Don’t wait till your 40 as the “W” might’ve become extinct by then. I’ve owned all the W series bikes and they have class and character like few motorcycles
@@bigbluemotorbikedog looking for tires, I have a few questions, does the bike wobble at highway speeds with all tires or just some? What tires do you recommend? Have you ever tried knobby tires on it? Thank you for the content.
I'm super glad you enjoy the videos! Please check out the others on the channel too! If there's something specific you want me to cover, just let me know. Thank you for commenting!
Accurate, factual and pleasant presentation of my exact feelings of the W800. Worth every penny that it costs more than unnamed other "retro" motorcycles. Keep the good stories coming. Looking forward to videos from the first annual W800 owners get together. Wish I could be there. I am participating in our annual Ride for Dad poker run to raise money for prostate cancer research on June 1st. Last year Mine was the only W800/W650 in about 500 motorcycles. Lots of curious fellow riders. Even a few of the Harley riders were interested in the W800. (there were only about 400 Harleys). Harleys are great motorcycles but who wants to be one of 100s when you can be one and only. I've had my W for almost two years and have to see another one on the road in our area. They are not powerful or sporty enough to draw attention from the masses but they sure are a joy to ride. Keep enjoying your machine. Bob in Ottawa.
I'm super fortunate that I have a friend that has a w650 who lives close by, in fact, that's HOW we became friends, he does own several HDs, but the W is what bonds us. I have two BMWs and the W, but my favorite to ride on the two lane hiways of New England is the W. Thank you for commenting, hope all is well in the Capital City!
@@bigbluemotorbikedog The W does surprisingly well in limited use on the four lane. It doesn't get blown around excessively by transport trucks and it purrs along spinning 4200rpm at 75mph. At the other end of the spectrum it will putt through town at 30mph in fifth gear and still roll on peacefully to 60mph without having to shift. The torque characteristics of the motor are perfect for my style of riding and it is surprisingly spirited from 4000rpm to red line when needed. What's not to love. BJ
@@Bob-xc2us I couldn't agree more. Now that I have the road classics Interstate riding is a breeze. Every once in while I go looking for that nonexistent 6th gear but still an absolute joy to ride on any (paved) road!
@@bigbluemotorbikedog They're not so bad on gravel roads if you let it move around and do what it wants and keep the speed down. It is scary if you tighten up and try to over control the bike. Just keep the speed down and don't make any sudden maneuvers. Pick a quiet road to practice on and you will get used to it.
Spot on! The W is both Goldilock's porridge, sitting right between a pseudo-retro and and actual 60 year old bike, and a (reliable) time machine to the past. And as you say, you can feel that parallel twin machining away when you are riding - just as God intended us to experience motorcycling!
Great video. I've owned a 01 w650 for a few years not outstanding in any area but by far the most enjoyable bike I've ridden in over 40 years of biking.
What a great ride with very little car traffic! I have a W800 Cafe version and it is awesome, the engine is a jewel making such an enjoyable amount of relaxed grunt. I also am blessed with a R Nine T and yes it has superior hp, brakes and suspension and is also a wonderful machine, however I still love the W800 more and wouldn’t mind picking up a standard model W800!
I love the character of my W800 as well, definitely a low population center in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. "high traffic" times here are "low traffic" times in any metropolitan area.
Spot on. I got Z650RS over a year ago. Made 3000 miles on it. And guess what. Trading it in for a new W800. A true retro made in Japan. Not a Thai made z650 made to look retro.
Excellent video. I have a 2022 & absolutely love it. It's a bit pricey compared to some of the competitors but the quality is absolutely there & to me this is without a doubt the best modern retro on the market. Old saying is You get what you pay for. Cuddos to Kawasaki
I have been undecided between the Kawasaki W800 and the Triumph Boneville T100 and your video scored a few more points for the W800. I would just put the gear indicator and I think it makes sense and wouldn't distort the W800 spirit, to stay on point. By the way, where did you film the video? Pretty cool.
I enjoy your videos and have a suggestion for getting a lot of views I would really like a W800 valve chech / shim change how to video You strike me as the type that does his own service type stuff There’s only one on TH-cam and it’s in Italian ( I think) Keep doing the W800 videos I enjoy them Thanks for your efforts they are appreciated
Mine is pretty dang new still (arond 3k miles so far) - so not due for a while, but I'll poke around and see if I can find those videos. Once it's time I'm more than happy to get a video done.
