Purchased a W800 Café last week. Best bike I've ever owned (over 20). First surprise? It's comfortable. Handles well, and just enough power to keep an old man out of trouble. Looking forward to the 2021 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride.
I too, bought a 2020 W800 Cafe and is the best feeling I have ever had. Own a Concours and no want to buy a RE Himalayan. That will almost be a perfect garage.
14:05 Absolute truth, it's a lot prettier in person. Also I tend to like older generation things myself. Being a Corvette owner, I already am doomed to Mid-life Crisis jokes despite being 26. Regardless, when I went to go pick up my Super Cub from the Dealer that took delivery from it, the Sun shined from the roof window and it hit the flake of this W800 Cafe perfectly. It was as if Fate was beckoning me over to sit on it, so I did. At that moment, I realized, "This is my next bike". Of course, I didn't replace the cub, that MF gets 150MPG which is nice in a gas crisis like we are now, but for highway cruises or mountain backroads, the W800 Cafe truly spoke to me. I am tired of the whole sPeCS, dATA, & sTatiSTiCs younger folk chat on about. Be it 0-60, top speed, or whatever. For me, it's the ride, the feel, the emotion, and the style more than anything. What's the use of having a bike that terrifies me every time I throttle back. If I have to break the law to have fun, I've bought the wrong dang thing! I spent 3.5years zooming around in my Z06 and realized riding a fast car slow is woeful and going fast in a fast car is even more woeful! Riding something Slow Fast...that's where it's at. Actually utilizing everything the machine has to give, that's where true beauty belies and that's where one's skill can actually be sharpened. I've seen plenty of young folk toss themselves onto the sides of the streets because they done bought a bike too fast or big just because "They wanted to be admired and fast and look cool". They were sold on a Specs Sheet, not on the actual Ride. That's the tragedy of modern internet culture, but I think more and more folk will grow into the feel of vehicles instead of the "Numbers& Data" of them.
Is it worth mentioning that there are possibilities for this bike. The original retro- themed W650 Kawasaki W650 - which this bike is based on - was also marketed as a sedate, gentlemen’s Sunday cruiser..within a decade it turned into the most customizable platform that is loved to this day. For this bike, you should know , you can switch out the bars for flat bars, you can clear out the baffles, you can re-map the EFI for higher power, you can improve the suspension and brakes…and still have a beautiful classic.
I have owned one now for 12 months, I bought it new and fall in love with it more everyday, there is only one thing I would change and that is the foot pegs, I would like a nice set of rearsets on it. It turns heads and starts conversations every where I go and get only positive comments especially from the older generation, they all say its a gentleman's motorcycle, and I have to agree 👍. Great review mate.
Kawasaki's are really improving their looks..this new one is crazy nice. reminds me of the 1970's era bikes, spoked wheels, pipes, seat, color is not splashy but mature in looks and the sound is perfect and air-cooled. The rider's seat looks really comfy and so well designed! It seems to me a TT-style handlebar would improve rideability for the rider to feel more relaxed..that's my only peeve.
The Japanese manufacturers never cease to amaze me with their commitment to the little guy. They make some higher priced bikes, but the majority of their stuff is priced for just about anyone. The minimum wage guy and middle class worker can go out and pick up a reliable bike, from race replicas to scooters, without breaking the bank.
I ride a w800 about 500kms a week and it’s a great country and town commuter - gold emulators + hagons + exhaust + fuel controller and it’s just awesome. Day in day out.
Thanks for your video. I went to my local dealer and sat on the 800 and 900 and the 800 I to was way to far forward on the low hand grips. I’m new to biking and having on that weight pushing on my hands having me a feel of insecurity. Then I sat on the 900 cafe and wow it was perfect! I really had my heart set on the 800 though. But the fact that I’m 350 miles from Las Vegas and I’m getting the bike to do that ride a few times a year that the 900 is probably the better choice and the fact that my first bike doesn’t have to be the be all end all of bikes😁. Thanks again for your video.
Throttle Downunder I’ve been out of state for work for a few months, going to get after it when I get home and see how it stacks up to my CB1100 and such.
Good W800 Review , but the great new Kawasaki retro models really needs some new colour designers , who are not colour blind !! Their choice of factory paint colours are off !
@@hondanut7564 beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I wouldn't change the colour of my w800 Cafe if you payed me, the paint is beautiful especially in the sun, not all of us want Kawasaki green.
I agree, Kawasaki green and either drill out the mufflers or replace with a pair of contis would improve the bike tremendously without spending a bunch of cash. Kawasaki do this a sell a lot more of these bikes.
Nice to finally see some reviews on this bike. I love the looks of this bike but I don't think a could do clumbman bars on a daily rider. I wish they had other options, something that sits up just a little higher. I like the cafe look, but I don't want to go full cafe. I'm too old to be leaned over the tank. I just put shorter bars on my old Honda CB750 and I'm already missing the stock bars.
There are the W800 Classic and the W800 Street in most countries, certainly in Canada. I bought the W800 Street and absolutely love it. I can't stay off of it!
Nice review, I this has been on my list for a bit and it if finally in the states. We will just have to see how well it dose. The old W650 couldn't compete against triumph so they pulled it from our market and I was bummed we didn't get the original W800s. But now we have the retro wars with many manufactures.
Im a young guy and I love the retro bike look. Funny i have friends in mid 50s and they have a group of riders in crouch rocket. I debating either w800 cafe or triumph T120 so hard to decide.
Great review and interesting to see how W8000 Cafe is assessed by somebody outside of Japan! I am certainly one of those who are yet to decide W800, W800 Cafe, Z900RS or Z900RS Cafe!
I had a 2001 W650 here in the USA and it was wonderful. Really good looking too. They never brought the W800 into the States until this version. I think it looks hideous, sad to say. The W650 was unpretentious and classic; it even had a kick starter! This W800 looks like it's trying to be classic and "hot" or something; instead it looks like something Dr. Seuss would dream up! ( I traded my W650 three years ago for a new Bonneville T120 with no regrets. The Bonnie has twice the power, handles much better, and is even better looking. I have the Cinder Red model. I hope Kawasaki remakes their W800 into a beautiful classic again. Maybe I'd buy one! )
I read somewere that in Australia only the Cafe version is aviable? That is just unfortunate cause i own the 2019 Street version. For my opinion nicer colours, a wider handlebar, an upright sitting position, more comfortable and relaxed, absolute possible to ride longer distances
Many of the manufacturers are missing the mark with paint, and I agree, I nice individual paint job will change it a lot. I plan on doing the same with my new bike when it arrives.
