The Jawa Forty-Two is currently one of the best bikes under Rs. 2 lakh price mark, especially for those who have a soft corner for retro-themed bikes. However, there are several other options in the same price bracket but from different segments. The Yamaha R15 V3, for instance, is among the top-selling bikes under Rs. 2 lakhs and is known for its performance and styling. But which among these two is better on a drag strip? The video below by Ayush Verma answers the same.
Now the Jawa Forty-Two and the Yamaha R15 V3 are two very different bikes in terms of their design, engine response and target customers. One is a retro-themed city cum cruiser bike while the other is a hardcore performance-oriented bike. The odds are against the R15 though since the Jawa Forty-Two has nearly 8 Bhp more power than it.
Coming to the drag race conducted in the video, the race was concluded in a single round. While the race was won by the Yamaha R15 V3, the Jawa Forty-Two put up a good challenge for it and proved its mettle too. In fact, the Forty-Two left the R15 behind as soon as the race started and maintained its lead for the major part of the race. The power advantage played in favour of the Forty-Two here as it zoomed past the R15. However, once both the bikes neared the 140 km/h speed mark, the R15 V3 inched closer to the Jawa Forty-Two until it finally overtook the latter and went on to win the race.
Without a doubt, the Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0 has one of the strongest top-end performance in its price range. The Jawa Forty-Two has a good low and mid-end response but loses out on the top end. This is typical for most of the affordable retro-styled bikes since they are tuned to offer better performance and rideability under the 100 km/h mark. Also, the R15 V3 is benefitted by the VVA (Variable Valve Actuation) technology which makes it a great performer all-around the rev range. Another factor here was aerodynamics which plays a crucial role at high speeds. The R15 is more aerodynamic due to its fairings and hence goes on to win the race.
Coming to the technical specifications, the Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0 gets powered by a bigger 155 cc engine that puts out 18.7 Bhp of power at 10,000 RPM along with 15 Nm of torque at 8,500 RPM. The engine comes mated to a six-speed gearbox and gets a slipper clutch as well. It comes equipped with a dual-channel ABS and the bike has a weight of 139 kg. The Jawa 42, on the other hand, gets powered by a 293cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that generates a maximum power of 27 Bhp and peak torque of 28 Nm. It gets a 6-speed transmission. The bike weighs 170 kg which makes it much heavier than the R15 V3.
Also Read: Maruti S-Presso BLASTS past 10,000 units in a single month: Ahead of Vitara Brezza