For some bizarre reason that defies logic I have always considered a simple, easy to maintain, 500cc single to be the ideal every-day hack. After all, with only one of everything there ain't much to go wrong and if it does putting it right should be fairly cheap. Unfortunately, this usually involves buying some kind of hideously brutal Brit from the early sixties that costs a bloody fortune, needs an extensive and expensive rebuild and at least a grand's worth of modifications just to get to the corner shop and back.
Of course, there's always the Japs but they look bloody awful with the exception of Yamaha's SR500 but that's so hideously unreliable that you might as well go for a Brit and have the real thing. I must confess, that even though they look ridiculous, I was briefly tempted by Honda's XBR500 but one ride on that top heavy beast was enough to cure me!
Eventually, by pure accident, I came across the ideal machine. Neither Brit nor Jap, a Jawa 500R with only six grand on the clock for a mere 250 notes. It had been in a head-on collision with a Soviet tank or something similar (Volvo) but the frame and clocks wouldn't cost too much and a new rim could be laced around the existing wheel hub.
After all, it's the engine that these bikes are all about. A 494cc OHC four valve built in unit with a five speed box. A gear driven balance shaft takes care of the vibes and all the bearings are caged rollers, so engine life is good. This Rotax engine is made in Austria, of all places, and fitted into the Jawa 350 chassis in the UK. Jawas may on the whole have a bad reputation but this engine is used by the British forces and a host of motocross riders. Capable of around 50hp, in 32hp Jawa spec it should be a reliable workhorse for at least 50 grand.
Finding a good used front end proved impossible and embarrassing as nobody seemed to believe that anyone could possibly want secondhand parts for those old things. Most breakers said they wouldn't even bother to keep the parts. I put plan B into action and bought a complete Jawa 350 for a mere £75. It was just a matter of bolting on the decent bits with only the usual skinned knuckles.
Starting was an effortless two kick affair as the kickstarter lifts an exhaust valve. Just as well, really, as there isn't an electric start and the compression ratio's a hefty 9:2. My first ride lasted a mere two minutes.....the bloody frame was bent. £45 sorted that out and for a total outlay of £375 I had a low mileage, two year old bike.
First impressions were a bit of a disappointment. My last big single had been a Brit with plenty of low down grunt and the 500R felt gutless in comparison. It does have some bottom end plonk and will pull well from 2500rpm in all but top gear, but it's just not the same as something like BSA's B44 where the power comes in at zero revs accompanied by a very meaty exhaust roar. The Jawa is quiet and civilised and the balance shaft is so effective that it gives a very remote ride, feeling more like something from Japan than a traditional old time thumper from this fair isle.
My initial disappointment began to wane as I made better use of the gearbox and the revs. Revving out to eight grand in the first three gears provides plenty of smiles per mile. It's no LC beater but does perform well in town and out in the sticks. Motorways can be a bit of a chore as top gear's a tad too high, so a couple of down changes are needed for really swift overtaking. It will cruise along all day at 75-80mph, which ain't bad for a bike with a 95mph top speed.
Handling is fine at the expense of comfort, both front and rear suspension very firm in an almost Italian way, whilst the frame could handle twice the power. The front brake may only be an archaic TLS drum (although there is a disc option available) but once fitted with Ferodo linings it's positive with plenty of feel. The rear drum was perfectly adequate if a little wooden in action.
Maintenance is straightforward with electronic ignition and locknut valve adjustment (although I didn't see the point in having four valves). The real pain is changing the engine oil. Just like old Brits it's kept in a separate tank (it appears to be the old two stroke oil tank from the days when Jawas had Posilube systems) but unfortunately to drain the oil it's necessary to remove the oil pipes which lets the oil run over the bike until you get a bowl under it, which you then have to hold until all the oil runs out. The cam is belt driven, the belt easily accessible from under its cover on the left-hand side of the cylinder.
The worst thing about the bike is the styling. Absolutely piss poor. It doesn't even look functional and tough. The knee pads look like the insides of a cheap pram and the blue paint scheme would look better on something made by Triang. A cockpit fairing was fitted but it looks awful and is totally useless so I chucked it away. Likewise the indicators.
Riding though the winter usually shows up any serious faults on most bikes and I quickly found the original Barum tyres to be sadly lacking in the grip department. £48 later and a set of Avons sorted that out.
Basically, it fulfilled its role as an every day hack with little hassle. When I sold it with 18 grand on the clock it didn't burn or leak oil so the engine seems tough enough. The overall finish seems to last well with the exception of the exhaust pipes which were beginning to rust. The lights were adequate up to about 65mph but any more was tempting fate. I suppose a Cibie conversion would brighten things up a bit.
The worst thing about the 500R is the fact that it bears the legend Jawa. This seems to be the cause of great mirth amongst other bikers, except those owning Jawas who have nothing better to do than stand around discussing the effects of Perestroika on the performance of their smoking 350s. Personally, I preferred having the piss taken out of me than listening to fanatical Jawa fans. Boring old gits!
I did once meet another Rotax powered bike and owner, but his was a British built Harris Matchless affair which was sadly rusting away after only six months use. The owner was in his immaculate Barbour gear with pudding basin helmet and Biggles goggles. I tried to escape but he collared me before I'd got the centrestand down. He went on for ages about his hand built classic. After I told him how much the Jawa had cost me he looked a bit sick but went on to tell me how his engine was in a higher state of tune and capable of pushing the Matchless to 115mph. What a shithead, the engines are all but identical.
Two days later I was lucky enough to see him coming towards me. A quick U-turn and nine grand on the tacho made him look foolish. When he eventually caught me up after I stopped for a fag, I let him take the lead but he obviously didn't want to play so I cut him up viciously at the next roundabout and gave him the V sign. Next time I saw him he was on a Tiger Cub; poor sod!
The only bits to wear out during the 12000 miles I owned the bike were the rear tyre after ten grand and the chain after 9000 miles. Petrol consumption was around 60mpg, which is ridiculous as 1930's Nortons had better performance and did 80 to a gallon.
On long distances (as in to the South of France) it was just about adequate but I did fit a Tripoint screen to keep the wind blast off as the seating position's very much the old style sit up and beg. Reliability was 100% and even the chain stayed in adjustment until I got home.
Eventually, I just got bored with the bike, It was just too sensible and 15mph too slow, so I sold it at a fair profit. These days, a few are coming on to the market at about the £700 mark which for what they are is quite cheap, although for the same money you can get an awful lot of competent Jap fours that'll go a lot faster. The Jawa is probably a good long term hack for the older rider who wants to keep things simple.
Andy Everett