Ideal Jawa - Forever Bike Forever Value

Guest Post
Author: Vivek Roadking

Jawa...... The name brings forward a lot of emotions. The love which is attached with a sentiment... The respect attached with its heritage... The passion with the sheer joy of riding one....The jealousy of seeing a better bike than yours.. A little ganchali with having a few parked in the house, seldom used covered with an inch of dust above and an inch of oil below.

Forever bike - forever value they say...a slogan cried loud by the die hards..a statement never understood by the posers.

Few still trying to figure out the kick-gear mechanism, few determined to push the machine further with whatever technology has to offer. Some bikes inherited.. Some bought.. Some built.. Some destroyed..some still under litigation and cravingly in the sight of many.

Some make a living by fixing them..some make money by buying new selling old..some use names for fraud.. Media publicity a requirement for some people.. 'Ignorance is bliss' for some others.

Exhaust note fans are many... Yajadee gaadi...2 stroke bullet.. Mileage 15ah?? Top speed 75alva??... address a few alien folk.

That incomparable smile when someone is jaw dropped watching u ride despite a broken clutch cable..that attention in the traffic signal with people covering their ears n noses...that embarrassing moment when the bike goes rich when ur showing it off to the non-technical folks of ur college!! That sense of achievement when you manage to fix the carb all by urself in front of ur girlfriend....

This brand has made the lives of many people worth more than they dreamt of... Made friends... Enemies who went to the extent of posing life threat.. But we still continue what we do...what we love.. what we want..what we don't want/regret...still living with ego..hatred..jealousy.. but the passion lives on!!

Vivek with his Jawa 350 Twin

Books To No Books

Long Post Alert: This is the second guest post from one of our members - Mahidhar


Warangal to Hyderabad on a JAWA – RECW days - 2006

When the whole world disagreed with me, when studies became wars, when teachers became demons, when books became weapons of mass destruction, when booze was not enough; that’s when I needed peace. I searched for it like a nomad and found my Jawa lying in corner of my hostel room (I used to park inside my room) with an emotional face suggesting me that it was also in the same situation; it was neglected and leaking oil like blood. Emotions took over partiality, that’s when I realized we both needed to break free.


It was Friday evening around 5pm when I took my Jawa to the mechanic and got the clutch cover gasket changed to stop bleeding oil and also got the air filter cleaned. My Jawa was breathing fresh air and was ready to take on the world. Next morning, I decided to have a meditation session on Jawa, I mean to have a small ride of around 300km (Up and Down) from Warangal (books) to Hyderabad (no more books).

It was around 8:20am when I went to my friend Ajay’s room and told him about the plan (with the motive of sharing the fuel cost, as I was still living in economy mode) and asked him whether he was interested in coming along with me. I was amazed seeing his enthusiasm and just found out he was as interested in bikes and bike rides as I was. I took out the Jawa from my hostel room and started cleaning the tank and its fenders. As I was wiping its front fender and facing the head light I suddenly felt that she was staring at me with a unique smile as if she knew in advance what my plans were.
At 9:30am, Ajay with his backpack and me with my helmet headed towards my Jawa. As I was walking towards the bike, I prayed to god hoping for the bike to start since the weather was cold. I unlocked the huge godrej lock (neck lock) pushed in the ignition key, turned the fuel cook to reserve and with two compressions and a mild kick it fired, I was truly amazed!!! I thought, maybe it was preparing the whole night to welcome me in the morning in this way, regardless, I was honored. After two quick throttles twists slowly she started settling down in its own thump which was nothing less than Metallica.

We settled, and with an up shift of gear lever (you can also call it as kick lever –patented technology of Jawa) the monster jerked as if someone tinkled her all of sudden and she started rolling living behind two thin and parallel lines of blue smoke like a rocket on fire. As I approached the Main gate of RECW the watchmen were alert all of the sudden because of the exhaust note.
 


