The Ultimate Retro Bike? Kawasaki W800 Test and Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ย. 2024
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Thanks you for your comments! I do my best to keep up with them for the first few days after a video comes out, but due to the volume of comments on all of my videos, and to the general hustle and bustle of life, I must give up the fight after a while. If you are leaving a question four or more days after a video comes out I can't guarantee I'll see it, but perhaps one of my other viewers knows the answer and can help out. Thanks in advance to those who contribute and share their knowledge. Cheers and stay safe everyone!
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I was going to purchase a R. Enfield when the Kaw W800 came up on my radar. I must have viewed 20 plus videos along with reading gazillion comments. Over 95% positive feed-back!! Then I road tested a R.E. Interceptor & a Kaw W800. I thought the R.E. was very nice, but it didn't put the smile on my face that the W800 did. I felt the fit & finish was better on the Kawasaki & the ride made me feel like a kid again (I'm 71y.y.). I paid $8200 out the door; yes that include's freight,doc fee, & tax. The R.E. Interceptor would have cost me $6750 O.T.D. Both were 2022 models. So for me, I felt the Kawasaki was worth $1450 difference. The only item that I installed is a National Street Shield for $175 (total inc/tax). For me I won't own a motorcycle without a windshield & it actually looks great. Hope this info helps someone out. Thank's for producing all of the wonderful videos for us. Have a beautiful day!!! Illinois.USA
I love your input and I might even following your footsteps. But I will burst your bubble and say that you might want to take a look at a Janus 450 motorcycle. It is truly the best retro bike out there. And yet it was never intended to be a retro bike. It kind of started the way all American Motorcycle company started. Two guys with a passion and desire building what they could with their own local suppliers. And lo and behold it ended up looking like some of the earlier American motorcycles.
@@steveh7108 Thanks for your response Steve, I don't know much about the Janus bikes but it's all good since I already have purchased the W800. What kind of prices do they ask for a bike similar to the one that I bought? Have a good day!!
Thank you for the helpful insights. Those are some amazing deals. I guess when a bike has been around since 2011 it can be found for under MSRP. Congrats on the find!
I've see those bikes. They have that super cool 30's look. Really nice.
@@DifferentSpokesTV That's what's so great about the internet! The consumer has more control than ever before. I tried to buy local (within 20min.) drive but after leaving my telephone # twiced I received no return call. I ended up a little further away, but they made it worth my time. Purchased the bike @ Owen's in Effingham, Illinois. They have 3 stores total another in Charleston, Illinois which goes under the name of R.E. of Central Illinois. I would highly recommend these shops. Keep rolling out those videos. You & your wife do us a great service. Thank you! Have a beautiful day!! Illinois, USA
I have a 2022 W 800 and is really a wonderful bike. Not too heavy, not too powerful and really smooth and dependable. I cannot say enough good things about it.
Its a good looking bike. Would add a lot of variety into the stable.
I'm 74 and I'm not an old fart.
You have a way to go. Really
Great video .
I am 76, or as we say, 77 in November... I am bikeless since I sold My Kawa 1000 sx 2 years ago,..... The yearning is starting again. I passed my bike test in England in 1963
@@SunofYork I still have my bikes.
My wife wants to know when I am going to sell them........ That's a tough one.
@@billbertagnoli4226 Parting is not easy. Its like a cat lover not getting another cat coz they tie you down when you want to travel in your retirement... It's a "Life change".
Just got home from a ride to the cafe on my 2011 W800 and saw this great review. Mine's done 45k kms, but I've seen W800s with over 100k and over 200k kms. That's Japanese reliability! And you're right, it's probably the most authentic retro you can buy. Thank you for this video 🙂
You're welcome. Can't beat the Japanese bikes for reliability for sure.
I bought a Triumph Thruxton in 2006 . A true retro cafe racer . 5 years later I changed the bars from clipons to bars which gave a more upright riding position . I have riden 85000 ks with no issues at all. After 15 years of ownership, I thought about a new bike, and I tested both W800 and RE and was absolutely disappointed. They don't come anywhere near the Triumph regarding power, handling, smoothness, pillion comfort, general long term quality, and without doubt aesthetics. The Triumph is beautiful so I kept it and still love.
I’m currently looking at a Triumph Scrambler 900 now. It’s a beautiful bike in every way. My only concern would be with reliability since I don’t know a whole lot about the newer triumph line ups. I took almost 2 years off from riding motorcycles and am getting paired back in now. Do they run as long, and with low maintenance like their Japanese counterparts?
Yes. I have a 2010 t100 Bonnie and not one issue after more than 40,000kms. I have Staintunes slip ons, ikon suspension and a Booster Plug to sort out the slow speed jerkiness. My love for this bike has as not faded. It will be my family’s job to sell it once I’m no longer on this earth.
