2020 KAWASAKI W800 REVIEW: RETRO MOTORCYCLE (14 FAST FACTS)
- Thread starter GoldOxide_imp
- Start date
LongRanger_imp
Road warrior
Fabulous! I love this bike. Its predecessor, the W650, is the reason I searched for and bought my DLX. I didn't want to miss the boat again. Unlike the W650, I hope the W800 stays with us for more than two years!
Ditto on like the W650. I searched hi and low for about 2 years for an acceptable W650...they always seemed too far away, the asking was too much, or the mileage too high--it just never materialized. Dabbled with a couple of Yamaha xs650s from the late '70s, early '80s (wanted a kick start bike), but realized I didn't want to spend my time fixing them up all the time but rather preferred riding, so I sold 'em and bought my 2014 standard cb1100. Now I have a '17 CB1100ex.LongRanger_imp said:
And then this W800 is out...very sublime looking. Although I can't believe Kawasaki introduces it to the U.S. as a "red". Come on, Kawi! Anything but red--I already have that!! Oh well, I'm not ready to buy another bike. I'd love to see this w800 in a matte green, or a bright green and cream, a light blue and a splash of yellow, or a lovely silver. A deep blue would work too. I don't know why but I've never been overly fond of red for a motorcycle.
MSRP for the W800--not too unreasonable at just over 9k. I'll keep my eye on this bike...maybe 2021 will bring other colors and maybe some won't sell and they'll lower asking to low to mid 8k. Or I'll wait till a used one shows up and maybe get one for 5k with low mileage in about 4-5 years.
My musings aside...a great looker that w800!
:biker:
Couldn't resist vising the Kawi site to check out the W800 a bit more.
Additional photos...
Christmas is the day after tomorrow...and I've been really, really bueno.
Wisedrum
Road warrior
And a joy to ride. Love the W800 too with its lovely torque engine and easy to ride attitude. Besides it is and still remains being the best looking retro bike since the W650 entered the scene.
The price in Germany is over 10.000€. Way too much. It's easy to assume, they will not become good sellers, no matter how they look now. In addition the retromarket here keeps still being limited.
Gladly the 2. version of the W800/2 looks better than the previously released 2 ones, which lost the beauty the W650 and W800/1 undoubtedly have. I'm glad to own the first W800 for soon 9 years. Like its colour british racing green.
Wisedrum
The price in Germany is over 10.000€. Way too much. It's easy to assume, they will not become good sellers, no matter how they look now. In addition the retromarket here keeps still being limited.
Gladly the 2. version of the W800/2 looks better than the previously released 2 ones, which lost the beauty the W650 and W800/1 undoubtedly have. I'm glad to own the first W800 for soon 9 years. Like its colour british racing green.
Wisedrum
ohiorider_imp
Been there
I owned a 2000 model for nearly 7 years. Here's a copy and paste of my post on TriumphRat when I sold this sweet little bike. Equipped with Gunfighter solo saddle, Kaw low bar kit, and Givi E21 bags, I treated it like a baby BMW sport tourer.
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April, 2007
The new owner of my W650 is driving in from Illinois to pick up the bike tomorrow. After putting 52,700 miles on her, she still runs like new, and I'll probably regret the sale. As reliable as any bike I've ever owned. Though top end hp was 10 down (50 at the crank) on my T100's advertised hp, the torque curve was table-top flat. Red lined at approx 7000 rpm. Tranny shifted without a clunk, and was smooth as butter.
Approximately 30-35 pounds lighter than a stock T100, and 0-60 times close to those of the Triumph, per bike mag comparisons.
Utilized a long stroke/small bore (undersquare) engine (72 x 83mm) vs the Bonnie's oversquare design (86 x 68mm), more like the original 650 Britbike designs.
The W650 came with lots of nice standard features, including:
- center stand
- chrome fenders
- alloy rims
- electric and kick start
- double wall exhaust pipes
- decent sound from the stock mufflers
- excellent headlight
- locking hinged gas cap (used ignition key)
- easily removed saddle (used ignition key)
- valve shims could be changed without removing the SOHC
- full tool kit with nicely chromed wrenches stowed under the seat
All in all, a nicely finished, well-designed motorcycle. Good value for the money, especially since the dealer where I purchased the bike couldn't get rid of them, and sold mine to me for $1500 off of MSRP. That was in August of 2000.
She'll be missed.
Bob
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April, 2007
The new owner of my W650 is driving in from Illinois to pick up the bike tomorrow. After putting 52,700 miles on her, she still runs like new, and I'll probably regret the sale. As reliable as any bike I've ever owned. Though top end hp was 10 down (50 at the crank) on my T100's advertised hp, the torque curve was table-top flat. Red lined at approx 7000 rpm. Tranny shifted without a clunk, and was smooth as butter.