We began cursing at 60km/hr and looking at the Rocky Mountains around me, the greenery of farms was a treat to watch. The most interesting thing to notice here was the lush green cultivating lands end with rocky grey mountains, a rare combo. I could make out that Ajay was struggling for grip as the seat was too small in length for two. We had done around 30km now and time was around 11:10 am, Ajay told me to stop for a tea break. I found one small shack kind of shop were tea and Kallu (Telugu name for toddy) was served. The white bottles tempted us but we were not ready to take risk as we had to ride a long distance. After a refreshing cup of tea, we rolled again. Now I was in a mood to ride fast. I twisted the throttle slowly and with a lazy ease the Jawa picked up and before we could realize it was on steroids, zooming past Pulsars. The handling and the stability was so amazing that it could make all the modern India bikes look like snakes. The front breaks were so sharp and in great shape the same can’t be said for the rear ones though. I got the whole experience of what young Indians riding Jawas in 60s and 70s really felt. Since the road condition was also of 70s my experience was more realistic, well that’s what I call icing on cake.

Now it was 1 pm, and Ajay was feeling hungry. Even I was, but I was lost in the charm of my bike and was really not felling my own stomach’s request. We pulled in to a dabba which had no name but, had most of the curries. We ordered palak panner and dal fry with some rotis. As I noticed the jawa’s exhaust pipes were still smoking like old man smoking cigar slowly, it was even blowing out smoke rings. Made me think how my friends would try to make rings out of ciggy’s smoke and were mostly unsuccessful.

When were around 30km from Hyderabad, all of sudden, the bike started jerking as if it was choking; she turned off, she ran out of gas. I was clue less really; didn’t know what to do now, Ajay gave me an idea to bend her to left, I told him ‘dude, this is not Bajaj Chetak’, he replied ‘just try out man.’ With great difficulty I bent the bike and for the first time experienced how bending this bike can actually build your biceps. I held her for 15 seconds I could feel my biceps stiff and nerves of my forearms having blood rush. She quickly came back to life. After riding about 2km, I found an Indian oil station and asked for five liters of petrol and oil. The guy at the bunk enquired if we still get spares for this bike, this is one question that most often people ask me and I am sick of answering. I told him ‘Yes, but second hand’. While he was fueling the bike, he slowly began running his hand on the head light and the speedometer as if he was experiencing an Italian female sculpture. Ajay told me that I should ride a bit fast from here on. As I picked up my speed, Ajay started recording the ride and the road on his soap box (actually Nokia 6600, that’s what he calls it as).

As I got a first glimpse of so called ‘posh apartments’, I knew that we had arrived. We had to go to Banjara Hills, one of the posh localities in Hyderabad where Ajay’s friend stays. With lot of gear changes we finally reached Banjara Hills. Believe me, the place was treat for sore eyes. I started searching for a Maruthi 800 here because all I could find were Toyota Camry or Mercedes belonging to ever class including A class and a red SL 500 convertible within half an hour. But between all these German, Japanese mob my little Czech beauty was also getting attention of some of the people, it made me proud. Suddenly I hear a real load and roaring sound approaching me from behind. They were two Italian beauties, a black Ducati Monster and a red and silver combo M V Agusta. The whole crowd in front of Hyderabad Central were trying to have glimpse of those super bikes but sudden the Ducati guy who was in his mid 40’s slows down and says ‘good bike man’ and zooms off. I felt happy and jealous of thir bikes and then compromised due to my present economic condition (student you see). Then I told to myself ‘What the hell, I own a legend, I own a Jawa man.’ It’s the bike that always made me proud, always taught me how to gain attention and respect, a legend that always made its own road and it’s the bike that never moved my body, it moved my soul.

Now this Jawa 353 shares her place with my grandfather’s model B along with my CBZ and kinetic Honda in our house in Malleshwaram.

I want to conclude by telling what Ajay said to me once we reached his friend’s house in Hyderabad, ‘Kay bike hai Yaar, kay bike hai.’


Author: Mahidhar M V
Email: mahidhar16@gmail.com  

The Real Face

Yes, we all have different faces. We put each one on according to the situation or circumstance. But I must say, when I am riding my Yezdi Roadking, it’s the real face that’s on me. The face that’s relaxed, leaving behind the struggles of life, the face that loves the wind, the rain and everything that mother nature has provided us.

My obsession for this breed of bike started with my dad. I was a nine year old kid when he used to make me sit in front on his Roadking and take me to various places around the city. I used to wait every evening for that sound ‘dung dung drrrr’, an indication that my dad is coming home from office. This would mean that I would get to go for a ride on the bike in our locality. I used to love it. When no one was around, I used to touch the bike, sit on it and fantasize riding it.