I am 71 and have purchased 47 motorcycles. I spent a lot of time investigating the Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor and the W800 is worth the extra money. I owned a 2003 and a 2015 Triumph Bonneville T100, but they no longer put the chrome on them so I went with the 2022 W800. I rolled over 10,000 miles today and I really enjoy riding it. My 2023 Street Glide sits in the garage a lot.
Its great how much influence Ryan Fortnine has had on the the motorcycle video. He has upped everybody's game. I love the poetry that has been infused with personal and humble humour. Motorcycle reviewing has become an incredible film genre. Your videos are also informative and original.
fortnine is in their own class.not just in motorcycles, but in film making,writing,sarcasm,ingenuity....etc.
This is probably the best bike review on the internet. Friendly and honest and sounds a little bit like a tour guide trying to make it fun, which is just fine with me.
Bought one last year. No regrets. Like riding in a parade everytime. 👌
Best looking Brit Bike ever! I wanted to love this bike and actually went to my local dealer a couple years back to take one home. Bad news; it was sitting next to a Bonneville 1200 T120. While not quite at pretty as the W800, the Bonnie had a slightly lower price and curb weight, gobs more power and torque and a sixth gear. All with the same superb permium finish. I opted for function over form. Darn. I really wanted the Kawasaki😡.
Kawasaki could easily have gone with a six speed and added 15-20 HP. Could also have priced it more aggressively. Darn. Darn. Darn. Still, it's a beauty; light years ahead of the Enfield.
I had a 2017 Black Edition that i bought for Php250k(4500 usd) back in 2021. Did some detailing work on it, rode it around for a bit and sold it for a profit. After that i realized that i enjoyed that bike more than the other more modern bikes that i had before and after that. And to this day i am still remorseful for selling that beautiful bike.
I'm glad you liked the w800 and i hope you get one and make an entire series with it.
This is an absolutely beautiful bike. After 18 years of not riding I’m finding myself drawn back into it at 46 years old. That being said I’m no longer interested in laying in the launch position or sitting back with my feet stretched out on an 850lb couch. I pretty much had my mind made up with a Honda 300L Rally until I came across the Triumph Scrambler 900, and now this popped up and in the looks dpt it gives the Triumph a run for its money.
Thanks for making things hard. 😃
Love the content.
I came back to biking after a 36 year break and bought a W650. It (or the W800) is the perfect bike for our situation. Endless fun without all that excess power that can get you into deep trouble after a long time out of practice. I suspect the W800 would beat the Triumph for reliability too. I did 97,000km on my W650 with absolutely no issues beyond a blown headlamp bulb.
Thank you for this review on the W800. Back in the 60's I had the chance to ride a BSA Lightning 650 and I loved it, but I couldn't afford a BSA so I rode my old Honda. I always loved the exhaust note of the BSA with its 360 defgre crankshaft. I also prefered the BSA over any triumph, just because of that Lightning andit's chrome fuel tank.
In today's world the W800 is the closest thing to a BSA that I can buy, and I'd buy one in a heartbeat, but I can't. You see my always rides with me and she is crippled thanks to all the cancer treatments she's had. She has battled cancer eight times, had twelve surgeries in ten years, maxed out on Chemo, radiation and cyber knife treatments. She is currently on Immunotherapy treatments and will be every 28 days for the rest of her life. Due to all of this we have to ride a trike, She was having seizures and we thought id she had a seizure on a two wheeled machone it might cause an accident injuring both of us and possibly others. On a trike we feel I should be able to get pulled over and tend to her needs. Even with all our troubles we manage to ride abput 10,000 miles a year. We used to aveage 15,000 miles a year on two wheelers. We logged in over 300,000 miles in a twenty year period before all the cancer crippled my wife. Any way, thank you again for this video. Ride safely and enjoy every journey.
@@charlesdriscoll3487 Well, things have gotten worse for my wife and she can no longer ride, even on a trike. So for the first time in decades we don't own any motorcycle.
I always had hope to ride until I was ninety, but it will take a true miracle from Heaven to get her well ebough to ride again. She can't ride right now and she is afraid to see me take off by myself. I'm her 24/7 care giver and if sometihing were to happen to me she would die. She is totally helpless and needs me to help even for the simplest of tasks. Still I wish you safe joutneys, enjoy motorcycling just as long as you can.
I own a 2020 and it had nothing to do with diapers. However, it's a beautiful bike made in Japan and I love everything about it. An absolute pleasure to ride. Considering the Japanese-crafted fit and finish, I'd say the price is spot on Cheers from NYC.
Is it actually made in Japan ? Very few are these days. Yamaha only had one bike in production still made in Japan
@@kevinsmith2747 100 percent made in Japan.
The w800 is the most modern retro/English/reliable/easy to maintain/English motorcycle sound/motorcycle that you can buy Today. It feels so British and ironically is Japanese.
