The Jawa 42 costs from Rs 1,84,950, ex-showroom Delhi. Jawa didn’t go for a laid-back, easy-going character with the Jawa 42, as most retro roadsters do. It’s tuned to feel a bit sportier, with a higher-revving engine and a firmer ride than you’d expect from something that looks this old-school. Here’s a closer look at what it offers:
Neo-Retro Styling
The Jawa 42 keeps its old-school design but adds a few modern touches so it doesn’t feel outdated.
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The teardrop-shaped fuel tank is the centrepiece here, finished with the “forty two” script and a “42” badge on the side panel.
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Bar-end mirrors and a small windscreen give the front end a bit of a sporty edge without losing the retro look.
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There’s a twin exhaust setup too, and it adds a distinct note under acceleration.
Colours
You’ll find two classy colour options for this retro roadster, but very different from each other.
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Ivory is the lighter, cream-toned shade. It runs across the tank, headlight cover, side panels, and both mudguards.
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All Star Black goes for a more understated, all-black look with a matte finish.
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Both come on the same alloy wheels with tubeless tyres, so this one’s purely down to which look you prefer.
Engine And Performance
Power comes from a 294.72cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that Jawa calls the J-Panther. It makes 27.3PS and 26.8Nm, and is paired with a six-speed gearbox plus an assist-and-slipper clutch.
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It doesn’t feel underpowered. Its strong mid-range performance makes city riding genuinely fun
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The engine is flexible enough to let you stay in second or third gear for most city rides, though it takes a little longer to pick up speed in a higher gear.
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On the highway, 100kmph in sixth gear feels effortless. Beyond 105kmph, the engine starts to feel stressed, so 100kmph is roughly where you’d want to sit for longer stretches.
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Our experts recorded 28-30kmpl in real-world riding, with mileage improving to around 35kmpl during relaxed riding. Combined with the 13.2-litre fuel tank, that’s enough for over 320km before reserve.
Features
The Jawa 42 doesn’t try to load you up with tech, but we found what’s there is genuinely useful.
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The console is fully digital, though you can also get it with a digi-analog display depending on the variant.
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The liquid-cooled engine maintains temperatures quite well, particularly during long rides and stop-and-go traffic.
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The six-speed gearbox and the assist-and-slipper clutch make the clutch lever effort lighter, and also allow the rear wheel to slip during aggressive downshifting. Handy in traffic, handy on the highway too.
Underpinnings And Other Specifications
There’s a double cradle frame here, with 35mm telescopic forks up front and twin gas-charged shocks with adjustable preload at the rear.
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Braking comes from a 280mm front disc and a 240mm rear disc, with dual-channel ABS. The front brake has a sharp, confident bite, helped by a Bybre caliper up front and MRF Zapper-FX tyres.
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With a kerb weight of around 184kg, the Jawa 42 feels light and easy to handle through corners, and you can feel that the moment you tip it into a corner.
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Other key specifications include a 165mm ground clearance and an accessible 788mm seat height: overall, a decent package.
The Jawa 42 offers a sportier riding experience than most retro motorcycles in its segment. It feels comfortable in everyday city riding and on the highway too. It isn’t perfect, though. The console could’ve been more feature-packed with connectivity. That said, if you’re looking for a retro motorcycle with a sportier character and want an alternative to Royal Enfield’s offerings, the Jawa 42 is worth considering alongside the Classic 350 and Hunter 350.
