Category Average: 334.0 cc
42: 294.72 cc
Category Average: 35.83 kmpl
42: 35 kmpl
Category Average: 24.05 ps
42: 27.32 ps
Category Average: 125.0 kmph
42: 132.0 kmph
The Jawa 42 is making waves in the motorcycle market with its retro-inspired design and contemporary performance. Launched as part of Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles' push to revive the iconic brand, the 2024 Jawa 42 comes with significant upgrades and appealing features that cater to modern riders' needs while preserving a nostalgic aesthetic. This motorcycle showcases the brand's commitment to quality and style packed with exciting capabilities. The latest model presents improvements in engine performance and comfort, ensuring a smoother ride experience on diverse terrains. As a nod to its heritage, the Jawa 42 blends classic looks with cutting-edge technology, making it a compelling choice for motorcycle enthusiasts looking for flair and functionality.
The 2024 Jawa 42 is competitively priced between ₹1.73 lakh and ₹1.98 lakh (ex-showroom). This pricing positions it favourably among its competitors in the retro motorcycle segment, making it an attractive proposition for riders who value both aesthetics and performance.
The updated Jawa 42 was launched in August 2024 with notable changes to the neo-retro offering. The new Jawa 42 is ₹17,000 more affordable than the predecessor and claims to bring improvements on every front, including power delivery, NVH levels, weight distribution and more.
The Jawa 42 comes in various attractive variants, ensuring that there's a bike for every taste and requirement. There are both single-channel and dual-channel ABS variants with either spoke or alloy wheel options. Aside from this, the Jawa 42 can be configured in a broad range of both single-tone and dual-tone colour options, including Aurora Green Matte, Orion Red Matte, Celestial Copper Matte Dual Tone, and Infinity Black Matte Dual Tone, among others. There are a total of 14 new colour options available.
The 2024 Jawa 42 stands out with its polished chrome accents and vintage-inspired bodywork. Its design evokes a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of classic motorcycles. The bike features a sculpted fuel tank, an elegantly designed headlamp with a vintage appeal, and stylish fenders that blend seamlessly into the body. The premium finish and robust build quality make the Jawa 42 not just an eye-catching motorcycle but also a durable one. The colour options, ranging from the vibrant Starship Blue to the more subdued yet classy Odyssey Black, offer something for all kinds of riders.
Step onto the Jawa 42, and you are greeted with a comfortable riding posture and well-thought-out ergonomics. The motorcycle's seat is designed for extended rides, ensuring comfort whether you're commuting or hitting the open road. The instrument cluster is a digital-analogue unit, providing essential information while keeping the vintage aesthetic intact. With easy access to the controls, riders can easily manage their ride without distraction.
The Jawa 42 is powered by the third-generation J-Panther motor that is mated to a six-speed gearbox with an assist-and-slipper clutch. This 294.7 cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine claims to offer better thermal efficiency, a better-balanced crankshaft, and reduced blow-by for improved NVH levels. The engine also packs a new free-flow exhaust system with dB killers for smoother performance. This unit continues to make the same 27 bhp and 26.84 Nm of peak torque.
The updated cruiser has been built around the same double-cradle frame that is suspended by telescopic front forks and twin shocks at the rear. The suspension setup has been updated for improved damping. The bike rides on 18-inch front and 17-inch rear alloys. Braking performance comes from discs at both ends with either single-channel or dual-channel ABS.
ARAI-claimed mileage offered by the Jawa 42 is 33 kmpl. Real-world fuel economy figures may vary depending on road conditions and riding style.
Safety is paramount in any motorcycle, and the Jawa 42 does not disappoint. It comes fitted with dual-channel ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), ensuring optimal braking performance under different conditions. The robust construction of the bike provides peace of mind to the riders, and other safety features like reliable suspension and sturdy tyres further enhance the overall riding experience.
Bobbers, they are not practical and most people would not buy them. But can anyone possibly not admire the sheer beauty on display? Bobbers do indeed belong to such a niche community even though most manufacturers stay away from this body style. Before Jawa came to the Indian market, a person would have to shell out quite a bit of money to buy a bobber motorcycle because the most affordable bobbers in India were on sale by Harley Davidson and Triumph.
I am a sucker for bobbers and 42 Bobber is one great-looking motorcycle. It does manage to turn heads on the road a lot of times. Jawa borrowed the fuel tank from the Yezdi Roadster, the same goes for the instrument cluster, switch gear and front headlamp. But all of these elements have been integrated well so they do not look out of place. The fuel tank has knee recesses and gets tank pads. Having said that, the instrument cluster is difficult to read under direct sunlight and the headlamp, despite being an LED unit, does not offer a good throw.
There is a new handlebar with bar-end mirrors which offer a decent view of what is behind. Then there is a new single seat which is not shared with the Perak. On the handlebar, there is a charger mounted which houses a USB C as well as a USB A socket to charge mobile devices. It does look a bit out of place as it is not integrated well.
