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-   -   Mahindra is bringing Jawa back. EDIT: Launched @ Rs 1.55 lakh (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motorbikes/181224-mahindra-bringing-jawa-back-edit-launched-rs-1-55-lakh-19.html)

From being written off since the price announcement of RE twins to roaring back into contention (atleast for me) with a truly head-turning classic design, it has been a roller coaster ride for Jawa. If Mahindra can ensure that this is not merely designed to be a piece of the past but also has the quality, performance and service to match, they will surely have set cat among the pigeons in the 350 cc segment.

The Mojo engine has good reviews.. and since the new Jawas are based on the same, expecting good things.

Plus a 765 mm seat, about 20 kgs lighter than the RE 350s..!!! People now really have an option.

100% agree with these points. Tubeless anyday. Tubetype only if your'e a hardcore offroader and take your PSI really low like 11-12 psi. Nowadays tubeless spoked rims are available. I have installed Outex tubeless kit on my spoked wheels.

Zigwheels is also out with their video and Kartikeya covers the bikes nicely. An interesting tidbit I gleaned from this video is that the inspiration for the name '42' has been derived from the hugely popular The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Douglas Adams , in the series , added a central joke which has become more famous over the years than the novel itself: "The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything is 42."

So, is 42 indeed the ultimate answer ?:)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phLA8ZVFJz0

Cheers !

(Links Courtesy : Wikipedia, www.independent.co.uk)

(PS : Mods, please merge the back to back posts . I tried, but the 30 min deadline had expired!)

The pricing of Jawas isn't really a crowd puller. With the juicily priced RE twins it appears to have lost value even further. At this price point I'd expect ABS and FI. I haven't seen any mention of these anywhere. Jawa is an all new motorcycle, even if the brand name is old. After Mojo Mahindra should have priced it a lot more attractively , since it is Finally 'The Motorcycle' in the words of Anand Mahindra. Also the service centre quality and spare part prices are going to matter a lot if it wants to shake up this segment. With a big conglomerate like Mahindra backing the initiative it should not be too difficult. Royal Enfield was resuscitated a decade ago while Jawa is being raised from the dead. Hope this one stay alive for many years to come.

The bikes are equipped with ABS though a Single Channel one and since the engine is derived from Mojo it should be Fuel Injected as well. That engine in Mojo is one of the best motors going around and should be reliable as well. Though the RE twins stole the show, the Jawa is really growing up on me ever since the launch.

Low on power compared to RE, tube tires, drum brakes, unenthusiastic launch... but all I see is style! Maybe I am blinded by nostalgia.

But one thing I am glad about, they have kept the bigger front wheel than the rear wheel. I think it was unique to Jawa in the past, even now I am not sure if any other bikes have that other than dual-sport / adventure bikes. It gives a unique stance to the bike.

Personally, I am all over the Jawa. With much more hp and a twin engine the Interceptor makes a lot more sense, but.. that shape!

It's not low on power compared to the RE 350 - it's much better even than the RE 500.


I don't think it would be fair to compare it with the 650s but it has (or had in the Mojo avatar) an excellent smooth engine which had a nice mid range which was pretty good for touring.

Wow! What a time to be alive and riding!

Day 1: 650 with an insane price tag.
Day 2: Gorgeous 42 with okay price tag. Perak too is a head turner.
Day 3: I wish Bajaj had launched the Husqvarna 401 twins just to keep the momentum going.

I'm split between the two bikes (42 and 650) as much as I'm split between Vitpilen and Svartpilen 401. In this duo, the Svart is the logical one.

The 42 in turquoise has me dreaming. Hopefully, it's refined, reliable, and sounds good.

Group rides are an attraction for me. Even though I'm not a fan, I like finding new roads to ride and examining them before heading out on my own. It's also a good place to connect with like-minded people. I hope they have this piece sorted.

I hated the way Mahindra goons were asking the guests to get off the stage. I would not buy if this kind of cocky behavior continues. I've been to several press launches and not seen this ... ever. Triumph launches are my favorite. Mr. Vimal Sumbly is easy to catch hold of after the event and he stays for as long as journos are there to bug him. He's also straightforward with most questions AFAIK. Now, he's with RE.

In my experience, Mahindra have been dodgy. They still haven't been able to explain how their XUV petrol generates diesel-like torque at diesel-like RPMs. And what compression it's running.

