250 Californian

1973 Jawa 250 Californian Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Built around Jawa's allround motorcycle platform, the 1973 Jawa 250 Californian utilizes a 249 cc (15.2 cu in) air-cooled single cylinder, two-stroke layout. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 16.5 HP (12 kW) at 5,000 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 4-speed gearbox and chain final drive. With a specific output of 66.3 HP per liter, the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the 250 Californian measures 144 kg (317 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.11 HP/kg (8.73 kg per horsepower). The 15-liter (4 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 115 km/h (71 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Jawa archive, this model family spans 4 indexed model years from 1970 to 1973, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.