A cruiser bike must be stylish; hence, the Jawa 42 Bobber.
Launched recently in the Indian motorcycle market, the new 42 Bobber is a bike tailored for modern performance along with classic styling and ease of riding within the city limits. The motorcycle is not just clinging towards its attraction but is packed with features that talk about daily usage and weekend joy rides.
This motorcycle comes at a price of anywhere between Rs 2.09 lakh to Rs 2.34 lakh (ex-showroom). That is, these machines directly pull in the youth and motorcycle lovers who want their bike to be something that looks different and something that is fun to ride. It competes directly with the mid-size cruiser segment Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and Honda CB350.
Let’s have a detail about it now – its design, performance, features, price, and real experience.
Vintage low-slung design
Jawa is known for its classic and retro-looking bikes. The 42 Bobber also carries forward the same identity. It is a motorcycle built on a minimalist bobber design. It uses a steel double cradle frame.
The dimensions of the bike:
- Length: 2170 mm
- Width: 890 mm
- Height: 1115 mm
- Weight: 185 kg
The bike has a ground clearance of 165 mm, which is enough for day-to-day traffic and traffic bumps.
Looking at the color options, this bike has an appealing choice among Mystic Copper and Black Mirror. The rounded LED headlamp in the front, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a single-piece seat lend an attitude to the bike: a true urban style. When the motorcycle is out on the road, people will turn and stare at the 42 Bobber.
Display and Control
The instrument panel of the 42 Bobber is fully digital. It shows speed, fuel level, trip data, and other important information. The layout of the display is crystal clear and easy to read.
Many times we see that there are bikes with a lot of features, but they became a headache to use. Jawa has taken care of this need. Its operations are uncomplicated and are precisely what would be required if you mostly ride the 42 Bobber in the city or on short highway rides.
Engine and performance
Now let’s talk about the real stuff, which is performance and engine. A 334cc liquid cooled single cylinder engine is what powers the Jawa 42 Bobber. This produces around 29.5 Bhp of power at 7500 rpm and 32.7 Nm of torque at 6000 rpm.
The engine comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox with assist and slipper clutch. This clutch ensures the smoothness of the gear change and does not allow the bike to rear when shifting down suddenly; the slipper clutch compensates for it.
The company claims this bike will give 30 km/l mileage. So, if you intend to take it to the office every day and then occasionally on the highway on weekends, it won’t put a hole in your pocket in terms of fuel.
Braking and Safety
Braking safety has been specially attended to in Jawa 42 Bobber. It has a dual-channel ABS system. The braking setup comprises a 320 mm disc in the front and a 240 mm disc brake in the rear.
The benefit of having ABS is that in case of sudden braking, the tires will not lock, thereby reducing the chances of the rider losing balance. This is especially beneficial in rains or during on slippery roads.
Fuel tank and range
This bike boasts a 12.5-litre fuel tank. The company states that filled once, it could get about 375 kilometers, assuming mixed conditions of working city and highway.
The refueling does not take long at all—2 or 3 minutes at a petrol pump would be plenty. Keeping up with regular servicing is essential, though, to maintain performance.
Riding Comfort and Features
It has a low-slung seat due to the Bobber theme, meaning it is slightly lower for short riders to fit in easily. The handlebars are wide allowing a comfortable grip even over long rides.
The bike sports LED lighting, side-stand cut-off, and a sound note from the exhaust, distinct from many. That unmistakably builds a feel of a rider when this motorcycle roars on the road.
Price and Availability
As mentioned earlier, the price of Jawa 42 Bobber starts from Rs 2.09 lakh and goes up to Rs 2.34 lakh (ex-showroom). The on-road pricing, in Delhi, ranges from around Rs 2.42 lakh to Rs 2.70 lakh. This also includes RTO and insurance charges.
It rolled in September 2022, with some updates being made in 2025. Many a time, there are discounts or exchange offers during festive times.
The warranty as per the norm is for 4 years/50,000 km, while the annual maintenance cost is expected to be around 6,000–8,000 rupees.
Riders’ comments and complains
Most riders have said that this bike has a stylish design, low seat height, and very easy handling. Other positive features are its 165 mm ground clearance and 30 km/l mileage.
Nevertheless, some drawbacks are:
- At very high speeds, its stability does not seem considerably reassuring on highways.
- Limited features such as Bluetooth connectivity and navigation are absent in some of the other modern bikes.
- The ride is a bit harsh on bad and bumpy roads.
Comparison with rival bikes
Jawa 42 Bobber’s competitors include bikes like Royal Enfield Meteor 350, Honda H’ness CB350, and Yezdi Roadster.
With a unique character and design, Jawa 42 Bobber is quite different from the rest. Its Bobber styling simply just stands out.
Mileage-wise and weight-wise, the balance seems to favor the Jawa, while the heavier Royal Enfield Meteor.
The Honda CB 350, on the other hand, seems smooth and stable on the highway.
This means that if you want to focus more on urban usage and styling, then the Jawa Bobber 42 would be a better choice. But if it is all about long highway rides, then Royal Enfield and Honda would suit you better.
Final
All in all, the Jawa 42 Bobber is one example of a stylish and character-filled cruiser. It has a very attractive 334cc engine with a mileage of around 30 km/l, greatly appealing to the youth and the urban riders.
While some may argue that its stability on the highway and a few features are not the best, this motorcycle still stands out among others. If you want a ridiculously attractive motorcycle, easy to ride and one that you can easily maneuver in city traffic on a daily basis, then you should consider the Jawa 42 Bobber.
