Classic Legends has launched a sporty neo-classic iteration of the Jawa 42 in India, dubbed Jawa 42 FJ. ‘FJ’ stands for František Janeček, a homage to the Jawa founder. Multiple variants and colourways are available. The price starts at Rs 1.99 lakh, ex-showroom. The motorcycle thus costs Rs 26,000 more than the regular 42. The top-spec has an ex-showroom price of 2.20 lakh.
The new launch comes shortly after Classic Legends updated the Jawa 42 on August 13. The 42 launched in August was an update, primarily focussing on the powertrain. The 42 FJ, on the other hand, is an all-new iteration of the 42, that tries to pitch itself to people who are on the lookout for a sporty, good-looking modern classic. The brand’s ambition with the motorcycle is to beat Royal Enfield in the populous 350-500cc segment.
Jawa 42 FJ: What Is It?
Jawa 42 FJ is the second member of the 42 family. It looks sporty and elegant with dual-tone paint and attractive body panels. It gets a new, narrow seat, fresh bracket near the headlight, brushed Aluminium finished cladding, off-set fuel cap, bigger tear-drop-shaped fuel tank, off-set digital speedometer, LED headlamps, diamond-cut alloys (spoke wheels are also available) like the ones seen on the Bobber, wide single-piece handlebar and upswept tailpipes. The body decals could remind you of the RE Hunter 350 with their design.
The seat height on the 42 FJ is 790mm, accessible to most people. The motorcycle gets chunky 140-section tyres at the rear, 320mm front disc, long wheelbase and good ground clearance (178 mm). The 41mm dia front forks offer a travel of 135mm while the preload-adjustable rear shocks offer 100 mm travel. A dual-channel ABS and dual disc brakes are also offered. No single-channel ABS variant is offered at launch.
Much of the hardware has been borrowed from the other 42. The 334cc engine and suspension setup (telescopic front fork and dual rear shocks) are shared between the motorcycles. The engine gets a higher state of tune and produces 29.1hp and 29.6Nm. It is mated to a 6-speed transmission with a slipper clutch.
Price and Rivals
In the Indian market, the Jawa 42 FJ competes with the new Royal Enfield Hunter, Classic 350, CB350 and TVS Ronin. Jawa’s pricing strategy seems to have had the RE influence, as the 42 FJ variant prices are based on colours. We have seen similar pricing practices on multiple Royal Enfield models. Ashish Joshi, CEO of Classic Legends, is ex-Royal Enfield and seems to have brought in a wealth of experience and tactics to the brand.
- Aurora Green Matte Spoke: 1.99 lakh
- Aurora Green Matte Alloy: Rs 2.10 lakh
- Mystique Copper and Cosmo Blue Matte.: 2.15 lakh
- Deep Black Matte Red Clad: 2.2 lakh
- Deep Black Matte Black Clad: 2.2 lakh
What Else Changed At Jawa?
Overall material and build qualities seem to have improved on the 42 FJ. Even the paint quality looks better in the flesh. The new quality levels can be attributed to the changes that happened at the Jawa factory. The brand has been actively working on its infrastructure, supply chain and, manpower, recently. All three have had great leaps upward.
The Jawa factory has been upgraded to make manufacturing better and more efficient. Even the paint shop has been improved, the result of which can be seen on the new motorcycle. The base coat has improved a lot when compared to previous Jawa models.
Classic Legends seems to have clear plans for the future of Jawa in India. Intentions to capitalize on the emotions associated with the brand, are evident. Jawa will open 100 new stores in the forthcoming time, and strive to make customer experience better. More models and variants could join the portfolio in the time ahead.