The Perak gets all-blacked out elements whereas the 42 Bobber is more inviting with multiple paint schemes on offer. Moreover, the engine is finished in chrome and the fenders are finished in gloss black. On the Perak, the tail lamp is positioned beneath the seat. For the 42 Bobber, Jawa decided to move it to the rear fender.
The engine on the 42 Bobber is the same unit as the Perak and the other Yezdi models. So, it is a 334 cc, single-cylinder unit that gets liquid-cooling. It puts out 30 bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 32 Nm. Jawa has retuned the engine with a new map that has better low-end delivery.
The engine is fine for the most part but it does sound mechanical, although it is an improvement over the previous iterations of the same engine. There are also vibrations that start to creep in around 5,000 rpm mark. The low-end is good on the 42 Bobber but in the 5th and 6th gears, the engine feels alive only after crossing 4,000 rpm and below this rev range, the engine sounds very unpleasant. For overtaking, a rider would need to downshift if he or she is below 4,000 rpm. One needs to twist the throttle to extract the power from this engine. Speaking of twisting the throttle, the on-off throttle transitions can be a bit choppy.
As far as the gearbox is concerned, it is a 6-speed unit and is quite clunky. There is a slip-and-assist clutch on offer which does improve things a bit so the clutch action is moderately light.
The handling of the 42 Bobber is better than what I was expecting. This is because of its stiff suspension. However, for me, it was a bit too stiff. This means that the rear mono-shocker transfers jolts directly to the rider's back. So, he or she would need to slow down substantially whenever there is a pothole or a speed breaker.
In bumper-to-bumper traffic, the motorcycle feels light and is easy to manoeuvre. This is thanks, to the low seat height and wide handlebar. However, because of the single-seat, one needs to be conscious that there is still a significant portion of the motorcycle behind him while cutting through traffic. In parking spaces, moving the motorcycle can be a bit of a task because there is no rear grab or anything to hold on so one needs to use the handlebar only. Moreover, I even managed to scrape the motorcycle once because of the low ground clearance.
The seat is on the stiffer side but gets adjustability. The foot pegs are also moved forwarded when compared to the Perak. So, the riding triangle is comfortable. The tank pads help the rider in gripping the tank so he or she does not slip while accelerating hard.
The 42 Bobber is priced between ₹2.06 lakh (ex-showroom) and ₹2.09 lakh (ex-showroom). At this price, the top-end variant costs the same as the Perak but both are significantly different feeling and looking motorcycles. Yes, the engine sounds a bit rough and the ride quality is quite stiff. But the decision of buying a bobber comes from the heart and not from the head. So, if one decides to buy a 42 Bobber then he or she will probably end up buying the 42 Bobber.
Max Power | 27.32 PS |
Body Type | Cruiser Bikes |
Max Torque | 26.84 Nm |
Mileage | 35 kmpl |
Transmission | Manual |
Headlight | LED |
Engine | 294.72 cc |
Max Speed | 132 kmph |
Fuel Type | Petrol |
Jawa 42 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
₹1.73 Lakhs* | ₹1.99 Lakhs* | ₹1.5 Lakhs* | ₹1.99 Lakhs* | ₹2.12 Lakhs* | ₹1.99 Lakhs* |
User Rating 35 Reviews | User Rating - | User Rating 101 Reviews | User Rating 3 Reviews | User Rating 4 Reviews | User Rating - |
Power 27.32 PS | Power 22.5 PS | Power 20.21 PS | Power 29.1 PS | Power 29.92 PS | Power 25.85 PS |
Torque 26.84 Nm | Torque 28.2 Nm | Torque 27 Nm | Torque 29.62 Nm | Torque 32.74 Nm | Torque 36 Nm |
Engine 294.72 cc | Engine 334 cc | Engine 349 cc | Engine 334 cc | Engine 334 cc | Engine 480 cc |
Kerb Weight 184 kg | Kerb Weight 194 kg | Kerb Weight 181 kg | Kerb Weight 184 kg | Kerb Weight - | Kerb Weight 205 kg |
Front Brake Disc | Front Brake Disc | Front Brake Disc | Front Brake Disc | Front Brake Disc | Front Brake Disc |
Rear Brake Disc | Rear Brake Disc | Rear Brake Disc | Rear Brake Disc | Rear Brake Disc | Rear Brake Disc |
Wheel Type Spoke | Wheel Type Spoke | Wheel Type Alloy | Wheel Type Alloy | Wheel Type Spoke | Wheel Type Alloy |
Body Type Cruiser Bikes | Body Type Cruiser Bikes | Body Type Cruiser Bikes | Body Type Cruiser Bikes | Body Type Cruiser Bikes | Body Type Cruiser Bikes |
Currently viewing | 42 vs 350 | 42 vs Hunter 350 | 42 vs 42 FJ | 42 vs 42 Bobber | 42 vs SRC 500 |
Popular Jawa Bikes