The Jota is powered by a 981 cc, DOHC, air-cooled inline triple and had a dry weight of 234 kg (515 lb).

Originally fitted with a crankshaft with 180° crankpin phasing and ignition timing on the right hand side of the engine till 1980.

[2] Early Jotas had a 123, then 140 Watt, Bosch alternator, which was barely enough to keep pace with discharge with the lights on.

In some European countries (France and Switzerland) Jotas had considerably milder tuning (mild "A12" cams, flat top low compression pistons, smaller valves, and strangled exhausts).

In the United States, a version with an 1116 cc engine called the 1200 Jota America became available beginning in 1978.