Jawa motorcycles began producing bikes in 1929 when the founder František Janeček purchased a German motorcycle business named Wanderer. Combining the first two letters of his last name and the new business purchase gave the name Jawa. 

Jawa continued to produce new bikes featuring the 175cc Villiers engine and then later models based on 250 and 350cc two-stroke engines. Jawa had begun to earn a name for itself for its brilliant engineering and exceptional handling. The company entered factory race teams into the infamous Isle of Man TT races in 1932,1933 and 1935. 

The Jawa company fell under Nazi occupation during the Second World War from 1939 to 1945. Under the occupation the company was forced to make armaments for the Nazi war effort but that would stop Janeček from continued to develop his next line up of motorbikes. 

Jawa built a fake wall inside the factory, behind which they spent the years of occupation designing and testing the new line of bikes, it was this line of bikes that would become known as the Jawa Perak. Janeček was even daring enough to paint his new designs in military green and mount SS stickers on the bike so that he could test the bikes right under the noses of the Nazi’s.

Sadly František Janeček would not see his vision come true as he passed away in 1941. His son took over the business in his stead and debuted the Jawa Perak at the 1946 Paris Motor Show where it won a gold medal. 

The new design featured plunger suspension in the rear, telescopic forks in the front and a now legendary multi-disc wet clutch integrated into the gearbox. This innovation allowed riders to perform clutchless gear shifts.

Born under the boots of the fascist regime the Perak was not only a reliable, brilliantly engineered bike but it was also a symbol of resistance and perseverance in the face of oppression.

The history of this Perak from its original production in 1949 has sadly been lost to time, the current and only owner of the bike first encountered the bike on the trip to a bike restoration specialists in the Czech Republic, Mates Moto’s. 

Upon that visit in 2015 the Perak was found as a collection of parts stored in a shopping trolley. After discussions with the restoration company the Perak was purchased and underwent a full restoration with Mates Moto’s in the Czech Republic. 

In 2016 the restoration was completed and the current owner brought the bike back to the UK where it was first registered in 2018. Due to the nature of the restoration the bike has not undergone any work since and during the current ownership. Sadly in a move to de-clutter the current owner is now looking to sell the Perak.

The Perak comes with limited paperwork as sadly there is no paper-trail for the bike between the year of its manufacture and restoration in 2015. However, all the major paperwork is in order which includes a letter from the Jawa owners club that was needed to verify the bike for import.

Also included is the application for registration, the number plate authorisation certificate, the V5 and an MOT certificate from 2018. The current owner also has a nice collection of information and history relating to the Perak model that will come with the bike.

Alongside this there is also a photographic record of the bikes restoration at Mates Moto’s.

The seat on the bike is in excellent condition showing little to no signs of wear or marks. The rubber on the grips is also in excellent condition and does not show any wear or damage.

All the instrument clusters are clean, bright and working as intended. This really is a very clean and well cared for example, it has been kept dry stored during the current ownership which has helped it stay in top notch condition.

It feels like a comfortable and enjoyable place to sit and enjoy a good blast around the British B-roads.

The Perak’s exterior is in superb condition and shows very little signs of use. The restoration work carried out on the bike has clearly been completed to a very high standard.

The paintwork is excellent with the lovely deep red being wonderfully offset by the gold coach-lining and the mirror bright chrome-work. The brightwork on the bike is all in fantastic condition with a bright mirror shine and showing no marks or imperfections.

Both wheels are in excellent condition with the chrome polished and sparkling. Even the engine itself is incredibly clean and tidy with no signs of oil or road dirt.

Overall this Perak is in wonderful condition and asks for nothing but a bright sunny day to really show off the incredible work that has gone into bringing this bike back to factory fresh condition.

The Perak features the company's 248cc air-cooled, 2-stroke twin port engine that still manages to make the bike feel nice and nippy even though it's only producing around 9hp!

The restoration work carried out on the engine has been done to a very high standard and it looks exceptionally clean and tidy. It is fantastic to be able to clearly read the engine number stamped into the main body that shows this really is a numbers matching example.

The claimed top speed for the Perak is 62mph but this isn’t a bike built for speed, it's about reliability, comfort and riding pleasure. It looks ready to deliver on this and with a few smiles per gallon included as well.

This Jawa Perak represents an amazing opportunity for buyers to acquire a rare and very unusual bike. The very high standards displayed in the restoration means that the bike really does ask for nothing and offers the buyer a quirky vintage bike that is in exceptional condition both visually and mechanically. 

The Perak might not offer the speed and power of more modern machines but it does have tones of character! Not to mention the famously reliable mechanics, excellent handling and comfy riding experience. 

This is a model with an incredible back story, with its roots in resistance and rebellion. And this particular Perak is a brilliant opportunity to own a wonderfully well restored and cared for example that will continue turning heads and bringing smiles to faces for many more years to come.