2024 Jawa 350 - First Ride Review
- Jan 20, 2024
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We recently had a chance to experience a wide range of Eurogrip’s new tyres as part of the Eurogrip TreadTalks. We had a chance to visit the brand’s factory in Madurai and then head for a 200km ride to Kodaikanal, through some of the most scenic routes in South India. After testing out 3 different tyres during the course of this event, here’s what our experience was like.
We first visited the brand’s factory and got a glimpse at how Eurogrip makes its tyres. We saw everything from how the compounds are mixed to how the final tyres are treaded. This experience really gave us an insight into how every small thing, from the compounds used to the thread pattern, comes together to create the perfect tyre.

After that, we were introduced to the bikes, and there were a plethora of models to choose from. Over the course of this experience, I had a chance to ride 3 bikes extensively, the Royal Enfield Classic 350, the Yamaha MT-15 and the Yamaha R15.
As an MT-15 owner, I really wanted to test out the bike because it would be easier for me to judge the difference in handling. Aside from this, I have also been looking to put new tyres on my bike, so this was a good chance to see if the tyres offered by Eurogrip would be a good choice. Before moving on to the experience, here’s a breakdown of the tyres that were offered with each bike:
|
Model |
Front Size & Tyre |
Rear Size & Tyre |
|
Royal Enfield Classic 350 |
90/90-19 Terrabite DB+ |
120/80-18 Terrabite DB+ |
|
Yamaha MT-15 |
100/80-17 Beamer HS+ |
140/70 R17 Protorq Extreme |
|
Yamaha R15 |
110/70 R17 Protorq Extreme |
140/70 R17 Protorq Extreme |
Out of these 3 different models, one of them just blew me away with its amazing performance and the massive difference made in terms of handling, and here’s the story.
For the first leg of our journey, I got the Royal Enfield Classic 350. The bike was a good choice, as the early stages involved around 50 kilometres of highway riding.

During this time, the tyres inspired a lot of confidence and kept the bike stable at highway speeds of 80kmph. Even when pushed hard, up to 100 kmph, there was no issue with grip and the bike was very stable. After covering the highways, we got to the twisty mountain roads, and here things changed.
The Terrabite’s excellent grip gave me a lot of confidence to lean in the twisties. But it became clear that the Classic 350 doesn’t have enough cornering ground clearance, so I scraped the footpegs throughout the ride. I eventually had to be a bit less aggressive with the lean and ride at a slightly slower pace.

Another thing which prompted this change of pace was loose gravel and wet patches of roads, which were present mid-corners in some of the sections. The tyres held up well in the wet sections, so wet grip in general was not a particular cause of concern. But I personally didn’t want to take any chances, especially with the loose gravel. The experience overall was quite exciting, and with the Terrabite DB+ tyres, proved that even roadsters like the Classic 350 can be fun in the twisties.
After a while in the twisties, we took a break, and I used this opportunity to change bikes. I got the Yamaha MT-15, and my colleague who owns a Dominar 400, swapped his Gixxer for the Dominar 400. During the second leg of the journey, we got to experience our own bikes in a different way.

The Yamaha MT-15 felt really different, and the addition of the softer compound Protorq at the rear inspired a lot of confidence, with much better feel than the stock tyres. The Beamer HS+ tyre is meant mostly for city commutes, so the choice felt a bit odd as we were mostly riding in the twisties. The front tyre did hold up pretty well under hard braking, but overall, it didn’t offer the kind of confidence you’d hope for in the twisties. Overall, the MT-15 was quite enjoyable with these tyres and felt much better than the stock ones.
During our return to Madurai, I took the Yamaha R15, which got Protorq Extremes at both ends. Now, out of the experience so far, this has to be the biggest highlight and the section where I had the most fun.

I first had a chance to try out the tyres on the Aprilia Tuono 457 back when I had reviewed the motorcycle. During that time, the Protorq Extremes were a major plus point of the motorcycle and made the experience all the more enjoyable. I also got to briefly try them out on the Dominar 400 that my colleague was riding, so I had a lot of expectations. When I got the R15 and started riding, the tyres didn’t leave me disappointed and exceeded my expectations.

I was able to lean the bike with ease, and there was no fear of a lack of grip. When we returned to Madurai, we were greeted with a heavy downpour, and the roads were quite wet for a considerable distance. Even on these wet roads, I didn’t feel like I needed to slow down or cut down my pace overall. When the roads got dry, the experience became even better, and if I were looking for sporty tyres today for the best performance on my bike, then the Protorqs will be my go-to. That said, I will tell you a whole lot more about this if I get my hands on them.
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