Yep, the 360 degree motor sounds super cool IMO.
i lied it so much i bought a w800 cafe, defenitly to a long haul bike but useable for 2-3 hour jaunts. i picked mine up new on a sale from kawa, for 8999 here in mb. this along with my versy 300(touring bike) i have no regrets and each outing puts a smile on my face. I think your review hit on the ball.
Nice find! You have two very versatile bikes that will cover what most riders want to do on two wheels.
Hello my brother, I have a x300 too , and I want a W800, also, and I was hoping you could help me make a smart decision, pros and cons.John
"Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten"(Al Pacino as Aldo Gucci in "House of Gucci"movie) that's the W800 to me!
I'm 71 years old and have been riding since 1974. Currently I own a Bonneville t120 along with a Tiger 850 sport. The t120 is a beautiful looking bike with almost double the power of a W800. Loads of fun! Diapers? I think not.
As to which retro looks best, my personal preference is the Ducati GT1000, sadly no longer in production. I put close to 96,000km on mine and close to 10,000 smiles on that many faces of folks who just couldn't get over the beauty of my bike. The Royal E Continental is a pretty damned good looking bike too!
Yes, that was an instant classic when it came out. I have a feeling that if Ducati brought that back they'd sell out in an instant.
The prettiest in its class by far, in my opinion. Cheers and enjoy
Thanks!
love this new vitage vibe...they must do the same to CARS
The W800 is a beautiful bike but I think the price is holding them back, 1.5-2K too expensive.
Yes, the Interceptor 650 undercuts it in price. If you're going to carry a passenger the W800 has a much better seat as my wife was falling off the back of the Interceptor. That seat is too short.
Just agree. A bit too pricey in my opinion also. Drop by man, you may like my content.
@@RRRRefuelRideRace Hi my Slovenian friend- I thought that I would take you up on your offer to check your channel out & I subscribed. All of those Tomos @ the Adria Classic was interesting to see. Seems to be lots of bikers in Slovenia. Have a beautiful day!! Your friend from the other side of the pond!! Illinois, USA
Have had a W650 and an 800 and a couple of 865 Bonnie’s , I preferred the 650 over the 800 just seemed a bit more peppy . They look a lot slimmer and authentic than the Triumph but the Bonnie’s have a bit more power which can come in handy at times. All nice bikes though.
In April this year I bought my 2020 W 800 with only 850 miles on the clock. Bought it for $7000 out the door of the local dealership. since then I’ve put about 3000 miles on the bike with no problems at all it does get smoother and I anticipate even less vibrations after a few thousand more miles. I did swap out the stock tires and replaced with Michelin Road Classics. They are a littlemore expensive then others but they are very smooth tires and do everything that they’re supposed to do, and they’re not showing any signs of wear after 3000 miles. I ride the country roads of Pennsylvania on this beautiful retro classic
Yeah, I was two days away from inspecting a real beauty and certain I would buy it, but then a CB1100 unexpectedly presented itself and i snapped it up because they are rare here in Oz. Love the Honda, but still want a W though. They are exquisite.
Own and ride a 2011 W800 (78.000km), a 2013 CB 1100 (73.000km) and a RE Chrome Classic EFI 500 (30.000km). Still love all three bikes over all mentioned km I've ridden on them in their own sweet way. These bikes are the ones, I want to ride and take care of. They all look beautiful and are reliable.
If I only would own one of them, maybe I would keep the W800. Enough power for all opportunities, is very reliable and has a unique in German called 'Königswelle' which I really like. Rode a Kawasaki LTD 750 Twin for many years, followed by a W650 for a few years and than upgraded to the W800 12 years ago. Never regreted the step. I like real parallel twins, which are not faked ones.The W800 is the better W in my eyes.
But I don't have to decide it. So the beat goes on on all three.
Very cool. Love the 360 degree order, bevel drive, and proper steel. I didn't grow up when british bikes were popular, but I still consider these to be real bikes vs the modern insect bikes.
A proper retro bike like this will always win my heart. That's why I mostly prefer bikes pre 2000's.
Ha! I call the new stuff insect bikes too. Bought a 2020 W - it looks like a proper bike vs. some kinda bug.
I call most of them alien bikes. Only at KTM bikes does this name not fit. They are a mixture of MADs spy vs spy an a walrus.
I owned this bike's predecessor, the W650. I returned to biking after a 36 year break and the W was perfect for me. Unbeatable for reliability - I did 97,000 trouble-free km on mine and toured all around the South Island of New Zealand on it several times. The only significant differences between the W650 and W800 relate to the engine; increased capacity and fuel injection instead of carburettors. So long as you're not a speed addict, the W800 would be a hard bike to beat for retro cruising. Great and very fair video!
I totally agree with your conclusion to the Kawasaki W800! It is a great Retro bike. Being 67, I have ridden the original Triumphs, BSAs etc. This will be my next one. Thanks for a great review!
Thanks for the comment!
