Tag Archives: Jawa Motorcycles

Whatever happened to BSA revival?

The expected revival of the traditional British motorcycle brand, BSA, seems to have stalled more than three years after the brand was bought by Mahindra.

Indian tractor and automotive company Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) bought the revered brand for $A5.4m in October 2016 through their wholly owned subsidiary, Classic Legends Private Limited (CLPL).

At the time they expressed intentions to make it a traditional-styled revival.

A few months later Italian motorcycle designer Oberdan Bezzi released some sketches of BSA models but they were never confirmed.

Xmas revival

On Boxing Day 2017, M&M boss Anand Mahindra Tweeted a short note that suggested they would produce a new motorcycle by Christmas 2018.BSA tweet Mahindra

His Tweet, accompanied by the old advertising image above, reads:BSA tweet Mahindra

However, two Christmases have now passed and there is not even a hint from Mahindra about reviving the brand.

Several old motorcycle brands have been revived in recent years including Bultaco, Brough, Hesketh, Levis, Matchless, Norton and Jawa.

The latter was also revived by Mahindra’s Classic Legends who released a range of classic motorcycles for the local market in late 2018 and added the Perak bobber in November 2018.

Jawa Perak bobber revival
Jawa Perak bobber

When they launched, the order website crashed because of demand.

They said they planned to sell 90,000 bikes a year.

But despite the interest, the Jawa relaunch has been fraught with production problems and delays of up to a year.

Some customers cancelled their orders in frustration.

And that’s just for domestic sale. They haven’t even contemplated exports.

Jawa say that production is improving and customers only need now wait a few weeks for a bike.

However, Mahindra’s boss recently lamented getting into motorcycles at all, so the revival of BSA could be stalled permanently.

BSA history

The inside cover of the original BSA factory record book Why you should secretly mark your bike
An original BSA factory record book

BSA stands for Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited and it began in 1861 making guns.

It gradually moved into bicycles and motorcycles for which they are most famous, although they also made cars, buses, tools and other metal products over the years.

Its most famous motorcycles were the Gold Star 350cc and 500cc single-cylinder four-stroke bikes considered among the fastest of the 1950s. At the time, BSA was also the world’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer.

However, the halcyon post-war days slipped away in the 1960s under competition from more modern and reliable Japanese models.

BSA went bankrupt in the early 1970s and merged with the Norton Villiers Triumph Group. BSA-branded machines ceased production in 1973.

BSA is currently just a brand that churns out motorcycle t-shirts and merchandise.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Jawa launch Perak bobber, but not for us!

One year ago Jawa Motorcycles returned to production with two neo-classic models in India and now they have released a third, the Perak bobber.

Owners Mahindra Motorcycles are only licensed by the original Czech Jawa company to make and sell the bikes in India.

The bike has been a roaring success and put a dent in domestic Royal Enfield sales. It has been beset by production delays and deliveries, but seems now on track to deliver a third model.

Jawa Perak bobber
Jawa Perak bobber

However, the factory still has no plans to export.

“We are currently not looking at any international tie-ups for exporting, sales or dealerships for Jawa Motorcycles,” Jawa tells us.

“However, we shall make a public announcement once we start exploring those avenues.”

Mahindra also has the outright ownership of BSA and had been expected to make retro-styled BSA models soon for sale around the world. However, there is no word on the brand’s resurrection just yet.

Jawa Perak

Meanwhile the Jawa Classic and Jawa 42 will next year be joined by the Perak cruiser for the Indian market.

The Classic and 42 are powered by a new 293cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which has been styled to resemble the original air-cooled motor.

However, the Jawa Perak bobber is powered by a 334cc, four-stroke, fuel injected, single-cylinder engine producing 22kW of power and 31Nm of torque.

Jawa Perak bobber
Jawa Perak bobber

It will next year be introduced to the Classic and 42.

Indian prices are Rs 1.64 lakh for the Classic, Rs 1.55 lakh for the 42 and Rs 1.94 lakh, respectively. That’s about $A3130-$3600 ($US2280-2600, £1780-2050).Jawa Perak bobber

They would make very cool LAMS bikes for Aussies novices!

The new bobber features a solo seat, telescopic forks, monoshock rear and a mean matte black paint job, even though the name means silver in Malaysia.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Jawa Classic Legends unveiled in India

Jawa Motorcycles are back with a retro vengeance with the unveiling of three new Classic Legends models in India.

Unfortunately, owners Mahindra Motorcycles are only licensed by the original Czech Jawa company to make and sell the bikes in India.

However, we believe that could change in the next few years if these are successful.

Jawa Classic Legends
Jawa

Mahindra is releasing the bike under a new brand called Classic Legends Private Ltd which will also produce Yezdi (made Jawa-Yedi bikes in the ‘60s-‘70s) and BSA motorcycles.

Yes, that’s right, the company also has the outright ownership of the British brand and expects to make retro-styled BSA models soon for sale around the world.

New Classic Legends Jawa Classic Legends

The new Indian-made Jawa motorcycles are currently only available for domestic sale.

They are the Jawa, Jawa Forty Two and Perak bobber which feature the traditional “egg-shaped” headlamp with integrated instruments. The Forty Two has a separate offset instrument pod.

Other iconic features include a tool box, dual shocks, twin peashooter exhausts and flat bars. 

Indian prices are Rs 1.64 lakh, Rs 1.55 lakh and Rs 1.89 lakh, respectively. That’s about $A3130-3600 ($US2280-2600, £1780-2050).

Jawa Classic Legends
Perak bobber

The bikes will be available in India early next year with the bobber following later in 2019.

All are powered by a new 293cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which has been styled to resemble the original air-cooled motor.Jawa Classic Legends

It has a very modest output of 20kW (27bhp) of power and 28Nm of torque.

The bikes come with a disc brake on the front with single-channel ABS and a rear drum brake. To be considered for global exported, Mahindra will first have to update to all discs and two-channel ABS.

Mahindra group chairman Anand Mahindra says it is “rare to get an opportunity to resurrect a legend”.

“Jawa is an authentic and iconic brand that represents the desire and yearning in all of us for freedom and adventure,” he says. 

Jawa Classic Legends tech specs

Jawa Classic Legends
Jawa
  • ENGINE: 293cc Single Cylinder, 4 Stroke, Liquid Cooled, DOHC 
  • BORE STROKE: 76 x 65
  • COMPRESSION: 11:1
  • POWER: 20kW (27bhp)
  • TORQUE: 28Nm 

    Jawa Classic Legends
    Jawa Forty Two

  • TRANSMISSION:  Constant Mesh 6 Speed
  • FRAME: Double cradle
  • TYRES: 90/90 – 18;  120/80 – 17
  • SUSPENSION: Telescopic Hydraulic Fork; gas canister dual hydraulic shocks
  • BRAKES: 280mm disc with floating caliper and ABS; rear 153mm drum
  • SEAT: 765mm
  • WHEELBASE: 1369mm
  • WET WEIGHT: 170kg
  • TANK: 14 litres

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com