Jawa 42 Bobber: “Jawa 42 Bobber isn’t just a branding exercise: we have taken Classic Legends’ heritage and Jawa’s DNA to a new level as far as aesthetics and design go, while keeping it simple and known, yet in a new and modern avatar,” added Wurz.
Ever since this uniquely-styled machine was released in India, it has found its way into the hearts of enthusiast who want a piece of history with modern day reliable runabout.
Jawa 42 Bobber: The philosophy of Design- True Minimalism
he The 42 Bobber captures the essence of the bobber; the minimalistic and clutter free chopper that was created by American servicemen returning from the Second World War, who stripped away all the unnecessary items from a standard motorcycle and abandoning all but the bare essentials to gain a rush of speed over the stripped down, lighter and faster machines.
The standout feature is the cantilevered rider saddle and springer package that floats above the massive 240mm rear tyre for that ‘bobbed’ hardtail look.
The round, wide fuel tank is adorned with the Jawa 42 signature and looks unique in a modern way and the small rear fender and the chopped front fender highlight the minimalism approach.
Unlike the many modern interpretations of vintage designs, the 42 Bobber sticks to real-world dimensions with a low silhouette, wide bars and forward-canted footpegs to help achieve the laid-back stance of the genre.
The solid black look complemented with subtle pops of color on some parts emphasizes the functional nature that represents true bobbers.
Engine Characteristics
The 42 Bobber is powered by Jawa’s clean, liquid-cooled 334cc single-cylinder motor that makes around 30 hp and 32.7 Nm.
The single cylinder, four stroke 300cc production is a far cry from the old two stroke Jawas on which this modern incarnation is based, featuring dohc’s, liquid cooling and efi this is true 21st century technology.
As you would expect of a bobber, torque delivery is on another level even at the low-end of the range, and the engine’s character is tuned to deliver power in a manner that complements the laid-back riding experience in a reductive, raw bobber style.
The six-speed gearbox gives good ratios that manage to remain close enough for urban riding, but also take the bike easily to comfortable highway cruising.
Perhaps most notably there’s the exhaust note – engineers have honed it to produce a unique thump that harks back to old-school singles but without polluting as much of the atmosphere in the process.
This sort of acoustic signature is a large part of what gives the motorcycle its soul.
Chassis and Riding Dynamics
The 42 Bobber uses a double cradle frame which is tailored to deliver the short, low-slung profile of a typical bobber, yet retains good ground clearance for Indian road conditions.
The gee geometry priorities stability and comfortable straight-line cruising over aggressive cornering, so it’s working in the direction of the cruiser-bobber style overall.
Suspension is managed by regular telescopic forks up front and twin shock at the rear, and the tune gives more preference to ride comfort than sporty handling.
To achieve its styling, that 13-litre-fuel tank while slim, still gives enough range without interrupting the bike’s lines.
Braking is handled by a 280mm front disc with floating caliper and 240mm rear disc with dual-channel ABS that ensure confident and sure braking even in tricky or wet conditions.
The wire-spoke wheels (18-inch front, 17-inch rear) wear tubeless tires that combine a classic look and modern convenience.
Feature Integration
Though very minimalist in its design, the 42 Bobber comes with modern touches like an analog-digital instrument cluster which is a nice bridge for getting the best of both looks.
The information panel includes speedo, tacho, fuel gauge and trip info lit through the night with a gentle backlight.
The lights use LEDs wherever possible, with the headlight, taillight and indicators providing better visibility and increased modern day energy efficiency, despite their oldschool styling. It has USB charging for the electrics to suit the connected riders of today.
Market Positioning
The 42 Bobber is a one-of-a-kind model in the Indian market, offering factory-custom bobber style at a price point that is within reach of bike enthusiasts in the country.
It sits in a sweet-spot between royal Enfield’s Meteor 350 and the more expensive bobber offerings from the international marques.
For Classic Legends (the company which brought back the Jawa brand in India) the 42 Bobber is the first step away from the rather more traditional classic motorcycle lineup – and an introduction of a more youthful and edgy character –
which is in line with the kind of buyer it wants to target and who want to stand out from the crowd in terms of style and character.
Ownership Experience
Classic Legends’ growing service network presence in India as well as increasing availability of parts, elements that are essential to drive customer confidence in a relatively new brand fighting out in a field commanded by more established companies that have been around for decades and are supported by a large infrastructure.
Jawa 42 Bobber:
The Jawa 42 Bobber nicely brings the bobber-school of motorcycle philosophy into an affordable production motorcycle design compromise between genuine design elements and everyday usability.
The new motorcycle offers that minimalistic bobber design that set your hearts racing the first time you heard the brand Jawa name of a motorcycle which was 50 years or so ago with buyers purporting to use the motorcycle for their daily commute to an item to use it for weekend blast up and down the mountain roads.