1955 - Start of production of JAWA 50 Pionýr motorcycle PDF Print E-mail

JAWA 50 Pionyr motorcycle - 1955

A faithful help - the JAWA Pioneer called "tree stump" because of its saddle shape

Two stroke horizontal single cylinder * Displacement 49.8 cc (bore - stroke 38x44 mm) * Engine power 1.6 kW ( 2.2 HP) at 5500 r.p.m. * Three speed gearbox * Frame of tubular profile. * Telescopic front fork suspension * Rigid rear wheel suspension * Maximum speed 50 km/hour * Fuel tank 3.5 litres * Tyres 16” * Average fuel consumption 2 litre per 100 km

Shortly after the introduction of the biggest JAWA, the smallest - the Jawa 50 - was presented. It was the work of a team consisting of the designers M. Kubiček, J. Mráz, K. Mareš and J. Štastny, headed by Josef Jozif. The idea of a thorough updating of the Robot, on which young Jan Křvka was working, was not realized.

Jirí Wohlmuth's JAWA 50 PIONÝR
Jiri Wohlmuth has authored a coffee table book ~ JAWA 50 PIONYR
The little fifty was soon to be nicknamed "Parez" - Czech for "stump," for the shape of its saddle. It has to be acknowledged that the smallest postwar JAWA proved successful. It was powered by a two stroke horizontal single cylinder, displacement 49.8 cc (38x44), 1.6 kW ( 2.2 HP) output at 5500 r.p.m. With the three-speed gearbox the little machine's maximum speed was 50 km/hour. The pioneer outpaced, owing to its concept and design, the world wide trend in this motor cycle category and, due to its qualities, stayed in production (though following various innovations – the Pionýr 550, 555, JAWA 20 and 21 as well as the Mustang) until the early seventies. First the cowling of the single-seater was changed, then  came the turn of an updated model with dual seat, after that a two-seater sports version, in the very end manufactured  was the redesigned JAWA 23 Mustang model. The base of all these models remained in principle the same horizontal two stroke single cylinder.

The little JAWA was developed in Prague, but its production was transferred in 1955 to Považskè strojárne at  Považská Bystrica. It was exported around the world in excess of 100,000 pieces. The Pionier 555 was even manufactured under licence in India and Egypt.

The Jawa New Pionyr - 2006

It was the dream of every teenager back in the communist 1950s: the Jawa 550 Pioneer motorbike. Dubbed Parez, the Jawa Pioneer was a small one-seat motorcycle - people often advertise to buy one of these veterans. But now the famous motorbike is back. A replica of the Pioneer is being sold - in a limited series - on the Czech market. "It is not a renaissance and we don't expect to make a huge profit - its just a bit of nostalgia for older clients" the head of Motoscoot, Milan Veces told journalists. Within 24 hours 140 of them were sold or reserved. Although the New Pioneer bears a striking resemblance to the original - it moves with the times: powered by a four-stroke Honda engine, four gears and an electric starter. [Radio Praha, Sep 2006.]

Jawa New Pionyr - Retro-style design with heritage for Jawa 555 Pionyr

Jawa New Pionyr - Retro-style design with heritage for Jawa 555 Pionyr, BUT with a Honda four-stroke engine AND manufactured in China! This one is equipped with special accessories like GPS navigation, MP3 player, rear top case, windshield etc. Shape of things to come?

Four stroke Honda engine * Displacement 49 cc * Engine power 2.6 kW at 8600 rpm * Four speed manual transmission * Ignition C.D.I. contactless * Kick / Electric starter * Weight 76 kg * Average fuel consumption 1.4 litre per 100 km BA-95N * Tank volume 2.8 litre * Drum brakes * Maximum speed 62 km/hour * Tyres 17”

The retro and the original Pionyr 555 side by side!

National Technical Museum, Praha - 2006: "Visitors could look at an exhibit created by an innovated motorcycle Pioneer which Jawa started to make fifty years ago." The retro and the original Pionyr 555 side by side!

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