I have been looking at these for awhile now. Kawasaki has their z900rs and 650rs now, similar, but the W800 catches the retro look better.
This one definitely feels very different from the Z bikes. Much more mellow but with more character.
The Z900RS/Z650RS reprise the styling of the late 1970's - mid 1980's. The W bikes reprise the styling of the 1950s' - early 1970s'. And of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The engine and chassis on the ZxxxRS bikes are fully modern though. The inline 4 on the 900 is a great engine but not one full of character. It's a bloody good looking bike though.
I come here for the bikes but I stay for the poetry. Man, that intro hit me, hard.😢
Ha, ha! Thanks! Some of these retro bikes get me reminiscing about back in the day.
I saw this in the shop today and it is beautiful. I'm lining up the Z900RS because I'm still a hooligan at heart for now, but this really turned my head.
The "positive neutral finder" is quite unique. When stopped and in 1st it will not up-shift into 2nd, it will always stop at neutral. Check out the unique valve clearance adjustment too. It uses shims (modern) but allows you to slide the rocker arm along the shaft to get to the shim and change it without removing the camshaft, how easy is that? Notice a lack of an oil cooler as well? Kawasaki have an easy suggestion if you spend any length of time stopped, just switch the engine off, simple. Sometimes value is hidden and the marketeers don't shout loud enough. Superb bike.
Thanks for the info. Those are some important details.
Kawa neutral finder is great. I don't know if some other brands have similar features on some of their models and if not why not. Neither my Honda NTV650 (my first bike) nor my Yamaha XT600E had it.
@@catmate8358 I think it might be patented, never seen it on anything else.
My 45 years old Suzuki 750cc 4 cyl. 4-stroke (got the same machine as I once owned and rode between '77 and '81) also uses shims, so they're not that modern, LOL, and they also slide in without any need to remove camshafts. Just remove the cylinder head cover, and you can access all the shims.
@@RayCis1 yes, my Daytona 1200 is shim over bucket and they can be changed without a camshaft removal. Bit fiddly but can be done.
I myself am the proud owner of a 1972 Triumph T100. I really love it and did not regret the purchase once. I only rode 50s and 60s classics since i got my licence five years ago and looked down somewhat on peolpe riding new Triumphs, W´s and such.
But:
1. The T100 broke down numerous times because of electrical gremlins (Even with electronic ignition)
2. It spills oil everywhere
3. Brakes are shit
4. It vibrates like hell
5. Its a pain to ride a couple exits on the Autobahn (At truck speeds)
6. For a tour of 400km a day, you spend an hour checking an wrenching after
I got to try out a W800 a couple months ago and it gives the classic feel where you want it whitout having to worry about a drip pan after riding.
I bought the W800 as my 1st motorcycle last summer! Really the only thing I wish was different was a 6th gear for the rare times I'm on the interstate. I won't ever do any long rides with it so it's not as big of a deal, but I do love riding it! Get alot of looks and questions from alot of people. Still debating if I want to black out the chrome one day, but if I do that, that'll be further into the future. I'm a young-ish person with a old(friends say expired) soul, and love the retro look.
That is an amazing first motorcycle to own.
If you want different gearing you could just get a sprocket with a couple of less teeth on the rear or 1 or 2 more teeth on the front or both if you want a big change. You will hardly notice any difference in the acceleration and yet you should notice a lot of difference on the interstate with it having less vibes and lower rpms at speed.
Well done. You explained the purpose of this bike, how it works, who is this one for, I mean all crucial aspects. Enjoyed it very much. This is one of the bikes that will be present forever on the market. Overall all a classic and I like classics. Thanks for sharing this, appreciate it. Keep going mate.
Thanks! Much appreciated.
@@DifferentSpokesTV You are welcome bro.
This is how I view the W800. Its direct competitors are Triumph Bonneville and Motoguzzi v7 special 850, in terms of price and fit and finish. Royal Enfield and BSA sit in a lower tier in both categories. However the Guzzi and the bonneville are both more powerful. When I had to decide between the 3, I discounted the Triumph as it was the most expensive and not made in Britain ( I am one of those guys :)). It was between the v7 special and the w800. If I could I would have got both, but I chose the Guzzi for more power, very slightly better looks and shaft drive and slightly better components (4 pot caliper instead of 2 and beefier shocks).
I'm going to be buying a V7 but this W800 is pretty nice also.
Good review, and that W800 is a true gem. Been somewhat tempted to buy one for years, but the price is a bit much and used ones are hard to find. And a Bonnie is faster so I would propably choose that. The RE is now out, I lost my temper with the company that imports them to Sweden as I tried pretty damn hard to be available for a test ride and when I managed to find the time and travelled to that part of the country they more or less ghosted me. That also answered my question as to how about buying an Indian bike which still is rare here, is that a real option? Answer is no, if I would need help with the bike I would need to be able to get hold of somebody so better to look at the older, more established brands. Would be no problem with Kawasaki...
