At first glance this might seem like the same Jawa that was launched a few years ago. And while it does look near identical, there are some significant changes hiding under the skin. This one has a new engine, a different chassis, more ground clearance, wider tyres and even a new name - say hello to the new Jawa 350.
Jawa 350 design, build quality
In true Jawa fashion, the 350 continues to look the part. You still get a round halogen headlight that’s set quite high, the same spoked wheels with tubed tyres, the chromed fuel tank and the iconic dual exhausts. However, there's now a new mystic orange paint shade on offer that looks quite nice, the instrument cluster has also been redone and it also gets a redesigned seat.
Jawa 350 engine, riding experience
At the heart of the changes, quite literally, is the new 334cc engine that we've seen on Yezdi models before. This replaces the 294cc unit that was there earlier and the output has also changed. This one is down by around 5hp (at 22.5hp) but torque has gone up by about 1 Nm (at 28.1Nm).
Judging by the specs, this might seem like the opposite of an upgrade. But the new engine produces its peak power 750rpm earlier and peak torque 500rpm earlier than the 294cc unit. And in the real world that effect is even more prominent than it sounds on paper.
This engine really impresses with its low end grunt and tractability. In fact you can potter around at 20kph in 3rd gear and it will accelerate without hesitation. Refinement could have been better though, as right from the midrange itself you can feel the vibes on the handlebar and on the footpegs.
To account for the larger engine, Jawa says it has also improved the cooling system. However on our ride, we did encounter a high temperature warning and some minor coolant overflow, followed by a check engine light when riding through some traffic. The temperature warning did go away after a bit but the check engine light stayed on for the rest of our ride. It must be said however that despite these issues, the bike continued to run without any performance restrictions.
The Jawa 350 also has a nice, meaty sounding exhaust note and what’s nice is that buyers can remove the db killer by unscrewing two bolts, for an enhanced sound.
Jawa 350 transmission, brakes, features
The Jawa 350 also packs in a slip and assist clutch and it works quite well. The clutch lever itself is light and easy to modulate, even in traffic, and the 6-speed gearbox is precise enough. Stopping power is more than adequate but the tall front end dives quite a bit under hard braking. The Jawa now also gets dual-channel ABS as standard and other features of note are hazard lights, a dual horn, two trip meters and a side stand engine cut-off.
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