Jawa 42 Bobber mileage and running cost

42 Bobber's claimed mileage is 30 kmpl, and unusually, owners and our own riding land right on it: expect 28–31 kmpl in everyday use. Few bikes get this close to their brochure figure.

Among the 51 cruisers we have reviewed it ranks 17th for mileage, 5 kmpl above the group average of 25 kmpl.

At Delhi's petrol price of ₹94.80 a litre and a real-world 29.5 kmpl, the 42 Bobber costs about ₹3.21 per km in fuel. Ride 30 km a day and that is roughly ₹2,507 a month, or ₹30,079 a year, before servicing.

The 12.5-litre tank gives a realistic range of about 369 km, so a 30 km commute means a fill-up every 2 weeks.

Spread over five years and 46,800 km, the 42 Bobber works out to about ₹9.3 per km all-in, of which 34% is fuel and 55% is the purchase price itself. Resale value is not counted; expect roughly 50–60% of ex-showroom after five years for a well-kept example.

The 42 Bobber is happiest at a lazy cruise. Hold the top gear at 70–80 km/h on the highway and the figure holds up; the number falls apart in a stop-start city commute where the 185 kg has to be accelerated from rest every few hundred metres.

Filling only to the first click and keeping the 12.5-litre tank above a quarter helps in two ways: fuel that sloshes out of a brimmed tank is wasted, and a near-empty tank on a hot day loses more to vapour. Realistic range is about 369 km, so on a 30 km commute you will fill up roughly every 2 weeks.

At 185 kg the 42 Bobber feels a pillion more than a lighter bike does. Two-up in the city, budget for 4–6 kmpl less than the solo figure.