Yeah, these might be hard to find in Sweden. In North America they are often on sale since the model has been out since 2011. Maybe you can locate a used one someday.
That's one reason I would choose Kawasaki over Triumph and RE, the number of dealerships in the US. Even in California the triumph dealerships are about a four hour drive from me.
It's such an under rated bike if you want a great retro style bike that just does everything well. Electronic ignition, fuel injection, power hydraulic brakes, analog gauges with digital calibrations and great lighting. I guess its good few people know about them since its kept prices low.
I think Kawasaki looks the best, to me, then it's the triumph you pictured and then RE and BSA. Good video, thank you.
You're welcome. That was a 2001 Bonneville 865cc. The modern ones are nice but are liquid cooled.
Great Review. I had a W 800 from 2014 to 2017. The mirrors have top visibility - and I never missed a 6th gear. The engine of the W800 is torque enough for only five gears.
I see a lot of used ones on the market with super low miles. Like 600 or 1,000 or 1,500. I've questioned a two year old bike with 1200 miles that was then traded in at a dealer. I'm thinking dissatisfaction due to vibration. You're right, its the most beautiful retro out there, but "character" only goes so far.
No dobra! Kapcie mi z wrażenia spadły. Śledzę ten kanał od dawna ale kiedy na ekran wskoczył Junak a z głośników poszło "I grew up in Poland" 😲😲😲😁
Pozdrowionka z Polski! ;)
Great to see others uncovering this true gem of a bike. I’ve had my W800 for a couple of years now. It’s been a great bike to own and to ride. I frequently get people asking me about it, some think it’s an immaculate restoration job, but then I tell them it’s a 2021 bike. It does get lots of attention, and best of all, there aren’t too many around so it’s a unique bike to see. I like that about it as well as the sound, the feel, the comfort. The only complaint I have, as do others on the various forums, are the stock Dunlop tyres (here in the UK anyway) which although have never been a problem, do make the bike feel a little disconnected from the road. Thankfully there’s loads of retro options to replace them with.
When people ask me if I restored-it myself I say 'Sure-did ! ' Dave nz
I bought a 2019 W800C in 2021, 6 miles on the clock, 40% discount. Best purchase I ever made. Truly a joy to ride!!! If you find one, grab it, you won’t be sorry…
My pinnacle machine has always been the 60's-era Triumph 650s. They formed my sensibilities for the ultimate in style, beauty, sound. No one (even Triumph) has matched those qualities in later years AFAIC. Kawasaki comes closest in my opinion, even though I wish it were a bit more lean like the 60's-era Triumphs (the Kawa is slightly beefy-looking IMO). Kawa got a lot of the right spirit with the fork gaiters, the length of the front fender, the 19" front 18" rear wheels, the correctly-aligned peashooter mufflers (WTH Triumph?) and the tank shape. I love the sound of the 360 twin and the Kawa has just the right rumble. I would like to see Kawa use more polished stainless and less chrome in order to give it a more classic look.
My ride as an undergrad was a 1956 500cc Triumph Tiger 100. Wonderful machine, but had the standard British foibles of the time. Mechanical charging regulators somehow died as soon as I looked at them, even in cars I had for many years later. But the 360 degree sound still thrills me when I hear it, despite living with 270 for many years now (Honda GL500i & GL650i).
Wow, I prefer the actual old bikes over new fakes, but Kawasaki did a great job on this bike. The only thing I would change is the LED headlight.
I agree, but liked the W800 so much that I bought one. However, even though I could afford a new one, I bought the older model (2015) because it doesn't have the LED headlamp and has a rear drum brake and hence the looks are better (IMHO!).
I agree that the looks ot the headlight is awful. However, the first time I rode it at night all my ey criticism went out the window! It is REALLY bright!
This is one of the best looking bikes out there. It doesn't have an engine compartment crammed with mechanical junk.
Yes it is retro.
I have always loved these, a friend restores the Ws and those as well are beauties. They were based off the A10. The retro I think is best is the 1200 Thruxton.
As always, well researched and excellently presented. 👍
Thanks! Much appreciated.
At 44, that description you gave at the beginning feels far too accurate. I am looking for a powerful, retro or retroish middleweight naked bike, and since yours is my favorite bike channel in TH-cam, I would greatly appreciate one of your comparative videos on that segment. In other words, the competition for the W800. Great video as always!
Thanks a lot! The W800 is not that powerful but the most legit retro bike out there (with retro performance). For power you're better off on a Z900RS or a Yamaha XSR900 (I reviewed one last summer). Both are sport bike fast and handle very well. The XSR is lighter and has more tech. They won't give you the retro feel as they look very modern but they do look good.
Z650RS is also a looker, if you want some spunk without the big displacement. 180º firing interval parallel twins aren't that desirable in my opinion, however.
