A nd if you’re into motorcycles, there’s no reason to be left out because here are two bikes that are classics in every sense of the term and yet are practical enough to be your daily ride.
BSA B31 Many serious motorcycle collectors will vouch for the fact that most of them started off with this bike — the BSA B31. Why? Well, for one, it’s really effortless to run and maintain. Parts are relatively easy to come by, especially when compared to other comparative motorcycles from other marques. Although costs of all things British and two-wheeled are soaring upwards at a ridiculous pace, the B31 can still be available for about Rs 1 lakh for a decently running example. The ones with the plunger rear are the cheapest, while the ones with the twin-downtube and swinging arm frame and the rigids are much more expensive. Another characteristic of the B31 is that it’s very reliable when ridden with care and I’ve yet to come across a person who’s complained about riding comfort on one of these Beesas. The B31 can easily keep up with city traffic and stops well enough to give it merit as a daily commuter. It’s no wonder then that BSA chose this motorcycle as the base of its phenomenally sporty Goldstar single.
JAWA 250 Model 353 Ask your dad about this motorcycle and he’ll probably tell you that he used to ride one but then had to sell it when you were born — such was the popularity of this bike. Then the Japanese came in and flooded the market with their lighter and more frugal offerings and the Jawa died a slow death. But there's a comeback and how. Trawl through the internet and Jawas that were hard to sell at five grand a few years ago are now demanding five-figure prices. Expect to pay upwards of Rs 25,000 for a pristine example. Jawas don’t need batteries and they have no pesky oil pumps (they run on a petrol-oil premix) to be bothered with. Just tickle the carb, turn over the kick lever that also doubles as the gear shifter, pump the kick a few times and then with one swift move, kick it all the way down to bring it to life. If you’ve done it right and if the Jawa feels like it, you’ll be rewarded with one of the sweetest sounding two-stroke engine notes ever. Parts are quite easy to get, but the smaller cosmetic ones are becoming harder to come by. This motorcycle is definitely commuter friendly.