Hi, Good vibes from you about what for me is the whole point of motocycling. I own a 2011 W800 and a 2019 SCR 950 Yamaha. I love both machines but the W800 is something very special. Ride safe brother.
Used are now a bargain in Britian. You can have 21' Street version with 3k miles for just above £5000. Maybe it has something to do with EURO 4 compliance?
It's interesting how different geographic areas had different colors available for the same year, mine is also a 2020! (used google translate) C'est intéressant de voir comment différentes zones géographiques avaient différentes couleurs disponibles pour la même année, la mienne est aussi une 2020 !
Hello, thank you for the informative video. I just acquired a 2000 W650, ... and am also perusing stores/sites for a seat upgrade. Have my eye on the same Omega Racer. (possibly tuck & roll, though the diamond may better serve) Noting your positive experience, .. is it really worthy of the added $400? Suspension improvements & required parts replacements (chain, tires, etc.,, bike has 24,350 mi.) weigh in, concerning available budget priorities. However, I'm likely to follow your lead, as aids to the riding experience remain front burner. Thanks, again for sharing your experiences, and advice. Insights, if any, into suspension upgrades keenly welcome.
I haven't upgraded my suspension yet, I have found that updating the tires to the Michelin Road Classics made a huge improvement to the riding experience, so much so that I forgot that I had planned to update the suspension... if I get there again I will definitely do a video on it. Thank you for commenting and enjoy your W!!!
I am SUPER curious as to why you would want to go from chain to belt! The only thing that I could imagine is lower maintenance than a chain (no lubrication, or adjustments as the chain stretches, for examples). My thought it that you would need to have something fabricated in order to replicate the ratios between the front sprocket and the rear sprocket, would also have to either use a very thin belt, or change the housing in order to accomodate a wider belt than the chain. I haven't seen anything like that available, kinda goes away from honoring the W1 (which had a chain final drive). Let me know your thoughts! Thank you for commenting!
@@RichardsModellingAdventures So true! I find that we have ethanol free fuel available at petrol stations near lakes for watersports, not sure if that's the same in the UK.
I get it that motorcycles are extremely expensive, the workmanship and quality of materials on the W are exceptional, including real metal parts. The really great news is that there does seem to be plenty on the used market that go for a song, and many keep theirs bone stock.
Production costs are much higher in Japan than Thailand or India and using period correct mostly steel construction and chrome plating at the quality level employed by Kawasaki is not cheap. You truly get what you paid for. They are quality bikes that will last a long long time and are as period correct as you can get under todays safety and emissions regulations. The pain of the extra cost will be long gone when you get 100,000 trouble free miles on it.
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Finished my motorcycle course this past weekend. Im 37. For my 40th bday, the W800 certainly is on my radar. What a gorgeous machine.
So happy you took the course! I believe you will love owning a W800! Thank you for commenting!
Don’t wait till your 40 as the “W” might’ve become extinct by then. I’ve owned all the W series bikes and they have class and character like few motorcycles
@@bigbluemotorbikedog Would you consider a w800 cafe 2019 with 5,000 miles with crash bars, rack, leather bags with racks a good deal for $3,800?
@@trailrider1980 Amazing deal, absolutely
@@bigbluemotorbikedog looking for tires, I have a few questions, does the bike wobble at highway speeds with all tires or just some? What tires do you recommend? Have you ever tried knobby tires on it? Thank you for the content.
An under-rated motorcycle.
Truly a joy to ride.
I agree completely! Thank you for commenting!
I've listened to 3 of your videos on the w800. Love them all. We're birds of a feather.
I'm super glad you enjoy the videos! Please check out the others on the channel too! If there's something specific you want me to cover, just let me know.
Thank you for commenting!
Roger that!!
Buying mine tomorrow❤
That is wonderful! Which trim level and year?
@@bigbluemotorbikedog 22 new on floor.
Accurate, factual and pleasant presentation of my exact feelings of the W800. Worth every penny that it costs more than unnamed other "retro" motorcycles.
Keep the good stories coming. Looking forward to videos from the first annual W800 owners get together. Wish I could be there. I am participating in our annual Ride for Dad poker run to raise money for prostate cancer research on June 1st. Last year Mine was the only W800/W650 in about 500 motorcycles. Lots of curious fellow riders. Even a few of the Harley riders were interested in the W800. (there were only about 400 Harleys). Harleys are great motorcycles but who wants to be one of 100s when you can be one and only. I've had my W for almost two years and have to see another one on the road in our area. They are not powerful or sporty enough to draw attention from the masses but they sure are a joy to ride.