I considered the 800, Bonnie, z900, but none hold a candle to the MG V850 Stone for retro and Character. Guzzi has Shaft drive, inverse twin & 6 gears. I smile every time I ride it. Each ride is better than the last.
But... they come with chrome on aluminum cylinder bores. They peel (at least here in Canada - cold!) after 20000 km. My own experience and also of others. Alas... The clutch push rod bearing was undersized and wore out. It was a 1970 Ambassador. I found the gear shifting was very harsh and this may explain why I had to replace the "double Cardan" drive shaft universal at $250. Ultimately I had to thank the MG for its engine design. A car missed a stop sign and the RHS engine cylinder took the force, rather than my right leg. I am VERY thankful for that.
Bought probably the last 2021 w800 around my area in late 2022. It is my first bike and I learned pretty much everything about riding and motorcycle on this bike. In some way it feels like to learn how to live like a caveman in modern era. The only retro element its missing is probably the carb. But I am an auto mechanic and I honestly do not like carbs. This bike is like a caveman living today, only with some cloth on and learned how to speak so the life could countinue, other than those, it remains old school. I love and respect that.
For the ownership experience, this bike has been fantastic. All the service parts are fairly normal and easy to source. Everything are just as where as they should be. Air filters are hardest to source so far cause they are oddly shaped and not much aftermarket options out there. Kawasaki OE parts are probably the only choice here in North America.
The center stand on standard model is really helpful for servicing the bike.
Oh one more thing, the tube tire. This is a bummer but kind of inevitable for spoke wheels, I might convert them to tubeless one day. The tire size are not too difficult to find but certainly not much choices, go tubeless will expend the options.
This is how a bike should look. These new bikes are just horrible. So, he is right, but you would think even younger riders would approve of this one. Just lovely.
I saw a great looking Honda 450 at the Harley dealer today. It looked perfect. Kick start and all. No rust or broken parts. I wish I had asked how much it costed. Ok I looked it up. It's a 1972 Honda CB 450 with 10302 miles and they want 4999.00 for it. I think they will take a lot less.
Cool! You should make an offer. Nothing to lose.
Country Lanes? I can only dream, where I live you need power (in my opinion). I am very tempted by the W800, at the present time I picked up a used 2008 Bandit 1250. Since the bikes of my youth (and dreams at that time) were Z1’s and CB750’s the sound and look of that Bandit give me the feel I need in a bike. Just starting it up is an emotional experience, but that torque is to live for.
The Bandits are classics appreciated by those in the know.
Not only is this bike the only 360 degree crank bike left in this market segment, it is also the only long stroke. And the only bike without a cam chain...
I would be happy to own any of them , but as you-say , the Kawasaki Is the most Authentic and one came my-way too-cheap to turn-down , a 2003 W650 and it's great . I actually DO cane-it through twisty back-roads ( nearly ALL the roads are twisty in New Zealand) and it does cope, you actually have to ride-it though , do some work for your fun , like you do with those old Brits. Like ALL bikes eventually , it would benefit from better-suspension , but for now , spacers in the fork-tubes , thicker oil, harder rear-setting and it's still better than my 60's and 70's bikes . The bike has changed but the roads are the same as when I was 17 (they're actually more beat-up now!) 49hp at the rear-wheel of mine , is only lacking on the-straights and I have an 81 1000cc V-twin to cover That . 68yrs, 52-bikes . Dave NZ
Thanks for the input Dave. NZ sounds like a great place to ride.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Sure is , the rest is crap ; expensive accommodation, food and fuel but bikes are cheap ! Dave
Great video thanks so much for sharing. I always thought the W800 was a pretty little bike and as someone who has been around bikes for way to long I think it would be great for shits and giggles without getting yourself into to much trouble. As a young fella I spent to much time working on my parents Pommy bikes and as much as I got sick of fixing them I did like the looks so now I’m 60 this one would be nice just to ride without all the problems that went with the old Pommy bikes.
Yep, that's why I tend to ride Japanese bikes. I like riding better than wrenching.
I grew-up with Nortons and triumphs, they all 'blew-up' . My W650 just goes faster as it free's-up . Dave NZ
I bought my 2021 W800 exactly because I liked the way it looked and think it's fine. I did find the mirrors unusable and added extensions which worked great! I also decided to put a windshield on and bought one of those "Flyscreens" from England. It's quite small but I think it looks good. Put on the OEM luggage rack as well.
It's a nice ride but at 70 I don't ride much and I'm going into my 3rd season with the odometer just about 350 miles.
I wanted the Triumph 650 in '67, but could only afford the CL77 Honda Scrambler. My '09 XB9SX Buell[ 53,000 +miles] turned out to be uncomfortable when we retired to Yuma. I was following the build up for the RE 650s, and when ready tested out the Street Twin and the RE INT back to back. I liked the RE better, and waited for the W800 to be available. I liked the appearance of the W800 better, but the RE won me by the way it felt to ride. I'm 80 now, and having multiple machines is no longer desirable. Were that not the case a W800 would be #2 in the carport.
