400 rare bikes roar on Jawa Yezdi Day in Bengaluru

The distinct rumble of the Yezdi Roadking or Jawa 350 motorcycles has become rare these days. However, it was different on Saturday morning. The roar of nearly 400 such mean machines left people awestruck at the 14th International Jawa Yezdi Day at Bowring Institute here.

Joe Louis, the proud owner of a 1999-model Roadking, said, “Today’s bikes just can’t beat the Jawas and the Yezdis of yesteryears.”

Accompanied by his wife Naina Louis and dressed in leather jackets and jeans, the two looked like the perfect biker couple. “This bike was one of the reasons I fell for him. We have been on many dates together on the bike,” said a nostalgic Naina.

Among the models which were the cynosure of all eyes at the event was a forest-green Jawa 353. This bike of 1971 make has various imported parts, including its front windshield. The owner of the bike, Vikram Kumar, said: “Bikes like this are used in the snowy parts of Europe and that is why they look different.”

Kumar has a collection of around 40 bikes, most of them Jawas and Yezdis. This was a passion he picked up from his father, Jai Kumar. “I bought this bike in 1972. It was fun riding those days as there were fewer vehicles on the roads,” said Jai Kumar.

A 1954 light-blue Cezeta scooter was another major attraction. “An original scooter like this will now cost around $7,000 to $8,000. Except the tyres, all other parts of the scooter were imported from the Czech Republic,” said Vikrant Hegde, the owner.

Another bike, a Jawa 1961 with fading red paint and some hue of blue, won the award in the category of the Best-preserved Bike. “I have maintained the original paint of this decades-old bike,” said Anil John Misquith.

The second weekend of July is celebrated as International Jawa Day by all Jawa and Yezdi fans and owners all over the world. “We do not get any money for doing this. It is only meant to be a platform to bring together all owners of these bikes and help preserve a legacy,” said Vikram Kumar.

The annual meet – for the 9th consecutive year – was organised by Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Sports Association and Bowring Institute. Bikers from Hoskote, Kolar, Tumakuru, Hassan, Ramanagaram and Magadi also participated in the event.