Ideal Jawa

Last updated

Ideal Jawa
TypeMotorcycle manufacturer
Industry Automotive
Founded1960
Defunct1996
Fatedefunct
Headquarters Mysore, Karnataka, India
Key people
Farrokh Irani, Founder
Products Jawa, Yezdi
Number of employees
3500
Website yezdi.com

Ideal Jawa (India) Ltd was an Indian motorcycle company based in Mysore, which sold licensed Jawa motorcycles beginning in 1960 under the brand name Jawa and from 1973 as Yezdi. The catchphrase for the bikes sold by the firm was "'Forever Bike, Forever Value". [1] Jawa motorcycles were introduced in India in 1960 and they have a cult following to this present day. Production was carried out directly in India by Ideal Jawa India Ltd based out of Mysore . The Yezdi factory was located at Yadavagiri along the railway line which heads to Mysore Junction. The factory was inaugurated by the then Governor of Mysore State, Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, Maharaja of Mysore in 1961. [2]

Contents

The Jawa 250 Type 353/04 designated as 'A' Type, Yezdi 250 'B' Type, Yezdi 250 Roadking, Yezdi 350 Twin (type 634) and Yezdi 250 Monarch models are driven to this day in various parts of the country. Jawa and Yezdi bikes, especially the ones with fuel tank paddings and ignition systems on the fuel tank are now collectors items. The company stopped production in 1996. [3]

There are still several bike enthusiasts in the country. [4] There are several bike clubs across the country, some of them even organizing long distance rallies. [5]

In January 2022, the brand was relaunched in India as Jawa Motorcycles by Mahindra & Mahindra through their Classic Legends subsidiary, through a licensing deal with the original Czech company JAWA Moto. Three models were introduced, the Roadster, Scrambler and Adventure. Yezdi motorcycles will be sold alongside Jawa motorcycles in India. [6]

Jawa 250 cc 'A' (Type 353 Kyvacka) Jawa 250 typ 353 100.jpg
Jawa 250 cc 'A' (Type 353 Kyvacka)
Jawa Jet 50 cc 'A' (Type 555 Pionyr) Jawa 50 Jet.jpg
Jawa Jet 50 cc 'A' (Type 555 Pionyr)
Jawa 250 'A' Type (typ 353/04) Jawa typ 353.jpg
Jawa 250 'A' Type (typ 353/04)

Models

There have been many models of this brand before the company shut its doors in 1996. Their various models included:

The 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D' & 'CL2' Types are the model of Engine that particular bike has.

Ideal Jawa also exported many of the above models to over 61 countries around the world including Turkey, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Egypt and others. Guatemala was supplied with custom White Yezdi Roadkings for their Police forces. Some Yezdi 175s were supplied to an oil company in Ghana. A model exported to Venezuela was called the Yezdi 250 MT. A few Yezdi Monarchs were used for Pizza delivery in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The relaunched models in 2022 are not from Ideal Jawa but from Classic Legends Private Limited [7]

End of production

When the company was forced to shut down, it was producing the 175, Monarch, Deluxe, Road Kings and CL II. The main reason for the company's collapse was labor trouble and increasing levels of pollution control norms which were making the two stroke bikes that the company produced obsolete. [8] With the advent of Yamaha and Honda in India, these bikes lost their status as Yezdis were heavier and in some cases slower with lower fuel efficiency.

In motorsports

Ideal Jawa had factory teams for both road races at Sholavaram and the National Motorcycle Rally Championships. Yezdis were preferred rally bikes in the 80s and 90s.

Aftermath

Though the Yezdi factory is closed and Yezdi bikes are vintage to the present day many people in India are having a craze for these bikes and own them. Yezdi bike clubs have been created where members show off their Yezdi bikes and by doing so, are trying to revive the craze for these bikes.[ citation needed ]

Yezdi Brand Relaunch

Starting 13 January 2022 the Yezdi brand has been reintroduced [9] in the Indian market by Classic Legends, after a gap of 25 years. There are three models which have been launched - Scrambler, Roadster and Adventure.

See also

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References

  1. "The return of roaring Jawa Yezdis". The Times of India . 9 July 2012. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  2. "Yezdi a Beat from the past". Deccan Herald, Mysore. 24 June 2011.
  3. "A day for Jawa, Yezdi bikes". The Times of India . 15 July 2013. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  4. "Rev up those Jawa & Yezdi bikes, Pune set to host a rally this weekend". DNA India, Pune. 8 July 2014.
  5. "Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club". Ride Till December 2013.
  6. "Yezdi is back! New Roadster, Scrambler, Adventure bikes launched in India". 13 January 2022.
  7. "Mahindra's Classic Legends relaunches iconic Jawa motorcycle - Jawa Jawa".
  8. Yoshita Sengupta (18 September 2011). "Iron to gold in 2 strokes". Mid Day, Mumbai. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  9. Dasgupta, Sabyasachi (12 January 2022). "Yezdi returning to India with 3 new motorcycles. What to expect". Hindustan Times Auto News. Retrieved 12 January 2022.