[John Bulleteer]

I've noticed that Jawa are selling modern 2 stroke 350's and 4 stroke 250's.
Anyone know anything about reliability and performance of these fine machines ?

[nab301]

Bulleteer, on 02 September 2011 - 10:05 PM, said:

I've noticed that Jawa are selling modern 2 stroke 350's and 4 stroke 250's.
Anyone know anything about reliability and performance of these fine machines ?

I'd love a 350 two stroke but in reality they're going to be a bit underpowered 20bhp ish, not sure about the 250's....
You've probably seen the link on the Jawa website, to the owners club ,


http://www.jawacz.com/

[andy gaw]

I didn't even know these yokes were still going !! they are what got me into bikes, me uncle took me to me first communion in 1970 on the back of one...i think it was a 175cc...happy memories.. Bogman would remember a few of them down my way, and one or two still there too.

[Chris P. Bacon]

Don't know much about the modern Jawa's but a good mate of mine in nearby Lusk has a 'peach' of one of the early 70's 250 single's with the twin exhaust, he's had it years and restored it over the past 3 years

[Inadzuma]

Chris P. Bacon, on 03 September 2011 - 01:11 AM, said:

Don't know much about the modern Jawa's but a good mate of mine in nearby Lusk has a 'peach' of one of the early 70's 250 single's with the twin exhaust, he's had it years and restored it over the past 3 years

Jees that's a beauty.

Congratulations to your mate. Great work.

'zuma

[danceswithmopeds]

I had my glasses off when I clicked onto this pic. At first (short-sighted) glance I thought it was an old Triumph.
Glasses cleaned and back on, I still took a while to realise it was a Jawa.
It is lovely. Classic good lines.

[Turkish]

seen new 350 at mondello bike expo. engine didnt changed much from early 80s 350 twin sport but it brought back some good memories

[josh59]

There was a review of the "new" Jawa in a recent copy of MCN. Tried to find it on their site but could only find a first ride report

Heres the link [url="http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/First-rides-tests/2010/june/ jun0410-jawa-350-is-back/_/R-EPI-124517"]MCN/url]

[piston broke]

can't believe thats a Jawa? They must have used an Italian bike designer that year, looks great

[Ogmios]

i would not have a Jawa (again) if you paid me!
had one in the late 70's... with a sidecar.
The novelty soon wears off and you're left with a heap and an oil slick.

N.B;
this from someone that's had one old Benelli and four (yes, really!) MZ's.

[piston broke]

Ogmios, on 06 September 2011 - 12:36 PM, said:

i would not have a Jawa (again) if you paid me!
had one in the late 70's... with a sidecar.
The novelty soon wears off and you're left with a heap and an oil slick.

N.B;
this from someone that's had one old Benelli and four (yes, really!) MZ's.

Gwan outta of that! ya love em really

[BONZOID]

Ogmios, on 06 September 2011 - 12:36 PM, said:

i would not have a Jawa (again) if you paid me!
had one in the late 70's... with a sidecar.
The novelty soon wears off and you're left with a heap and an oil slick.

N.B;
this from someone that's had one old Benelli and four (yes, really!) MZ's.

Agreed, they were dreadful yokes, Jikov carbs? Barum tyres? No wonder communism collapsed!

[nab301]

Ogmios, on 06 September 2011 - 12:36 PM, said:

had one in the late 70's... with a sidecar.

Do we call you Wallace or Gromit now...

[Ogmios]

nab301, on 06 September 2011 - 07:31 PM, said:

Do we call you Wallace or Gromit now...

Linda just said i'm a Wallace...
... least i think She said Wallace.

But no - though i maintain that 'There's no such thing as a bad motorcycle', them things though quite good to ride / the build quality is unFeckinbelievably bad!
a crank bearing with a grease nipple?
carbs that more resembled carbide lamps
tyres of nylon - never wore out coz they never gripped in the first place.
rims that rusted from within - that's scary as you get no clue until it collapses under yer aras.
everything else seemed to be made of pressed steel.

one thing i did like was the gearchange/kickstart/clutch arrangement;
kickstart on the left -kick it over, lower the lever forward and it's now your gear pedal.
BUT push it inwards, towards the engine and it becomes the clutch too!
i loved confusing people - smoothly pulling away with my left hand off the 'Bar

[John Bulleteer]

I hope to have a look at the Jawa showroom in the next few weeks.
I'd like to see their new 250 Travel.
Its a 4 stroke 5 speed cheap 250.
Supposedly the Gucci version can do 130kph and the standard can do 120kph.
Maybe I'm an optimist but I'd like to believe the 2011 build quality is better than the 70's.

I'm hoping its a bit like buying a 70's Skoda car and a 2011 Skoda car.

Mind you I've heard a lot of horror stories about Enfields also, but mine is still starting on the second kick, eight years later.

I like the whole idea of cheap commuting, cheap parts & sedate cruising.

Mind you I'm sad enough to have ridden around most parts of our fair Isle at a tedious 50mph.

[nab301]

Ogmios, on 06 September 2011 - 08:56 PM, said:

Linda just said i'm a Wallace...
... least i think She said Wallace.

one thing i did like was the gearchange/kickstart/clutch arrangement;
kickstart on the left -kick it over, lower the lever forward and it's now your gear pedal.
BUT push it inwards, towards the engine and it becomes the clutch too!
i loved confusing people - smoothly pulling away with my left hand off the 'Bar

I'd love to do that with the gear lever alright, As for the grease nipple on the crank , if that was on the Guzzi or Bmw drive shaft it'd be character

Bulleteer, on 08 September 2011 - 08:45 PM, said:

I like the whole idea of cheap commuting, cheap parts & sedate cruising.
Mind you I'm sad enough to have ridden around most parts of our fair Isle at a tedious 50mph.

Buying new in the current climate is mad , there's plenty of good reliable secondhand value out there with no depreciation to bear, as for the 50mph bit , I don't recall that anytime i've been following you...

[Ogmios]

nab301, on 08 September 2011 - 09:17 PM, said:

I'd love to do that with the gear lever alright, As for the grease nipple on the crank , if that was on the Guzzi or Bmw drive shaft it'd be character ...

That characterful beast....
decided the other day to simplify it's gearbox by reducing my choices to just two gears - 1st and 2nd.
i think the return spring has broken inside the 'box.
will need a total stripdown to access a part that will cost about a fiver.

[nab301]

Ogmios, on 09 September 2011 - 09:16 AM, said:

decided the other day to simplify it's gearbox by reducing my choices to just two gears - 1st and 2nd.
i think the return spring has broken inside the 'box.
will need a total stripdown to access a part that will cost about a fiver.

Ever so slightly OT.. sorry John..
I guess it's the old Annus Horriblis.... Will the old bungee on the lever not work like on my MZ, been like that for years...

[John Bulleteer]

Buying new in the current climate is mad , there's plenty of good reliable secondhand value out there with no depreciation to bear,
[/quote]
Quite True Nab, but a little window shopping can't hurt