Jawa 2019 vs Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
When Jawa came out with the 42 and Jawa Classic last year, there was a mad rush on booking the restored brand and the company imposed certain delivery schedules which have been under the scanner.
Nevertheless, this has given blokes like me adequate time to compare the performance of this new offering against established brands in the market; Not to forget Jawa was once an established brand seconding to none, and lead the way.
Quick words around disclaimers, I am by no means a bike expert and have not owned many bikes in the past to make any significant claims. Nor am I being paid or compensated for soliciting any brands here. This comparison is from the perspective of an average Joe who gets excited to see a nostalgic brand.
I took a test ride of the RE Interceptor 650 and a Jawa Classic, back to back, to ensure that I have the most livid and immediate comparisons. Useful details about me, I am 5 ft 9 inches in height and 84 Kgs in weight and have booked a Jawa 42 Dual ABS, waiting on the delivery.
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Experience
I entered the showroom at Gurgaon at about 2.30 PM and was greeted by the owner of the showroom. He asked some basic details about my history with bikes and figured out I was an average Joe. Very engaging gentleman, I immediately expressed interest in the 650 and mentioned I was between making choices and would like to know if my current choice could be influenced by the machine. Some basic yada yada about BHP and CC and Torque/RPM (all available on the internet), I was introduced to a silver colored 650.
This bike is heavy! Yes it is, a decently heavy bike and needs strong hands and a well built physique to handle, even take off from the stand. It seems it's made for humans taller than 6ft+. If you stand shorter than 5 ft 7 inches, you may end up with aching toes. The showroom assistant was likely 5ft 6 inches and the struggle was evident on his face.
Electronic push button start, the sound of the exhaust bears no remote relation to the classic Bullet Thump (if that's your swag). It was more like the neighing of a stallion, ready to rip the road!
The customer experience at the dealership is phenomenal. Interestingly, the showroom assistant mentioned he will not join me on the test ride and I am free to take the test ride solo
6 speed manual tranmission, 1 down, 5 up, I put it in the first gear, let go the clutch, accelartion was very smooth. I did not feel a 650 cc engine cranking, till about I hit the 2800 RPM mark on the tacho. As the bike touched 2800 RPM in the second gear, there was a gush of torque. Navigated through the streets to the main road, Hit the 3rd gear and throttled to the 2800 rpm mark. Now here is where this machine shows its true colors. I could only feel torque torque and plain torque. Pulled up to 85 kmph and I was riding atop a monster! Yes you do feel its a monster of a bike that may not stop due to the momentum. To be honest, this was the point where there were chills, it was time to slow down, in come the front and rear discs, gentle breaking coupled with decleration. Yes, the vibes have been improved compared to the classic models, but crank it to 80 kmph and you feel the pinch of the handlebar in your sweaty palms, and your elbows. The handlebar starts to feel like a barbell, heavy and hard. Another thing to notice, the bike feels a little front heavy. The rear tyre seemed slippery on sudden acceleration. Happened twice. Showroom staff attributed this to a wobbly rear tyre on the test ride bike. Gear transmission is super smooth. Console dials give adequate information needed on a ride. A gear indicator would be good to have. Seat is quite comfortable. This bike is a raw powerhouse! Savage!
Returned to the showroom. Takeaways, heavy bike, made for 6ft+ guys or western bodies, exhaust note not in line with RE legacy. A very well tuned and zappy engine designed in UK, air cooled with oil cooled heat exchange unit. dual exhaust, comfortable seats. Super braking. Mean Machine. Vibrations! Feels Arduous! Not a Cruiser! Super Duper customer service. Knowledgeable staff. On road price 3L+
The Jawa Classic Experience
I have booked a 42 but the 42 wasnt available for a test ride (test rode it before, but will not mix, as this was a back to back test ride). Reached the showroom. Four staff to attend, asked for the showroom manager as I know him, he wasn't available. Expressed my desire to test ride the 42 again. Same pitch, mentioned I was between making choices and would like to know if my current choice could be influenced by the machine. There was no availability of the 42 so agreed to ride the classic. Some basic yada yada about the BHP, Torque@RPM etc and I was introduced to a Red Jawa classic.
