Should You Buy The Jawa 42 Bobber Black Mirror?

Bobbers are beautiful and there are no two ways to it. The aesthetics sure come at the cost of practicality but then that’s the charm to these bikes. India got its first authentic bobber, the Jawa Perak, a couple of years ago, after which the brand launched the 42 Bobber. Now while they were both good bobbers, they left us wanting more…just that little bit more. 

But now, with the 42 Bobber Black Mirror, it does seem like the brand is aiming for that perfect sporty bobber. If it has achieved that or not…is something we tried to find out.

Looks Stunning! 

Jawa bobbers have always been gorgeous motorcycles and their looks have gotten better with each bike. The Perak looked beautiful but also properly old-school and then came the 42 Bobber that while maintaining the bobber looks, looked like a modern-day motorcycle too. But the 42 Bobber Black Mirror takes things up several notches. 

What I really liked about the bike was the black finish everywhere else. The contrast makes it look quite classy and even those who don’t want their bikes flashy will like the way this looks. These things make it look like a bike that truly belongs in 2023 but then notice the round headlight, headlight, mirrors and console and you’ll see that they add just the perfect amount of retro and it’s all very nicely done. 

And notice you will because the bar-end mirrors will keep brushing into your hands. I wish I could ‘notice’ the console though because under harsh sunlight, it’s impossible to read almost anything on it.  

Puncture Repairs Made Easy! 

I don’t mind a form-over-function approach but tube tyres are something I JUST cannot deal with. So for me, and for many of you I’m sure, the alloy wheels with tubeless tyres will be the biggest update to the bike. What’s really nice is that these alloy wheels can be retrofitted on the standard 42 Bobber as well. What these do is encourage you to ‘meander’ that little bit more without worrying too much about fixing unforeseeable punctures. 

Slightly Better Tractability

Jawa claims that it has worked on the engine and it is evident, for I was now able to pull through most situations in the city in the 3rd gear. While it obviously doesn’t have the sheer torque that Royal Enfields and the Bobber still judders a bit, but post the half a second of juddering, the bike pulls nicely without hesitation. And more importantly, there’s none of the clattery or clunky noises that we complained of earlier and the bike feels like it belongs in 2023.  

It’s A Brat!  

And I mean brat in the nicest way possible. Bratty in a way that it wants to have fun and the wide handlebar combined with the rev-happy nature of the engine encourage you to zip through the city at a brisk pace and the moment you encounter an empty stretch of road, the engine is more than happy to rev its heart out. 

And if you do encounter some bends, the bike is still just as happy to have more fun and carry some pretty quick corner speeds. It stays composed through corners and the 1485mm wheelbase ensures it’s planted too. The brakes have a sharp initial bite and very predictable progression, giving you that much more confidence to go quicker. And all this speed is complemented by the tyres, for they hold their own well. They did feel a bit lacking when I started pushing the bike in the rain but in most situations they will feel more than adequate. 

But The Vibrations…

One thing that’ll keep you from pushing the bike though are the vibrations. Anything beyond 100kmph gets fairly buzzy and it gets more as you increase your speeds. While they have improved, I feel they can be better still. 

Looks Good But… 

I mean I’d keep the 42 Bobber Black Mirror in my living room as an eye candy if I could but the welding spots and the wiring is something that puts me off a bit. It’s not that they’re not of acceptable levels but they really stand out on an otherwise really good looking bike. 

Look Out For That Monoshock Too 

Now, Jawa did say that it retuned the monoshock and it does feel nice and pliant in the city at lower speeds. But the moment you pick your pace and start hitting potholes at speed, the sharp rebound makes for a rather bouncy ride. Now while the ride was alright for the 95kg Aamir, the 68kg me was bouncing all over the place. So we’d recommend you to test ride the bike to see how it plays out for your weight. 

But then again, firm rear suspensions are inherent to bobbers so if you are looking for one, it wouldn’t be fair of you to expect a super plush ride quality from it.  

Should You Buy The Jawa 42 Bobber Black Mirror?

Jawa’s journey to make the perfect sporty bobber began with the Perak, after which came the 42 Bobber and now it’s the 42 Bobber Black Mirror. And while Jawa’s not exactly quite there, each update has added to the journey and the Black Mirror is the closest Jawa has ever been to its goal. 

The stiff suspension and unorthodox ergonomics are things I can live with, for they are things that are inherent with the bobber format. What I would like Jawa to work on are the vibrations and fit-and-finish levels, for they would just make the bike a more well-rounded product and that would just really enhance the experience of owning it.

These things said, there’s no denying that this bobber is a lot of fun. If you’re looking for a relaxed bobber, the single-seat Royal Enfield Classic 350. But if you want yours with a dash of fun and sportiness, the 42 Bobber Black Mirror is surely THE sporty bobber to go for.