While its name no longer rhymes with “Shaba-shaba”, the Jawa 350 fixes a lot of its niggles. The previous Jawa Jawa was a compact and relatively small motorcycle, especially when compared to its rivals. The riding position was cramped for taller riders and there wasn’t much space on offer either. However, the new Jawa 350 has grown in terms of suspension travel, wheelbase and ground clearance resulting in a more substantial stance.
Jawa also worked on the shape and size of the single piece seat which is now more accommodating and comfortable. A reshaped rear fender addresses the awkward gap between between it and the rear wheel, which gives it a more composed silhouette. These minute yet significant changes give the motorcycle better presence and increase the visual appeal of the motorcycle.
Another aspect that has seen a significant upgrade is the engine. The Jawa 350 now gets the larger 334cc liquid cooled, single cylinder present in the Perak and 42 Bobber. However, changes such as a lower compression ratio, lower peak power (22.2hp at 7000rpm) and torque output (28.1Nm at 5000rpm) have been implemented. While this may upset spec sheet warriors, we believe these changes are better suited to the calm and retro experience this bike offers. A slipper and assist clutch coupled with revised gear ratios favor an effective bottom-end and entertaining mid-range.
Jawa has upgraded the brakes, too! The rear gets a 240mm disc as standard and the front retains the same 280mm rotor as its predecessor. The bike gets dual channel ABS too. The Jawa 350 rides on spoked rims with tubes, which could be an issue for some owners.
The 350 has also seen a significant increase in kerb weight from 170kgs to 194kgs. Talk about getting porky.
The 350 is offered in three colours: maroon, black and a classy shade of orange. New dials and a more accurate fuel indicator, however, are a big miss.
Jawa claims that the chrome surfaces are superior in terms of quality and overall, the attention to detail has seen a step up. While there aren’t any generational leaps, these increments elevate the Jawa flavour of retro machines.
The Jawa 350 retails at ₹2.15 lakh (Ex-showroom) and has the Royal Enfield Classic 350, Honda Hness CB350, Harley-Davidson 440X and its twin from Hero firmly in its crosshairs.
