Here’s Everything You Need To Know About The New Jawa 42 FJ!
The Jawa 42 FJ is the latest motorcycle to be launched by Classic Legends Private Limited in their Jawa lineup, which currently comprises the Jawa 350, Jawa Perak, Jawa 42, Jawa 42 Bobber, and this, the Jawa 42 FJ as well now. The range and nomenclatures might appear confusing, and that is why, in this story, I’ll not only talk about the new motorcycle, but would also briefly touch upon a few of these other Jawas, and a couple of Yezdis too, as and when required, to simplify things for you. But first, let’s discuss the new motorcycle.
Jawa 42 FJ |
Introduction
You may call it the most improved Jawa 42 yet, and perhaps that’s why Classic Legends thought it appropriate to name it after František Janeček, the founder of Jawa. Yes, the “FJ” in the bike’s name is a tribute to the founder of the original Czech company, Jawa, with whose collaboration “Ideal Jawa” was formed in the sixties to manufacture the original two-stroke Jawa 250s for India. The Czech company still makes two-stroke motorcycles, along with a few four-strokes as well, and, interestingly, it sells a couple of Indian Jawa models too. From importing Jawas in the sixties, to exporting Jawas sixty years later, life has indeed come full circle for the Indian company. Well, it’s not technically the same company, but you get the sentiment, right?
Jawa 42 FJ | What’s New?
Everything. Almost. I would be able to tell you a lot more in detail once I review the motorcycle, but even right now you can see that this could pass off as an all-new motorcycle. I’ll segregate the headings for better readability.
Engine and Gear-Based Fuel-Mapping
The engine is new; well, it’s their Alpha 2 engine from the latest Yezdi Adventure 350 (the Jawa 42 Bobber also gets it), and not from the Jawa 350 as has been incorrectly reported by almost everyone. What’s the difference, you ask? A lot. The Jawa 350’s engine runs a compression ratio (CR) of 9.5:1 whereas the Yezdi’s and FJ’s engine run a CR of 11:1. The result? A lot more power and a bit more torque—that’s 29.1 PS and 29.6 Nm of the FJ vs 22.5 PS and 28.1 Nm of the Jawa 350. However, it’s worth mentioning that the Yezdi produces a bit more power and torque than the FJ. Also, the engine in all Jawa/Yezdi 350s is actually a 334 cc unit.
Most importantly, now ALL Jawa and Yezdi motorcycles, including the 42 FJ, get “gear-based fuel-mapping” where the fuel map changes depending on the gear you’re in (the gears in the motorcycle’s gearbox, and not your riding gear). See, in layman terms, motorcycle ECMs, with no ride modes, mostly have a single map designed to work under varying rpm and load conditions. The new Jawas’ and Yezdis’ ECMs have six fuel maps, one for each gear, which should ideally make fuelling absolutely perfect across the rev range. Honestly, I am hoping that with this update, Jawa R&D has finally bid adieu completely to the low-rpm fuelling niggles that plagued their first gen bikes. I really cannot wait to test this bike out.
Chassis
The Jawa 42 FJ’s chassis isn’t all-new, but there are changes. For example, while it’s still a dual-cradle frame, the headstock is different and so is the subframe. I haven’t seen the bike in person yet, but I think even the footoegs position is different as well.
The wheelbase is now longer (1,440 mm) and even the ground clearance has seen a jump. The claimed figure is now 178 mm. The fork has become fatter as well. It’s now 41 mm whereas the regular Jawa 42 has a 35 mm fork.
It’s time for a spoiler now—the “new” Jawa 42 FJ is essentially a Yezdi Roadster in different clothes and makeup. The wheelbase length, seat height (790 mm), and the fork thickness measurements are exactly the same, which means that all of the “new” stuff you have read about until now (except the subframe, which is decidedly new) is definitely new for a Jawa 42, but isn’t entirely new in essence. Strangely, this is something no one else noticed despite making all those walkaround videos, etc. That said, I will come back to you on this topic once again when I get to review the motorcycle.
For now, let’s continue with what Classic Legends is claiming about the Jawa 42 FJ.
Brakes Lights and Other Features
There’s dual-channel ABS on all variants, including the base model that has spoke wheels. Then there’s the anodised, brushed aluminium, fuel-tank cladding, complemented by aluminium headlamp stays (headlight-dome holders), grab handles, and footpegs.
A slipper clutch, upswept exhaust, all-LED lighting, fully digital instrument cluster, USB charging port, and offset fuel-cap complete the list of other notable features on the Jawa 42 FJ.
Colours and Price
The Jawa 42 FJ is available in a range of eye-catching colours, and the prices start from INR 1,99,142 (ex-showroom). Below is the detailed pricing for all variants:
Competition
The new Jawa 42 FJ goes primarily against the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 (you may read our review of it in last Thursday’s edition), Triumph Speed 400, Hero Maverick 440, Harley-Davidson X440, and even its own cousin, the Yezdi Scrambler.
Of course, I will be reviewing it soon to tell you how this 334 cc motorcycle fares against the higher capacity competition. For now, Classic Legends have indeed kept the pricing competitive by placing this Jawa amongst the least expensive motorcycles in the segment. We’ll soon see if the motorcycle itself is competitive or not.
