Extending the Royal Challenge

Jawa, clearly is harping on the nostalgia and the brand image that veterans have for long associated with their bikes. Such is the flout of these passionate bikers that in the years of its exile, Jawa was kept alive by the countless communities of riders, some of whom are in their mid twenties and have inherited the bikes from their parents and grandparents. Mahindra Two Wheelers and Classic Legends, the brains behind reviving Jawa, know this and have done everything to take advantage of this emotion that fuels riders and fans to this day.

To start with, there is the design language. The new liquid cooled has been designed to look exactly like their older air cooled one, complete with air fins. The cigar shaped exhausts, sing a very familiar and pleasing throaty baritone, but is very friendly for the environment. The instrument cluster too is familiar, with circular speedometer and integrated fuel indicator, but with a LCD display. The designers of the bike have stayed true to the design philosophy that is dearly loved by its fans and have added modern touches very liberally throughout. In essence, for every bike enthusiast and young boy who fancies a bike, these will be the perfect bedroom wall poster.

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These bikes are no slouches. Both, the Jawa (₹1.64 lacs ex-showroom Delhi) as well as the Forty Two (₹1.55 lacs ex-showroom Delhi) come with the same single cylinder, 293 cc 4 stroke engine DHOC engine, which produces 27 BHP and 28 Nm of torque, feeding the same six speed gearbox. Jawa also teased their factory custom bobber, the Perak (₹1.89 lacs ex-showroom Delhi), which will be available in early 2019 and comes with an even better engine that harnesses the power of 30 horses on an octane fuelled rampage, and has 31 Nm of torque. And yet, Jawa claim that specifications are just numbers.

Mahindra and Classic Legends, it seems have placed a bet on Jawa. Theoretically, it should work, for it has all the right components for a successful marque. The bikes look phenomenally well, sound heavenly, are powered just right, will be easy to operate and, if history has taught us anything, will be a dream to ride. It will be, in true sense, a Jawa – rugged, simple and unbreakable. And the manner in which Classic Legends has come out all guns blazing with these ones, be it their pricing for these bikes or the number of customer touch points that they are beginning with (over a 100), tells us that they know for sure that Jawa is all but set to reclaim what they believe is rightfully theirs – the crown of the King of Indian Cruisers. Whether they reemerge as the undisputed king of the road or not, we for one are excited to see these retro classics, back on the road.

From the December 2018 issue of FHM India.