Once in a while, it is good to be reminded of the rich legacy and valour of the Indian Army! And this time, we have Jawa to thank to. Now, Jawa isn't the first motorcycle to have launched models which pay homage to the Army. Royal Enfield did it earlier, with its 'Pegasus' and 'Signals' series. But Jawa recently launched a new special edition model, actually, models, of the Jawa Classic which pays homage to Indian Army's victory in the 1971 war and commemorates 50th anniversary of the 1971 war as well. There is a khaki shade and a 'midnight' grey shade, which was inspired by the Battle of Longewala in Rajasthan. We had the opportunity to get up, close and personal with the new Jawa Khaki and here's what we think of it.
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(The Jawa Khaki gets the same design as the standard model. The colour scheme is of course different )
So! The Jawa Khaki! It is the same Jawa Classic as before, but now gets a beautiful matt khaki shade along with a sticker of the insignia of the Indian Army, flanked by a laurel wreath and the Indian Tricolour on the fuel tank and blacked out parts, which offer a nice contrast to the khaki brown. Hand-painted stripes would have added more premium appeal than a simple sticker though!
(The fuel tank gets the insignia of the Indian Army along with the Indian tricolour, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Indian Army's victory in the 1971 war)
The seat pan is new too and although the difference in comfort and riding position is almost negligible. In a word, the motorcycle looks very, very good and period-correct too!
Also Read: New Jawa Special Edition Models Launched; Commemorates 50th Anniversary Of 1971 War
(The seat on the Jawa Khaki is different and is a little too hard for our liking)
In terms of features, the Jawa Khaki gets dual-channel ABS along with a trip meter. The period correct analogue instrument console stays the same, with the needle harking back to the '60s Smiths' speedometer. The fit and finish continue to be excellent.
(The Jawa Khaki uses the same 293 cc single-cylinder engine making 27 bhp and 27.02 Nm)
The engine too stays the same as before. The 293 cc single-cylinder unit pumps out 27 bhp at 6,800 rpm and 27.02 Nm of peak torque at 5,000 rpm. The engine continues to get the same 6-speed gearbox as before. The Jawa Classic continues to be a lovely motorcycle for pottering around in town. The engine offers enough grunt to keep you engaged when riding in town and has the lungs to take you on long highway rides as well. The mid-range is strong and as you twist the throttle, you will like what the motorcycle has to offer, including the deep exhaust note!
(The performance is smooth and relaxed, with a strong mid-range. The bike can happily cruise at 90-100 kmph all day long)
In-gear acceleration is decent and the 6-speed gearbox offers smooth shifts too. Cruising at 90-100 kmph all day long is not an issue on this modern classic. If you are patient enough, the bike can reach even higher speeds, but when you are riding the Jawa Classic, you might as well ride at a relaxing pace and soak in the sights and sounds along the way.
(The 6-speed gearbox has a smooth operation. The ride quality is quite decent too)
The Jawa isn't a corner carver, but it doesn't shy away from corners either. There is limited clearance by way of the side stand on the left and the long barrel exhaust on the right, but show it a corner and the bike attacks it with gusto. Even with its kerb weight of 172 kg, it is a nimble handler and can filter through traffic at ease. The stiff suspension coupled with the somewhat hard seat may take time getting used to though.
(The motorcycle is on sale now and deliveries of the special edition Jawa Classic have begun)
The Jawa Classic is a minimalist bike! It is a simple, modern classic motorcycle, which aims to deliver good, comfortable riding experience, with decent performance and usability. At Rs. 1.93 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Classic Khaki is about Rs. 6,000 more expensive than the regular model with dual-channel ABS. If you want a slice of the legacy of the Indian Army, then the Jawa Khaki makes sense, if not, the regular Jawa Classic works just fine. But, like we said earlier, the matt khaki brown shade looks irresistible!
