Update: 2018 Jawa, Jawa Forty Two review, test ride
We’re just a few days away from the commencement of operations at a large number of Jawa showrooms, with the recently-revived brand having listed over 100 dealerships across the country. While the bikes are being considered direct rivals to the Royal Enfield Classic series, it seems like Jawa has decided to rival the aftersales and customer experience that Royal Enfield provides as well.
Jawa Cafe and Heritage wall
The brand has planned for a small section of their showrooms to be dedicated to a “community’ space called the Jawa Cafe. Apart from books on the brand’s history, vintage accessories/collectables, a wall of this section will apparently have a large painting of a vintage motorcycle from the manufacturer. The walls of the Cafe will also display multiple coloured side panels from the new Jawa bikes, much like the theme at Royal Enfield showrooms. It is rumoured that a touch screen tablet displaying the history and evolution of the brand will also be a part of this section.
Showroom experience
Jawa is a brand that has a strong following amongst the yesteryear bikers in the country. In an attempt to cater to the emotions of these enthusiasts of pre-resurrection Jawas, the brand is expected to display restored motorcycles from its iconic past at showrooms. The showrooms will also have an accessories section where Jawa branded merchandise will be on display. This section will retail more than just apparel and will include riding gear, such as some stylish armoured leather jackets and gloves (displayed at the launch event held in Mumbai).
The showrooms are expectedly rumoured to have a very retro vibe - one that celebrates the glory years of the brand in the country - the ‘70s. The finish of the showrooms will complement this vibe, with the extensive use of polished wood, exposed concrete and brushed metal panels.
Royal Enfield is famed for the customer experience it provides although Jawa now looks set to disrupt this with what it has planned for its showrooms.
Jawa has re-entered the Indian market with three motorcycles - the Jawa, the Forty Two, and the Perak. The Jawa, priced at Rs 1.64 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and the Forty Two, costing Rs 1.55 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) are mechanically identical, and differ from each other in trim and colour. The bobber styled Perak is priced at Rs 1.89 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and features a 334cc motor, which is a revised, more powerful version of the 293cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC motor seen on the Jawa and the Forty Two. The Perak however is only expected to go on sale in the second half of 2019.
To know more about the Jawa development story, head here.
VISHAL VENUGOPAL
Also see:
Here's what the Jawa sounds like
Jawa dealership location details revealed
Jawa dealer-level bookings to commence on December 15
Jawa Motorcycles India range: A first look
Jawa Forty Two vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Specifications comparison