what happened to the main dream of all Soviet

Alas, today it has become almost impossible to meet Java on our Russian roads.

What has become of the famous brand of Czech bikes these days?

But first, about the company itself that produced Yawa – a little history, in short.

Java, Java, I took for free! (FROM)

So, a company was created in the Czechoslovak town of Tinec nad Sazavou between the two world wars.

At the same time, the name Java has nothing to do with the exotic eastern island – it is an abbreviation for the founder of the company, František Janeček, and the name of the Wanderer company, from which he bought equipment for the production of iron horses. So it came out Ya-va.

In the 1920s, Czechoslovak craftsmen manufactured and presented their debut model, the Jawa 500 OHV Rumpál, at the Prague Motor Show.

By the way, during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, Jawa fell into the hands of the Nazis. However, the Fritz did not actively use these motorcycles in the Wehrmacht – there were enough of their BMWs. Jawa served the Germans with aircraft engines and generators.

Java in our country

The first Javas came to the USSR after the Great Patriotic War – in the 1950s. Immediately after the nationalization of the factory in socialist Czechoslovakia. In 1947, a long-term contract for the supply of motorcycles was signed between the USSR and Czechoslovakia, which was valid until 1993.

The first to come to us was the famous Java 353, produced from 1954 to 1962. In fact, the first Czechoslovak motorcycle that was delivered to our country through the CMEA. The high-speed and perfectly maintainable model quickly attracted domestic motorcyclists. Became, as they say, popular.

But still, another Jawa has become the most iconic in the Soviet Union – Java 638/350. A pure symbol of the frenzied era of the 80s, capable of accelerating to 130 km / h and beyond. Ideally suited to both the needs of the villagers and city tourists. Adore was all kinds of bikers of the country of the Soviets.

In the 1980s, Jawa turned out to be so popular with us that, according to statistics, every third motorcyclist in the USSR drove it.

However, Jawa, unlike other Eastern European brands, was known as a leader not only in the market of socialist countries – its products came to 123 countries of the world, including some Western capitalist ones. Even bikers in California and New Zealand proudly crossed the roads on Javas.

In total, over the years of the company’s history, about 290 million Jawa motorcycles of various brands have been produced – a fantastic figure!

What happened to Java now

Like many other brands of the socialist countries, Jawa could not withstand the relentless race with Western competitors. Especially the Japanese ones. And gradually began to die. Although it was already in the new Czech Republic for an extremely long time until the very 2010s.

In 2017, Java, overgrown with a bunch of financial problems, was bought with giblets by more successful Indian businessmen from the famous Mahindra brand. And from now on, new Jawa motorcycles are already being produced in the country of tea and elephants. Fortunately, the market for motorcycles here on the Hindustan Peninsula is practically bottomless.

For example, such a chic Jawa 42 is produced in India, with an engine of 292 cubes, 27 horses, speeds up to 125 kilometers per hour.

The plans of the Indian owners of Jawa to create a real electric bike with a powerful battery for 200 kilometers. It is possible that soon brand new Jawa will appear on the roads of our country.