This machine, as I saddled up, was comfortable beyond explanation to my 5 ft 9 inch frame. Felt almost tailor-made to my height. No solo test ride offered.
Started the bike, the db killer had an adjustment on it to point 3 and the exhaust note was music.
6 speed manual transmission, 1 down, 5 up. Put in first gear, pillion saddled up and took off. The bike took off comfortable. Low end torques were good, felt little coming off from a 650cc bike. Nonetheless, comfortable.
Navigated out to the main road, cranked the throttle and this bike took off, the lower end torque is just super! The handling is smooth as butter. this bike is super balanced, almost self balancing. It's weightless when in motion. Nooks and corners, no problem. I was cruising at 80 kmph in no time and there is just no vibration! It is a sailplane. The road grip is fantastic, banked turns, i think i managed a 70 deg, maybe 65. Gear transmission, felt slight friction between 1st and 2nd, nothing worthy to complain of. Had to dig in the brake pedal to slow down and it slowed down gently. Nonetheless, this bike is a charmer! The seat is just ok, Jawa has no plans to improvise. Maybe they dont need to, they've done a good job with the vibes. Console dials, could've been better. The eccentric speedo is unconventional. You have to look twice to see where you are. The info cluster is minimal, yet feels cluttered.
Customer Service - Zero out of whatever! Test bike - not available, accessories - not available, solution to reported problems - not available. Delivery schedules - not available. Tech knowhow - not available. Showroom manager - not available. Finance Executive - not available. EMI calculation - not available!
Returned to the showroom. Dealership gave standard answers to reported problems. Takeaways, this is not a bike, this is a glider! if you stand less than 6ft inches, this bike is for you. A well tuned engine, nowhere close to the power of the 650 but the acceleration curves are very well done. water cooled engine. No apparent vibrations. Comfortable rider stance. Non comfy Seat! Not a powerhouse compared to 650! Cruiser! Customer Service - Painful! 2L+ on road.
Bottomline
If you're 6ft+, love sheer power, can spend 1L extra, need good customer service Interceptor 650
If you're sub 6ft, tourer, ok with crappy customer service - Jawa
Nevertheless, this has given blokes like me adequate time to compare the performance of this new offering against established brands in the market; Not to forget Jawa was once an established brand seconding to none, and lead the way.
Quick words around disclaimers, I am by no means a bike expert and have not owned many bikes in the past to make any significant claims. Nor am I being paid or compensated for soliciting any brands here. This comparison is from the perspective of an average Joe who gets excited to see a nostalgic brand.
I took a test ride of the RE Interceptor 650 and a Jawa Classic, back to back, to ensure that I have the most livid and immediate comparisons. Useful details about me, I am 5 ft 9 inches in height and 84 Kgs in weight and have booked a Jawa 42 Dual ABS, waiting on the delivery.
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Experience
I entered the showroom at Gurgaon at about 2.30 PM and was greeted by the owner of the showroom. He asked some basic details about my history with bikes and figured out I was an average Joe. Very engaging gentleman, I immediately expressed interest in the 650 and mentioned I was between making choices and would like to know if my current choice could be influenced by the machine. Some basic yada yada about BHP and CC and Torque/RPM (all available on the internet), I was introduced to a silver colored 650.
This bike is heavy! Yes it is, a decently heavy bike and needs strong hands and a well built physique to handle, even take off from the stand. It seems it's made for humans taller than 6ft+. If you stand shorter than 5 ft 7 inches, you may end up with aching toes. The showroom assistant was likely 5ft 6 inches and the struggle was evident on his face.
Electronic push button start, the sound of the exhaust bears no remote relation to the classic Bullet Thump (if that's your swag). It was more like the neighing of a stallion, ready to rip the road!
