Amid all the stares and questions about if it has been launched yet, there were a few who asked- “Iska comfort kaisa hai?”. Well, with a seat height of a mere 750mm, the Perak is great for short riders. Although it would be a cramped experience for taller riders. Adding to that, the footpegs are slightly rear set and placed higher which feels a bit unnatural. And given the shape of the fuel tank which tapers towards the seat, there isn’t much space to grip your thighs either. Although regardless of your height, the bulging side-panels interfere even if you were to adjust the placement of your feet slightly.
On the flip-side the handlebar is easy to reach and the switchgear can be operated easily. Although, these round bar end mirrors are too small to provide a wide rear view and intrude while holding on to the grips. As for the seat, it comes with soft cushioning that is perfect for short rides but tends to get cumbersome after a few hours on the saddle. With a kerb weight of just 175kg, the Perak is a considerably light motorcycle. Although moving it around can be quite a task as it misses out on a grabrail and even if you try pushing it, you’d have the bar ends intruding. But since it is so light, what you can do is sit on the motorcycle and move it seamlessly.
That said, the Jawa Perak’s 334cc, single-cylinder engine manages to keep one entertained on the go. It is larger than the 293cc motor on the other models and with 30bhp and 32.7Nm on tap, it is 4bhp and 4.2Nm more than its siblings. And with a bump in power figures, there is an evident increase in grunt in the low and mid-range but we did find a flat spot after 120kmph when the motorcycle took its own sweet time to get to a top-speed of 140kmph. While there is a slight buzz of vibrations on the handlebar, especially at the top-end, it is not at all hand-numbing.
The Perak also has enough oomph to make quick overtakes and is also quite agile when moving through traffic. And even with a longer wheelbase and fatter tyres than its siblings, the Perak will not disappoint if you chance on some twisties. Although, thanks to the 20mm lower ground clearance you would end up scraping those exhaust pipes and would also have to be mindful while going over speedbreakers.
Now, the front end which comprises of telescopic forks is the same as the other models. And even though the suspension travel has decreased comparatively, it still behaves well over minor undulations. However, the monoshock which is hidden under the seat, has a different story to tell. With just 86mm of travel, the rear suspension sends jolts to the lower back at speeds anything over 60kmph over minor bumps and can get quite unbearable on larger potholes.
Nevertheless, the braking hardware on the Perak is picked up from the same parts bin as the other Jawas. The setup which consists of a 280mm disc at the front and a 240mm disc at the rear offers good feel at the lever but could do with more biting power. You get ABS at both ends which kicks in too soon and seems intrusive at times.