Jawa 350

The Jawa 350 is a new motorcycle from the old-school bike maker that replaces the  Jawa standard, and it also gets a larger 334cc engine. With fully retro design and styling, the new bike closely resembles the iconic Jawa 250 that our grandfathers once rode.  Here’s how it rides in the real world.

The Jawa 350 is able to get the retro styling right, even more so than other retro bikes. It comes with a design that is similar to the Jawa 250, and from afar it's hard to notice any differences. The bike gets a round headlight housed in a metallic cowl, with fork covers extending from it. The instrument console is enclosed in this metallic cowl that also houses the headlight and looks similar to the one that we have seen on old Jawa motorcycles.

The fuel tank is a teardrop shaped one and comes with a triple-tone finish. The centre portion is painted in different shades, on different colour variants, whereas the tank’s sides get chrome detailing and features the Jawa logo with 3 stripes. The chrome finish and golden pinstripes really add a lot to the overall premium feeling that the Jawa 350 offers. 

Chrome detailing is not just limited to the tank, Jawa has given the engine and crankcase the chrome treatment and it adds a great deal to the retro appeal. The side panels feature a three-stripe pattern similar to what’s on the fuel tank. The rear fender also gets golden pinstripes and the twin exhausts are fully finished in Chrome. Overall, the Jawa 350 does manage to give off an authentic retro vibe with the styling and design. 

The Jawa 350 keeps things sweet and simple with an analogue speedometer with a digital inset. While the nostalgic touch is appreciated, it becomes a little tough to read the data on the move. The digital inset is extremely small and only has odometer and trip meter readouts, which becomes a task to read in broad daylight. Perhaps, if the console was angled a bit towards the rider, it could have made it a lot more convenient to read.

The new seat on the Jawa 350 contributes greatly to its comfort. The seat is large and can accommodate riders of all sizes without much trouble. The cushioning is also great and it allows riders to go on both short commutes in the city and long rides on the highway without having to worry about discomfort. 

The Jawa 350 name might make one think that the bike comes with a 350cc engine, but in reality it is powered by a 334cc liquid-cooled, single cylinder engine. The engine has the same capacity as the one powering the Jawa Perak, but the tuning is very different and the motor makes less power than the Jawa Standard.

That said, the engine makes up for it with more torque. Another improvement is that both the power and torque now come at a lower rpm than before, making the bike more grunty and better suited to be a cruiser that can munch miles on the highway. The engine is also now a lot smoother than before, even smoother than the Perak now. 

The changes have greatly improved the bike’s mid range performance, and cruising at speeds of 80-90kmph is effortless. However, you’ll just have to be wary of top-end vibrations that start creeping in on the handlebars, tank and footpegs once the bike crosses 100kmph.

The Jawa 350 comes with a new chassis, suspension and tyres. These changes have really made the riding experience very different from what we had experienced on the Jawa standard. The taller front fork and longer rear shock absorbers have made the bike lean into corners more easily and the longer wheelbase combined with the higher kerb weight of 194kg (9kg more than before) has made the bike feel more stable. 

The front suspension is plush and can easily handle most bumps and potholes but the rear comes off as a bit too stiff. The change in suspension has also given the bike a bit more ground clearance, 178mm making it better equipped to deal with bad roads than before. 

The brakes now have more bite and getting the bike to a stop doesn’t require too much effort on the brake levers from the rider’s side. Jawa has also brought in dual-channel ABS as standard which is a welcome addition. 

The Jawa 350 has undergone major improvements when compared to the Jawa standard, the changes in terms of performance and underpinnings have changed the bike’s riding characteristics and made it more of a retro roadster. If you are someone who is looking for a retro roadster that comes with both decent performance and has a rich legacy then the Jawa 350 will be a good choice.