Approximately 30-35 pounds lighter than a stock T100, and 0-60 times close to those of the Triumph, per bike mag comparisons.
Utilized a long stroke/small bore (undersquare) engine (72 x 83mm) vs the Bonnie's oversquare design (86 x 68mm), more like the original 650 Britbike designs.
The W650 came with lots of nice standard features, including:
- center stand
- chrome fenders
- alloy rims
- electric and kick start
- double wall exhaust pipes
- decent sound from the stock mufflers
- excellent headlight
- locking hinged gas cap (used ignition key)
- easily removed saddle (used ignition key)
- valve shims could be changed without removing the SOHC
- full tool kit with nicely chromed wrenches stowed under the seat
All in all, a nicely finished, well-designed motorcycle. Good value for the money, especially since the dealer where I purchased the bike couldn't get rid of them, and sold mine to me for $1500 off of MSRP. That was in August of 2000.
She'll be missed.
Bob
Wisedrum
Road warrior
It is easy for me to understand, why you miss the W650.
Rode the bike for 3 years before I switched to the W800. It is more than substitude for 650, which was a silver-blue one, very british like aTriumph Bonneville 650 in a way, from which Kawaski copied a lot if not the most for the outlook of their first new W. A very lovely motorbike.
Now I go out for ride with the W800 for Christmas.
Wisedrum
Rode the bike for 3 years before I switched to the W800. It is more than substitude for 650, which was a silver-blue one, very british like aTriumph Bonneville 650 in a way, from which Kawaski copied a lot if not the most for the outlook of their first new W. A very lovely motorbike.
Now I go out for ride with the W800 for Christmas.
Wisedrum
ohiorider_imp
Been there
The cafe version is striking, too. The local dealer, State8, has two of these in stock. One is in their front window, elevated on a platform so you view it from eye level. Makes me wish I was 30-40 years younger, because the seating position (overall ergonomics) would have to hurt this old body. Don't recall who said they 'wouldn't own a bike they couldn't see through.' Whoever it was, the W meets their criteria.Wisedrum_imp said:
Enjoy your ride!
https://www.kawasaki.com/product/details/2019-W800-Cafe
jimgl3_imp
Been there
darn. that's a nice bike
GoldOxide_imp
Road warrior
Thread starter
Yeah, kinda like pain and pleasure simultaneously.jimgl3_imp said:
Pleasure to gawk at, pain to acquire.
peterbaron
Road warrior
Beautiful classic bike
Mtneers
Been there
Wow!
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GoldOxide_imp
Road warrior
Thread starter
Yeah, I know.mtneers_imp said:Wow!
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I could simply rip out the lump and mount it on the coffee table as an art piece and gawk at it day-in and day-out. Not sure if I have enough drool to keep it up.
I like the placement of the turn indicators, far back so that saddle bags / cases can be used with no relocation necessary.
GoldOxide_imp
Road warrior
Thread starter
Hmm, yeah, ... very good observation pdedse.pdedse_imp said:
the Ferret
Road warrior
In 2003 I was looking for a W650 and no dealers stocked them. Went to a Triumph dealer and bought a Centenial Edition Orange and silver T 100 Bonneville instead. Other than being under powered and under braked for me (which I'm sure the W 650 would have been too), it was a really nice bike. I think I put about 30,000 miles on it and sold it to my younger brother. He put about 10,000 miles on it, bought a new 2016 T-120 and sold the T100 to my son't FIL so the bike is still in the family and still running strong.
LongRanger_imp
Road warrior
They were only available in the U.S. for model year 2000 and 2001. By 2003, they were long gone from dealer inventories. I tried!
That's a gorgeous T100.
That's a gorgeous T100.
GoldOxide_imp
Road warrior
Thread starter
Swell snap Ferret with the Bonnie. Really quite frame-able.
I really like the W800 which has been on sale in Australia. Don’t see many of them around.
Doc1961_imp
First service completed
Love the W650. Had two of them. New in 2000 and used in 2010(818 miles). I will get a new 2020. My only gripe and I do like the red, is I really prefer the blue and silver. Won't keep me from it though. And I don't know if it means anything but the dealer I was going to buy thru, Liberty Cycle Center in Liberty MO, has a deposit on the one he's getting and it won't show up till February. I hope its a good sign. The bike really is such a fun machine. For what it is intended for, it is perfect. If I wanted more of everything, power, gadgets, and the like, I would buy something else.
Wisedrum
Road warrior
Not a 2020 W800 but one out of 2011.
My last ride before the shutdown? Hopefully not. There's a sword of Damocles hanging over my country and everywhere.
Wisedrum
My last ride before the shutdown? Hopefully not. There's a sword of Damocles hanging over my country and everywhere.
Wisedrum