Keep enjoying your machine. Bob in Ottawa.
I'm super fortunate that I have a friend that has a w650 who lives close by, in fact, that's HOW we became friends, he does own several HDs, but the W is what bonds us. I have two BMWs and the W, but my favorite to ride on the two lane hiways of New England is the W. Thank you for commenting, hope all is well in the Capital City!
@@bigbluemotorbikedog The W does surprisingly well in limited use on the four lane. It doesn't get blown around excessively by transport trucks and it purrs along spinning 4200rpm at 75mph. At the other end of the spectrum it will putt through town at 30mph in fifth gear and still roll on peacefully to 60mph without having to shift. The torque characteristics of the motor are perfect for my style of riding and it is surprisingly spirited from 4000rpm to red line when needed. What's not to love.
BJ
@@Bob-xc2us I couldn't agree more. Now that I have the road classics Interstate riding is a breeze. Every once in while I go looking for that nonexistent 6th gear but still an absolute joy to ride on any (paved) road!
@@bigbluemotorbikedog They're not so bad on gravel roads if you let it move around and do what it wants and keep the speed down. It is scary if you tighten up and try to over control the bike. Just keep the speed down and don't make any sudden maneuvers. Pick a quiet road to practice on and you will get used to it.
@@Bob-xc2us I agree, I do 1 mile of gravel road every time I ride. Just let the bike find it's way and don't fight it, does just fine!
Spot on! The W is both Goldilock's porridge, sitting right between a pseudo-retro and and actual 60 year old bike, and a (reliable) time machine to the past. And as you say, you can feel that parallel twin machining away when you are riding - just as God intended us to experience motorcycling!
Thank you for commenting! I subscribe to your channel! Love the throttle body covers!
Great video. I've owned a 01 w650 for a few years not outstanding in any area but by far the most enjoyable bike I've ridden in over 40 years of biking.
The W has a special nostalgia to it, you're 100% right that the enjoyment is where it's outstanding!
What a great ride with very little car traffic! I have a W800 Cafe version and it is awesome, the engine is a jewel making such an enjoyable amount of relaxed grunt. I also am blessed with a R Nine T and yes it has superior hp, brakes and suspension and is also a wonderful machine, however I still love the W800 more and wouldn’t mind picking up a standard model W800!
I love the character of my W800 as well, definitely a low population center in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. "high traffic" times here are "low traffic" times in any metropolitan area.
Spot on. I got Z650RS over a year ago. Made 3000 miles on it. And guess what. Trading it in for a new W800. A true retro made in Japan. Not a Thai made z650 made to look retro.
I love my W, it's a fantastic bike, very polite, a predictable, reliable, and beautiful motorbike.
Excellent video. I have a 2022 & absolutely love it. It's a bit pricey compared to some of the competitors but the quality is absolutely there & to me this is without a doubt the best modern retro on the market. Old saying is You get what you pay for. Cuddos to Kawasaki
The build quality and precision engineering on the W800 is top notch! I agree! So glad to see so many Kawasaki W owners! Thank you for commenting!
So good words about vibrations, sound etc.. Enjoy it
Thank you for your comment! Very kind of you!
Spot on awesome bike sweet sound
Thank you for commenting! Definitely appreciate the feedback!
I have been undecided between the Kawasaki W800 and the Triumph Boneville T100 and your video scored a few more points for the W800. I would just put the gear indicator and I think it makes sense and wouldn't distort the W800 spirit, to stay on point.
By the way, where did you film the video? Pretty cool.
in Vermont USA - I'm glad that the video helped! I love the W800, such a wonderful motorcycle!
Ooohhhhhhyyyyyeeeaaaaaah!
I enjoy your videos and have a suggestion for getting a lot of views
I would really like a W800 valve chech / shim change how to video
You strike me as the type that does his own service type stuff
There’s only one on TH-cam and it’s in Italian ( I think)
Keep doing the W800 videos I enjoy them
Thanks for your efforts they are appreciated
Mine is pretty dang new still (arond 3k miles so far) - so not due for a while, but I'll poke around and see if I can find those videos. Once it's time I'm more than happy to get a video done.
You have a great voice and narration!
Thank you!
Hi, Good vibes from you about what for me is the whole point of motocycling. I own a 2011 W800 and a 2019 SCR 950 Yamaha. I love both machines but the W800 is something very special. Ride safe brother.
