Jawa 42

There is only one 42 to buy, priced at ₹1,86,728 ex-showroom in Delhi. The only decisions left are colour and whether to finance it.

That makes it priced 5th lowest among the 53 cruisers we have reviewed. Its closest price rivals are the 350 (₹4,197 less) and the CB350 (₹10,306 more).

On the road in Delhi the base 42 comes to ₹2.15 Lakh: ₹1,84,950 ex-showroom, ₹15,926 in Delhi road tax and registration (8.6%), ₹13,885 for first-year insurance. Dealers add handling and accessory packs on top; both are negotiable.

42's claimed mileage is 32 kmpl, and unusually, owners and our own riding land right on it: expect 30–33 kmpl in everyday use. Few bikes get this close to their brochure figure.

Among the 40 cruisers we have reviewed it ranks 8th for mileage, 7 kmpl above the group average of 25 kmpl.

Power comes from a 295cc single producing 26.94 bhp and 26.84 Nm, paired with a 6 Speed. At 184 kg the power-to-weight figure is 146 bhp per tonne, which ranks 40 of 51 in its class here.

The torque and power figures are well balanced, so it neither needs to be revved hard nor feels lazy when you do.

Chassis hardware includes dual-channel ABS and a slipper clutch, with a disc, 280 mm, 2 piston caliper up front and disc, 240 mm, 1 piston caliper at the rear.

At 788 mm the seat is average for the class; most riders from 5'5" up will be comfortable at stops.

On safety kit the 42 has dual-channel abs, front disc brake, rear disc brake, tubeless tyres, side-stand engine cut-off and hazard lamps. Dual-channel ABS is the one item on this list worth paying for if it is variant-dependent.

Against 42 FJ, Rebel 300 or 350, it gets tubeless tyres that most rivals skip.

What it lacks: led headlamp, led daytime running lamp and led tail lamp, which rivals at this price offer. None of these are deal-breakers, but they show where the money went.

It is offered in 2 colours: All Star Black Matte and Ivory. Colour availability varies by variant and dealer stock.

Standard warranty is 4 years or 50,000 km. After the free services, the recommended interval is every 6,000 km.

Service reach is the weak point: Jawa has about 400 dealer and workshop touchpoints across the country. Confirm there is one within reach before you sign.

The 42 launched in 2024, so long-term reliability and resale data are still thin. That is not a mark against it, just a reason to prefer the standard warranty and keep service records.