What does the W stand for please? I’m 60 next May and this could suit me just fine. I’ve had bikes since I was 16 y/o. The last bike was a 2009 Honda CB1000r but my favourite was my 2003 Suzuki 1400 GSX. I’m also seriously in love with the Kawasaki Z900rs or the Honda 1100rs too.
G'day David. The Kawasaki is certainly better built. Kawasakis are always solid....BUT the Royal Enfield 650s are so much more fun to ride. I found the W800 a little boring to ride . Just my impression
Can I ask how tall are you (for the reach). Did you see the street version, i guess this will be a lot more upright..Did the bike feel heavy? cheers for the review.
G'day Steve, I'm 177cm, 5'10, and no it didn't feel heavy at all. However it did feel "Graceful" turning in at speed, meaning it wasn't aggressive. It's not the most agile bike, but that's part of the charm I think.
Great too see the first review of the 2019 W800 from you. As wirtitten in a previous video, for me the coolest bikes at the moment are the RE 650, W800 and Moto Guzzi V7 III. They are for me the real classic on the market from engine and look. Do you have a chance to ride the V7 as well? I have it and love it, but I am interested what you think of it. I also missed your opinion about the the difference between the RE and W800. Which do you prefer?
G'day again Vincent, I'd love to do the V7, I'll have a chat to the dealer near me and see if I can get one. Regarding the RE 650 vs the W800 , personally I love the RE 650 Continental GT as a package from fun, power and affordability. The W800 is a great bike, but as the W800 is about $5k more than the RE, for me I choose the RE
@@ThrottleDownunder Great, looking forward for your next videos. Yes the price gap is immense, I am curious how much they are selling , since there are many bikes for this price in the market a d all similar classic bikes are cheaper. I hope they sell enough to keep them in their line. The V7 is in Germany around 2k Euro more expensive than the RE, still a lot but I love the shaft drive and the cylinder heads in that position and the big tank. So at the end I don't regret the decision 😊
Completely agree about the RE 650, K W800 and MG V7! The best modern classics by a large margin. Thinking of trading in my Thruxton 900 for the W800 just to get far away from the Triumph name! Absolutely hate the direction that Triumph has taken with 1200cc water cooled pretenders.
@@ThrottleDownunder I think about the same, however there's still a big question about RE reliability and for now the only thing sure is that the W is easily capable of 100k+ miles no issues.
@@UncleLongbeard I agree totally with you. The W800 is tried and tested and relatively bullet proof, and yes, I'm taking a risk with the Royal Enfield. Time will tell. Here's hoping I didn't make the wrong choice.
Im actually a 'young guy' and I like the look of the new w800 cafe, although I feel the graphics could be improved as I prefer the badge of the 1st gen w800. I currently own a 2013 model and am generally happy with it for the duties I use it for, although I do ride a 50/50 split of solo and 2 up and I'm a little disappointed that Kawasaki didnt develop a little more power/torque into the new motor, a 10-20% increase wouldve been greatly appreciated. If it had that I would definitely have upgraded for sure.
Thanks for the vid. Didn't even know the W800 had been updated! Good news! And I know you said you don't think specs are relevant for this bike, bike the vid literally begs the question: how is this bike updated/upgraded? It was in fact one of the only reasons I was watching.
Ahh I didn't have any reference as I have not ridden the older W800. My only suggestion would be to compare the specs sheets for both. From what I understand, there has been a mild power increase, but enough to be noticeable over the previous generation
@@52bogie I own the W800 Street and at any speed or situation I have never been want for more power (lots of torque) and certainly outperforms the spec sheet.
Wow. you turned left onto a main road and you didn't stop at the stop sign! To keep yourself in one piece i suggest you pay more attention to the road in front of you ( long time road and trial rider, 5 Y O till now 59 in July ). I know i seems petty, but young people see this and are very impressionable and think it's ok to do it as well.
Thanks for the video on the Kaw W800. I note that you discuss this bike relative to the Z900 RS, which are two vastly different bikes (as you stated). However, you did not compare it to the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650, which have reviewed about a month ago. I think the RE Continental and the W800 are pretty similar in spec, and I would love to hear your thoughts on how they differ from each other to ride and your general thoughts on them. I thinking about these bikes as a possible 2nd bike purchase in the future. I am leaning toward the RE because of the price and the 6th gear, but I grew up riding Kaws so I have lots of love for the brand and have nothing but good things to say about them...so reliable and well made. Not sure why the W800 is over $9000 and not below $8000. Your input would be greatly appreciated.
I agree totally, firstly I will say that considering I get to ride so many bikes for my channel, I have laid down my own hard earned cash on a RE Continental GT, the W800 is great, and long term I think it will hold its value better, but taking into consideration cost, looks and disability, the Enfield 650 wins hands down. My only concern is, as the Enfiled is a brand new platform, we don't yet know the challenges that will be had. But as I get mine in a few weeks, I'll be sure to share all the good and the bad
That's what I was thinking, but I have not had a chance to see a W800 yet. As for the Continental Gt, I will not be buying to next year or 2021, so I can sit back and wait to see if RE has stepped up it's manufacture game to the point that reliability is approaching HD and Triumph levels or if there are lots of issues and then how RE handles them. I really like the bike, but have only sat on it so far. I will try to test one in a few weeks, when I can find some time. I'll be looking forward to hear what you report about your experiences with it, and curious to see how you mod it too.
At the motorway you drove 80 to 90 km/h with about 3200 U/min. Was this in 5th gear? I had a W800 2014. At 3200 U/min in 5th gear it drove about 95 km/h. Thank you, nice review.
I'm waiting for those to come to the US. I like the new GT Continental 650 I lot but I think the riding position on the Interceptor will be more comfortable for me. I'll be test driving both of them as soon as they're available here.
@@daveco1270 I found the interceptor good but when I test rode back to back with the GT, the GT wins. Also there is an extended linkage on the interceptor s gears due to peg position, that makes it feel spongy
Throttle Downunder how does the riding position compare to the W800. I sat on the w800 at a bike show and the clubman bars felt too low for a middle aged bloke like me. : ) Is the RE continental similar?
