Jawa is one of the oldest names in motorcycling and there's probably many a reader who recalls the glory years of speedway in the north west, when Jawa 500s used to powerslide their way around Belle Vue, or Ellesmere Port speedway tracks. Now you also probably think that the Jawa-CZ factory closed down when communism collapsed across the Eastern Bloc.
But Jawa was revived in 1997 and is once again manufacturing motorbikes in the Czech Republic. This 650 Style model is their latest all rounder model for 2006, with the 650 Classic cruiser also on offer.
Featuring a Rotax 650cc four stroke single cylinder engine - the same unit which powered the BMW Funduro, MuZ Skorpion, Aprilia Pegaso etc - the Jawa 650 Style is aimed at the commuter, who is on a tight budget and values an upright riding position, comfort, fuel economy and good pillion.
The Jawa's frame looks sturdy, with a tubular steel construction. Suspension is by the Italian Paioli brand and there's a single 320mm front disc and 220mm rear disc, which should be more than capable of stopping the 180kg 650 Style.
Modern touches like Denso electrics, a 40mm Bing carb providing the fuelling for the Rotax unit and a catalyser inside the large twin exhaust silencers, should help keep the bike reliable as well as meeting EU emissions regs. A 14 litre gas tank should give a 120-130 mile range before hitting reserve.
The Jawa 650 isn't a sportbike, or a fashionable looking machine, and at £4,500 on the road, it has serious competition from basic commuter bikes like the SV650, Yamaha FZ6 Fazer and Kawasaki ER6 - to name just three bikes which retail for around £4,000. But you will always own something different - a real talking point.
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