Jawa has re-entered the Indian market under Classic Legends, a company that acquired the rights for the brand in India and ASEAN markets, with not just one motorcycle, but three reveals – the Jawa (the name is just Jawa, nothing else), the Forty Two, and the Perak. The Jawa is heavily influenced by the company’s 250 Type A and sports proper classic styling. The rival to it would be Royal Enfield’s Bullet 350, but there is a huge difference in pricing with the Jawa being far more premium.
As for the Perak, the company has said that it is still under development and its bobber design gives it no direct rival at this price point. The Forty Two, however, with its Rs 1.55 lakh (ex-showroom) price tag and retro-modern theme, goes up directly against the Royal Enfield Classic 350 which sells in huge numbers. This spec comparison will give you an idea of how these two stack up against each other on paper.
Powertrain
The Jawa Forty Two is powered by a 293cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine that develops 27hp and 28Nm. The Classic 350, on the other hand, uses a 346cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled motor that makes 19.8hp and 28Nm. While the Forty Two may have a lower-capacity engine, it makes a lot more horsepower and the same torque figure as the Royal Enfield. The Jawa motor also uses a modern Dual Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) configuration and liquid-cooling tech. While Jawa hasn’t revealed the rpm figures, we believe it will be a higher revving motor since it also runs a higher compression ratio of 11:1, compared to the Royal Enfield’s 8.5:1.
Classic Legends has claimed that this motor will perform better than the one in the Mojo. The Mojo also has a higher kerb weight, which means that the Jawa will have a higher power-to-weight ratio figure. As a result, one can expect a faster 0-100kph time than the Mojo which did the dash in less than 10sec. This also means that the Jawa offerings will be significantly quicker than 350cc Royal Enfields. Driving this point home, the Forty Two has an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 158.8hp per tonne compared to the 103.1hp per tonne figure of the Classic 350.
Meanwhile, Royal Enfield’s 346cc motor is known for its low-end torque – it makes all its 28Nm at just 4,000rpm. Jawa, on the other hand, hasn’t revealed the rpm at which the motor produces its peak torque of 28Nm. For some reference, the Mojo XT 300 produces its peak torque of 30Nm at a higher 5,500rpm. That said, Classic Legends stresses that the Forty Two has been tuned for increased bottom-end performance; so it’s quite possible that the Jawa motor produces its peak torque at a lower rpm figure.
| Powertrain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jawa Forty Two | Royal Enfield Classic 350 | |
| Displacement | 293cc | 346cc |
| Engine layout | DOHC, Single-cylinder, liquid-cooled | Single-cylinder, air-cooled |
| Bore X Stroke | 76mm X 65mm | 70mm X 90mm |
| Power | 27hp | 19.8hp at 5,250rpm |
| Torque | 28Nm | 28Nm at 4,000rpm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 5-speed |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 158.8hp/tonne | 103.1hp/tonne |
Underpinnings
The chassis on the Forty Two is an all-new double cradle unit and it is suspended on telescopic fork twin shock absorbers with gas-charged canisters. The Classic 350 uses a single downtube frame, telescopic fork and twin shock absorbers with gas-charged canisters. Both motorcycles also ride on spoked wheels wearing tubed tyres.
What's different, however, are the tyre and wheel sizes. The Forty Two uses a 90/90-18 setup at the front and a 120/80-17 at the rear. The Royal Enfield, meanwhile, uses a similar-sized tyre with a larger wheel up front (90/90-19) and a slimmer 110/90-18 section tyre at the rear. Anchorage at the front, on both bikes, is provided by 280mm single discs. At the rear, though, Royal Enfield has moved on to a disc brake setup, while the Jawa makes do with a 153mm drum brake. The Forty Two features single-channel ABS as standard, while the Royal Enfield offers dual-channel ABS for an extra Rs 6,000 on the Gunmetal Grey version of the Classic 350. However, expect this to be standard once the April 2019 ABS deadline arrives.
Both bikes come close in terms of other specifications as well. The Forty Two has a wheelbase of 1,369mm, while the Classic 350 measures 1,370mm. Likewise, the fuel tank capacities stand at 14 litres for the Jawa and 13.5 litres for the Royal Enfield.
| Suspension & tyres | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jawa Forty Two | Royal Enfield Classic 350 | |
| Front suspension | Telescopic fork | Telescopic fork |
| Rear suspension | Twin shock absorbers | Twin shock absorbers |
| Front tyre | 90/90-18 | 90/90-19 |
| Rear tyre | 120/80-17 | 110/90-18 |
Design
While the Jawa model is heavily inspired by the brand’s classic bike, the Forty Two is slightly more affordable and has a more urban and modern theme with matte-black elements replacing some of the chrome bits. Other changes include an offset instrument cluster and bar-end mirrors. One can choose from six different colours, many of which are matte and this shows that this offering is targeted at millennials.
Royal Enfield, on the other hand, has taken a different route with the Classic models. They were designed to mimic older offerings from the company – the long fenders, the sprung seat and rubber knee pads are all properly old-school. The Classic 350 also has an analogue instrument cluster like the Jawa, but misses out on a fuel gauge. You are dependent on the reserve light on this motorcycle. When it comes to colours, the Classic 350 offers the option of seven glossy combos. Matte colour schemes are available too, but they come at a higher cost.
| Dimensions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jawa Forty Two | Royal Enfield Classic 350 | |
| Wheelbase | 1369mm | 1370mm |
| Kerb weight | 170kg | 192kg |
| Fuel capacity | 14 litres | 13.5 litres |
| Seat height | 765mm | - |
| Ground clearance | - | 135mm |
Summing it up
On paper, it is the Jawa Forty Two that manages to pull ahead. It has a modern engine with a better power figure, additional gear, a fuel gauge, a slightly larger fuel tank, and, most importantly, a significantly lower kerb weight (by 22kg!). And all of this can be had at Rs 1.55 lakh. That said, one must keep in mind that it misses out on a rear disc brake and only features single-channel ABS.
The Royal Enfield, meanwhile, costs Rs 1.47 lakh (front and rear disc variant) and Rs 1.53 lakh (for the Gunmetal Grey model with a front and rear disc and dual-channel ABS). Not only is the Classic slightly more affordable, but it also goes one step ahead in terms of safety by offering better braking equipment. However, it does miss out on quite a lot when compared to the Forty Two.
What works in Royal Enfield's favour is that it is miles ahead in terms of the dealer network – 850 outlets across the country. Jawa, however, doesn’t have a single outlet open at the moment but has stated that it has already appointed 105 dealers, out of which 64 are currently under development. Showroom doors are expected to open in the first week of December and the company says that it will begin deliveries in early 2019.
All prices ex-showroom.
Also see:
Jawa: 5 things you need to know
Jawa adventure/scrambler not coming in 2019