You ride safe also! I agree with your sentiment 100% - the W is something very special. Thank you for commenting!
Thank you Sir.. for another great video! 😃
Thank you for commenting! I so appreciate the kind words.
Used are now a bargain in Britian. You can have 21' Street version with 3k miles for just above £5000. Maybe it has something to do with EURO 4 compliance?
Love that you can find them affordable!
Thank you for commenting!
Je possède une W800 verte de 2020. Que du bonheur !
It's interesting how different geographic areas had different colors available for the same year, mine is also a 2020!
(used google translate)
C'est intéressant de voir comment différentes zones géographiques avaient différentes couleurs disponibles pour la même année, la mienne est aussi une 2020 !
Nice video, good narration. Would have liked to hear the engine running. Thanks😊
Thank you for commenting! I will see what I can do to reduce wind noise.
Still like the 2021 Blue version..
I wish Kawasaki had Red, green, and blue for all release years.... would be so cool.
Hello, thank you for the informative video. I just acquired a 2000 W650, ... and am also perusing stores/sites for a seat upgrade. Have my eye on the same Omega Racer. (possibly tuck & roll, though the diamond may better serve) Noting your positive experience, .. is it really worthy of the added $400? Suspension improvements & required parts replacements (chain, tires, etc.,, bike has 24,350 mi.) weigh in, concerning available budget priorities. However, I'm likely to follow your lead, as aids to the riding experience remain front burner.
Thanks, again for sharing your experiences, and advice. Insights, if any, into suspension upgrades keenly welcome.
I haven't upgraded my suspension yet, I have found that updating the tires to the Michelin Road Classics made a huge improvement to the riding experience, so much so that I forgot that I had planned to update the suspension... if I get there again I will definitely do a video on it.
Thank you for commenting and enjoy your W!!!
Very good. Do you happen to remember which Omega Racer seat you went with? .. as there are multiple seats on that sight similar.@@bigbluemotorbikedog
@@pnwoods Kawasaki W650/W800 | Custom Seat Type 05 Comfort | Omega Racer www.omegaracer.com/parts_store/prod_7105744-kawasaki-w650w800-custom-seat-type-05-comfort/
I'd love to see the W800 with a belt final drive. I wonder if there's any aftermarket conversion kits?
I am SUPER curious as to why you would want to go from chain to belt! The only thing that I could imagine is lower maintenance than a chain (no lubrication, or adjustments as the chain stretches, for examples). My thought it that you would need to have something fabricated in order to replicate the ratios between the front sprocket and the rear sprocket, would also have to either use a very thin belt, or change the housing in order to accomodate a wider belt than the chain. I haven't seen anything like that available, kinda goes away from honoring the W1 (which had a chain final drive). Let me know your thoughts!
Thank you for commenting!
@@bigbluemotorbikedog Yes, it was a preference for low maintenance.
I would like to know which year W800 you are riding and reviewing !
@@harrytitus9184 2020, thank you for commenting and your question!
Thank you for responding. I appreciate this. to me, the 2020 is the best looking one so .
@@harrytitus9184 I favor it myself!
I'm guessing you're in Canada? Greetings from Maryland. Nice motorcycle isn't it.
I am in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Thank you for commenting!!
Such a Cool Bike 😎👌
I agree completely! Thank you for commenting!
I’ve always wondered if that bevel drive makes any noise?
Not that I hear, I think anything mechanical would, the pistons firing is the music I hear tho.
It produces a whine but it's subtle, like a very quiet supercharger!
I love it I wish it had carbs other than that it’s perfect
The W650s had carburetors, if you can find one, would be a great choice!
Not with the E10 petrol we have in the UK.
@@RichardsModellingAdventures So true! I find that we have ethanol free fuel available at petrol stations near lakes for watersports, not sure if that's the same in the UK.
Too expensive for what it is. Still brilliant though!
I get it that motorcycles are extremely expensive, the workmanship and quality of materials on the W are exceptional, including real metal parts. The really great news is that there does seem to be plenty on the used market that go for a song, and many keep theirs bone stock.
Production costs are much higher in Japan than Thailand or India and using period correct mostly steel construction and chrome plating at the quality level employed by Kawasaki is not cheap. You truly get what you paid for. They are quality bikes that will last a long long time and are as period correct as you can get under todays safety and emissions regulations. The pain of the extra cost will be long gone when you get 100,000 trouble free miles on it.