The Interceptor is a great choice as well. I just found it not that good for a passenger.
@@DifferentSpokesTV They can get their own bike. I'm well past the stage of enjoying a back full of boobs.
Nice review - great bike, I narrowed it down to this and the Triumph Scrambler 900, both great lookers - went for the Triumph. Safe riding! Ronny
While I absolutely love the looks of this bike, it truly makes me sad that Honda forgot all about their CB1100 and left thissegment open for everyone else to thrive in.
I love Royal Enfield because they are supper affordable, but Kawasaki isn’t all that expensive and it should be reliable, which is a way of being affordable as well
Yes, the money is a bit expensive. It is a wonderful bike. I am bias as I own one. But I bought it because it was what I wanted, and it hasn't let me down. I live at the beach and use it on weather above 50 degrees. The Cafe is one of a kind.
Beautiful bike. A classic for sure!👍😉
The W800 was so rare to begin with, I was a kawasaki mechanic in early 70s and not a single one ever came in for service suggesting hardly any were sold in the US. Not sure why anyone today would feel romantic about it except maybe it reminds them of an old BSA etc
Could be they didn't break down. Maytag man.
I have the W800 Cafe model. Lighter than my Harley and more reliable than my enfield, less cramped than my Yoshimura GSX-R, More aggressive riding position w/ adequate tires, brakes, forks, w/ comfortable seat. Great finish. Love to have a Truxton RS or a '69 Bonneville...but this will get me to the cafe...TON UP !
I already have 4 bikes but I could be convinced to downsize to the W800 as my only bike. Absolutely love the 360 vertical twin.
I rode 900 Kaws back in the day. My first bike was an RD350. I know what too much HP can be. I survived those bikes.
30 years off bikes for the kids. The wife is gone. my turn to enjoy life and not just pay-for others lives. I am in that sweet spot of shopping bikes. It's gonna be the Int, the T100 or the W800. I loved my Kaw. I d/n see the W800 before when studying the Int. Now I am looking. I can buy any bike I want now. I sat on the Conti GT and really liked it. I d/n plan 200 mile rides. I can sit forward and prefer pushing the handlebars, not pulling.
The World is mine. :-)
The windshield and travel cases look GREAT! Waaaayy better than my 2012 Suzuki V-Strom
Putting slip-ons on the w800 is one of it's biggest drawbacks as you would need to cut the originals as they are one piece from head to tail.
48 your just a young whipper snapper! God willing you have years of riding ahead of you!
I had a W800 but I found it didn't have the grunt for effortless and stress-free overtakes (essential on crowded UK roads), and the brakes just were not up to modern standards. It needs a second front disc. I now enjoy a Triumph Speedmaster.
Same here but bought a Honda CB1100EX. At least as good quality of finish but with more power although not much for an 1100, very unstressed motor.
Only drawback is its considerable weight.
I bought a 22 Standard. Couldn’t stand the pain in my hands from the weight I was putting on them, so I swapped the bars with ones from a Street. Other than that, pretty awesome bike. I definitely would’ve bought a W800 Street to begin with if it was offered in the USA.
They should have given it a kick start. That would have been the cherry on top
Great review of an underrated bike. I have the W650, but still tempted by the Triumphs. I have not ridden the Triumphs though.
I hace a Bonnie T100. It’s a great bike but I don’t know how different it is from this Kawi. One of the reasons I chose the Bonnie is it being liquid cooled. I live in Arizona and I was thinking an air cooled engine would be hot in the Arizona desert.
Thanks! Those 650s are classics already. You hardly ever see them around.
Good video, cool bike. I saw one on Spokane this spring at a bike show, and it looks every bit as good in person.
A pillion is a small seat behind a saddle, not the person sitting on it.
The best retro out there is undoubtedly the Janus Motorcycle Company.
Although I will consider buying this Kawasaki W800 someday.
That would be styling from the 1930's - 1940s'.
I’m 24 so i may not have personal attachment to those days but i want one so bad. Talked to an ownerd about his a few weeks ago and i have just had a feeling in my heart it will be my next bike! One classic (cx500) and one retro just seems right
Thanks for the video. Mine is a 2021. It's a lovely machine. B roads in Kawartha Lakes are best as it doesn't like 100 or over. Trips to Windsor at 120 it would use 1/2 ltr of oil. Had it in Quebec last week but we took it easy. It's a bike that harkens back to a simpler time.
At my age, I really SHOULD be on one. Very handsome bike.
I have a W800 that just celebrated its 90k "birthday" last week. We're still in love. She does NOT need a 6th gear IMHO, but a pair of mirror extenders IS necessary to get 'em out past mah manly shoulders. I hope Kawi improved the surface protection in later years: my old girl's is pretty crap, but then I take her out year-round. We tour to destinations as much as 1000 km away; we prefer back roads but will take the odd Autobahn to speed things along. She'll definitely do a 160 kmh cruise, but becomes uncomfortably breezy / bouncy except on the smoothest surfaces; she's easier to live with at 140 -- and on back roads, we're kids again.
