Jawa 350

The retro motorcycle segment in India has been dominated by Royal Enfield for decades and the Jawa 350 has been providing a decent fight to its rival, the Classic 350 for a few years now. With its recent update, the retro roadster promises to have gotten better on a lot of fronts. So, how does it perform in the real world?

Design

As far as retro motorcycles go in today’s market, the Jawa 350 is definitely one of the best looking ones. Its combination of a smooth design language, gorgeous paint scheme with the pinstripes on the fuel tank, and great detailing like the inscription on the fuel filler cap, make it a bike that can be appreciated just for its looks. And the chrome elements just tie the whole design together very tastefully. 

Engine, Performance & Mileage

The Jawa 350 is powered by a 334cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine producing 22.5PS at 7000rpm and 28.1Nm at 5000rpm. The motor is a short stroke unit and is quite rev-happy. It has a very good mid-range performance and with the shorter second, third and fourth gears, it offers quick acceleration too. As a result, you’ll find it easy to overtake other vehicles in the city as well as on the highway with this bike. The motor is quite tractable too and feels decently smooth to ride in city traffic scenarios. 

The gearbox is pretty smooth and the experience is complemented by the light lever action due to the slipper clutch. During our real world tests, the motor delivered a mileage output of 32.03kmpl in the city and 28.32kmpl on the highway, which is not impressive but decent enough for a 350cc bike.

Handling & Ride Quality

Thanks to its 194kg kerb weight, high centre of gravity and 17-inch wheels, the Jawa 350 offers agile handling characteristics. It is quite manoeuvrable in the city and tips into corners easily while offering good stability in the process. The suspension setup soaks up bumps and potholes really well. But sharp bumps can be felt though because the tuning of the rear twin shock absorbers are on the firmer side. The brakes offer good stopping power and the front brake lever offers good bite. 

Comfort

The Jawa 350 offers an upright riding posture with the raised handlebars. And along with the well-cushioned seat, the riding experience is quite comfortable. With the footpegs being slightly rear-set, it offers an engaging element to the upright riding posture and complements the sporty nature of the engine. For the pillion riders, the grab handles are tucked under the seat and combined with the firm rear suspension setup, the riding experience is on the uncomfortable side. 

Features

In this department, the Jawa 350 isn’t very loaded. It gets an analogue instrument console that shows speedometer and fuel gauge readouts and a digital inset that shows odometer readouts. But a special mention has to be made about the console. It gets a beautiful retro dial and great overall detailing that will take you back in time if you keep on looking at it long enough. The angle at which the console is placed on the headlight cowl, however, makes it difficult to read under harsh sunlight. 

Verdict

The Jawa 350 offers a very good package of stunningly beautiful retro looks, great performance from the motor, good handling capabilities and a decent price tag of Rs 2,14,950 (ex-showroom Delhi). So, if you are looking for a 350cc retro motorcycle with a sporty motor and are not bothered by the lack of modern features, then it is a great option to consider.