Ideal Jawa

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]

Ideal Jawa (India) Ltd.
TypeMotorcycle manufacturer
IndustryAutomotive
Fatedefunct
Founded1960
Defunct1996
HeadquartersMysore, India
Key people
Farrokh Irani, Founder
ProductsJawa, Yezdi
Number of employees
3500
Websiteyezdi.com

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 along the railway line which heads to Mysore Junction. The factory was inaugurated by the then Governor of Mysore State, H.H Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, Maharaja of Mysore in 1961.[2]

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]

Jawa 250 cc 'A' (Type 353 Kyvacka)
Jawa Jet 50 cc 'A' (Type 555 Pionyr)
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:

  • Jawa 250 typ 353/04 Kyvacka called 'A' Type (under license)
  • Jawa 50 Pionyr typ 555 (under license)
  • Jawa 50 Jet 'A' Series
  • Yezdi 60 Jet 'B' Series
  • Jawa / Yezdi 250 'B' Type (Radial Head & Dimple Tank Transition Model)
  • Yezdi 250 'B' Type (Model B)
  • Yezdi 250 Oilking (CB Points and Oil Pump) 'C' Type
  • Yezdi 250 Roadking (CB Points) 'C' Type
  • Yezdi 250 Classic 'B' Type
  • Yezdi B250 Deluxe 'B' Type or "B1"
  • Yezdi D250 Classic 'D' Type
  • Yezdi 250 Deluxe 'D' Type
  • Yezdi 250 CL-II 'D' Type
  • Yezdi 60 Jet 'C' Series
  • Yezdi 60 Colt
  • Yezdi 175 (CB Points)
  • Yezdi 60 Colt Deluxe
  • Jawa / Yezdi 350 Twin (Jawa 350 typ 634 Powered)
  • Yezdi 175 Deluxe (CDI)
  • Yezdi 250 Roadking (CDI) 'C' Type
  • Yezdi 250 Monarch (CDI) 'C' Type
  • I.Jawa 250 Roadking (CDI) 'C' Type (Export Model)
  • Yezdi 250 MT (CDI) 'C' Type (Export Model)
  • Yezdi 125 Deluxe (Never released)
  • Yezdi 250 Supersprint 'C' Type (Never released)

The 'A', 'B', 'C' & 'D' 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

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.[6] With the advent of Yamaha and Honda in India, these bikes lost their status as Yezdi's 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. Yezdi's 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.

  • Yezdi Jet 60 'B' Series
  • Yezdi 175 Deluxe
  • Yezdi 250 Deluxe 'CL2' Type
  • Yezdi 250 Classic 'D' Type
  • Yezdi 250 CL-II 'CL2' Type
  • Yezdi 250 Oilking 'C' Type
  • Yezdi 250 Roadking 'C' Type
  • Yezdi 250 Monarch 'C' Type
  • Yezdi 350 Twin (Type 634)

See also

References
  1. "The return of roaring Jawa Yezdis". The Times of India Bangalore. July 9, 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  2. "Yezdi a Beat from the past". Deccan Herald, Mysore. June 24, 2011.
  3. "A day for Jawa, Yezdi bikes". The Times of India, Mysore. July 15, 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  4. "Rev up those Jawa & Yezdi bikes, Pune set to host a rally this weekend". DNA India, Pune. July 8, 2014.
  5. "Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club". Ride Till Diember 2013.
  6. Yoshita Sengupta (18 September 2011). "Iron to gold in 2 strokes". Mid Day, Mumbai. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
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