The customer experience at the dealership is phenomenal. Interestingly, the showroom assistant mentioned he will not join me on the test ride and I am free to take the test ride solo
6 speed manual tranmission, 1 down, 5 up, I put it in the first gear, let go the clutch, accelartion was very smooth. I did not feel a 650 cc engine cranking, till about I hit the 2800 RPM mark on the tacho. As the bike touched 2800 RPM in the second gear, there was a gush of torque. Navigated through the streets to the main road, Hit the 3rd gear and throttled to the 2800 rpm mark. Now here is where this machine shows its true colors. I could only feel torque torque and plain torque. Pulled up to 85 kmph and I was riding atop a monster! Yes you do feel its a monster of a bike that may not stop due to the momentum. To be honest, this was the point where there were chills, it was time to slow down, in come the front and rear discs, gentle breaking coupled with decleration. Yes, the vibes have been improved compared to the classic models, but crank it to 80 kmph and you feel the pinch of the handlebar in your sweaty palms, and your elbows. The handlebar starts to feel like a barbell, heavy and hard. Another thing to notice, the bike feels a little front heavy. The rear tyre seemed slippery on sudden acceleration. Happened twice. Showroom staff attributed this to a wobbly rear tyre on the test ride bike. Gear transmission is super smooth. Console dials give adequate information needed on a ride. A gear indicator would be good to have. Seat is quite comfortable. This bike is a raw powerhouse! Savage!
Returned to the showroom. Takeaways, heavy bike, made for 6ft+ guys or western bodies, exhaust note not in line with RE legacy. A very well tuned and zappy engine designed in UK, air cooled with oil cooled heat exchange unit. dual exhaust, comfortable seats. Super braking. Mean Machine. Vibrations! Feels Arduous! Not a Cruiser! Super Duper customer service. Knowledgeable staff. On road price 3L+
The Jawa Classic Experience
I have booked a 42 but the 42 wasnt available for a test ride (test rode it before, but will not mix, as this was a back to back test ride). Reached the showroom. Four staff to attend, asked for the showroom manager as I know him, he wasn't available. Expressed my desire to test ride the 42 again. Same pitch, mentioned I was between making choices and would like to know if my current choice could be influenced by the machine. There was no availability of the 42 so agreed to ride the classic. Some basic yada yada about the BHP, Torque@RPM etc and I was introduced to a Red Jawa classic.
This machine, as I saddled up, was comfortable beyond explanation to my 5 ft 9 inch frame. Felt almost tailor-made to my height. No solo test ride offered.
Started the bike, the db killer had an adjustment on it to point 3 and the exhaust note was music.
6 speed manual transmission, 1 down, 5 up. Put in first gear, pillion saddled up and took off. The bike took off comfortable. Low end torques were good, felt little coming off from a 650cc bike. Nonetheless, comfortable.
Navigated out to the main road, cranked the throttle and this bike took off, the lower end torque is just super! The handling is smooth as butter. this bike is super balanced, almost self balancing. It's weightless when in motion. Nooks and corners, no problem. I was cruising at 80 kmph in no time and there is just no vibration! It is a sailplane. The road grip is fantastic, banked turns, i think i managed a 70 deg, maybe 65. Gear transmission, felt slight friction between 1st and 2nd, nothing worthy to complain of. Had to dig in the brake pedal to slow down and it slowed down gently. Nonetheless, this bike is a charmer! The seat is just ok, Jawa has no plans to improvise. Maybe they dont need to, they've done a good job with the vibes. Console dials, could've been better. The eccentric speedo is unconventional. You have to look twice to see where you are. The info cluster is minimal, yet feels cluttered.
Customer Service - Zero out of whatever! Test bike - not available, accessories - not available, solution to reported problems - not available. Delivery schedules - not available. Tech knowhow - not available. Showroom manager - not available. Finance Executive - not available. EMI calculation - not available!
Returned to the showroom. Dealership gave standard answers to reported problems. Takeaways, this is not a bike, this is a glider! if you stand less than 6ft inches, this bike is for you. A well tuned engine, nowhere close to the power of the 650 but the acceleration curves are very well done. water cooled engine. No apparent vibrations. Comfortable rider stance. Non comfy Seat! Not a powerhouse compared to 650! Cruiser! Customer Service - Painful! 2L+ on road.
Bottomline
If you're 6ft+, love sheer power, can spend 1L extra, need good customer service Interceptor 650
If you're sub 6ft, tourer, ok with crappy customer service - Jawa
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