2021 w800

[redbirds_imp]

Nice job Kawasaki, lovely.

[Wisedrum]

Kawa did the same nice job with W since the 650 for over 20 years now. Not for each country and with intermissions, but not really something new anymore. They don't have to, the W was a fine concept, since it has started. Kawa simply tries to keep it alive as long as possible. But it days will be number as one of the last oil- and aircooled engines in these times.

My 2011 W800 weighs 2015kg. The new one is 10kg heavier, can't imagine why. Compared to my 2013 CB my W has 30kg less weight. It is easily to be noticed and feels lighter while riding, pushing and pulling the W around without the engine running and supplying some help in forward motion.

[peterbaron]

Kawa did the same nice job with W since the 650 for over 20 years now. Not for each country and with intermissions, but not really something new anymore. They don't have to, the W was a fine concept, since it has started. Kawa simply tries to keep it alive as long as possible. But it days will be number as one of the last oil- and aircooled engines in these times.

My 2011 W800 weighs 2015kg. The new one is 10kg heavier, can't imagine why. Compared to my 2013 CB my W has 30kg less weight. It is easily to be noticed and feels lighter while riding, pushing and pulling the W around without the engine running and supplying some help in forward motion.

Really, my car is not that heavy...why did you buy a 2 ton bike

[Wisedrum]

Here's the correction: 215kg instead of 2015kg.

Wisedrum

[peterbaron]

Wisedrum, how many bikes you have now and which ones, CB1100 and W800?

[GoldOxide_imp]

Kawa did the same nice job with W since the 650 for over 20 years now. Not for each country and with intermissions, but not really something new anymore. They don't have to, the W was a fine concept, since it has started. Kawa simply tries to keep it alive as long as possible. But it days will be number as one of the last oil- and aircooled engines in these times.

My 2011 W800 weighs 2015kg. The new one is 10kg heavier, can't imagine why. Compared to my 2013 CB my W has 30kg less weight. It is easily to be noticed and feels lighter while riding, pushing and pulling the W around without the engine running and supplying some help in forward motion.

W800 continues to look nice 'n' organic.

[Wisedrum]

Three. The two you mentioned and a Bullet. All three are lovely bikes. Somehow the same style but very different. Prefer retro motorcycles. Kind of heart warmers.

[peterbaron]

When time permits, could you briefly compare the three and which one is best for you?
Thanks.

[Guth_imp]

A true classic but with some serious mid-weight "true-retro" competition: Moto Guzzi's V7, Triumph's Street Twin & Bonneville series, and of course the one that beats them all: Royal Enfield's Int650 which sells (in Canada) for more than CA$ 4,000 less (= 62%) ...

Then again: what a wonderful luxury to have so many beautiful models to choose from!


P.S. One could also buy 2 or 3 Super Cub's 125 for the same money! That is if you live in any country but Canada where it is not available. Honda's slogan for this bike: "The world's favorite bike" (except Canada).

I used to count the Triumph classic line of motorcycles as part of the "true-retro" segment as you put it. Ever since they switched over to water-cooling I place them in the "retro-styled" segment. As hard as they try they can't hide the ultimate concession that they made but there are obviously more than enough people out there that are fine with this.

Out of all the "modern" motorcycles, the W650 seemingly holds more retro cred than pretty much everything else out there with it's inclusion of a kickstarter. I still consider the W650 to be the best looking of the Kawasaki W's. However, this iteration of the W800 comes in at a very close 2nd for me and that's really saying something as the W800 has never drawn my eye's interest the way the W650 did. Until now that is.

[GoldOxide_imp]

A true classic but with some serious mid-weight "true-retro" competition: Moto Guzzi's V7, Triumph's Street Twin & Bonneville series, and of course the one that beats them all: Royal Enfield's Int650 which sells (in Canada) for more than CA$ 4,000 less (= 62%) ...

Then again: what a wonderful luxury to have so many beautiful models to choose from!


P.S. One could also buy 2 or 3 Super Cub's 125 for the same money! That is if you live in any country but Canada where it is not available. Honda's slogan for this bike: "The world's favorite bike" (except Canada).

I used to count the Triumph classic line of motorcycles as part of the "true-retro" segment as you put it. Ever since they switched over to water-cooling I place them in the "retro-styled" segment. As hard as they try they can't hide the ultimate concession that they made but there are obviously more than enough people out there that are fine with this.

Out of all the "modern" motorcycles, the W650 seemingly holds more retro cred than pretty much everything else out there with it's inclusion of a kickstarter. I still consider the W650 to be the best looking of the Kawasaki W's. However, this iteration of the W800 comes in at a very close 2nd for me and that's really saying something as the W800 has never drawn my eye's interest the way the W650 did. Until now that is.

Agreed. Unless, of course, if the original was also liquid-cooled.

There may come a day when a retro-styled will be an electric simulating some legendary favourite (with fake two-stroke smoke et al). In that case, just give me the Bat Bike. Hopefully I would have hung up the ignition keys by then.

For now, the W800 looks great indeed.