The Jawa 350/640 was the last development of the classic two-stroke twin. Made from 1991, it had the same mechanical layout as the 638 and 639 but smoother bodywork and a rectangular headlamp, and it stayed on sale for over thirty years.
Jawa 350/640 at a glance
| Maker | Jawa, Týnec nad Sázavou |
|---|---|
| Production | 1991–2024 |
| Predecessor | Jawa 350/639 |
| Successor | Jawa 350 OHC |
| Engine | air-cooled two-stroke twin, 344 cm³ |
| Power | 17 kW at 5,250 rpm |
| Torque | 32 Nm at 4,750 rpm |
| Gearbox | four-speed manual |
| Front brake | 305 mm disc |
| Rear brake | 160 mm drum |
| Dry weight | 149 kg |
| Top speed | 125 km/h |
There is no English article on the 640; the details come from the Czech articles on the 640 and the 634.
History of the Jawa 350/640
The 640 followed the 350/639 of 1984 and kept the front disc brake that had appeared on that model. Mechanically it was again a close relative of the 634, with the proven 344 cm³ air-cooled two-stroke twin, a double cradle steel frame and 18-inch wheels; the modernisation was mostly in the design. The almost horizontal lines of the older models were replaced by softer curves, and the bike received a new front mask with a rectangular headlamp. Metallic paint became part of the range.
The model came in several forms. The Style had the 640 bodywork and was also offered as a Military version; the Retro 634 combined the look of the 1973–1984 type 634 with the mechanics of the later types – the engine developed for the 638 and the disc brake developed for the 639. The Retro had modern instruments and indicators in clear glass, a higher compression ratio of 9.8:1 instead of 9.2:1, a seat 10 mm higher and a tank one litre larger. Its basic price in the Czech Republic was 78,900 Kč, with an electric starter and luggage as extras.
Outside the European Union
From 2007 the 640 no longer met the Euro 4 emission standard, so it could not be sold as a complete machine in the European Union and went mainly to Latin America, above all Cuba and Argentina. In the Czech Republic it was still available as a kit of parts, with the buyer using the technical certificate of a type 362, 633, 634, 638, 639 or 640. The Retro 634 was sold in this form in small numbers, about thirty a year.
The 640 was replaced by the 350 OHC, a four-stroke single on a Chinese Shineray chassis that meets modern emission rules. For many owners, though, the 640 was the end of the line: the last Jawa that still sounded and smelled like the motorcycles of the 1970s.
Design and features
- New bodywork: smoother curves and a rectangular headlamp in place of the older flat-sided design.
- Disc brake: a 305 mm front disc, inherited from the 639.
- Retro 634: the old 1970s styling with the newest two-stroke mechanics underneath.
- Kit sales: after Euro 4 the bike was sold as a set of parts for registration on an older certificate.
Jawa 350/640 versions
- Style: the standard 640 body, also offered as Military.
- Retro 634: type 634 looks with 638 engine and 639 brake.
- Retro 634 kit: sold as parts for buyers with an older Jawa certificate.
The 640 is the last chapter of the Jawa 350 story. The modern four-stroke that followed is the Jawa 660. More are in the Jawa collection.
Sources
- Jawa 350/640, Czech Wikipedia: production, design, technical data
- Jawa 350/634, Czech Wikipedia: Retro 634 details and price
- Jawa 350, English Wikipedia: export markets, Euro 4