To Rob, from Throttle- down-under. So if I get a Truncheon and star hitting you in the head and you say STOP. I will not STOP (just as you did not Stop at the STOP sign) I'll just s l o w d o w n, but continue to strike your head. How would you feel about that?
G'day Stevo, thank you for your comment, and if you had taken the opportunity to read other comments you will see this has been addressed already. And you are right. It's interesting the things that people are so opinionated about, a stop sign passed at 10km/h with not a vehicle in sight creates outrage, but turnouts and wheelies get shares and go viral. Says more about the commenters I guess.
@@ThrottleDownunder I am hoping that when he is in a car, he stops. As we do not have a magic pocket-watch to turn back time and undo a situation. The best, is to preclude the situation entirely. Thx for taking the time. I hope that since there is more than one comment about this issue. That it will be given the weight it deserves. We are not soing you harm \, on the contrary:" A wise man learns from the mistakes of others"
I have owned the earlier w800 and w650 I sold the 800 as the 650 was a nicer bike to ride and I still have it. I am a member of the Copdock Classic Motorcycle Club each year we purchase a bike for people to buy draw tickets to win it all monies then go to a charity this year we looked at a new Royal Enfield Intercepter or GT650 we got a demo on both bikes and we decided as a group on the GT just altogether a better ride so for 2019 some lucky person will win a brand new motorcycle with insurance,helmet and jacket .Look us up on utube.
really the bike at the top of my list but cant afford it , my second pick would be a yamaha bolt and my third ninja 400 or 650. the royal enfield 650 would be tempting but they couldnt build anything rigth since 1892 so im gonna wait a good decade or 2 before even considering their bikes
@@ThrottleDownunder i wouldnt mind if brackets and the like are ugly, that the suspension is too soft etc, what i hope for is wiring that dont stop working in humidity and engine that dont blow up if you keep them at high rev for long periods. those old 350/500 looked great (to me) but the engine were worst than a briggs and stratton. if they can just land hits on the important things and manage to become an established brand in term of reliability...then i think those 650 will do well in a few years...oh and also not having to wait 7 months for parts.
I foundly recall riding my 900 Sportster a 69 Magneto Kickstart only to a hundred miles an hour then getting an 1100 Suzuki and doing a hundred and forty what a bike! But unfortunately today the law does not think that's fun. And they are too plentiful the police that is.
Actually it is has a BSA A7 heritage that Kawasaki licensed back in 1960 s from their acquisition of the Maguro motorcycle company. Then they improved it dramatically. So definitely not a knock off. Triumph could only wish they could build a bike of this quality. And BSA are long gone. Check your facts is all I'm saying. BTW, I owned a W650 and a W800.
I certainly didn't say it was a knock off. That's interesting stuff, also Kawasaki s Vulcan 900 is the old Softtail chassis that they acquired during the brief time that Harleys team forgot to renew patent.
Really Can’t see the point in this in light of the comparable bikes that just outclass it… Norton commando… Triumph Bonneville, scrambler, bobber, Truxton… Yamaha XS are 900… Outgunned!
Be warned bars too low for old codger comfort and an expensive fix as cables and electricals are too short. I just sold mine. Would be nice with a 6 speed box. Go for the 2020 road version if you have any doubts about the bars. A great great bike otherwise.
My '68 T120R Bonnieville clocked 147mph out of the crate. Not exactly as you advise but then they knew how to build a bike back then without all the plastic stuff to fade and rot. 46BHP 4 speed transmission and zero to 60 under 4 seconds I was just out of the navy and 24, magic mate absolute magic. If I were to have a Suzuki now it'd be a 'Buffalo.' Cheers, ride to live and stop at stop signs.
@@johntripp5159 Sounds like good times! Just to clarify though, I was referring to the last generation of 865cc air cooled engine which they stopped making in 2016. I'm sure the older one had a lot more magic to them ;) Cheers!
@@250frederic Bikes have become too sophisticated in my opinion. I want to feel the road and be a part of the connection between bike and rider. Too much fly by wire nowadays. However at my time of life (75) It's more about the memories unfortunately. I did try one of the new Triumphs back in '02, just a little putt around the block, yeah, a dog. curiously I thought of them as cheap retro things for the 'wish I was a ton up boy' crowd in the new millenia.
Love W800 and the Kawasaki's, but my god the cowling and the color looks tacked-on, Kawasaki should really work on the aesthetics rather than just bolting every retro-looking thing together and call it a modern classic.
I had a 1968 W2 SS in 1969, it looked so nice like the old BSA it was copied from, the W 650 looked great too, they copied triumph paint schemes. This looks HORRIBLE! The fairing is most like a BMW R90S and with it the low handlebars. No bike from the '60s had a similar fairing but European models did often have the low bars. All bikes back then had silver engines with polished alloy covers, To me black on the engine is ugly and will look old and tired very soon. Most bikes had a screwed on tank badge, including the Triumphs and BSAs and early W series models, Drop that fugly giant W! The black rims are also not retro, clear anodized silver rims would be so much nicer! The original W series had a SS front fender, and a chromed steel rear fender, odd-but standard for Kawasakis of that period. SS fenders were common on some English models back then and many Japanese bikes had chrome fenders-I happen to prefer paint to match the tank, and I also like nice colors. The slightly more recent 1971 Ducati 750 GT had SS fenders at both ends. Comparing this to the retro Z 900 is odd, you need to point out they are retros of 2 different periods over a decade apart so all performance characteristics and expectations are to be different. Comparing this to a modern Triumph Bonneville is more relevant, and I like that the Z 800 still has not become so heavy as the Triumph, at this point the Triumph does look better. back when the W650 and then new Bonnie came out, the Kawasaki was considered to look much more like the originals. It had the colors, polish, and lines. If Kawasaki can bring back the colors and finish of their earlier W 650, I would want one. As far as the 'Cafe" look, back then a Cafe bike could be expected to have a lot more polished aluminum parts replacing the standard painted steel parts- engine mounts, oil tank fuel tank, forks and triple clamps, wheel rims and hubs. Aluminum meant weight saving and was polished to show it off! Cafe bikes rarely had fairings, those that did were likely to be larger and cover the engine as well as taller to encompass the riders frontal area (Velocette had an optional Avon racing style fairing). putting low bars and a tiny fairing on a standard is late '70s styling, again wrong period!
