You sure didn’t appear to be comfortable at all on that bike. If you like the engine as I do you should try the Street or Standard versions; same bike essentially with upright seating. They are both far more popular than the Cafe but that’s reflected is the prices too. FWIW I love my Cafe and can ride it all day (200mile) without issue but that was after 1. I got passed the initial wrist discomfort (muscle education) 2. Swapped out the dreadful OEM tyres, not that you noticed in such a short run but you would eventually. It’s only 47 ponies but the low down torque gives it enough grunt and you stand out from the crowd of Interceptors😊 Good luck.
I agree. I love mine and have ridden it for almost 100miles, handled some quick business and then rode it home. I was fine and I'm in my mid-50s. During some of the more open road portions of the trip I had it up to 90 to 95 MPH. I was surprised how well it handled that speed. My Harley has more power and is heavier so it would have been the better choice for the ride, but I could not have done that speed for as long a time on it. Being leaned forward as you are with the cafe really makes those speeds bearable for 30 or 40 minutes. I have owned 3 Kawasakis, including my first 2 bikes. Kawa really hit it out of the park with the W800s. It has really blown me away.
I wasn't impressed with Honda of the Ozarks. I called ahead to look at a VTX, drove a couple hours to get there and the bike was in the back 5 deep in the pile. It was poorly taken care of in the past with rust on the inside of the shocks and had fork oil leaking all over the brake disk. Wasted trip for sure...
Whilst no tourer long rides are certainly, for me a least, not an issue. For those with back issues or delicate wrists there are other versions with a more conventional riding position much like the current RE & Triumph offerings or original Bonnevilles etc. The suspension is very plush but at the same time well ordered so handling is very good (with better tyres) so no urgent need to update the system. The ride is supremely comfortable even on rough roads, far better than my RE Classic 350 which is harder and more fidgety though still decent. The Cafe was a poor seller due to the Cafe riding position but mostly price; a premium even over the chrome laden Standard and knocking on the door of the T100 but with 16hp less but ironically rides, looks and sounds more Triumph than the Triumph in no small part to the 360 firing order (that Triumph dropped with the 865cc engine) and air cooled. Seriously understressed engine that has proven long mileage reliability; first seen in 1999 with the W650.
Possibly not a good example of the bike as those aftermarket levers and mirrors are incredibly tacky! Crazy the amount of wind noise you got as well, never noticed this with a W800 Cafe - how tall are you?
I agree with you about the levers and mirrors. I am only 5'9" but I think a lot of the wind noise was due to my helmet having an issue as I had a lot of wind noise on the other bike I rode as well.
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You sure didn’t appear to be comfortable at all on that bike. If you like the engine as I do you should try the Street or Standard versions; same bike essentially with upright seating. They are both far more popular than the Cafe but that’s reflected is the prices too. FWIW I love my Cafe and can ride it all day (200mile) without issue but that was after 1. I got passed the initial wrist discomfort (muscle education) 2. Swapped out the dreadful OEM tyres, not that you noticed in such a short run but you would eventually. It’s only 47 ponies but the low down torque gives it enough grunt and you stand out from the crowd of Interceptors😊 Good luck.
I agree. I love mine and have ridden it for almost 100miles, handled some quick business and then rode it home. I was fine and I'm in my mid-50s. During some of the more open road portions of the trip I had it up to 90 to 95 MPH. I was surprised how well it handled that speed. My Harley has more power and is heavier so it would have been the better choice for the ride, but I could not have done that speed for as long a time on it. Being leaned forward as you are with the cafe really makes those speeds bearable for 30 or 40 minutes. I have owned 3 Kawasakis, including my first 2 bikes. Kawa really hit it out of the park with the W800s. It has really blown me away.
I wasn't impressed with Honda of the Ozarks. I called ahead to look at a VTX, drove a couple hours to get there and the bike was in the back 5 deep in the pile. It was poorly taken care of in the past with rust on the inside of the shocks and had fork oil leaking all over the brake disk. Wasted trip for sure...
I’ve always loved the looks of the W800 but I’ve never ridden one. Seems like more of a short distance bike after watching this.
Whilst no tourer long rides are certainly, for me a least, not an issue. For those with back issues or delicate wrists there are other versions with a more conventional riding position much like the current RE & Triumph offerings or original Bonnevilles etc. The suspension is very plush but at the same time well ordered so handling is very good (with better tyres) so no urgent need to update the system. The ride is supremely comfortable even on rough roads, far better than my RE Classic 350 which is harder and more fidgety though still decent. The Cafe was a poor seller due to the Cafe riding position but mostly price; a premium even over the chrome laden Standard and knocking on the door of the T100 but with 16hp less but ironically rides, looks and sounds more Triumph than the Triumph in no small part to the 360 firing order (that Triumph dropped with the 865cc engine) and air cooled. Seriously understressed engine that has proven long mileage reliability; first seen in 1999 with the W650.
Possibly not a good example of the bike as those aftermarket levers and mirrors are incredibly tacky! Crazy the amount of wind noise you got as well, never noticed this with a W800 Cafe - how tall are you?
I agree with you about the levers and mirrors. I am only 5'9" but I think a lot of the wind noise was due to my helmet having an issue as I had a lot of wind noise on the other bike I rode as well.
Those mirrors and levers took the look off what is a great bike and you do get used to the seating position great bike love mine