W800 all the day for me, but I'm biased ;)
Hey Lezeck, real good review about the Kwaka. Thanks for that but I really liked the picture of the fully restored Junak pretty early in the vid.
This was a very desirable bike in the east of Germany, we only got up to the 350 cc Jawas or EMW's from the 60's and 70's. Be good to see more from your channel. Thanks
I have a 72 T-100R new to me this year. Running in the motor so 20 or 30 miles at a time. it sat for 10 years. Has 9500 miles on it!
Don't forget the older bro W650 either .. this lightweight machine is a tad more alike the 'earlier Triumph Bonneville/Norton Dominator/BSA Lightning in that it still offers the chance to kick it over and start it a la the 1960's the old fashioned way . . otherwise it is a slightly less beefy W800, with an engine note and feel very similar to the '60's English parallel 650 twins, employing the original Turner 360 degree crankshaft layout, and the 'correct tingle-under-the -seat' vibration..! : ) ..good memories . . ! : )
The vibration is still carefully engenered into the w800's, I can assure you (own a '21 W800)!
@@Rifleman61 Yes, you made a great choice there! :)
I decided between this and the Bonneville and decided on the Bonnie. But this is a beautiful bike too.
Yep, love those British style bikes.
Of the four bikes shown the W is the only one that has a center stand. That's a must have on any chain driven bike and is a very retro touch.
Love the video and love my 2022 W800. Your review is spot on. I saw a Canadian flag in the video. What part of our great country are you in?
Bob in Ottawa
Ive had a few 650 yams, stripped back and cheap. I had a 1955 BSA golden flash. That's the bike i love but the original kawasaki w1 was the nicest bike out of japan, The BSA was better with later crank and thick flange barrels as road rocket single carb alley head. Electrics were. By joe lucas prince of darkness and frame is great but drum brankes were not good. The rigid A7 of 1949 is the most beautiful bike ever made.
Good review.
You covered all angles and i tend to agree with you pretty much 100%.
Nice styling and beautiful finish.
I would get one for sure if i was a little more irresponsible with my expenditure. 👍
Yes, same here. I've gotten pretty spend thrift in the last couple of years.
If Harley did this with the 50's & 60's style panhead with a frame option of rigid or swing arm they would make a killing. They wouldn't even have to make the engines, just contract them through S&s or something. Would be so easy.
The look is amazing
Although it reminds of the BSA GOLD STAR.
I have a 2013 Triumph Bonneville T100 and am considering wearing depends diapers whilst riding to enhance seat comfort and to make less frequent bathroom stops after hitting the local coffee shops.
I'm old enough to remember people used to tour on 650 Triumphs. Of course, the world of motorcycles changed forever in 1969 with the Honda CB750 Four.
If it is going for true retro, Kawasaki should put a kick starter on it. I miss the ability to start a motorcycle when the battery is run down. Even after all the years of motorcycles with only electric starters, I worry that I could be in the middle of nowhere, stopped for a rest, and find that the battery does not have the power to start the bike.
FYI : every bike has a dynamo that feeds the battery when riding it,it never goes empty like an elektric car ,so don't worry,ride happy !
😄
I tend to agree that a kick starter is important. I have realized that the only machine with a kick starter is a Ural - and they only produce sidecar machines. I would perfect my kickstart technique by using the "push in top gear" technique. Crude, but works especially if a Grizzly is becoming too interested.
The battery on my W650 came to the end of its life and wouldn't start the bike but the kick starter started it fine until I got a replacement battery.
Geez.. Royal Enfield had me for a while .. because of price and glowing reviews...BUT... NOW... I THINK I have to have a closer look at the W800 Before I pull the trigger... THANKS for the review..😊
I am a proud owner of Kawasaki W650 ˇ99 and I love it
Great video, coming from Eastern Europe i can relate (out house) I like the old bikes, in the market, deciding between the W800 and Z650rs. My heart is with W800 but for fun Z650 or 900. My Misses also drives? What do you think?
Thanks! I have a review of the Z650RS on my channel from last summer. It's lighter, faster, very good looking but has less character. It's much more fun on a twisty road. If you want speed and handling the RS is the choice, If you're fine with riding slower but sounding and feeling cooler, then the W800 all the way.
Lovely bike but like modern day Triumphs the price is on the high side. Tried the Enfield and was well taken by it but after trying a BSA Gold Star i was smitten. Had it a month or so now and it doesn't disappoint, a mixture of nostalgia and good looks with build quality really good for its price.
Nice ride. I haven't seen one in the wild yet but would like to have a look.
i had one back in 2011 lovely bike for sure