On Sunday, enthusiastic motorcyclists got together to celebrate their passion for the classic Jawa and Yezdi motorcycles.

It also marked the 12th International Jawa Yezdi Day. A worldwide event held on the second Sunday of July each year, it celebrates the power and legacy of the motorbikes manufactured by the Ideal Jawa Company in Mysore till 1996, when the company shut down.

Exotic machines

Organised by the Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club, close to 280 motorcycles — 60cc and 125cc — as well as twin cylinder motorcycles took out a rally from Wilson Garden to Mysore Road. Around 15 members of the Jawa club of Mysore also took part.

The motorcycles are credited with making a mark in Indian automotive history as an exotic piece of machinery. They were known for their reliability and low maintenance cost.

The Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club, which has been in existence since 2007, tried to bring these classic motorcycles back on the road. It boasts of having over 600 Jawa and Yezdi motorcycles, which have been completely restored by passionate mechanics.

“They include rare imported motorcycles such as Jawa Perak, Czeta and Jawa 350,” said Brian Ammanna, the club’s co-founder.

The annual event also acts as a platform for biking enthusiasts and collectors to interact with some of the oldest Jawa riders and employees of the Ideal Jawa factory.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / K.C. Deepika / Bangalore – July 13th, 2014