Kawasaki W800 - (how it feels to own and ride one) 

Someone commented on my recent W650 video that your channel has a lot of information on the W800. They were right. I've never seen a W800 in the wild but your video sure gives a fine introduction. My W650 is rare and I don't suspect I'll often see another on the road. But like you say, it's hard to understand why these retro Kawasaki motorcycles didn't sell better. There sure seems to be enough of us old guys who dream of those Triumph/BSA/Norton styled bikes of our youth to buy them!

I’ve had one for 5yrs. Great bike. Never had a problem and ridden it rain, hail, snow and shine. Absolutely recommend!

I started riding when I retired at age 55. My first and only bike so far. I love it.

Keep up on this bike, no one knows what they are missing! Best known secret

I have the identical bike and am in love with it. I look forward to riding it every chance I can. Of all the bikes I have owned this is my favourite by far.

I could have made this vid myself, your take on the W is the same as mine. I've owned a lot of bikes over the last 50 years and put a LOT of miles on them, the W800 may be the sweetest one I've owned. A lot of people put down the W because it "only" has 47 BHP, I say if you can't get into trouble with that you aren't trying very hard! People have become to used to 100+ HP on modern machines that you really don't use or need. Flat torque curve that starts early in the rev range makes riding a pleasure! No need to wring it's neck to get going.

I love mine. 2k miles in. A very rewarding riding experience.

After 11,000 miles on mine the original rear tire was worn, so I replaced both tires with Michelin Road Classic. I like them. I think an improvement in cornering and better for rain groves on the freeway. I enjoy your videos. Thanks.

Your description and review reads like prose . Excellent!

Poetry in motion 👌 wonderful machine enjoy 😉

Really enjoy the manner in which you review a bike. Well done sir. Thumbs up & subscribe.

What a beautiful bike! The Royal Field Classic is also beautiful

Bought one last year same color as yours. This is a keeper. 👌

You've absolutely hit the nail on the head on the head with this review. I've just bought a very low mileage 2020 model in the gorgeous green for £5k, bargain of the century to my mind. It is fitted with the bias ply Michelin classics which are much better than the original Dunlop cross plies. In 2021 the model had to conform to Euro5 emission standards and the ECU is locked down pretty tight, but the 2019 and 20 models are Euro4 and susceptible to a few mods like a booster plug, O2 sensor delete and PAIRS delete all of which make it go even better. In Britain our new bikes have to conform to these standards but fortunately they are not tested against them in our annual MOT test. The W800 is the perfect evocation of a sixties twin without the finger numbing vibes, due to its balancer shaft, but with enough left to remind you you're riding a real bike. I owned a new Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 for a while but found it utterly uninspiring. I think a generation has been raised on Japanese sewing-machine smooth motorcycles and most modern retros, Triumphs, RE etc try to emulate that feel whilst looking like a classic Bonny. However liquid cooling and multiple riding modes just doesn't cut it if you're after the real thing. The W800 engine is a work of art. Firstly it's a proper air cooled 360 degree twin, then it has that beautiful bevel drive overhead camshaft, reminiscent of the racing Nortons. It is a proper long stroke engine with bags of flexible torque to match, and a relatively low compression ratio, not like one of these short stroke machines that have to be rev'ed high to go anywhere. You can cruise around on a W800 and never reach 3000rpm or you can give it a handful and it pulls strongly to well over a ton. The power is about the same as the original Bonny, perfect for this 70 year old. The modern updates of anti-lock brakes and light weight slipper clutch just make it even better. I think there's not enough of us oldsters left still riding to appreciate a gem like this bike. It's sold very poorly compared to the modern pastiche retros and Kawasaki have now withdrawn it from the UK market. I would strongly advise buying one while they're still around, there won't be another bike like this ever built again.

When the W650 came out I was shopping for a classic bike. Always loved the Triumph. Rode the Kaw. What the British twin could/should have been. Some older twins, like my '61 Matchless G12 were smooth and comfortable. Didn't buy the Kaw, got one of the first Road Stars. Tractor. Came with loud shorty pipes. After a year and a half, it went for a Hinkley Bonneville. Great bike, once I installed the "off-road " mufflers. 6 great years with her.

