Jawa Motors
Encyclopedia
Jawa is a motorcycle manufacturer in the Czech republic
, formerly Czechoslovakia
. The name was created after its founder, Frantisek Janecek
, bought the motorcycle division of Wanderer
in 1929 (for their new 500 cc motorcycle engine), by concatenating the first letters of Janeček and Wanderer. The company is still active today.
-based. In 1937, the modified Jawa 600 Minor was introduced. Production continued in limited numbers throughout WWII, and some were assembled in the immediate postwar period.
s.
in China
in the 21st century. A 350cc
twin cylinder two stroke motorcycle was exported around the world and sold under numerous other brand names as well, including the Eaton's
brand of Eaton's Road King, and a large single cylinder motorcycle was sold in the 1960s by Sears of Canada
. The CZ
brand of motorcycle was merged with Jawa by the socialist economic planners after the Communist victory in 1948. CZ also made street motorcycles but was more well known for their motocross
and enduro
models. ISDT
models for trials and enduro were produced under the Jawa and CZ nameplates.
on their mopeds. Unfortunately, this "Tranizmo" unit was prone to failure. Jawa mopeds now have a fairly poor reputation, due to the difficulty of getting replacement parts, and the high failure rate of the "Tranizmo" unit.
For more information on Jawa mopeds, see babetta
.
in 1960 and they have a cult following to this present day. Production was carried out directly in India by Ideal Jawa
India Ltd based out of Mysore. The Jawa 250 typ 353/04 known here as the 'A' Type, Yezdi 250 'B' Type, Jawa 350 typ 634 Twin and Yezdi 250 Monarch models are driven to this day in various parts of the country. The most popular model was the Yezdi Roadking
. Jawa and Yezdi bikes, especially the ones with fuel tank paddings and ignition systems on the fuel tank are now collectors items. The company stopped production in 1996.
racing, dirt track
racing and ice racing
where 4-stroke engines were still at an advantage, the firm remained a dominant force, scoring a number of victories that's still unbeaten today (to be verified). Jawa Speedway racing motorcycles are now a separate company. The separate factory where these competition motorcycles were built became a separate company following the privitazations of the 1990s with the fall of Socialism
.
As of 2006 the Jawa mostly produce copies of Honda 250 cc, 125 cc and 50 cc motorcycles and large bike with a 650 cc Rotax
engine. (This engine can be also found in BMW F650 series
) The iconic 350 cc
two-stroke twin, mechanically unchanged since the 1960s but very reliable, is virtually moribund, while the 250 cc twin-port two-stroke single is no longer available.
The large bike with 650 cc Rotax engine comes in three different variations. Jawa 650 classic is a retro bike with classic proportions. Jawa 650 Style is aimed for city streets and finally Jawa 650 Dakar is a full-scale enduro bike similar to Honda XL Transalp. Maximal output (kW/rev. x min-1) 35,4 / 6500 Maximal torque (Nm/rev x min-1)57/5000
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, formerly Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. The name was created after its founder, Frantisek Janecek
František Janeček
František Janeček was the founder of Jawa motorcycles and an important figure in the development of the Czech motorcycle industry. He died on 4 June 1941.-Early life:...
, bought the motorcycle division of Wanderer
Wanderer (car)
Wanderer was a German manufacturer of bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, vans and other machinery. Established as Winklhofer & Jaenicke in 1896, the company used the Wanderer brand name from 1911, making civilian automobiles until 1941 and military vehicles until 1945.-History:Winklhofer &...
in 1929 (for their new 500 cc motorcycle engine), by concatenating the first letters of Janeček and Wanderer. The company is still active today.