G'day Steve, I agree with most of what you have said, but these are marketed to a new generation as well, I respect the brand's using styling cues from yesteryear, but I also understand the need to make modern changes too just to be able to sell products at profit. Thanks for your comments, I appreciate the time and detail.
Its way overpriced. Here in US you can buy left over Moto Guzzi 7III for 7k lot better machine.Did I say overpriced? 3more k and you can buy stunning left over 2018 BMW R9t with 110 HP and stunning bike to drool over +
If you started off with a blank piece of paper, you could produce a thing of beauty... . The concept is good, but, who amongst the boffins in the design dept came up with the dark shit coloured tank, light shit coloured seat, wierd coloured side covers, and ugly back yard fairing...? Its hardly a thing of beauty.... Have a look at an SFC Laverda, a Laverda Jota, a 750SS Ducati, a Guzzi Le Mans...an RGV Suzuki....all things of beauty..
Actually it is has a BSA A7 heritage that Kawasaki licensed back in 1960 s from their acquisition of the Maguro motorcycle company. Then they improved it dramatically. So definitely not a knock off. Triumph could only wish they could build a bike of this quality. And BSA are long gone. Check your facts is all I'm saying. BTW, I owned a W650 and a W800.
With so many choices for Retro bikes, I don't feel this one will compete against Triumph for quality & looks or the Royal Enfield Interceptor or Continental GT that is having record sales in Europe. Retro originated in England so many riders would like an historical English bike.
Actually it is has a BSA A7 heritage that Kawasaki licensed back in 1960 s from their acquisition of the Maguro motorcycle company. Then they improved it dramatically. So definitely not a knock off. Triumph could only wish they could build a bike of this quality. And BSA are long gone. Check your facts is all I'm saying. BTW, I owned a W650 and a W800.
Purchased a W800 Café last week. Best bike I've ever owned (over 20). First surprise? It's comfortable. Handles well, and just enough power to keep an old man out of trouble. Looking forward to the 2021 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride.
G'day Boomer. Glad you loved it mate. Hopefully this year DGR will run properly. Finger's crossed
I too, bought a 2020 W800 Cafe and is the best feeling I have ever had. Own a Concours and no want to buy a RE Himalayan. That will almost be a perfect garage.
14:05 Absolute truth, it's a lot prettier in person. Also I tend to like older generation things myself. Being a Corvette owner, I already am doomed to Mid-life Crisis jokes despite being 26.
Regardless, when I went to go pick up my Super Cub from the Dealer that took delivery from it, the Sun shined from the roof window and it hit the flake of this W800 Cafe perfectly.
It was as if Fate was beckoning me over to sit on it, so I did. At that moment, I realized, "This is my next bike". Of course, I didn't replace the cub, that MF gets 150MPG which is nice in a gas crisis like we are now, but for highway cruises or mountain backroads, the W800 Cafe truly spoke to me. I am tired of the whole sPeCS, dATA, & sTatiSTiCs younger folk chat on about. Be it 0-60, top speed, or whatever. For me, it's the ride, the feel, the emotion, and the style more than anything. What's the use of having a bike that terrifies me every time I throttle back. If I have to break the law to have fun, I've bought the wrong dang thing! I spent 3.5years zooming around in my Z06 and realized riding a fast car slow is woeful and going fast in a fast car is even more woeful! Riding something Slow Fast...that's where it's at. Actually utilizing everything the machine has to give, that's where true beauty belies and that's where one's skill can actually be sharpened.
I've seen plenty of young folk toss themselves onto the sides of the streets because they done bought a bike too fast or big just because "They wanted to be admired and fast and look cool". They were sold on a Specs Sheet, not on the actual Ride. That's the tragedy of modern internet culture, but I think more and more folk will grow into the feel of vehicles instead of the "Numbers& Data" of them.
Is it worth mentioning that there are possibilities for this bike. The original retro- themed W650 Kawasaki W650 - which this bike is based on - was also marketed as a sedate, gentlemen’s Sunday cruiser..within a decade it turned into the most customizable platform that is loved to this day. For this bike, you should know , you can switch out the bars for flat bars, you can clear out the baffles, you can re-map the EFI for higher power, you can improve the suspension and brakes…and still have a beautiful classic.
I bought my Royal enfield interceptor 650 from Penrith Motorcycle Centre. Great bunch of guys. Absolutely love my bike!
Awesome mate. And yes I agree. I bought my Enfield from them too
I have owned one now for 12 months, I bought it new and fall in love with it more everyday, there is only one thing I would change and that is the foot pegs, I would like a nice set of rearsets on it. It turns heads and starts conversations every where I go and get only positive comments especially from the older generation, they all say its a gentleman's motorcycle, and I have to agree 👍. Great review mate.
Thanks for watching mate. Enjoy your ride
I have a W650 who got now 103000 kms and works quite as a new one ! Always young classic bike, and it costs me quite nothing for maintenance ....
Kawasaki's are really improving their looks..this new one is crazy nice. reminds me of the 1970's era bikes, spoked wheels, pipes, seat, color is not splashy but mature in looks and the sound is perfect and air-cooled. The rider's seat looks really comfy and so well designed! It seems to me a TT-style handlebar would improve rideability for the rider to feel more relaxed..that's my only peeve.
Great review on an awesome bike! Looking forward to seeing one of these at my local dealership.
G'day Andrew, thank you for your message, I hope you enjoy it too when you get to test ride it.
As an added note I have been interested in these types of bikes since I was 31 and now am 37. Would hate to think I am middle aged now....
@@andrewhannam. haha not yet, I think middle aged is 45 to 55. Sadly I'm in that category haha
The Japanese manufacturers never cease to amaze me with their commitment to the little guy. They make some higher priced bikes, but the majority of their stuff is priced for just about anyone. The minimum wage guy and middle class worker can go out and pick up a reliable bike, from race replicas to scooters, without breaking the bank.
So true
This bike is still over priced. I bought a new xsr900 for less and it's got more of everything. I love the look of this bike though
Lovely bike, mate. I enjoyed that.
Thank you
I ride a w800 about 500kms a week and it’s a great country and town commuter - gold emulators + hagons + exhaust + fuel controller and it’s just awesome. Day in day out.
I’d be happy to tour in it.
Glad you love it Aaron. Sounds like a great range of mods.