One evening, when dad got home, I didn’t hear the sound of his bike!!! I run outside to search for the bike but it wasn’t there. A financial crunch had made him sell the bike. I cried that night. My dad silently whispered into my ears - Don’t worry son, it’s my duty to see that you are educated first, you will one day start earning and buy the bike of your dreams. These lines somehow stayed with me.

To my bad luck, the Ideal Jawa factory closed down in 1996. But, since it was reliable and easy to maintain bike, it somehow remained in the market well beyond the factory closure.

The day finally came when I got my job and started earning. Having saved up some money, I went to the infamous JC road in Bangalore to find my dream Roadking. After asking a couple of shops, I finally landed up in a small shop where the dealer had a Roadking. He made a few calls and after couple of minutes, I heard the familiar sound “dung dung drrr.” I came running out of the shop to see the bike but it was badly bruised. The engine was making weird noises, the gears were not shifting properly etc. 

The day I got this black beauty

This might sound crazy, but it looked like it was talking to me, asking me to take it home. I decided to go with my gut feeI and took it straight to a mechanic. It stayed with the mechie for a week undergoing essential repairs and was finally was ready to hit the streets in style.

At the mechanic getting an overhaul

This is to those who are not familiar with the Yezdi’s. The Roadking is an all-metal bike. Other than the indicators, there’s no plastic or fibreglass anywhere in the body. If today’s tin, plastic, fiberglass & coat hanger assembled bikes can be termed as “Definitely Male”, then the Yezdi Roadking is “Definitely The Beast”! It commands attention. Very reliable, low on maintenance and a super handler. When u sit on this bike and open up the throttle, your animal instincts take over and you are transformed.

Coming back to my story, I called dad and told him that I had brought a bike. I did not reveal anything about the bike but asked him to wait outside the house. I rode my RK and stopped right in front of him, got down and handed him the keys. He was in a state of shock and couldn’t believe his own eyes. He walked around the bike touching it like a little kid. He saw me in the eye and I could see him being nostalgic. I could see tears roll down his eyes that day and reminded me of those lines he had whispered into my ears years ago.

With my proud Dad

A few years later, I got introduced to a group called Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club. I felt great to know there are likeminded people around. The brotherhood and the passion for these bikes is simply amazing in the club. I have been to many rides with the brotherhood and each ride is a story of its own. Everyone in this brotherhood are of different professions but, we ride together with one passion - Riding. Yes, we all have different faces and we put them on according to the situation and circumstance. But I must say, when I am riding my Roadking, it’s the real face that’s on me.

The Beast

Author: Krishna Narasipura
email: nskris@gmail.com

Largest Get Together of Jawa Yezdi bikes in India on 12th July

Yes, the 7th International Jawa Yezdi Day celebrations in Bangalore saw the largest get together of Jawa, Yezdi and CZ bikes in the country.
Organised for the second consecutive year by the Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcyle Club, the event saw over 160 Roadkings, 70 Jawas and 60 Yezdi Classics with about 30 special category bikes like the 350cc twin Jawa's & Yezdis or the rare CZs.
By 7am the Kanteerva Stadium ground transformed itself into the '80s and '90s with all these rare beauties lining up according to their category. Each one was better than the other as their owners proudly showed them off to the other participants and visitors.

Cameras came out of the pockets and people went mad trying to get the right shot and angle to capture these unique bikes that had lined up. Media crew were not far behind as they covered the entire range and interviewed a few owners and organizers.
By 8.15am the registration counter had already run out of special Jawa Day T-shirts and stickers but requests kept pouring in. Soon the crowd was overwhelming and it was time to ride out to our destination Channapatna Coffee Day.

Ace Rallyist Chinnappa did the honor of flagging off these bikes which rode past MG & Brigade rd before connecting the Town Hall - Mysore Rd flyover. From here it was non stop ride to the destination which was about 75kms from the city.

By 11am most of the bikes had reached the coffee day on mysore rd and the riders went around admiring each others machines over a cup of hot coffee and some masala dosas. After another round of photographs, the riders returned back to Bangalore by 2pm with precious memories to last a lifetime.

Special thanks to the sponsors - Progressive Mines n Minerals for the venue and GreatEscapes Bangalore (A Travel Advisory Services Company) for the memorable Jawa Day Stickers.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures posted here and do share your comments.


for The Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club

(From R to L - Lokesh, Brian, Amrit & Sam)

Ride to Kanwa Reservior

Its been a while since we've updated this blog but going forward you will get regular updates on the rides and events happening at the club.