First model
The first model was introduced on October 23, 1929. This was a 500 cc 4-cycle engine with 12 kW of power (18 hp) and fuel consumption of 6 liters per 100 km. Although priced highly, through the first years (and several constructional fixes) this motorcycle was successful and was considered reliable.Second model
Due to the economic recession of the early 1930 a cheaper and simpler motorcycle was needed. Year 1932 marked the introduction of Jawa 175, with its 3.6 kW engine. This light (70 kg) machine was capable of speeds up to 80 km/h and fuel consumption of 3.5 liters per 100 km. The first year of production was an immediate success, selling over 3000 of the Jawa 175, almost three times the number of the 500 cc model over three years of production. The production of this model was finally stopped 1946. In 1938 Jawa was the first to offer test rides during exhibition show. This test motorcycle was a custom Jawa 175 equipped with dual handlebars, second pair being in the back for the instructor. Over the years total of 27,535 units of the Jawa 175 were built.Jawa Automobiles
In 1934 Jawa introduced its first car, the Jawa 700, which was DKWDKW
DKW is a historic German car and motorcycle marque. The name derives from Dampf-Kraft-Wagen .In 1916, the Danish engineer Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen founded a factory in Zschopau, Saxony, Germany, to produce steam fittings. In the same year, he attempted to produce a steam-driven car, called the DKW...
-based. In 1937, the modified Jawa 600 Minor was introduced. Production continued in limited numbers throughout WWII, and some were assembled in the immediate postwar period.
World war II period
The Germans had captured the Jawa factory and were using the facility for the research and manufacture of RobotRobot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
s.
Post War development
In 1946 Jawa introduced a 250cc two stroke single with dual exhausts which became a widespread utility motorcycle around the world, especially in countries allied to the communist block. Replicas of this original are produced in Chang Jiang MotorworksChang Jiang Motorworks
Chang Jiang is the transcribed brand name of motorcycles that were once manufactured by the China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Company. It takes its name from the Chang Jiang River, also known as the Yangtze or, in English, the Long River.-CJ750:...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in the 21st century. A 350cc
Jawa 350
The Jawa 350 is a classic motorcycle, formerly produced by Jawa Motors in Czechoslovakia until 1992 and in the Czech Republic from 1993 until the end of production...
twin cylinder two stroke motorcycle was exported around the world and sold under numerous other brand names as well, including the Eaton's
Eaton's
The T. Eaton Co. Limited was once Canada's largest department store retailer. It was founded in 1869 in Toronto by Timothy Eaton, an Irish immigrant. Eaton's grew to become a retail and social institution in Canada, with stores across the country, buying offices across the globe, and a catalogue...
brand of Eaton's Road King, and a large single cylinder motorcycle was sold in the 1960s by Sears of Canada
Eaton's
The T. Eaton Co. Limited was once Canada's largest department store retailer. It was founded in 1869 in Toronto by Timothy Eaton, an Irish immigrant. Eaton's grew to become a retail and social institution in Canada, with stores across the country, buying offices across the globe, and a catalogue...
. The CZ
Ceská Zbrojovka Strakonice
Česká 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:...
brand of motorcycle was merged with Jawa by the socialist economic planners after the Communist victory in 1948. CZ also made street motorcycles but was more well known for their motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
and enduro
Enduro
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on courses that are predominantly off-road. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges...
models. ISDT
ISDE
ISDE may stand for:*Institute for Space and Defense Electronics, a research facility at Vanderbilt University*International Six Days Enduro, a motorcycle event*International Society of Doctors for the Environment, an environmental organization...
models for trials and enduro were produced under the Jawa and CZ nameplates.
Mopeds
Jawa made a variety of two-stroke mopeds, and was one of the first companies to include electronic ignitionIgnition system
An ignition system is a system for igniting a fuel-air mixture. Ignition systems are well known in the field of internal combustion engines such as those used in petrol engines used to power the majority of motor vehicles, but they are also used in many other applications such as in oil-fired and...
on their mopeds. Unfortunately, this "Tranizmo" unit was prone to failure. Jawa mopeds now have a fairly poor reputation, due to the difficulty of getting replacement parts, and the high failure rate of the "Tranizmo" unit.
