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1934 - Start of production of JAWA 350 SV motorcycle |
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Four stroke air cooled SV single cylinder * Displacement 346 cc (bore and stroke 70x90 mm) * Engine power 8.8 kW * Compression ratio 5 to 1 * Oil pump lubrication with oil amount regulation * Separate four-speed gearbox with hand control * Closed duplex frame made with stamped steel sections * Rigid rear wheel suspension * Parallelogram front fork with coil spring suspension * Weight 125 kg * Maximum speed 100 km/hour * Average fuel consumption 3 to 3.5 litres per 100 km The management was under the impression that the small two stroke one-seventy-five had been a too big step from the half-litre and began to contemplate with what to bridge the gap, preferably with a 350 cc class motor cycle. It had been under consideration as long ago as in 1931, i.e. before the introduction of the “Villers.” The three-fifty was to replace the half-litre and to accommodate exacting customers.  The prototype of the machine presented at the 1934 Prague show had a triangular duplex pressed frame and pressed swinging front fork with central coil spring suspension and a big saddle type tank. This time the motor cycle was of JAWA design, noted for a number of elements. The SV was provided with dynastart, the rear wheel next to which the gearbox was situated was driven by shaft like that of the 500 OHV JAWA. Its tests were perfectly satisfactory, but with a view to its design in general production costs would have been too high - and with an expensive motor cycle they had at Janečeks, as the factory used to be called, already a bad experience. That was the reason why also the second attempt at their own motor cycle design ended in failure, though this time for different reasons - from the technical aspect there was nothing wrong with the machine. The problem was that the three-fifty would have cost as much as the half-litre.  The double totally enclosed valve springs - most bikes of that time had open valve springs Its weight was 125 kg , maximum speed 100 km p.h. running consumption 3.5 litres per 100 km. The three-fifty was a reliable motor cycle with very good handling. When starting from standstill the crankshaft and clutch shock-absorbers could be noticed. The cheaper type was sold for 6,950 crowns. The first year 1000 units were manufactured, in 1935 also 1,000, in 1936 when the production of the side-valve three-fifty was discontinued 504 more machines left the factory. In the course of the three years hardly anything was changed - at first sight noted was just another shape of the exhaust system - the more recent machines have been given fishtail silencers. These motor cycles competed in several important meetings for which they were partly adjusted. The compression ratio was increased, the ports were polished and the timing adjusted. František Juhan took part with this machine in several track races, Vitvar and Dusil competed with the three-fifties in the 1934 International Six Days Trial (ISDT) in Germany winning gold medals.  The four stroke air-cooled SV single cylinder JAWA (displayed at the Motorcycle Museum at Lesna) Recommend this article... |
