On 'ideal' Sunday, Jawa and Yezdi bikes rule heritage city roads

The proud owners of Yezdi and Jawa motorcycles in the heritage city rode back to nostalgic past on Sunday.

As many as 250 motorcycles hit the streets of Mysuru to celebrate the 14th International Jawa Day. Jawa Friend’s Club, Mysuru, had organised a rally and an expo of the magnificent machines of yesteryears.

A variety of models, ranging from 60 CC to 350 CC — Jawa Peraks, Jawa Cezetas and Jawa 350 — vroomed the streets of the city. Czechoslovakia ‘CZ 250 531 Model Motocross’, which was imported and owned by Rajesh Jain and a newly modified 60cc jawa small bike by Shafiullah Khan hogged the limelight.

JaWa named after Wadiyar

Earlier, nearly 100 motorcycles were displayed for the people. Participants from Bengaluru, Madikeri, Nanjangud, Hunsur and other places enjoyed the day, watching the rare bikes. Not many know that Jawa was named after Jayachamaraja Wadiyar (JaWa) the last maharaja of Mysuru state.

The rally was flagged off from the residence of the late F K Irani, who owned the motorcycle factory in Mysuru. The rally passed through Santhaveri Gopalagowda Circle, Nazarbad Main Road, Bengaluru-Nilgiri Road, Shivarathri Rajendra Circle, Chamaraja Double Road, Ramaswamy Circle, Fire Brigade, Kantaraj Urs Road, Vijaya Bank Circle, Kuvempu Nagar, Manasagangothri Campus, Hunsur Road junction, KRS Road, Paramahamsa Road and culminated at Jawa Factory. Later, the rally reached Srirangapatna and dispersed.

Sameer, one of the organisers, said, “The annual celebration of Jawa and Yezdi bikes is held across the world on the second Sunday of July. Almost all Yezdi bikers, along with their bikes, gather to celebrate the day. Jawa and Yezdi bikes were manufactured and sold in India between 1960 and 1996.”

Owners of the good old bikes feel that the day is an opportunity for them to recount the history of the ‘iconic’ bikes.

These bikes were popular for their reliability and low-maintenance costs and were popular among the youth. It is one day during the year, when all models of Jawa and Yezdi bikes and their riders come together to celebrate, they said.