Jawa 42 vs Honda Rebel 300
Prices ex-showroom Delhi, checked 2026-09. On-road and running costs estimated for Delhi.
Jawa 42 and Honda Rebel 300 are both cruisers and turn up together on most shortlists. The 42 undercuts the Rebel 300 by ₹35,272, a gap big enough to notice on the EMI but not to decide the argument on its own.
The 42 takes 4 of the 7 categories we score, so this is close and comes down to what you weight. Our overall ratings are 6.5/10 for the 42 and 7/10 for the Rebel 300.
Category by category
Price
42
The 42 starts ₹35,272 lower (₹1,86,728 against ₹2,22,000), about ₹1,120 a month less on a standard loan.
Running cost
42
42 claims 32 kmpl against 26 kmpl. That is roughly ₹6,628 a year in fuel at 30 km a day.
Performance
Rebel 300
Rebel 300 has the better power-to-weight ratio: 174 against 146 bhp per tonne. It will feel quicker with a pillion and on overtakes.
Safety kit
42
42 adds tubeless tyres that the Rebel 300 does not have on any variant.
Features
Rebel 300
Rebel 300 gets led headlamp, led daytime running lamp, led tail lamp and colour tft console and 2 more items.
City manners
Rebel 300
Rebel 300 is 12 kg lighter and lower in the seat (690 mm), which you feel in traffic and when parking.
Warranty
42
42 comes with 4 years of standard warranty against 2 on the Rebel 300.
Which one should you buy?
Buy the 42 if
- you want the lower purchase price and EMI
- mileage matters more to you than outright performance
- a longer standard warranty gives you peace of mind
- your priority is relaxed highway cruising
Buy the Rebel 300 if
- you ride two-up or on highways and want the stronger engine
- you are a new rider or shorter and want the lighter bike
- you live where Honda's bigger service network matters
- your priority is cruiser first-timers
What each really costs
Base variants, Delhi, 30 km a day. Servicing and insurance are class-typical estimates.
| Cost | 42 | Rebel 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-showroom | ₹1,86,728 | ₹2,22,000 |
| On-road, Delhi | ₹2,14,761 | ₹2,53,837 |
| Fuel, 5 years | ₹1,40,845 | ₹1,73,985 |
| Servicing, 5 years | ₹35,000 | ₹35,000 |
| Insurance renewals | ₹10,308 | ₹12,184 |
| Five-year total | ₹4,00,914 | ₹4,75,006 |
Full specification comparison
Better figure in each row is shown in green.
| Spec | Jawa42 | HondaRebel 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Starting ex-showroom | ₹1,86,728 | ₹2,22,000 |
| Rough EMI / month | ₹5,920 | ₹7,040 |
| Engine | ||
| Engine | 294.7 cc | 286 cc |
| Engine type | 1 Cylinder, Liquid Cooled, 4 Valves | 1 Cylinder, Liquid Cooled, 4 Valves |
| Power | 26.9 bhp | 30 bhp |
| Torque | 26.8 Nm | 27.5 Nm |
| Claimed mileage | 32 kmpl | 26 kmpl |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled | Liquid-cooled |
| Transmission | 6 Speed | 6 Speed |
| Electric | ||
| Top speed | 125 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Kerb weight | 184 kg | 172 kg |
| Fuel tank | 13.2 L | 11 L |
| Seat height | 788 mm | 690 mm |
| Ground clearance | 165 mm | — |
| Wheelbase | 1369 mm | 1490 mm |
| Length | 2071 mm | 2205 mm |
| Width | 833 mm | 820 mm |
| Height | 1065 mm | 1090 mm |
| Brakes & suspension | ||
| Front brake | Disc, 280 mm, 2 piston caliper | Disc, 296 mm |
| Rear brake | Disc, 240 mm, 1 piston caliper | Disc, 240 mm |
| ABS / CBS | Dual Channel ABS | Dual Channel ABS |
| Front suspension | Telescopic Fork | Telescopic Fork |
| Rear suspension | Twin Shock Absorber | Twin Shock Absorbers |
| Tyres | ||
| Front tyre | 90/90-18 | 130/90-16 |
| Rear tyre | 120/80-17 | 150/80-16 |
42 vs Rebel 300: questions people ask
- Which is cheaper, the 42 or the Rebel 300?
- The 42 is cheaper by ₹35,272 at the base variant (₹1,86,728 against ₹2,22,000 ex-showroom Delhi).
- Which gives better mileage, the 42 or the Rebel 300?
- The 42 claims 32 kmpl against 26 kmpl. Real-world figures for both will be lower.
- What is the on-road price difference between the 42 and Rebel 300 in Delhi?
- About ₹39,076: roughly ₹2,14,761 for the 42 and ₹2,53,837 for the Rebel 300, base variants, including road tax, registration and insurance.
- Which costs less to own over five years?
- Our estimate for five years at 30 km a day in Delhi is ₹4,00,914 for the 42 and ₹4,75,006 for the Rebel 300, including purchase, fuel, servicing and insurance renewals. The 42 comes out ₹74,092 ahead.
