel ABS)
Jawa brings back the cult that was followed for the love of retro motorcycles
Back in time when I was quite young, the world either knew the thump of a Royal Enfield or just the 2-stroke commuters running around. But among them was a bike that had a deep rumble with twin exhausts. Maybe it was the borderline OCD that made me think twin exhausts always looked better than a single one. I was too young to notice but would remember the name Jawa! After a long time, we could see and hear it all again as Classic Legends and Mahindra came together to bring the Jawa brand back. We try to find out what’s really new in the comeback as we review the Jawa!
Motor Quest: The Jawa brand was started in Prague in the year 1929. Jawa in India was actually known as Ideal Jawa Ltd. and they had started selling the Jawa and Yezdi motorcycles from the year 1960 and 1973 respectively. They, however, stopped production in 1996 but now they have made a comeback and got the Jawa motorcycle back in the Indian market.
From a high front to a dropping rear, the design flows like the old model
Styling – The Jawa gets the same old retro classic design language all over. It gets a teardrop tank with chrome finish, round headlight with a covered unit that runs over the handlebar and mounts the cluster too. It rather looks very simple and neat. The bike gets a unique colour which flows from the mudguard to the tank and follows till the tail. It also gets the same retro design for the engine with twin exhausts coming out of either side. The tail light ends with a dropping rear and yet matches the classical lines that flow throughout. With the spoke wheels coming in too, it does have that retro charm.
There are Jawa logos all over the motorcycle
Simple design yet very well put together as there are no exposed electicals
It does grab a lot of attention on the road as the design matches the older Jawa quite a lot. There were quite a few instances where I was stopped and asked if it was a Jawa motorcycle. To keep those aesthetics as retro as possible, the Jawa does not get any LED lights. The tail light, headlight and even the round indicators are halogens. There are a total of 4 elements that determine the motorcycle is a Jawa – chrome sided teardrop tank, dual pipes for the exhaust, front telescopic suspension covered with a bigger tube like the older bike, and a number of places where the Jawa logo has been put.
Analogue-digital console with the tiniest digital odometer
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – This is one of the most basic clusters I have seen in a very long time. Jawa has tried hard to stick to their older pattern but with a vertical placement angle this sometimes gets difficult to read and it even fogs up. It displays 3 basic information – the speedometer, fuel gauge and odometer. The needles rotate clockwise, but it feels completely opposite to a normal viewer. As badging is important, the handlebar grips get the Jawa logo embedded in them and the chrome bar ends to carry forward the classic look. The switches are easily accessible and the plastic does not feel cheap.
The motorcycle is perfect for solo riding, pillion duties are slightly risky
Ergonomics – In terms of ergonomics, this bike nails it as the seat height is at a low 765 mm which makes it accessible for shorter riders too. The footpegs are slightly front-set while the seating posture is upright with a shorter handlebar. The ergonomic triangle is comfortable and very likeable for an average Indian height person but any taller and the bike will feel too small. The seat cushioning isn’t the best and the seat isn’t long either but one can manage to sit a pillion.
The seat is hard yet wide but with a pillion it will be a snug-fit
There are no grab rails too which might bother the pillion and they would have to hold on to the rider. The key placement also is below the handlebar and above the radiator making it quite an effort. The handle locking area is also tucked under the cone-set area. There were a few moments when I forgot to unlock the handlebar and just started the bike. The mirrors are round in shape and have a chrome finish for that classic look. However, they don’t serve the purpose just as well.
Initial punch from the motor is quite exciting
Performance – This bike gets a 293cc motor and even though it gets twin exhausts, this is indeed a single-cylinder unit. Luckily it is a liquid-cooled engine so would survive the harsh Mumbai heat. But it’s really nice to see that the brand still strives to stick to the retro look by offering fins on the engine to portray an air-cooled engine look. This powerplant produces 27 BHP and 28 Nm torque. All this kicks in early in the rev range hence the low-end and mid-range are pretty good. But unfortunately, it runs out of breath in the top-end. If you push it close to the redline, there are a lot of vibrations that kick-in from the footpegs as well as the handlebar.