Had been a while since the biker boys met and rode together so a ride to the not so popular Kanwa Reservoir was planned on one misty sunday morning during the last week of May.
As usual, we all assembled at the Rajarajeshwari Arch at 6.30am and after a short chat and exchange of greetings about 30 bikes headed out on Mysore rd towards Channapatna. After about an hour of continuous riding we reached Kamat Lokaruchi restaurant but didn't stop there. We wanted to reach our destination first so continued beyond for another 3 kms till we reached the arch on the right side which said Ramanjenaya Temple which is quite popular among the locals.

There is a small lane beside this arch which is a dirt road and after about 8kms of dirt riding we reached the scenic yet peaceful reservoir. There is some construction work underway hence we had to go beyond and take the back side rd to get on top of the reservoir. We soon gathered all our bikes and parked in order for our traditional photoshoot. Unfortunately, my bike had a small puncture and the rough terrain had taken its toll on the rear tyre which was completely flat by the time we reached this lake.
After all the bikers had gathered, some with their family members including small children, we had a round of photoshoot and brief discussion about the upcoming Annual International Jawa Yezdi Day celebrations. One enthuiastic oldtimer came prepared with notes on how to form the club formally with a lot of do's and don'ts which he share with all of us. We all went around appreciating some rare beauties and exchanged notes on spares and cues on modifiyin the latter models.
By 10.30 our tummies began to grumble and it was time to head back for breakfast but i on the otherhand had a task to complete before i could think of food. So with the help of a few bikers i quickly dismanteled the rear tyre and we were on our way back to the highway to get my tyre fixed. Within minutes we were back at Kamat Lokaruchi for a sumptious breakfast and exchanging notes on our bikes. With fully bellies we were read to head back and Amrit on his Yezdi Monach was kind enough to take me back to the resorvior to fix my bike.

Soon we were back on the road towards Bangalore with the sun god being kind to us and providing shade all thru. Guess we all reached the city by 1 pm and parted our respective ways with memories of yet another successful ride on our good old classic beauties.
Those of you who were part of this ride, do share your comments and hope to see you all for the next ride in June.

For the Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club

brian

6th International Jawa Yezdi Biker Meet concluded

The reason this blog is up here today is cos of this amazing event which happened on the 13th of July in Bangalore.

Since i own one of them rare Jawa's in the city, i got to be a part of this recently concluded bikers meet in Bangalore.. Actually, i did help organise the event too :o) and needless to say it was a huge success.



We started plannin for this meet and a ride to Channapatna Town (Coffee Day) a month before the event date (on the 13th of July) to commemorate the 6th International Jawa Yezdi Biker's Day. So the 4-5 of us met up a few times, exchange of mails took place, poster n t-shirt designs were finalized and we were ready to go. Expecting about 30 - 40 bikes to participate in this rally, we were stunned to see a turnout of over 120 bikes at Cubbon Park on the 13th morning. It was utter chaos as we ran out of parking space for these bikes and people trying to click snaps and checking out their competition. The media were there too tryin to get bites from riders and us the organizers.

However, the star attractions for the day were a 79 yr old lady Maya Krishnamurthy riding her 64 model Jawa and a unique bike called the C-Zeta which was a special test model manufactured at the Ideal Jawa factory in Mysore. Only 3 of them were manufactured and we got to see one of them.

Muliple National Rally Champion Jagat Nanjappa flagged off the rally at 8.15am post which the bikers in a convoy went around the city before heading out towards Mysore rd on the Sirsi Circle flyover. We had another brief stopover outside the city for some more media interactions and photo sessions before continuing towards Channapatna on Mysore rd.

The whole distance of (150kms) 75kms towards and 75kms back was truly amazing with the entire stretch packed with these old beauties and the unique thud thud sound these bikes generate. Some cops en route stopped us to find out what the whole commotion was about.




More pics are available at these links
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greatescapes/sets/72157606158052746/
http://www.4shared.com/dir/8226622/e524 b64f/sharing.html?dirembed=true

The group's website will be up shortly, until then pls visit the orkut community - http://www.orkut.co.in/Community.aspx?cmm=27275920


regards
Brian