Jawa Moto — BrandWiki

Jawa Moto

JAWA is a motorcycle and moped manufacturer founded in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1929 by František Janeček,[2] who bought the motorcycle division of Wanderer. The name JAWA was established by concatenating the first letters of Janeček and Wanderer.[3] In the past, especially in the 1950s, JAWA was one of the top motorcycle manufacturers and exported its 350 model to over 120 countries.[4] The best known model was the 350 Pérák, and in the 1970s the 350 Californian. It appeared in typical black and red coloring from the US to New Zealand.[5] After 1990 a significant loss of production occurred. A successor company was formed in 1997 in Týnec nad Sázavou, continuing the name as JAWA Moto.

In the Indian market the brand JAWA Motorcycles was resurrected in December 2018 by Classic Legends

History

Origin – 1929

František Janeček started the company after working in the armament industry. Although he did not have experience with motorcycles, he was familiar with production techniques. Janeček chose between the Austrian double piston two-stroke motor of Puch, the Berlin two-stroke of Schliha, and the new Wanderer 500cc. Janeček chose the Wanderer. Because of the collapse of the German motor industry, Wanderer had stopped production, being unable to compete with BMW. The first model was introduced on October 23, 1929. This was a 500cc four-cycle engine with 12 kW of power (18 hp) and fuel consumption of 6 L/100 km. Although priced highly, through the first years (and several constructional fixes), this motorcycle was successful and was considered reliable.

1930s

Due to the economic recession of the early 1930s, a cheaper and simpler motorcycle was needed. The 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 L/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 ended in 1946. In 1938, JAWA was the first to offer test rides during exhibition shows. This test motorcycle was a custom JAWA 175 equipped with dual handlebars, a second pair in the back for the instructor. Over the years, 27,535 units of the JAWA 175 were built.

1940s

The company founder František Janeček died. Postwar production of JAWA 250/350 motorcycles restarted, and production of the JAWA 350 Ogar motorcycle began.

1950s

Motorcycles produced in the 1950s include the 250, 350/353-Kývačka, and 350/354-Kývačka, 500 OHC and the 50 Pionýr and Jawetta mopeds. A powerful two-stroke motorcycle known as the JAWA 250/350 with the compact engine, rear suspension and many other innovations was exported to more than 120 countries. It was one of the most successful models of JAWA.

1960s

In the early 1960s, Jawa invented the first automatic clutch for motorcycles. The centrifugal clutch was designed for Jawa 250/559 and 350/360. Because the clutch has been patented worldwide by Jawa and it was copied in the Honda 50 Cub motorcycle, Honda had to retreat, pay a fine, and pay a license fee for each motorcycle sold.[6]

1962, Amalgamation with ESO in production of JAWA speedway motorcycles
1963, Closure of JAWA plant in Prague – Pankrác
1964, Start of production in new plant at Týnec nad Sázavou
1964, Production of millionth JAWA brand motorcycle
1965, Start of production of JAWA 350 Automatic motorcycles
1966, Start of production of JAWA 350 Californian (type 363) motorcycles
1967, Start of production of SK 90 / JAWA 90 in Považská Bystrica (cross, trail, roadster)
1967, Start of production of JAWA 50 Mustang (type 23) in

1970s

1970, Start of production of JAWA 250/350 ÚŘ motorcycles
1972, jawa 250cc in market (Indian)
1970, Start of production of JAWA 350 Bizon motorcycles
1974, Start of production of JAWA 350 (type 634) motorcycles
1976, Production of two millionth JAWA brand motorcycle

1980s

1984, Start of production of JAWA 350 (type 638) motorcycles
1987, Production of three millionth JAWA brand motorcycle

1990s

1991, Start of production of JAWA 350 (type 640) motorcycles
1994, Start of production of JAWA 250 (type 593) motorcycles
1994, Start of production of JAWA 50 (type 585, 586) motorcycles
1997, Founding of the company JAWA Moto spol. s r. o.
1998, Start of production of JAWA 125 Travel motorcycles
1998, Joining with MOTOUNION, take-over of bike MUC 125 Dandy production
1998, Start of production of JAWA 125 Dandy motorcycles
1999, Start of production of JAWA 100 (type 587) motorcycles

2000s

2004, Start of production of JAWA 650 (type 836) and JAWA 650 Classic motorcycles
2005, Start of production of JAWA 650 Style motorcycles
2006, Start of production of JAWA 650 Dakar motorcycles
2008, Start of production of JAWA 250 Travel motorcycles

2010s

2011, Start of production of JAWA 660 Sportard motorcycles (successor to 650 Dakar)
2013, Start of production of JAWA 350/634 Retro motorcycles
2017, Start of production of Jawa 350 OHC and JAWA 660 Vintage

2020s

2024, Start of production of Jawa 400 Geeny
2025, Start of production of Jawa JD 750

Other activities

JAWA automobiles

In 1934, Jawa introduced its first car, the Jawa 700, based on the DKW F2.[7] Overall, 1,002 vehicles were produced. The sports car special Jawa 750 was built only in six pieces for the 1000-mile Czechoslovak race in 1933–35. It is a legend in the history of domestic motor sports. In 1937, the modified Jawa 600 Minor was introduced, which replaced JAWA 700. Production continued in limited numbers during WWII, and some were assembled in the postwar period.[8] The successor was the Aero Minor; it was, however, manufactured by Aero and not by Jawa, from 1946 to 1952. Over 14,000 vehicles were produced and more than half were exported abroad.

JAWA mopeds

Under the Jawa name, a variety of mopeds with two-stroke engines were sold in foreign markets. In Czechoslovakia (and foreign markets after 1989), these mopeds were known as the Babetta. The mopeds were produced since 1970 in Slovak Považská Bystrica and Kolárovo. It was the first company to include electronic ignition on mopeds. In the first half of the 1990s, sales and exports declined, and the production of Babettas (with type's 192 Sting and 134 Hooper) was discontinued in 1999.

JAWA in India

Ideal Jawa India Ltd based in Mysore was an Indian motorcycle company, which produced licensed Jawa motorcycles beginning in 1960 under the brand name Jawa and from 1973 as Yezdi. The company stopped production in 1996. Jawa motorcycles have a cult following to this day. Earlier models manufactured in Czechoslovakia bore the CZ Jawa emblem on the side of the fuel tank. The locally manufactured models always had O within the Jawa emblem. The Jawa 250 Type 353/04 designated as 'A' Type, Yezdi 250 'B' Type, Jawa 350 type 634 Twin and Yezdi 250 Monarch models are currently ridden in the country. Jawa and Yezdi bikes, especially ones with fuel tank paddings and ignition systems on the fuel tank, are collector's items.

In October 2016, Mahindra & Mahindra, through its subsidiary Classic Legends Private Limited (CLPL), signed a licensing deal to launch motorbikes under the JAWA brand name in India and other East Asian countries.[9] On November 15, 2018, the Classic Legends launched three motorcycles in India: Jawa (nicknamed Jawa 300[10][11]

foundation	1929
founder	František Janeček
location city	Týnec nad Sázavou
location country	Czech Republic
products	Motorcycles, mopeds
num employees	100 (as of 2017)‡R1R‡
parent	Jihostroj