Thanks for your video. I went to my local dealer and sat on the 800 and 900 and the 800 I to was way to far forward on the low hand grips. I’m new to biking and having on that weight pushing on my hands having me a feel of insecurity. Then I sat on the 900 cafe and wow it was perfect! I really had my heart set on the 800 though. But the fact that I’m 350 miles from Las Vegas and I’m getting the bike to do that ride a few times a year that the 900 is probably the better choice and the fact that my first bike doesn’t have to be the be all end all of bikes😁. Thanks again for your video.
G'day Tony. I'm glad the video was of help to you. I love the 900 too. Safe riding my friend
Excellent video
Really looking forward to getting my hands on one of these
Would love to know your opinion after you test ride one.
Throttle Downunder I’ve been out of state for work for a few months, going to get after it when I get home and see how it stacks up to my CB1100 and such.
Thanks brother
Fantastic Bike!
Good W800 Review , but the great new Kawasaki retro models really needs some new colour designers , who are not colour blind !! Their choice of factory paint colours are off !
G'day again Honda Nut, yes I do agree, it looks better in person but unusual color combos for sure
Kawasaki must have no intentions of growing their customer base with all these harsh on the eyes, paint jobs !!! @Jamie Mills
@@hondanut7564 beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I wouldn't change the colour of my w800 Cafe if you payed me, the paint is beautiful especially in the sun, not all of us want Kawasaki green.
I agree, Kawasaki green and either drill out the mufflers or replace with a pair of contis would improve the bike tremendously without spending a bunch of cash. Kawasaki do this a sell a lot more of these bikes.
Nice to finally see some reviews on this bike. I love the looks of this bike but I don't think a could do clumbman bars on a daily rider. I wish they had other options, something that sits up just a little higher. I like the cafe look, but I don't want to go full cafe. I'm too old to be leaned over the tank. I just put shorter bars on my old Honda CB750 and I'm already missing the stock bars.
I did struggle with the Clubman Bars myself. Perhaps in the near future there might be a non cafe version coming. 😉😉
There are the W800 Classic and the W800 Street in most countries, certainly in Canada. I bought the W800 Street and absolutely love it. I can't stay off of it!
Nice review, I this has been on my list for a bit and it if finally in the states. We will just have to see how well it dose. The old W650 couldn't compete against triumph so they pulled it from our market and I was bummed we didn't get the original W800s. But now we have the retro wars with many manufactures.
Retro wars here too, and that's really good for those of us that love them. Plenty to choose from
Im a young guy and I love the retro bike look. Funny i have friends in mid 50s and they have a group of riders in crouch rocket. I debating either w800 cafe or triumph T120 so hard to decide.
Love the color scheme! Just picked one up here in the US. Be different.
I hope you enjoy it
Great review and interesting to see how W8000 Cafe is assessed by somebody outside of Japan! I am certainly one of those who are yet to decide W800, W800 Cafe, Z900RS or Z900RS Cafe!
A set of straighter bars might suit some folk??
I'm 24 and I'll ride this baby every day.. I'm so into this type of bike now days.. I guess I'm getting older Hehehehe
24 old? Haha wait until you get to 45, I must be ancient lol
I had a 2001 W650 here in the USA and it was wonderful. Really good looking too. They never brought the W800 into the States until this version. I think it looks hideous, sad to say. The W650 was unpretentious and classic; it even had a kick starter! This W800 looks like it's trying to be classic and "hot" or something; instead it looks like something Dr. Seuss would dream up!
( I traded my W650 three years ago for a new Bonneville T120 with no regrets. The Bonnie has twice the power, handles much better, and is even better looking. I have the Cinder Red model. I hope Kawasaki remakes their W800 into a beautiful classic again. Maybe I'd buy one! )
I love the T120, certainly a great choice, I personally would love one too. And yes I agree with all you had to say.
Never brought it to the US? Bought a 1200 Thruxton.
I read somewere that in Australia only the Cafe version is aviable? That is just unfortunate cause i own the 2019 Street version. For my opinion nicer colours, a wider handlebar, an upright sitting position, more comfortable and relaxed, absolute possible to ride longer distances
I'd like a street version here. I think it would sell well
Why don't they make the seat a few inches longer for the pillion?
Not sure but I would think there are options available
@@ThrottleDownunder , any single seater bike is NOT VALUE FOR MONEY
Súper cool 😎
beautiful bike. how many miles can you go before your wrists and back start nagging?
Yes that did affect me a little after about an hour
Nice bike but the colour and that massive w on the tank spoil it the first job for me would be a respray in retro racing paint
Many of the manufacturers are missing the mark with paint, and I agree, I nice individual paint job will change it a lot. I plan on doing the same with my new bike when it arrives.
Take a look at mick Grant's race bike from the 70,s awesome
What does the W stand for please? I’m 60 next May and this could suit me just fine. I’ve had bikes since I was 16 y/o. The last bike was a 2009 Honda CB1000r but my favourite was my 2003 Suzuki 1400 GSX. I’m also seriously in love with the Kawasaki Z900rs or the Honda 1100rs too.
Way cool bikes man!
Thanks George 👍
Hi there, how would you compare this bike to Royal Enfields Conti GT ? The Kawa is a lot more expensive in Europe.
G'day David. The Kawasaki is certainly better built. Kawasakis are always solid....BUT the Royal Enfield 650s are so much more fun to ride. I found the W800 a little boring to ride . Just my impression
Nice bike platform, but why cafe racer style. Whats wrong with much cooler bobber style?
I love the bobber style myself, I think Kawasaki Vulcan would lean better towards to bobber style with some work
good w800 thailand..2017-2018..good cassi
Can I ask how tall are you (for the reach). Did you see the street version, i guess this will be a lot more upright..Did the bike feel heavy? cheers for the review.
G'day Steve, I'm 177cm, 5'10, and no it didn't feel heavy at all. However it did feel "Graceful" turning in at speed, meaning it wasn't aggressive. It's not the most agile bike, but that's part of the charm I think.
Great too see the first review of the 2019 W800 from you. As wirtitten in a previous video, for me the coolest bikes at the moment are the RE 650, W800 and Moto Guzzi V7 III. They are for me the real classic on the market from engine and look.
Do you have a chance to ride the V7 as well? I have it and love it, but I am interested what you think of it. I also missed your opinion about the the difference between the RE and W800. Which do you prefer?
G'day again Vincent, I'd love to do the V7, I'll have a chat to the dealer near me and see if I can get one.
