Wednesday, 21 July 2021

Time passed but India could not get over Jawa's Yezdis

 Jawa's Yezdis have achieved a cult status in India. They were popular in the 70s and 80s. People loved to ride Yezdi bikes. The popularity was such that the bike featured in many of the movies with heroes riding it. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan rode Yezdi in the hit movie 'Parvarish' which was released in 1977. Moreover, Farooq Shaikh was seen romancing Deepti Naval in the movie 'Chashme Baddoor' in 1981. Even in the 90s, Shahrukh Khan was seen riding a tattooed Yezdi in 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa'. Surely, the bikes have a rich history. It was a people's bike. It

is still revered in India and there is a huge fanbase.

Recently on July 11, the 19th International Jawa Day was celebrated by lovers across the country. The International Jawa Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of July every year. Jawa Yezdi clubs and new Jawa owners both participated in the event. More than 100 groups with over 2,000 Jawa riders participated across 80 locations in India. The bikers rode with excitement as the event was held after two years. In 2020, the event was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Credit: indulgexpress.com

The Czech-origin bikes were manufactured at Ideal Jawa (India) Ltd in Mysore. They started selling licensed Jawa motorcycles in 1960 under the brand name Jawa. In 1973, the company started selling motorcycles under the brand name Yezdi. The catchphrase was “Forever Bike, Forever Value.” 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 so popular in India that people still ride them in India.

Credit: mouthshut.com

The love for Jawa and Yezdi bikes is such that there are people who have kept their old bikes in good condition. There are many Jawa and Yezdi motorcycle clubs in many different cities like Baramati, Noida, Bangalore, Calicut, Thrissur, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Chandigarh, Kerala, Coimbatore, Mangalore and many others. The Jawa and Yezdi bikes can often be spotted in vintage rallies. It shows how much people love them and could not move beyond their machines.

To the delight of its fans, Mahindra-owned Classic Legends revived the Jawa company in 2018. At present, they are selling three motorcycles – Jawa Classic, Jawa 42 and Jawa Parek. Moreover, the good news is that the company is expected to bring the iconic Yezdi Motorcycle before the end of 2021. As per reports, it is expected to be introduced in the markets around Diwali. The reports suggest that the company is likely to launch a scrambler motorcycle. The company has already trademarked the Yezdi Roadking name in India. Yezdi Roadking was an iconic bike which was sold between 1978 and 1996.

Credit: motorbeam.com

It seems Yezdi bikes are going to stay in India. The Jawa and Yezdi bikes are not just about the past but also about the future. The bike enthusiasts, especially the lovers of Jawa and Yezdi bikes, have a reason to believe in their obsession. The company is all set to give its fans many options to look for and it will happen sooner than later. People have trust in these bikes and they will surely be elated to ride new Jawa and Yezdi bikes on roads. You can buy the Jawa and Yezdi bikes and get hold of the glorious past.

Credit: tripmachinecompany.com