Ideal Jawa (India) Ltd was an Indian
motorcycleA motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are the most affordable form of...
company based in
MysoreMysore is the second-largest city in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the headquarters of the Mysore district and the Mysore division and lies about southwest of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. The name Mysore is an anglicised version of Mahishūru, which means the abode of Mahisha...
, sold licensed
JawaJawa is a motorcycle manufacturer in the Czech republic, formerly Czechoslovakia. It was named after its founder Janeček bought the motorcycle production of Wanderer in 1929, by concatenating the first letters of Janeček and Wanderer...
and
ČZČeská Zbrojovka is a Czech firearms manufacturer also known for making ČZ motorcycles. ČZ was established as a branch of the Škoda Works Armament in Strakonice, Czechoslovakia in September 1919.-History:...
motorcycles beginning in 1960 under the brand name
Jawa and later
Yezdi. The catchphrase for the bikes sold by the firm was "Forever bike forever value".
Frantisek Janecek began manufacturing Wanderer motorcycles under licence in 1927 in order to diversify the interests of his arms factory.
Ideal Jawa (India) Ltd was an Indian
motorcycleA motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are the most affordable form of...
company based in
MysoreMysore is the second-largest city in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the headquarters of the Mysore district and the Mysore division and lies about southwest of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. The name Mysore is an anglicised version of Mahishūru, which means the abode of Mahisha...
, sold licensed
JawaJawa is a motorcycle manufacturer in the Czech republic, formerly Czechoslovakia. It was named after its founder Janeček bought the motorcycle production of Wanderer in 1929, by concatenating the first letters of Janeček and Wanderer...
and
ČZČeská Zbrojovka is a Czech firearms manufacturer also known for making ČZ motorcycles. ČZ was established as a branch of the Škoda Works Armament in Strakonice, Czechoslovakia in September 1919.-History:...
motorcycles beginning in 1960 under the brand name
Jawa and later
Yezdi. The catchphrase for the bikes sold by the firm was "Forever bike forever value".
Etymology
Frantisek Janecek began manufacturing Wanderer motorcycles under licence in 1927 in order to diversify the interests of his arms factory. Having bought the tooling for a 500cc model, in 1929 he rebranded the machine with the name JAWA, derived from the first two letters of the words "Janacek" and "Wanderer".
Models
There have been many models of this brand before the company shut its doors in 1996.
Their various models included (listed chronologically):
- Jawa 250 Type 353 Kyvacka called 'A' Type (Under Licence)
- Jawa 50 Jet 'A' Series known as Pionyr in Czechoslavakia (Under Licence)
- Yezdi 60 Jet 'B' Series
- Yezdi 250 'B' Type
- Yezdi 250 Oilking (CB Points and Oil Pump) 'C' Type
- Yezdi 250 Roadking (CB Points) 'C' Type
- Yezdi D250 Classic
- Yezdi 250 CL II
- Yezdi B250 Deluxe
- Yezdi 250 Deluxe 'C' Type
- Yezdi 250 Roadking (CDI) 'C' Type
- Yezdi 60 Colt
- Yezdi 60 Colt Deluxe
- Yezdi 175 (CB Points)
- Yezdi 175 Deluxe (CDI)
- Jawa / Yezdi 350 Twin Type 634
- Yezdi 250 Monarch
- Yezdi 250 Supersprint (Never Released)
End of Production
When the company was forced to shut down, it was producing the 175, Monarch, Deluxe, Road Kings and CL II. The main reason for the company's collapse was labor trouble and increasing levels of pollution control norms which were making the two stroke bikes that the company produced obsolete.
The low mileage, increasing fuel costs and starting trouble especially in the winter were contributing factors to the low sales of the vehicle. Moreover, the new 100cc two-stroke and four-stroke bikes had better fuel efficiency and low maintenance.
Continuing Loyalty
Although this motorcycle is long gone there are many enthusiasts who swear by this bike and continue to maintain and run them.The Jawa's and the Yezdi Roadking models were the most popular followed by Yezdi Classic.
In Motorsports
Ideal Jawa had factory teams for both road races at
SholavaramSholavaram, a quiet town at the 24th KM north of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is primarily known for its Lake and the motor racing.Sholavaram lake is one of the many that is used as water source for Chennai....
and the National Motorcycle Rally Championships.Their close rivals were
Royal EnfieldRoyal Enfield was the brand of the Enfield Cycle Company, a British engineering company. Notable for producing motorcycles, it also produced bicycles, lawnmowers, stationary engines, and even rifle parts for the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield Lock. This legacy of weapons manufacture is...
Bullets,Rajdoot
Yamaha RD350The RD350 was a motorcycle produced by Yamaha. It was the premier sport lightweight of the early 70's and was evolved from the piston port , front drum-braked, 5 speed Yamaha 350 cc "R5"....
,
Yamaha RX100The Yamaha RX100 is a 98cc two-stroke single cylinder aircooled motorcycle. It was M/s Escorts Limited's "Bread and Butter" model for close to 12 years between 1985 and 1996. The only changes in its 11 year production history were the pinstriping and an upgrade to a 12 volt electrical system.-...
and TVS Suzuki Shogun.