New Delhi: The Jawa 42 has been updated for 2024 with a price cut and a tweaked engine that offers more power. The new price ranges between INR 1.73 lakh and INR 1.98 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi, making the base variant INR 16,000 more affordable than before.
In an exclusive interview with Ashish Joshi, CEO of Jawa Motorcycles, the strategic direction and challenges facing the company are laid bare. Joshi highlighted the company’s commitment to advancing the classic motorcycle segment, distinguishing itself with superior specifications and engineering compared to competitors like Royal Enfield, Honda, Triumph etc.
“While our specs have always been superior, such as the 27hp from our 300cc engine compared to others with larger engines, our focus remains on evolving the classic motorcycle experience rather than simply competing on paper,” Joshi said. “I don’t think enough people have given us credit that with a 300 cc engine, we’ve been 27hp, while others have been struggling around 20hp.” He emphasized that Jawa is driven by a mission to modernize and refresh classic motorcycles, a goal that requires patience and perseverance.
Joshi addresses the shortcomings of the previous models and emphasizes that the company is barely 5 years old. “Jawa’s strategy includes not only technological advancements but also a robust dealership expansion plan,” he said. The company aims to increase its dealership network from 431 to 600 by the end of the year. This expansion includes 100 new café format stores designed to enhance customer engagement and service.
Joshi also addressed the challenges faced by Jawa, including the impact of COVID-19 on dealership operations and customer service. Despite these hurdles, he expressed confidence in the company’s resilience and dedication to motorcycle engineering. “We are not here just to make noise; we focus on delivering value through our products and service,” Joshi affirmed.
The updated Jawa 42 introduces several notable changes:
Engine Enhancements: The 294cc liquid-cooled motor now delivers 27.32hp and 26.84Nm of torque. The engine features a slip and assist clutch, gear-based throttle mapping for smoother shifts, and new balancer components to minimize vibrations.
Design Updates: The motorcycle sports six new colour options, a redesigned seat for added comfort, and modifications to the rear shock mounting for improved ride quality.
Variants: The base variant includes single-channel ABS, spoked wheels, and an analogue LCD. Higher variants come with features such as fully digital LCD displays, alloy wheels, and dual-channel ABS.
About the issues related to service and part replacement, Joshi said that a customer grievance will reach him in three steps. He said, “I think we are one of the companies which see from a customer point of view, they (customer complaints) will reach me in three steps. In another company, they’ll take 32 steps to reach the CEO. We’ve mapped the journey for us. It is three steps. If your problem is not attended by this guy, this guy or this guy, I will attend to it. So we are very, very, very quick in terms of handling.
Regarding customer service, Joshi expressed confidence in Jawa’s approach. “Our service network is crucial. We are addressing the gaps that arose when customers purchased bikes in areas without dealerships. We are working to ensure our customers have easy access to service,” he said. “We are very responsive to customer issues. If a problem isn’t resolved by the first contact point, it escalates quickly to me.”
Joshi also revealed the company’s customer-centric initiatives, including warranty extensions. “We offer a factory-backed warranty for up to twelve months on bikes that are four years old during our service camps. This is a testament to our confidence in our products,” he explained.
