2019 Kawasaki W800 Cafe Review - First Thoughts
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ต.ค. 2024
- NOTE: Australian RRP is mentioned as $11,999 + ORC, I've since been told that's the 2018 price, the 2019 Cafe model is $13,999, which changes the value proposition a bit, but obviously not the ride impression.
Kawasaki's W800 has received an update in 2019, to meet Euro4 restrictions in Europe for continued sales, as well as to now offer the Cafe edition, which as the name suggests offers a cafe racer inspired version of the W800.
There's a whole host of updates that I'll cover in another video, but it's fair to say this is a pretty major update with changes across much of the model, as well as great retro styling and build quality.
The biggest surprise for me was just how fun the W800 Cafe is to ride, with a relaxed but characterful engine, strong performance, easy and engaging handling and an all round great package. That's quite the first impression.
Here's my thoughts after a day with the bike.
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Thanks for the great review. I bought the W800 Street and love it. Very pleasant and carefree riding. It is far smoother and faster than I thought it would be. I love the 360 degree crank with counterbalancer on a long stroke, air cooled engine with bevel gear driven top end. Very good fuel injection mapping, perfect tall gearing and intoxicating exhaust burble from the retuned pea shooters. Plenty of torque. Very good braking from the large front disc especially and very effortless gear shifting with light clutch pull effort and steering. A joy to ride.
I own a W800 Cafe and the best thing in my opinion about this bike is that it is super smooth around 2000 rpm, looks amazing especially from the right hand-side and the noise it makes is very soothing. Very enjoyable for daily commutes. Although the down sights are slippery grips, exhaust pipes that blocks the chain drive, some plastic details and a lack of a proper badge on the fuel tank. Also, its a cafe racer, so its painful for long journeys. But overall, its a gorgeous machine
It's not for everyone , at first I was put off by the looks , but the more I come back to it the more I dig it !! 😍
I have to say the front bikini fairing being a different colour always made me have a double take, I think I'd be tempted to repaint it if I had one of these long term.
@@MotoJournoKris I know what you mean . At first I was put off with the mish mash look of silver fairing , side covers and brown tank. But now its love 😍
I own a kaw w 800 cafe , it's a great bike I'm 6 1 and it fits me very well. Great fit and finish love the motor.no radiator! One of the best retro bikes around . A lot of fun to ride
They certainly have a ton of character!
hi mate, I'm Craig and am glad you mentioned your height as I'm 6'1 also and am seriously looking at this bike. I was wondering do you feel cramped on it at all and do you feel that are you are sitting more in the bike or more on it..safe riding.
@@caferacer6969 I was curious also , great question ! lm 6 foot with short legs , 30 " inseam and short arms and a very long upper torso , guess one way to find out , sit on one and take it for a quick spin. I dig the look , but dont know if my back could hold up with those bars, im 58 also.
@@davegeisler7802 i am just under 6 foot. I bought this bike and i love it. I am 60+ years old. Longest ride i've done so far was 3 hours straight, no problems whatsoever. I find the bike comfortable, very easy to ride.
I am so happy with this bike, i will never sell it, i really love it
Hi Chris, I hope your enjoying your good Friday. Happy Easter to your family.
I just wanted to thankyou again for your wonderful reviews.
I recently bought a W800 Cafe racer, while my body isn't as young as it once was. Its a stunning motorcycle to look at and easy to ride, I've always preferred cafe racers it's the look and history that I'm drawn to. You speak so skillfully and passionately regarding your bike's.
Many thanks David
Thanks David, hope you're having a great Easter too! Glad to hear you enjoyed the video, as you can probably tell this bike really felt like something special to me, even if it's a rare bike I don't find a fun machine!
Good concise video review.
I walked into the Kawasaki shop today at 11am, walked out at 11.15 owning the 2019…got a fantastic deal on it. A 2yr old new bike.
Wicked, congratulations on the new bike! Amazing to think it just sat there for two years, but great to hear you got an amazing deal.
Would have liked to see a kick starter just make life more dangerous. I love the look of the bike and its bobbed up to the top of list for a new bike :-)
It does add a nice bit of character, especially when people can't figure out what it is!
I'm looking at buy one as soon as I can, and I too wish it had a kick on it. Hopefully I can get a kit to install.
gorgeous bike
Nice review. It would be interesting to compare it with Moto Guzzi V9 and Royal Enfield 650 Continental.
Yea I rode a V7 California a few years ago and it reminded me of that quite a bit, I haven't had a chance to ride the V9 yet. Hoping to ride the Royal Enfields shortly and it would be great to compare them, so I'll hopefully get something together on that.
There is no comparison between the w800 cafe and the royal Enfield, the Enfield have plastic switch blocks, and foot control's made from laser cut metal, they are cheep and nasty and made in India, Kawasaki w800 cafe is made in Japan with pride, its much more refined. However the price tag keeps the riff raff off, of the w800.
Thanks Kris. Mate how do you feel it in comparison with Yamaha sr400? I like them both but found Aussie delivery sr400 do not have the best colour. Cheers
The SR400 is a little more upright and engaged with the ergonomics, where the W800 is definitely more relaxed and a bit more of a cruiser. The W800 also has quite a bit more performance but is less revvy and is probably more inclined to the speeds the SR is capable of.
