Jawa 350

The Jawa 350 is the brand’s classic roadster, combining traditional styling with a larger 334cc liquid-cooled engine and a six-speed gearbox. Its chrome-heavy design, round headlamp, spoke wheels and twin exhausts keep the retro theme intact, while the updated chassis, wider tires and increased ground clearance make it more substantial than the earlier Jawa.

The Jawa 350 uses a 334cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine producing 22.57hp and 28.1Nm, paired with a six-speed gearbox and an assist-and-slip clutch. In our road test, we found the engine tractable and the bike composed on the road. The rear suspension is on the firmer side, however, and engine refinement is not as strong as some rivals.

Why buy the Jawa 350?

• For classic styling: The Jawa 350 retains the chrome tank, round headlamp, spoke wheels and twin exhausts that define its retro appearance.
• For relaxed everyday riding: We found its engine tractable and its road manners composed in both traffic and on the highway.
• For highway use: The six-speed gearbox and upright riding position make it usable for longer rides, although the firmer rear suspension is worth considering if your routes have poor surfaces.
• For riders wanting more ground clearance: The current Jawa 350 has 178mm of clearance, up from 165mm on the earlier version.
• For buyers wanting a simple range: There is currently only one Standard variant, so there is no need to choose between different engine or equipment levels.

Factors to Consider Before Buying Jawa 350 

• Rear suspension is firm: We found its rear suspension on the stiffer side, particularly something to consider if you regularly ride on broken roads.
• Engine refinement: As per our review, its engine refinement is one of the bike's weaker areas.
• Weight: At 184kg, it is not a lightweight motorcycle, even though the road test found it nimble once moving.
• Tubed tires: The spoke-wheel setup uses tubed tires, so a puncture cannot simply be dealt with using a tubeless tire plug.
• Instrument cluster: The semi-digital cluster keeps the retro theme, but Autocar noted that the lower numbers on the horizontally positioned speedometer can be difficult to read.