They may be from different regions and professions, but their love for motorbikes has brought them together.
Proud owners of Jawa and Yezdi bikes, manufactured till 1996 by Ideal Jawa Company in Mysuru, will assemble on July 12 at the National College Grounds as part of the 13th International Jawa Yezdi Day celebrations.
Over 600 bikes, including some 1947 make, are expected to participate. Riders from Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, and Mangaluru will be riding together to be part of the longest congregation of Jawa and Yezdi bikes in India.
The Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club, which has been striving to revive these bikes and bring them back on road, is organising the event jointly with ‘Jawa Nanna Jeeva’, a group of Jawa riders.
The event is also said to be a platform for bike enthusiasts to interact with some of the oldest riders and employees of the Ideal Jawa Factory.
The club claims that there are over 700 Jawa and Yezdi motorcycles in Bengaluru, which have been completely restored by passionate mechanics. These include Jawa Peraks, CZetas and 350 Jawa twins.
“The event is a get-together of like-minded people to commemorate old bikes, which are now out of production. We ensure that these bikes are still living on road though the factory closed 20 years ago,” says Kiran G., a Safety Engineer.
Association president Lokesh J.M. said, “One of the important things of Jawa is that it has been passed on over generations. There are people who are riding bikes used by their grandfather and father.” Jose Martin Franklin (33), an employee of a software company, has done high altitude bike expedition in Ladakh and Kullu-Manali region. “While I was down during the expedition due to change in weather, my bike was trouble-free throughout,” he said.