I was just telling a colleague that Jawa is back. He hadn't heard about the launch. I showed the 42 and he's like "this isn't the original Jawa, the headlight isn't the same". Then I showed him the newly-launched "original" Jawa and he immediately started telling me how its lever needed to be moved from 'gear' mode to 'kickstart' mode. I didn't know these things. His dad owned one. So there's certainly the nostalgia factor in the Jawa bikes. If people know and remember these bikes, they're also likely to buy one.

There are tubeless conversion kits available. Outex, as mentioned in the thread is one. Tubliss is another. Expensive? Yes. Usable? May be. Not for off-road. Because you run the risk of breaking the bead. I'd hate to be in that situation.

Some manufacturers have found a workaround. The Suzuki V-Storm 650 has the spokes don't penetrate the rim. BMW R9T have the spokes meeting the rim at the edges to avoid the beads.

I have, and I still prefer tubes unless I know I'm not hitting the dirt even a little bit. I'm almost always dressed for the occasion as if crashing was on the agenda. But, they're definitely a pain. On the Impulse, for example, there's no center stand. Taking off and slotting the rear wheel is a pain even for professionals...while the bike is on a jack...and I'm holding a few parts to help align everything.

On the Navi, it's too easy. There's the benefit of "single-sided swingarm" if you can call it that.

I haven't tried my hand at replacing the tube, let along fixing a puncture. But I intend to learn how to do that before I take the Navi on a road trip.

I'm always being extra careful with the Gixxer.

We're in the same boat. I'm just looking at it from the other end. My heart is with the 42 and my head is with the 650. This RE is such a logical purchase that it makes me wonder if it's RE enough. REs have traditionally been the most emotional purchases for many.

I agree that they're in different categories but some of us know exactly what to get in each category. I'm just looking for value, even if it comes at a cost.

I noticed the alignment too. But I was like, what the hell, it's a classic. It's not like REs are the benchmarks in QC. And yet they sell. As long as the bits that could get me stranded are working well, I'm okay.

For the price, it's certainly better equipped than the 350s. There's FI. More power. They're lighter. I can't stand heavy bikes that are also low on power and features. There are trip meters. I'm just glad there's someone to challenge the RE's might. clap:

Am not sure how others look at it.

I think any enthusiast from the present generation planning to purchase the vehicle would look at it alongside the others who have established themselves in the market over a period. Selling nostalgia can be done only with a generation who remember it with the same specs and feel. A mojo engine in jawa with no yezdi name to it, well we are shifting timelines further down.

The more I look at the Jawa the more I'm liking it. The more I'm looking at the Interceptor the less I'm liking it. Anyone else facing this syndrome ?


1. Jawa has a more modern engine and better power and torque to weight than RE 350/500
2. better colour options ?
3. Novelty on road
4. Possibly better FE - a plus while touring
5. The sound as per the advertisement I saw on you tube is more appealing than the RE classic

What I need more info on
1. Seating ergonomics
2. Given the shorter and narrower rear portion how practical is it to have some panniers for touring.

Maybe the Jawa is built to be a city poser with short drives. Not possibly for long distance touring. Anyway I can't buy it. These are just random thoughts :)

This itself is a gigantic victory for Mahindra! Who would have ever thought that a Mahindra bike would be the heart option with an RE product the logical one!! clap:

I was afraid the Jawa would sink without notice post the blockbuster 650 launches. But the bikes have really surprised me and a lot of people. They seem really well built and all the elements work together great.
The pricing is also good for the package being offered.
Hopefully they come up with a 500cc version.


Same with me. Purely on looks the Interceptor does not seem very appealing.
I wish they would do a Classic 650 as well.

Owning and living with a Royal Enfield Thunderbird (2006 AVL) has been a great experience. But of course it has few issues of its own. Had been waiting for the JAWA to be relaunched, and boy what a pleasant surprise it has been to see the JAWA in its true colors.

I have ridden Mojo and the NVH levels of the silky smooth engine gives all the more reason to go for JAWA instead of the RE.

Will just wait for the reviews and initial ownership experiences of few before taking the jump and putting one in my courtyard.

I have the same feeling, the 42 design grows on beating the interceptor. I already have a 82 Classic and 72 Enfield for nostalgia and was looking for something as a daily run where the 42 fits right in. For me, the light weight and nimbleness qualify for the perfect city bike which I am afraid is not possible with the twins. I wanted something like an RX100 which I found the most easiest one to ride in a city.

Don't get me wrong with the twins, both must be very capable machines for highway cruising.