The motor does look retro while having modern tech inside
Dual exhausts have a bassy note while it also brings back sweet old memories
This Jawa has a comfortable cruising speed of 60-70 km/hr but can go up to 110 km/hr without stressing much. It will, however, top out at 120 km/hr and going from nought to the ton takes about 12.8 seconds. It also gets a 6-speed gearbox which is slick-shifting but the clutch is way too hard and it bothers a lot in stop-go traffic. You could get the best fuel efficiency of 38 km/l under sane riding while we got up to 35 km/l which had quite a bit of city riding too. Overtaking at 60 km/hr isn’t much of a task but downshifting and opening the throttle a little would be necessary.
The rear suspension is stiff, aiding to better dynamics
Riding Dynamics – The ergonomics are very comfortable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean sports bike handling. The Jawa weighs 170 kgs but the double-cradle frame doesn’t translate that weight to the handlebars. The straight-line stability is excellent while it also tips into corners rather easily as it has one of the shortest wheelbases. The feedback from the handlebars is good but it isn’t that confidence-inspiring. It takes a little getting used to but once you do, it is a pretty easy bike to ride. The Jawa comes with covered telescopic forks at the front and twin hydraulic shocks at the rear. The front is really good at soaking the bumps that our roads have to offer but can’t say the same for the rear. It is rather stiff and transmits a lot to the rider.
Dimensions aren’t shared but it does look quite a small nimble motorcycle
Jawa has brilliant riding dynamics while it isn’t as comfortable for a long haul
There is an option of dual-channel ABS but the bike we had for the test had a single-channel ABS unit. The 280 mm disc at the front does its job well but the rear drum brake isn’t as confidence-inspiring. The bike does loose out the rear at times on hard braking. Luckily the front ABS is not too intrusive, so bikers new to ABS systems would not have a panic moment. The front gets an 18-inch tyre with 90-section rubber while the rear is a 17-inch tyre with 120-section rubber. To maintain that classic look, there are spoke wheels which means even though the tyres are tubeless they still need to have a tube in them. They do grip decently well but the risk of being stranded due to a puncture is quite high.
It is a motorcycle that combines retro charm in a modern day ride
Verdict – The Jawa comes in 2 variants, while the single-channel ABS version is priced under Rs. 2 lakhs you will have to shell a little above Rs. 2 lakhs for the dual-channel ABS model. The styling is brilliant, built quality feels decent, the ergonomics are likeable with very good riding dynamics too. But the motor does not have that outright performance nor is the motorcycle comfortable for longer runs. It, however, makes up for a good city bike while it is perfect for those who want to relive the golden Jawa moments from back in time. With a little more comfort and some extra hardware on-board, it would be a lot more appealing for the millennials who crave for the classic retro look.
Boderline OCD kicked-in yet?
What’s Cool
* Jawa has an attractive classic retro design
* Riding dynamics are on point with perfect ergonomics
* Engine has a great low-end and mid-range, perfect for city duties
What’s Not So Cool
* Clutch is too heavy and adds a lot of fatigue
* Riding comfort is very less even for the pillion
* The instrument cluster is just too basic and difficult to read
Even the horn cover gets a Jawa logo grill
Jawa Standard Specifications
* Engine: 293cc, Liquid-Cooled, Single-Cylinder, DOHC, FI
* Power: 27 BHP
* Torque: 28 Nm
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Fuel Consumption: 35 km/l
* Frame: Double Cradle Chassis
* Tyres: 90/90/18 (Front), 120/80/17 (Rear)
* Suspension: Covered Telescopic Forks (Front), Adjustable Twin Hydraulic Shocks (Rear)
* Brakes: 280 mm Disc (Front), 130 mm Drum (Rear); Single-Channel ABS
Jawa Standard Dimensions
* Wheelbase: 1369 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 14-litres
* Kerb weight: 170 Kgs
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