Autocar India
TB

Tanbir Baral

23w

I am a first-time geared two-wheeler rider. I am an 11th-12th student planning to buy a bike as a birthday gift, and I am deciding between the Jawa 42 FJ and the Yezdi Roadster 2025 model. Which one should I buy? I am 181 cm tall and weigh 82 kg. Also, how should I maintain the bike in terms of cleaning, when should I clean it, and how can I prevent it from rusting?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
23w

Both the Jawa 42 FJ and Yezdi Roadster are mechanically very similiar with the only difference being some visual elements and how you sit on the bike. A test ride of both over various road conditions should help you decide which one is the right fit for you. 

Coming to when to clean your bike, that's a very subjective thing based on where you live and how you store your vehicle. If you have covered parking that protects your bike from dust, then a soap wash once every 10 days to a fortnight should be more than sufficient. If you don't, then you may have to clean it more often. 

To prevent rusting, try to regularly coat exposed metal parts with some sort of grease and try to keep them under a good-quality bike cover. 

 

Jawa 42 FJ

Jawa 42 FJ

More questions on similar bikes

KJ

Kaustubh Jirapure

3d

I own a Hunter 350 Dapper White for over two years. Lately, the suspension has started to bother me, and I am considering upgrading to an adventure bike. Which model would you recommend within a budget of Rs. 7 lakh? If there is an upcoming motorcycle that is worth waiting for, I am also considering upgrading the suspension on my Hunter 350 in the meantime. I was particularly interested in the Honda NX500, but the latest version seems significantly more expensive. What would you suggest?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
2d

Since you're innately familiar with Royal Enfield ownership, upgrading to the Himalayan 450 seems like a safe bet. The Himalayan's suspension can iron out pretty much any road imperfection you encounter and its performance will be a big step up over the Hunter you own too. The only caveat with going for the Himalayan is that it is a tall and heavy bike, and these attributes will make their presence felt at slower speeds inside the city. If you want slightly higher performance levels on a lighter machine, then the KTM 390 Adventure models (whether you opt for 350cc or 399cc iterations is up to the budget you have) are worth considering. The KTM bikes have great handling, punchy top-end performance and come with features like adjustable suspension, traction control and a bidirectional quick shifter - depending on the variant. In your Rs. 7 lakh budget, you can also get the BMW F 450 GS, although depending on your city's taxation structure, you may need to stretch your budget a little if you are eyeing the top Trophy variant. The new entry-level GS is a competent machine and will be a step up in refinement from the single-cylinder machines mentioned above and it is also lighter than them. You will, however, need to be prepared for higher running and maintenance costs expected of a machine wearing the BMW badge. Take test rides of these machines to decide which one works best for you before you make your next purchase. If none of these options seem enticing, you could also retrofit the latest-gen Hunter's suspension to your older model which will bring some much needed relief in terms of ride quality. Do bear in mind that this swap will likely void your warranty and we'd recommend reaching out to your nearest dealership for more clarity on the same.

KTM 390 Adventure
Royal Enfield Himalayan
Royal Enfield Hunter 350
BMW Bikes F 450 GS

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Posted on: 30 Dec 2025