The story
Founded by František Janeček in 1929, in Prague.1
History
Origin – 1929
František Janeček started the company after working in the armament industry. Although he did not have experience with motorcycles, he was familiar with production techniques. Janeček chose between the Austrian double piston two-stroke motor of Puch, the Berlin two-stroke of Schliha, and the new Wanderer 500cc. Janeček chose the Wanderer. Because of the collapse of the German motor industry, Wanderer had stopped production, being unable to compete with BMW.
The first model was introduced on October 23, 1929. This was a 500cc four-cycle engine with 12 kW of power (18 hp) and fuel consumption of 6 L/100 km. Although priced highly, through the first years (and several constructional fixes), this motorcycle was successful and was considered reliable.
1930s
Due to the economic recession of the early 1930s, a cheaper and simpler motorcycle was needed. The year 1932 marked the introduction of JAWA 175, with its 3.6-kW engine. This light (70 kg) machine was capable of speeds up to 80 km/h and fuel consumption of 3.5 L/100 km. The first year of production was an immediate success, selling over 3000 of the JAWA 175, almost three times the number of the 500-cc model over three years of production. The production of this model ended in 1946. In 1938, JAWA was the first to offer test rides during exhibition shows. This test motorcycle was a custom JAWA 175 equipped with dual handlebars, a second pair in the back for the instructor. Over the years, 27,535 units of the JAWA 175 were built.
1940s
The company founder František Janeček died. Postwar production of JAWA 250/350 motorcycles restarted, and production of the JAWA 350 Ogar motorcycle began.
1950s
Motorcycles produced in the 1950s include the 250, 350/353-Kývačka, and 350/354-Kývačka, 500 OHC and the 50 Pionýr and Jawetta mopeds. A powerful two-stroke motorcycle known as the JAWA 250/350 with the compact engine, rear suspension and many other innovations was exported to more than 120 countries. It was one of the most successful models of JAWA.
1960s
In the early 1960s, Jawa invented the first automatic clutch for motorcycles. The centrifugal clutch was designed for Jawa 250/559 and 350/360. Because the clutch has been patented worldwide by Jawa and it was copied in the Honda 50 Cub motorcycle, Honda had to retreat, pay a fine, and pay a license fee for each motorcycle sold.
1962, Amalgamation with ESO in production of JAWA speedway motorcycles
1963, Closure of JAWA plant in Prague – Pankrác
Read the full text
1964, Start of production in new plant at Týnec nad Sázavou
1964, Production of millionth JAWA brand motorcycle
1965, Start of production of JAWA 350 Automatic motorcycles
1966, Start of production of JAWA 350 Californian (type 363) motorcycles
1967, Start of production of SK 90 / JAWA 90 in Považská Bystrica (cross, trail, roadster)
1967, Start of production of JAWA 50 Mustang (type 23) in Považská Bystrica
1970s
1970, Start of production of JAWA 250/350 ÚŘ motorcycles
1972, jawa 250cc in market (Indian)
1970, Start of production of JAWA 350 Bizon motorcycles
1974, Start of production of JAWA 350 (type 634) motorcycles
1976, Production of two millionth JAWA brand motorcycle
1980s
1984, Start of production of JAWA 350 (type 638) motorcycles
1987, Production of three millionth JAWA brand motorcycle
1990s
1991, Start of production of JAWA 350 (type 640) motorcycles
1994, Start of production of JAWA 250 (type 593) motorcycles
1994, Start of production of JAWA 50 (type 585, 586) motorcycles
1997, Founding of the company JAWA Moto spol. s r. o.
1998, Start of production of JAWA 125 Travel motorcycles
1998, Joining with MOTOUNION, take-over of bike MUC 125 Dandy production
1998, Start of production of JAWA 125 Dandy motorcycles
1999, Start of production of JAWA 100 (type 587) motorcycles
2000s
2004, Start of production of JAWA 650 (type 836) and JAWA 650 Classic motorcycles
2005, Start of production of JAWA 650 Style motorcycles
2006, Start of production of JAWA 650 Dakar motorcycles
2008, Start of production of JAWA 250 Travel motorcycles
2010s
2011, Start of production of JAWA 660 Sportard motorcycles (successor to 650 Dakar)
2013, Start of production of JAWA 350/634 Retro motorcycles
2017, Start of production of Jawa 350 OHC and JAWA 660 Vintage
2020s
2024, Start of production of Jawa 400 Geeny
2025, Start of production of Jawa JD 750
Recent information
Following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia and the dismantling of the communist bloc, the Jawa consumer motorcycles and the Speedway competition bikes were divided into separate companies. In the 1990s, JAWA Speedway bikes were successful, while the Jawa company has struggled. As of 2006, the JAWA mostly produced bikes similar to Honda 250, 125, and 50 cc motorcycles and a large bike with a 650 cc Rotax engine (this engine can be also found in BMW F650 series). Production of motorcycles with smaller volumes has been gradually terminated.
Most sold is the Jawa 350 two-stroke twin, which is almost mechanically unchanged since the 1970s, but reliable. Currently they are sold only in Latin America.
The large bike with a 650 cc Rotax engine was produced since 2004 in three different variations. The JAWA 650 classic was a retro bike with classic proportions. The JAWA 650 Style was aimed for city streets, and the JAWA 650 Dakar was a full-scale enduro bike similar to the Honda XL Transalp. The Jawa 660 was the successor to the Jawa 650, and was sold between 2011 and 2018.
RVM Jawa 500 from 2020 is a motorcycle produced by the Argentine company RVM, the company is a long-term importer of Jawa, in which Jawa has a certain economic share. It is a touring enduro motorcycle with 471 cc (32.5/36 kW), and is sold both in Argentina and Europe. In July 2021, a model suitable for both road and light terrain RVM Jawa 500 Scrambler (471 cc, 31.5 kW) was added to the market.
Current models (2025) sold by the JAWA company are: Jawa 350 OHC, Jawa 400 Geeny and Jawa JD 750.
From Wikipedia’s article on Jawa Moto, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5