Damn! I so want this and I'm penniless right now!

[Vasco DG]

http://www.bikepoint.com.au/private/SSE-AD-3359545/1983-Jawa-350-Type-638/?cr=0&psq=((((((SiloType%3D%5BBrand%20new%20bikes%20available%5D%7CSiloType%3D%5BBrand%20new%20bikes%20in%20stock%5D)%7CSiloType%3D%5BDemo%20%26%20near%20new%20bikes%5D)%7CSiloType%3D%5BDealer%20used%20bikes%5D)%7CSiloType%3D%5BPrivate%20used%20bikes%5D)%26Make%3DJawa)%26Service%3DBikesales)&pso=0&pss=Premium

Pete

[pauldaytona]

You must be getting old Pete :-)

[Vasco DG]

Paul, I has one back then and it was brilliant, for all the reasons Guzzis are brilliant! Simple, strong, well engineered and enormous fun. Only motorbike I've ever owned that went faster the more weight you put on it!

Pete

[Green1000S]

Since it works well to kill mosquitos, it must be tax deductible in the company's records!

[malik]

Speak to Garry in Bungendore, ask him where he got his, (I think it's one them). If you haven't found him pressed to the bar or at the bottleshop, I can give you his number. You may have seen it running around town. He has to pass your shop to get home.

Mal

[Triple Jim]

Nice.  Surprisingly expensive, but nice.  You don't see many of those up this way.  Even fewer than Kawasaki triples and Guzzis.

[roofus]

That bike would be perfect attached to my Velorex 560 sidecar!

 

[nighthawk]

I know the feeling. Couple of years ago I was longing for a Rotax powered MuZ w/a factory hack nearby on Craigslist. Hack's gone and I'm still broke...

[Sasquatch Jim]

 I think they sold for less than a thousand when new.  Probably around 800.
 The model I remember was called the California, obviously intended for the US market.
 http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/more-classic-motorcycles/jawa-californian-350.aspx

[ratguzzi]

I still own this. A friend keeps it up for me in Swiebodzin Poland and I use it when my work sends me there.
I bought it 4-5 years back for around $250usd. It was originally made for the Russian market so the vin plate is in Russian.
JB

[fotoguzzi]

is it a thumper with dual exhaust?

[ratguzzi]

is it a thumper with dual exhaust?

No, two individual cylinders. Like a poor man's RD350. No oil injection on mine anyway.
They had one cylinder 175cc bikes as well.
JB

[bad Chad]

We had a Cal 350 when I was a kid.  My older brother got it in a trade, I think it was a 68.  I thought it was totally cool, but my older brothers and cousins thought it was dorky, and I guess for the mid 70s it was.   I'd love to have it now.

[fotoguzzi]

No, two individual cylinders. Like a poor man's RD350. No oil injection on mine anyway.
They had one cylinder 175cc bikes as well.
JB

from Pete's original ad,

Engine Config    Parallel
Engine Capacity    344 cc
Engine Type    Piston
Engine Stroke    2
Bore    58 mm
Stroke    65 mm
Cam Type    Reed Valve
Cylinders    1

[Vasco DG]

from Pete's original ad,

Engine Config    Parallel
Engine Capacity    344 cc
Engine Type    Piston
Engine Stroke    2
Bore    58 mm
Stroke    65 mm
Cam Type    Reed Valve
Cylinders    1

Misprint. It's a twin. It also has oil injection not premix.

Pete

[ratguzzi]

Misprint. It's a twin. It also has oil injection not premix.

Pete

Cool! Because I made a point my Russian one wasn't but no clue if the one you showed was!
The Jawanians advanced a bit in the 80s!!!
JB

[Vasco DG]

Jawa were Czeckoslovakian and prior to 1968 were one of the most technologically adventurous motorbike companies in Europe. Among other things they built a 500cc V4 4-Stroke GP motor in 1966.

Alas after Brezniev sent in the tanks the factory was forced to forgo such capitalist indulgences and produce stolid and boring transport for the proletariat.

They were still cunning enough to produce stuff that was about a zillion times better than the excreble shitboxes the Soviets were making. The 350 twin, although almost certainly based on some hideous premix fossil from pre-war Germany was actually well developed and had a number of interesting features including a gear lever that doubles as the kickstart and a slick-shift clutch engagement negating the need for the handlebar lever once moving, (In fact once you got the hang of it you could pull away from a standstill easily enough.).

My outfit was identical to this but a couple of years earlier and it was an absolute joy. I wish I"d never sold it. I'd be thrilled to get another one. The 350 smoker is stupidly torquey and tows the Velorex with ease and aplomb.

Pete

[canuck750]

Jawa is back in business selling the 350 twin again in Europe, I have never seen one but they look cool. They advertise in UK bike mags.

http://www.jawa.eu/motorcycles/jawa-350/technical-data.htm?lang=en

[Arizona Wayne]

9.8:1 compression for a 2 stroke is pretty high tho I had a `74 Rickman Montessa 250 dirt bike that had  12:1.  It ran great except for the Motosplat ignition.   I started out on Yamaha 2 strokers in the `60s.   

[Yukonica]

Jawa is back in business selling the 350 twin again in Europe, I have never seen one but they look cool. They advertise in UK bike mags.

http://www.jawa.eu/motorcycles/jawa-350/technical-data.htm?lang=en

Don't like the geometry much (or at all) but the idea of a kick-start, road oriented, 350cc, 2-stroke is really appealing.
It could be re-configured on the premise of a modern V7; aesthetics, simplicity, durability, exclusivity.

[lawries]

As Pete says, JAWA have a long and once glorious history of building motorcycles which in the early days at least
were both beautifully built and styled.  I will leave it up to you and google if you are interested.

A couple of years back I got the urge for a two stroke (like many of a certain age) but have you seen the price of 70's 80's two strokes
(in the UK at least  ) so I bought a very rough JAWA Type 638 and did a total rebuild and "custom" job.  The only part that can be tricky
is putting the crank halves together as the crank is a pressed together item and too much enthusiasm will bugger your big end lateral tolerances.

Mine is mostly standard (except in appearance) other than a one off bespoke wiring job and VAPE ignition.
So far it has proven to be totally reliable if not exactly fast.  I think it might be a little generous to describe it as a poor mans RD350.
The handling is actually surprisingly good making it a useful back lane tool, every day run around, makes me grin and has drawn more
comment and conversation than any other bike I have ever owned! That I was not expecting   

I would recommend everyone should have one!  (unless you live in California)

[dan_s]

It's worth it, even only for the smiles
https://youtu.be/ZZtu9f242gg

[Arizona Wayne]

It's worth it, even only for the smiles
https://youtu.be/ZZtu9f242gg

If all you want is smiles & questions get a Piaggio MP3 to ride around on. 

[Mike Harper]

Jawa's are really tough bikes and really torquey.  Not really fast but they were a utility bike and not very sporty.

We have some around here that are pretty decent.  Two 350 California models  One is new but apparently got dropped while in the crate and bent the front forks and the other was running and rideable when I put it upstairs.   There are also a couple of other earlier 250 or 350 models and a couple of CZ racers if anybody wants to be a Jawa Collector.

[Bjorn Are Stolen]

If all you want is smiles & questions get a Piaggio MP3 to ride around on. 

The genuine Wallace and Grommit-bike!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC-MR84S1H8