Regarding the RE 650 vs the W800 , personally I love the RE 650 Continental GT as a package from fun, power and affordability. The W800 is a great bike, but as the W800 is about $5k more than the RE, for me I choose the RE
@@ThrottleDownunder Great, looking forward for your next videos. Yes the price gap is immense, I am curious how much they are selling , since there are many bikes for this price in the market a d all similar classic bikes are cheaper. I hope they sell enough to keep them in their line. The V7 is in Germany around 2k Euro more expensive than the RE, still a lot but I love the shaft drive and the cylinder heads in that position and the big tank. So at the end I don't regret the decision 😊
Completely agree about the RE 650, K W800 and MG V7! The best modern classics by a large margin. Thinking of trading in my Thruxton 900 for the W800 just to get far away from the Triumph name! Absolutely hate the direction that Triumph has taken with 1200cc water cooled pretenders.
@@ThrottleDownunder I think about the same, however there's still a big question about RE reliability and for now the only thing sure is that the W is easily capable of 100k+ miles no issues.
@@UncleLongbeard I agree totally with you. The W800 is tried and tested and relatively bullet proof, and yes, I'm taking a risk with the Royal Enfield. Time will tell. Here's hoping I didn't make the wrong choice.
I love the color, Idk what some of you are talking about.. Subtle colors are better than ugly, bright neon stuff.
Im actually a 'young guy' and I like the look of the new w800 cafe, although I feel the graphics could be improved as I prefer the badge of the 1st gen w800.
I currently own a 2013 model and am generally happy with it for the duties I use it for, although I do ride a 50/50 split of solo and 2 up and I'm a little disappointed that Kawasaki didnt develop a little more power/torque into the new motor, a 10-20% increase wouldve been greatly appreciated.
If it had that I would definitely have upgraded for sure.
Thanks for your comment, and yes I do agree
Thanks for the vid. Didn't even know the W800 had been updated! Good news! And I know you said you don't think specs are relevant for this bike, bike the vid literally begs the question: how is this bike updated/upgraded? It was in fact one of the only reasons I was watching.
Ahh I didn't have any reference as I have not ridden the older W800. My only suggestion would be to compare the specs sheets for both. From what I understand, there has been a mild power increase, but enough to be noticeable over the previous generation
there has been no mention of performance upgrades and sadly the EFI W 800 had similar performance to the carburetted W 650 it replaced.
@@52bogie I own the W800 Street and at any speed or situation I have never been want for more power (lots of torque) and certainly outperforms the spec sheet.
Wow. you turned left onto a main road and you didn't stop at the stop sign! To keep yourself in one piece i suggest you pay more attention to the road in front of you ( long time road and trial rider, 5 Y O till now 59 in July ). I know i seems petty, but young people see this and are very impressionable and think it's ok to do it as well.
Thanks Fred I appreciate your message.
so weird seeing you drive on the left side of the road. Canada we drive on the right.
Haha I was in Toronto last year and felt the same way being there. And travelling in snow to Niagra when there is never snow where I live 😃
That's a never ending topic. Probably gotta do something with history.
Those pipes are straight outta classic Royal Enfield. Good looking bike though I don't think It'll sell. Kawasaki 900RS should do the job
I think the Z900RS will sell better too
G'day mate, great review mate cheers..am seriously looking at this bike as I love old school. i was wondering if you could tell me how tall you are.
I'm 5'10.
I highly recommend to compare it to the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 and the Z900RS Cafe too.
What's that on side of engine?? Is it balance shaft ?
so how do rate this one against RE you took out a few months ago? Are they 800cc or 773cc?
I bought the RE 650 over this, the RE runs freer, it's more fun and playful
Loving the Continental GT 650, but the Kawa is certainly built better
But, brown?
I’d have to take it in for a paint I think.
Thanks for the video on the Kaw W800. I note that you discuss this bike relative to the Z900 RS, which are two vastly different bikes (as you stated). However, you did not compare it to the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650, which have reviewed about a month ago. I think the RE Continental and the W800 are pretty similar in spec, and I would love to hear your thoughts on how they differ from each other to ride and your general thoughts on them. I thinking about these bikes as a possible 2nd bike purchase in the future. I am leaning toward the RE because of the price and the 6th gear, but I grew up riding Kaws so I have lots of love for the brand and have nothing but good things to say about them...so reliable and well made. Not sure why the W800 is over $9000 and not below $8000. Your input would be greatly appreciated.
I agree totally, firstly I will say that considering I get to ride so many bikes for my channel, I have laid down my own hard earned cash on a RE Continental GT, the W800 is great, and long term I think it will hold its value better, but taking into consideration cost, looks and disability, the Enfield 650 wins hands down. My only concern is, as the Enfiled is a brand new platform, we don't yet know the challenges that will be had. But as I get mine in a few weeks, I'll be sure to share all the good and the bad
That's what I was thinking, but I have not had a chance to see a W800 yet. As for the Continental Gt, I will not be buying to next year or 2021, so I can sit back and wait to see if RE has stepped up it's manufacture game to the point that reliability is approaching HD and Triumph levels or if there are lots of issues and then how RE handles them. I really like the bike, but have only sat on it so far. I will try to test one in a few weeks, when I can find some time. I'll be looking forward to hear what you report about your experiences with it, and curious to see how you mod it too.
Ok no problems, I'll report everything I can to help you with your decision.
At the motorway you drove 80 to 90 km/h with about 3200 U/min. Was this in 5th gear? I had a W800 2014. At 3200 U/min in 5th gear it drove about 95 km/h. Thank you, nice review.
Hi there Toni, I'm not sure what gear it was, it would have been 4th if I was overtaking, or 5th if just cruising.
@@ThrottleDownunder Thank you. Just another question: Is there a bit protection against the wind from the little fairing?
@@Toni62R very minimal, I think it's more for looks than anything
What is u/min?
@@rogernicholls2079 by reading the message, I assumed it was meant to be rpm
Rode a w650 for 16 years great bike never let me down once but the w800 seems expensive
I think the w800 is a little pricey too
Hey thanks for the in depth review! Was wondering, are the W800s built in Japan?
G'day Jim I can't remember I'm afraid, Its been a while since I did this video.
Jim Free - Yes, this is one of the few bikes built in Japan (Hamamatsu). Most Japanese bikes are made in Taiwan.
