I stumbled over this article & thought I'd share it here for those who are Jawa Motorcycle fans.
Jawa motorcycles were based on a simple philosophy – creating a motorcycle that was cost-effective, simple and reliable. This was quite the contrast from
western European motorcycles like BMWs or Triumphs, that were more sophisticated in their design, thus requiring considerably more attention in service and repair. Jawa motorcycles were tank-like tough, where they ousted their rival in long-run durability over outright power. While the company started in Prague in 1929, then part of Czechoslovakia, it was the post-war era that brought the Jawa brand to the world. During its peak, Jawa Motorcycles were exported to 120 countries, of which its most predominant region after Europe was from India.
I guess it was after World War II, Europe was in disarray I guess and the economy was crippled and there needed to be a logical, practical and utilitarian form of transport that could be relied upon for everything from commute to transporting goods. As a need for the hour, both sides, the democratic and the communist came up with their own solutions for simple, cost-effective machines that would serve the needs of day to day life.
Link-
http://bit.ly/2u2Vub2