Forgotten Jawa and Yezdi motorcycles that were a rage in their times
The name of Jawa brings nostalgia of the old world motorcycles that could go anywhere. Jawa was launched in the 1960s in India via the licensed production in Mysore by Ideal Jawa. However, the Jawa bikes were sold under the Yezdi name in 1973. Ever since, several bikes by Jawa are forgotten. Let us revive our memory of these beautiful classics.
Yezdi 175
The Yezdi 175 is the first bike on our list. One of the advantages of the 175 was its affordability compared to its competitors. Despite the fact that it was inexpensive, it felt lively and ready to ride. 9.5 bhp of maximum power and 14.27 Nm of maximum torque were produced by the 175 cc two-stroke engine. In terms of top speed, the Yezdi 175 could reach a speed of 95 kmph.
Jawa 250
This was one of the first motorcycles to be sold in the country when it was originally introduced. There was nothing else like it on Indian roads at that point in time. Observe that this is the same design used in the Jawa. The bike had a 249cc Air Cooled Two Stroke Engine as well as a four-speed transmission. The engine had a maximum power output of 12 PS. Even now, it is highly sought by antique collectors.
Yezdi Roadking
As a direct competitor to the Royal Enfield Bullet, the Roadking was a popular motorcycle. It had a two-stroke, single-cylinder, and 250-cc engine with 16PS power and 24Nm torque. With a weight of 140 kg, it was faster than the Bullet.
Yezdi Oilking
After the Roadking, the Oilking was introduced to the market. There were very few distinctions between Oilking and Roadking. In India, the Oilking was not successful due to its oil pump, which was unreliable as well as which failed quite frequently.
Yezdi CL-II
The Roadking was replaced by the CL-II. Due to its swiftness, it quickly gained traction. At 110 km/h, it was capable of reaching 60 km/h in less than five seconds. A two-stroke engine of 248.5 CC rated at 13 Bhp was included in this bike.
Yezdi Deluxe
Jawa Roadking and Jawa Classic parts were used in the Deluxe. To give you an example, the brakes and suspension settings were derived from these motorcycles. The motorcycle weighed about 131 Kg and had a 248.5cc engine, making it one of the lightest in the market.
Yezdi 350
To compete directly with Rajdoot or Yamaha RD350, the Yezdi 350 was launched in the Indian market. The RD350 was more expensive. A fun-to-ride vehicle, the Yezdi 350 was quite ahead in the competition. RD350 was superior in terms of power and acceleration.
Yezdi 60
It was an update of the Yezdi 50. It was targeted at women and young riders. The engine was a 60-cc two-stroke unit. It produced only 4 PS and had a 3-speed transmission.
Yezdi Classic
When the Classic was introduced in India, it was positioned as a rival to the Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle. Because it was designed for cruising, it proved quite popular among travelers. There was a 250cc two-stroke engine that produced 13 PS and 20 Nm of maximum torque.
To appreciate their utility and charm in earlier times it is important to know the details that are discussed above.