Nice retro but the ace bar's cause groin ache..I'd change them out for renthals..because rear sets wouldn't be any good either..
im 190cm, will this bike be small for me?
G'day Seb, I'm thinking not too small, but you'd definitely need to test ride just to be sure.
@@ThrottleDownunder Ok thanks for answearing :)
They need to offer 3 or 4 paint options.
Totally agree. But there may be more coming later in the year
Great review. I love it
But any good for short people?
Yes I think this is a suitable bike choice for shorter riders.
Nice one 👍
can club,an bars be rotated backward to bring grips closer or wiring/geometry not work?
You can rotate the bars up or down an inch. Any more and the fairing gets in the way.
I learned on a Honda 1975 CB500T. I’m sure the W800 makes quite a bit more power.
A bit more for sure, however it does feel lacking a little. My Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 seems a bit more spritely
You were incorrect about the tail light and indicators. They are LED like the Headlight but are disguised in a bulb. All lighting is very bright.
At the moment the Royal Enfield GT650 seems to be a better buy
I do agree Alex, that's why I've ordered a GT
I'm waiting for those to come to the US. I like the new GT Continental 650 I lot but I think the riding position on the Interceptor will be more comfortable for me. I'll be test driving both of them as soon as they're available here.
@@daveco1270 I found the interceptor good but when I test rode back to back with the GT, the GT wins. Also there is an extended linkage on the interceptor s gears due to peg position, that makes it feel spongy
Throttle Downunder how does the riding position compare to the W800. I sat on the w800 at a bike show and the clubman bars felt too low for a middle aged bloke like me. : ) Is the RE continental similar?
Both are beautiful. But in my eyes the kawi has a higher quality - and a sexy fairing...
To Rob, from Throttle- down-under. So if I get a Truncheon and star hitting you in the head and you say STOP. I will not STOP (just as you did not Stop at the STOP sign) I'll just s l o w d o w n, but continue to strike your head. How would you feel about that?
G'day Stevo, thank you for your comment, and if you had taken the opportunity to read other comments you will see this has been addressed already. And you are right.
It's interesting the things that people are so opinionated about, a stop sign passed at 10km/h with not a vehicle in sight creates outrage, but turnouts and wheelies get shares and go viral.
Says more about the commenters I guess.
@@ThrottleDownunder I am hoping that when he is in a car, he stops. As we do not have a magic pocket-watch to turn back time and undo a situation. The best, is to preclude the situation entirely. Thx for taking the time. I hope that since there is more than one comment about this issue. That it will be given the weight it deserves. We are not soing you harm \, on the contrary:" A wise man learns from the mistakes of others"
2019 model? It thought that the w800 were discontinued?
This one is just released, in fact this is the first one in Australia
I have owned the earlier w800 and w650 I sold the 800 as the 650 was a nicer bike to ride and I still have it. I am a member of the Copdock Classic Motorcycle Club each year we purchase a bike for people to buy draw tickets to win it all monies then go to a charity this year we looked at a new Royal Enfield Intercepter or GT650 we got a demo on both bikes and we decided as a group on the GT just altogether a better ride so for 2019 some lucky person will win a brand new motorcycle with insurance,helmet and jacket .Look us up on utube.
Sounds great mate, I'll look it up for sure. I have also ordered the 650 GT, I loved it.
I'm so glad they brought it to North America but that color scheme is hideous
Agreed totally. Great for your local painters businesses haha
Much prefer the standard 2020 one.
Way to blow through that stop sign at 7:11.
Is the 'Mad-Max'-style bikini fairing only for Australia? :-P
Haha I'm not sure at all, it certainly has some haters
really the bike at the top of my list but cant afford it , my second pick would be a yamaha bolt and my third ninja 400 or 650. the royal enfield 650 would be tempting but they couldnt build anything rigth since 1892 so im gonna wait a good decade or 2 before even considering their bikes
I have ordered a RE 650, so I will share loads of info when so get it., also I'll share the good bad and the ugly
@@ThrottleDownunder i wouldnt mind if brackets and the like are ugly, that the suspension is too soft etc, what i hope for is wiring that dont stop working in humidity and engine that dont blow up if you keep them at high rev for long periods. those old 350/500 looked great (to me) but the engine were worst than a briggs and stratton.
if they can just land hits on the important things and manage to become an established brand in term of reliability...then i think those 650 will do well in a few years...oh and also not having to wait 7 months for parts.
Why can't they make a 500cc price at $4500?
Not sure mate
So cafe cruisers now? Don’t think that’s what the old rockers intended! Nice review though....
No I agree, but no one races from cafe's anymore. All they do is cruise to the cafe.
Unfortunately we are no longer in the 70s back when it was still kind of safe to race to the cafes too many police these days.
I foundly recall riding my 900 Sportster a 69 Magneto Kickstart only to a hundred miles an hour then getting an 1100 Suzuki and doing a hundred and forty what a bike! But unfortunately today the law does not think that's fun. And they are too plentiful the police that is.
Actually it is has a BSA A7 heritage that Kawasaki licensed back in 1960 s from their acquisition of the Maguro motorcycle company. Then they improved it dramatically. So definitely not a knock off. Triumph could only wish they could build a bike of this quality. And BSA are long gone. Check your facts is all I'm saying. BTW, I owned a W650 and a W800.
I certainly didn't say it was a knock off. That's interesting stuff, also Kawasaki s Vulcan 900 is the old Softtail chassis that they acquired during the brief time that Harleys team forgot to renew patent.
No mention of vibration level, or make up engine. Looks like has some sort of gear driven over head cam setup similar to Ducati.
Vibration levels were noticeable but low and didn't interfere with the riding experience
What the heck is 35 Kw power?
Really Can’t see the point in this in light of the comparable bikes that just outclass it… Norton commando… Triumph Bonneville, scrambler, bobber, Truxton… Yamaha XS are 900… Outgunned!
The paint and graphics look horrible. Shame, the W650 looked so good. Nice ride though. Thanks.
This or a Z900 RS the Z9 all day long. 😀🇬🇧🏍
Be warned bars too low for old codger comfort and an expensive fix as cables and electricals are too short. I just sold mine. Would be nice with a 6 speed box. Go for the 2020 road version if you have any doubts about the bars. A great great bike otherwise.
Just put low bars for 50 Euro on. No need to change cables! Perfect looks and comfortable riding position!