Cool vid, Ive got the W650 and love it to bits.

Brilliant review - Thank You !!

Great video, and relaxing Asmr voice!

Beautifully said. Cheers and enjoy

Your voice and description sounds like. Hollywood hunk and we'll scripted. Really cinematic! I appreciate ❤

Really Love the W800. The engine is an absolute peach. It just goes and seems perpetually happy. Even at high speeds. Agree with you on all points. Unfortunately mine was totaled by a drunk driver on my way to work one morning.

Excellent review!

Liked teh video. You probably have the best voice on RU-vid !

It's pouring with rain today . I haven't been out riding for a few weeks , so watching your video's... very enjoyable . We tend to romanticise our memories of 'those-old-bikes' , but you are right ; they were often not-going or broke-down and left us stranded , I won't even expand on 'the-electrics' . They were ahead-of-their-time though , in that they reminded you 'Daily' to check their oil , by leaving plenty on the ground as a visual-reminder . Dave NZ

I discovered your chain today and it was a good surprise to me. I think we are in the same "wave lenghth". I'm from Porto/Portugal. I ride bikes since 1968 and I own at present a 2018 Royal Enfield Classic 500 & 2003 Moto Guzzi Breva 750. For several years I had a hope to own also a W 800, but my garage has his limits.

Good review. I had a Triumph Bonneville back in the late 70s. I started my motorcycle career on a Honda CB750 in the mid 70s. Of course im interested in the W800. It would go well with my VStrom DL1000 and Harley Road King. It is a hard choice between one of the newer Honda CB 1100's and the W800. The W800 it's much more beautiful.

Love mine too 👍🏼

I have same bike and LUV IT!! Want to raise handlebars, can u advise what size spacers u installed and if u had to reroute or change cables to make it fit. Thx

Did a partial restoration on a ‘76 T140v Bonneville a few years ago. Rode it occasionally, learned a ton about motorcycle maintenance and enjoyed every minute. Once sorted, it could be somewhat reliable… for what it is. Plenty fast with similar Hp and torque as the W800. Easy to ride, good handling and light weight. Vibrations and wind above 70mph gets uncomfortable pretty quick. 65 or so was about perfect. But age and kickstarts, modern gas, constant service, etc made me long for modern reliability, fuel injection, and new metals and electricals/electronics. New Triumphs meet all those modern requirements but seem to have lost the feel. To me, they lack the character of the old triumphs. And valve maintenance really looks a pain. I’m hoping the W800 may be what I’m looking for. If I can find one. Lots of cafe versions, I’ve sat on a couple but the handlebars and seat just are not comfortable at all. I’m not sure if the footpegs are ‘sporty’ or not but they felt so… maybe it was just the leaning position. Anyway, I’m enjoying your thoughtful and quiet tone as you describe your W800 riding experience. It sounds like what I’m looking for.

You make me want a standard W800! Easy to do all services yourself.

Thanks for the review. Can you please tell me where did you find the small fairing?

Love the low wind screen, where did you get that wind screen from?

Good review. Two comments. There is mentioned the benefit of the standard fitted centre stand. NOT all W800 years / models have a standard fitted centre stand. Especially the Cafe /Street versions lack the centre stand. ( it's possible to buy the parts from Kawasaki and fit them afterwards. A reason why it never was a big seller success? one reason, the price is quite high ( in Europe that is)

like your review looks like a great bike,but I'll keep riding my 1977 CB 750 thanks

The W650 has the same horsepower with carbs though. Great bike.

If I was in the market it would be a had choice between the W800 and the triumph speed master.

As far as top end speed is concerned or An overdrive type gear, this can be achieved by going up one tooth on the drive sprocket or getting a sprocket for the rear with 3 teeth less than standard. (I was shocked to find out that my Triumph t100 has a rear sprocket with 43 teeth, where as the one on my XS650 Yamaha was 34. What does that say about power and torque on the triumph (a bike that feels like it is going fast at low speed)?