For more information on Jawa mopeds, see babetta
Babetta
Babetta was a moped built in Czechoslovakia and commonly marketed under the Jawa name in other countries.Originally the Babetta was conceived as lightweight moped to compete with the Solex moped which was popular during the 1960s...
.
Jawa in India
Jawa motorcycles were introduced in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1960 and they have a cult following to this present day. Production was carried out directly in India by Ideal Jawa
Ideal Jawa
Ideal Jawa Ltd was an Indian motorcycle company based in Mysore, sold licensed Jawa and ČZ motorcycles beginning in 1960 under the brand name Jawa and later Yezdi...
India Ltd based out of Mysore. The Jawa 250 typ 353/04 known here as the 'A' Type, Yezdi 250 'B' Type, Jawa 350 typ 634 Twin and Yezdi 250 Monarch models are driven to this day in various parts of the country. The most popular model was the Yezdi Roadking
Yezdi Roadking
The Yezdi Roadking is a motorcycle produced in India by Ideal Jawa Ltd, Mysore from 1978 to 1996. The bike was based on the CZ 250 ridden by rider Jaroslav Falta to the runner-up spot in the 1974 motocross world championship. It was sold under the brand name Yezdi. The bike won several Indian...
. Jawa and Yezdi bikes, especially the ones with fuel tank paddings and ignition systems on the fuel tank are now collectors items. The company stopped production in 1996.
Racing
Historically Jawa has been very active in racing, and by far the most active East-European manufacturers in mechanical sports. In track racing Jawa sustained a presence in the World Championship until the mid-sixties with respectable performances considering their limited budget. In Motocross the firm built an impressive palmares before its 4-stroke engines became superseded by 2-stroke engines. In speedwayMotorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
racing, dirt track
Track racing
Track racing is a form of motorcycle racing where teams or individuals race opponents around an oval track. There are differing variants, with each variant racing on a different surface type....
racing and ice racing
Ice speedway
Ice Speedway is a developed form of Speedway racing, featuring racing on frozen surfaces. The sport uses bikes enhanced for the terrain. Participants can compete at international level.- Outline :...
where 4-stroke engines were still at an advantage, the firm remained a dominant force, scoring a number of victories that's still unbeaten today (to be verified). Jawa Speedway racing motorcycles are now a separate company. The separate factory where these competition motorcycles were built became a separate company following the privitazations of the 1990s with the fall of Socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
.
Recent information
Following the dissolution of the union of the Czech and Slovak people into separate states and the dismantling of the socialist economies, the Jawa consumer motorcycles and the Speedway competition bikes were divided into separate companies. Jawa Speedway bikes are still successful, while the Jawa company has struggled.As of 2006 the Jawa mostly produce copies of Honda 250 cc, 125 cc and 50 cc motorcycles and large bike with a 650 cc Rotax
Rotax
BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG , commonly known simply as Rotax, is an Austrian engine manufacturer. It develops and produces four-stroke and advanced two-stroke engines for Bombardier Recreational Products products as well as for motorcycles, karts,...
engine. (This engine can be also found in BMW F650 series
BMW F650 single
The BMW F650 is a family of single-cylinder motorcycles that was produced by BMW Motorrad beginning in 1993. Models include the F650ST Strada, F650 Funduro, F650GS, F650GS Dakar and latterly the G650GS...
) The iconic 350 cc
Jawa 350
The Jawa 350 is a classic motorcycle, formerly produced by Jawa Motors in Czechoslovakia until 1992 and in the Czech Republic from 1993 until the end of production...
two-stroke twin, mechanically unchanged since the 1960s but very reliable, is virtually moribund, while the 250 cc twin-port two-stroke single is no longer available.
The large bike with 650 cc Rotax engine comes in three different variations. Jawa 650 classic is a retro bike with classic proportions. Jawa 650 Style is aimed for city streets and finally Jawa 650 Dakar is a full-scale enduro bike similar to Honda XL Transalp. Maximal output (kW/rev. x min-1) 35,4 / 6500 Maximal torque (Nm/rev x min-1)57/5000