Nice video. Super pretty machine but in tems of specs its looks awfully similar to the old generation of Bonnevilles which was quite underwhelming.
My '68 T120R Bonnieville clocked 147mph out of the crate. Not exactly as you advise but then they knew how to build a bike back then without all the plastic stuff to fade and rot. 46BHP 4 speed transmission and zero to 60 under 4 seconds I was just out of the navy and 24, magic mate absolute magic. If I were to have a Suzuki now it'd be a 'Buffalo.' Cheers, ride to live and stop at stop signs.
@@johntripp5159 Sounds like good times! Just to clarify though, I was referring to the last generation of 865cc air cooled engine which they stopped making in 2016. I'm sure the older one had a lot more magic to them ;) Cheers!
@@250frederic Bikes have become too sophisticated in my opinion. I want to feel the road and be a part of the connection between bike and rider. Too much fly by wire nowadays. However at my time of life (75) It's more about the memories unfortunately. I did try one of the new Triumphs back in '02, just a little putt around the block, yeah, a dog. curiously I thought of them as cheap retro things for the 'wish I was a ton up boy' crowd in the new millenia.
30ys ago is 1989 !
For all you who don't like the looks or handlebar position, check out the W800 Classic rather than the Cafe.
Love W800 and the Kawasaki's, but my god the cowling and the color looks tacked-on, Kawasaki should really work on the aesthetics rather than just bolting every retro-looking thing together and call it a modern classic.
Agree
I had a 1968 W2 SS in 1969, it looked so nice like the old BSA it was copied from, the W 650 looked great too, they copied triumph paint schemes. This looks HORRIBLE!
The fairing is most like a BMW R90S and with it the low handlebars. No bike from the '60s had a similar fairing but European models did often have the low bars. All bikes back then had silver engines with polished alloy covers, To me black on the engine is ugly and will look old and tired very soon. Most bikes had a screwed on tank badge, including the Triumphs and BSAs and early W series models, Drop that fugly giant W! The black rims are also not retro, clear anodized silver rims would be so much nicer! The original W series had a SS front fender, and a chromed steel rear fender, odd-but standard for Kawasakis of that period. SS fenders were common on some English models back then and many Japanese bikes had chrome fenders-I happen to prefer paint to match the tank, and I also like nice colors. The slightly more recent 1971 Ducati 750 GT had SS fenders at both ends.
Comparing this to the retro Z 900 is odd, you need to point out they are retros of 2 different periods over a decade apart so all performance characteristics and expectations are to be different. Comparing this to a modern Triumph Bonneville is more relevant, and I like that the Z 800 still has not become so heavy as the Triumph, at this point the Triumph does look better. back when the W650 and then new Bonnie came out, the Kawasaki was considered to look much more like the originals. It had the colors, polish, and lines.
If Kawasaki can bring back the colors and finish of their earlier W 650, I would want one.
As far as the 'Cafe" look, back then a Cafe bike could be expected to have a lot more polished aluminum parts replacing the standard painted steel parts- engine mounts, oil tank fuel tank, forks and triple clamps, wheel rims and hubs. Aluminum meant weight saving and was polished to show it off! Cafe bikes rarely had fairings, those that did were likely to be larger and cover the engine as well as taller to encompass the riders frontal area (Velocette had an optional Avon racing style fairing). putting low bars and a tiny fairing on a standard is late '70s styling, again wrong period!
G'day Steve, I agree with most of what you have said, but these are marketed to a new generation as well, I respect the brand's using styling cues from yesteryear, but I also understand the need to make modern changes too just to be able to sell products at profit.
Thanks for your comments, I appreciate the time and detail.
Steve bogert black looks great mr know it all
Its way overpriced. Here in US you can buy left over Moto Guzzi 7III for 7k lot better machine.Did I say overpriced? 3more k and you can buy stunning left over 2018 BMW R9t with 110 HP and stunning bike to drool over
+
Certainly something to consider
why cant they just bring the regular w800 in the US ...why does it have to be the dumbass version!...imo.....nice review sir!
We only have the cafe version here at the moment too
Shaft driven OHC is unusual He is to mechanically challenged to care or notice.
Good on you champ
What you lacked in technical knowledge, you made up for with enthusiasm. Almost.
what's a Cowasaki? Kar wa saki
My pronunciation might not be great, but I don't mind a bit a Cowasaki, they are delicious
If you started off with a blank piece of paper, you could produce a thing of beauty... . The concept is good, but, who amongst the boffins in the design dept came up with the dark shit coloured tank, light shit coloured seat, wierd coloured side covers, and ugly back yard fairing...? Its hardly a thing of beauty.... Have a look at an SFC Laverda, a Laverda Jota, a 750SS Ducati, a Guzzi Le Mans...an RGV Suzuki....all things of beauty..
Do you know what a stop sign means? Ffs
Triumph knock off
Actually it is has a BSA A7 heritage that Kawasaki licensed back in 1960 s from their acquisition of the Maguro motorcycle company. Then they improved it dramatically. So definitely not a knock off. Triumph could only wish they could build a bike of this quality. And BSA are long gone. Check your facts is all I'm saying. BTW, I owned a W650 and a W800.
Guys look it's a 400lbs "cafe racer."
Modern 4 strokes are a fucking joke and so are the people who buy them.
this color scheme looks like a cockroach. terrible for a nice bike
With so many choices for Retro bikes, I don't feel this one will compete against Triumph for quality & looks or the Royal Enfield Interceptor or Continental GT that is having record sales in Europe. Retro originated in England so many riders would like an historical English bike.
Looks heavy ,not very minimal,seat looks like shit.my Royal Enfield looks a hundred times better shape ,maybe better made than the R.E
What RE do you have? I have ordered the 650 GT
650 GT ice queen
@@miltondesilva542 nice, I got the Dr Mayhem
Video is too long as you talk too much!
Thanks for your opinion.
Copying another British classic , !! BIG FAIL IN MY EYES !!
Fair comment
Actually it is has a BSA A7 heritage that Kawasaki licensed back in 1960 s from their acquisition of the Maguro motorcycle company. Then they improved it dramatically. So definitely not a knock off. Triumph could only wish they could build a bike of this quality. And BSA are long gone. Check your facts is all I'm saying. BTW, I owned a W650 and a W800.
@@kevinkehoe9551 was implying more of the styling than a knock off, yes I am quite aware of their previous attempts.