Nice, honest review. One point about the horsepower -- or lack of. I read that Kawasaki limited the W800 to 48hp in order for it to be eligible to riders in the UK who possess only a Category A license -- near to entry level. Think about it. With the horsepower limit the W is an option for more riders (though that probably didn't factor into more sales.) So Ian can be saddling 800cc on his W while his mate Graham must settle for 300cc on his 39hp Ninja 300. This is all meaningless to us riders in the US where you can (sadly) get your motorcycle license in the morning and head straight to your local motorcycle mall and buy a Ninja H2 in the afternoon. (Sigh.)

Does it seem that advances in build quality, reliability, and safety are a nice juxtaposition when used on a modern retro bike? Does the twin engine feel buzzy in top gear?

I love almost everything about that bike. From the looks to the sound. Sadly, and as much as I am thinking of buying one, I think that I won't. The lack of a sixth gear is what kills me and I believe that the reason why it sells so poorly in the US. Kawasaki made that bike more for other countries that lack all the large highways we have here in the US, with speed limits of 65-75 mph and most people going faster than that. Having 5 gears only was fine back in the 60's and 70's because back then the speed limit in the US was 55 mph, but times change. Kawasaki could had built the bike with the same look and feel but more capable at higher speeds. May be even a bit more power to help carry along the extra weight of gear in the back seat, or passenger, or passenger and gear at higher speeds. Someone commended that Kawasaki get the power low to target Europeans riders with limited licenses. Again, making it look like Kawasaki did not make this bike for the US. Yes, I get that this bike is not a tourer, but back in the days people did ride across the state (LA to San Francisco or San Diego), or even across state lines and cross country on these bikes' ancestors. I wonder how many of this type of bikes crossed the country on the famous Route 66? Again, because the highways of old days were so different. Sadly, some parts of Route 66 are not maintained and falling apart or gone, for what I hear. The Kawi Z650 does have a six speed transmission, even though not as retro looking as this bike it is still nice.

Did you tell us how much you weight brother? would love to know as a power to weight ratio exercise.

Nice. Wish they kept the kick starter to keep it period correct. (Looking at dealerships they seem to be short of a lot of new bikes, but usually have 2 or 3 W800s in stock so I would hope they are 'dealing on the price'.)

No centerstand of the Cafe! But I look cooler! And like the look better. So 200 dollars more you can get one. Love your channel.

I went with the Battlax BT46 only because Michelin was on backorder. Still happy with my choice as the stock tires were awful.

I have the ‘19 Cafe and ran the Battlax BT46 combo and the AX41 combo set. The BT46’s were great for all things street and top end riding, but I tend ride a lot of rough backroads and mostly dirt than gravel roads. The AX41’s are better if you’re not into higher speeds and way better at the road less traveled. I get about 5000 miles per set, I’m sure most would get more….

how bad is suspension to make it a scrambler?

It had me until the 5 speed transmission. Awesome bike but I hate the inefficiency of no overdrive. 70 mph what is the rpm?

At a shade over $6000, a little over 400 lbs, and maybe even a better looking retro, the RE Interceptor would seem to be a better choice. Much like my old 1972 Honda CB450.

The power is pitiful and it needs to go on a diet. Depending where you live, the list price could be a joke, in some places they can't give them away, distributors having plenty of NOS bikes, up to 3 years old, at deep discounts. The aftermarket parts are almost non-existent due to low demand. What this means is: no hi compression pistons, no performance camshafts, you are stuck with the miserable 47 hp, and at rebuild time you are stuck with dealer parts only. You might think you will install an aftermarket exhaust, and you are in luck, there being one, or two sources worldwide, but expect a very long wait. It is a damn good, mostly ignored, motorcycle, meaning it has great potential of becoming an orphan if Kawasaki ever pulls the plug on it. If you could sneak about 65 hp out of it, shed about 100 lbs, it would be a perfect motorcycle.