@@MotoJournoKris thanks mate. Appreciate your reply. I knew these are probably not in the same class but they both have the retro charms.
@@Mmm66689 Definitely, the SRs were really cool machines!
If you didn’t have a bike would you get this over anything else? Is the on off throttle smooth? Does the transmission and clutch shift smooth?
It really comes down to what kind of bike I wanted. For a retro cafe styled cruising bike this would be high up on my list. The throttle is smooth, with a good gearbox, but power is more restrained. It's not a bike designed to go out racing around like crazy, but is great fun on good riding roads at a moderate pace, with exceptional finish and build quality. I could commute on it easily too, which is a big aspect for me.
The throttle is not an on/off kind of throttle, very easy to do tight U-turns and slow ride. You feel very good control with all the W800 models.
How much does the W800 tank hold. Does it come with a CENTRESTAND or lugs to give you the option of fitting one? If a bike has a chain drive it should come with a CENTRESTAND or the option of fitting one.
15L on the Cafe. There's no centre-stand listed as available as a Kawasaki accessory, at the moment, although you never know what they may be working on. Normally I'd be happy being able to run a rear stand for chain work but I'm not sure how you'd go on the W800 with the exhausts there limiting clearance, so it would be a good option.
Andrew Hoffman: A new Classic version of the W800 comes with a centre stand. I checked under my W800 Street and saw lugs for a center stand so I believe the lugs are there on the Cafe version. All 3 W800s share the same frame. The centre stand is useful but adds 10lb to the weight. I use an extendable mechanics mirror while sitting on the bike for checking the oil level in the sight glass (as the bike must be kept level and upright to check the oil) That system works well. I use a motorcycle jack (from Big Red Jacks) for chain maintenance. If you use a motorcycle jack, bring it in under any motorcycle from the right hand side (not the left).
@@dougfielding8215 they are there on my cafe
@@dougfielding8215 10lb is nothing compare to ease of center stand plus getting a flat on a road you might be able to plug it.Its very useful for classic bike should come standard
@@dougfielding8215 I believe the centre stand parts weigh more like 4lbs
What about Street version? Would like to know can it accommodate 6ft 1 pearson comfortably.
I'm afraid I haven't tested the standard version, so I'm not sure how it measures up on comparison!
Dino Peric - Check out OnroadDotBike's video of the W800 Street. He is your height. He calls the seating position "crazy comfortable"
Absolutely love this motorcycle. Finally we are able to get it, years of seeing reviews by European magazines ect. I ended up buying Triumphs instead, my question is how does this handle spirited riding in twisties ect. We have some great corners around here. I am seriously thinking about finally owning one, that bevel drive is amazing. Cheers
It depends on your definition of spirited, I felt it could hold a decent pace that was fast enough to be exciting and not really be wanting to push any harder, and was great for a flowing style of riding, the really tight bends you'll feel the bikes length and it requires more steering input.
Well I rode my 865 Bonnie pretty fast and my now Thruxton 900 (also air cooled 865) almost like a slower sport bike. These are around the same ball park, would push the bar (counter steering with my body leaned with the bike. My elbows almost against my knee, so using that as a comparison.
@@andrewhannam. I think you can push these pretty hard in the right conditions, but if I'm honest cruising at between 80 and 120 was the sweet spot. I reckon the Z900RS might be a better comparison though for that kind of riding, as that's more sportsbike-like performance in a retro styled package.
Well this sounds perfect as the older Bonneville range wants to cruise around 120 as well so it sounds like a perfect motorcycle for me. I agree that the z900rs is extremely capable, yet I prefer a true old school retro like the Moto Guzzi V7, Royal Enfield 650, Honda CB1100 and Kawasaki W800s. Thanks for the review and info!
@@andrewhannam. Hope I was of some help!
I have been looking that this model for a few years and we are finally getting this in the states! But people are already complaining about the size and price compared to a triumph. Yeah I guess we just like to complain? it's the same thing that happened to the 650 when it was here. I hope it stays this time.
Yea being such a niche machine, lots of people probably won't get what it's about, which at the end of the day is fair enough, but no point complaining about a bike you'd never buy, or just don't like. That said price is always a bit of a gateway to success, if people think they are getting excellent value.
I'll be the first to admit I love complaining about things though!
@@MotoJournoKris I guess people here want a retro looking bike.....but not a REAL retro bike. This is more true to British heritage than the Triumphs are anymore, Even with the updates. But then there is a huge market in rebuilding 30-40 year old bikes into cafe'/brat/tracker/scramblers which you can spend way more doing while still dealing with the "quirks" of those old bikes. So I don't try to understand people anymore. LOL
@@crocketgsxr6 Yea that's so true, there's a huge distinction between something that just looks retro and something that is meant to be the whole experience, minus the 30-40 year old bike problems!
I love this bike. How would it to give her a higher. Gear ratio. And an oil cooler. Lemay. Nelso. Vancouver Washington Pacific Northwest.