Yezdi bikers cheer as Limca confirms record for largest Jawa congregation

Bikers of the Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club (BJYMC) and Jawa Nanna Jeeva had reason to celebrate on Saturday as they entered the Limca Book of Records for the ‘Largest Gathering of out-of-production Jawa Yezdi bikes in India’.

The two clubs, passionate about the superbike of the 60s and 70s, decided to mark the 13th International Jawa Yezdi Day on July 12, 2015, by setting a record.

The feat was achieved when 537 bikes and owners gathered at the National High School grounds, Basavanagudi, and completed a 3.22-km rally. After nearly two years, they finally got confirmation from Limca and unveiled the certificate on Saturday at the Press Club.

Though Ideal Jawa, the company which manufactured the bikes in Mysuru closed down in 1996, those who love the machines still stand by their tagline ‘Forever Bike, Forever Value’. Praveen P N, a realtor and member of BJYMC, owns a Yezdi Roadking. “I started riding at the age of 12 on a Jawa. Six years ago, I picked up the Roadking from scrap, hunted down its parts and restored it over several months.” There are many others like him in the club who have found fulfilment in solving the jigsaw puzzle of restoring the Jawa or Yezdi.

Sharath S Namburi of Jawa Nanna Jeeva said that they wanted to set a Limca record after a Bullet Club did the same. “In the 70s and 80s, these bikes used to feature in movies, chasing down the bad guys. Jawa is almost entirely made of metal, unlike sports bikes these days, so they are amazing to ride on long journeys,” he said.

Chakravarty R (84), the chief guest at the event, called Jawa and Yezdi the people’s bike because they were reliable and easy to maintain.