Well, you may or may not enjoy riding it more than your Bandit, but you sure will LOOK better riding it. No-one looks at a Bandit simply because they are everywhere. On the other hand, I saw one of these the other day, and as the sun caught on it's chrome and metal flake paintwork it looked stunning.
@sfbdotcom I agree they do look good. Guess the best thing to do is ride one. My dad rode bonnies yrs ago he said he liked them lots but when it actually came to riding ( not looking) he would rather be riding his kawasaki 750. I dunno i guess its what suits who but i do like this style of bike.
Buy whichever bike is going to make you want to ride more. The W800 is no less the real deal than the Bonnie. Remember, they're both retro remakes of old bikes. The Bonneville stock sounds like a kitchen appliance too. This from an adoring T100 owner!
Hopefully Kawasaki will bring this to the States, I'd like to see one in person sometime.
@RLtW88 That's going to take quite a bit of lobbying by enthusiasts to get Kawasaki to bring this to North America! I think they're a bit reluctant to do so with with the mediocre response that the W650 got when it was available here back in 2000-1. If you can get to a bike show and talk with one of Kawasaki's reps, or if you Email the company, let them know you want this bike available here!
i own this w800 its greatto ride by no means underpowered. the overall finish is excellent. ihave also owned a triumph bonnie which broke down if it rained! thank god that kawasaki can build great looking bikes that run well no matter what the weather .triumph should provide umbrellas in the toolkit!!!
The w 650 was very very hard to install an aftermarket exhaust...
No Torque....
I know this, once i had one...
And: show me an Aftermarket Exhaust, which fits optically, which makes good, or at least, an Sound, which you can stand, without getting Ear-Cancer, and which gives good Torque!
in reality, theese small Twins needs much Back Pressure, and, installing an Exhaust, which eliminates This ugly sound, also elininates Torque/Hp!
Stay with " Wrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir"!
I checked in with the dealer, and this particular bike is sold now, so to those cerebrally challenged people who think it will be a sales flop, think again.
@krogshede And you obviously can't spell! ROFLMAO Also, it is certainly very much a similar concept to the modern Bonneville and there are many styling cues which are similar. Also, I actually do know Kawasaki history, rather than have to look it up on wikipedia.
Like all efi bikes the exhausts and intake can be modified - easily. Simplest mod is to drill the baffles. Won't get any more power, but will possibly sound better. All the makers of exhaust systems now have the know-how to uprate sound quality and horsepower as just about every bike in the world is now EFI. Of course a good system may not come cheap. But they will be out there.
I won't give a comment on the sound until I hear actually one.
@gooldii1 Like gooldii says, I'm not sure why an exhaust change on this bike would be any different to any other FI bike? Stock it does sound awful - but there's not too many bikes these days that sound good. Trumpys and Harleys are great bikes, but there's something proportionally about this bike which makes it look more 'right'. To me anyway.
But, this Motorcycle has NO Sound at all, and it has week Fork, it has a week Brake, no Abs, und not 2 Brakes in front...it has nothing, which would have been necessary, to prevend making all the old Mistakes of the Flop W 650 once again!
Well I've seen a Dyno run on YouTube which shows over 50hp at the rear wheel, so assume 55-60 at the crank. That is plenty for this sort of bike. If you want modern stuff such as ABS which means the modern equivalent - go get a Triumph Street Triple - great bike! If and when the dealer lets me, I'll post a full and hopefully unbiased report.
I do remember the original W650, but it's a while since I've seen one. I don't therefore know what changes have been made to turn it in to the W800. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has the details. On the plus side, I would say that it comes across as well finished, especially the paintwork on the tank which is lovely and lustrous. It's a shame that Kawasaki have decided to only import the green, as I really like the orange, which reminds me of the 70's BMW R90S.
@RC62 It is pretty, and Kawasaki have gone to great pains to make it as authentic as possible. The only thing that bugs me is how can they charge so much for something that has absolutely no new technology in it at all. We'll see what it rides like when they let me do a test ride.
@sfbdotcom Kawasaki had to make some consequent investments for the W800, there has been many changes since the W650, even if it's not really visible at first sight and has nothing to do with new technology: the frame has been redesigned, the engine as well as the new digital injection, lots of new or redesigned parts, etc. But still a little bit pricey, yes.
Hey Andy nice video. Just wondering if you got a chance to ride a W800 since making this video?
KendrickMcMurphy 4 months ago
I like this bike. It looks good but will i enjoy riding it as much as my Bandit. I dont know but i do like the retro looks. They sound nice to.
blindinglights02 5 months ago
@blindinglights02
Well, you may or may not enjoy riding it more than your Bandit, but you sure will LOOK better riding it. No-one looks at a Bandit simply because they are everywhere. On the other hand, I saw one of these the other day, and as the sun caught on it's chrome and metal flake paintwork it looked stunning.
sfbdotcom 5 months ago
@sfbdotcom I agree they do look good. Guess the best thing to do is ride one. My dad rode bonnies yrs ago he said he liked them lots but when it actually came to riding ( not looking) he would rather be riding his kawasaki 750. I dunno i guess its what suits who but i do like this style of bike.
blindinglights02 5 months ago
Buy whichever bike is going to make you want to ride more. The W800 is no less the real deal than the Bonnie. Remember, they're both retro remakes of old bikes. The Bonneville stock sounds like a kitchen appliance too. This from an adoring T100 owner!
Hopefully Kawasaki will bring this to the States, I'd like to see one in person sometime.
RLtW88 8 months ago
@RLtW88 That's going to take quite a bit of lobbying by enthusiasts to get Kawasaki to bring this to North America! I think they're a bit reluctant to do so with with the mediocre response that the W650 got when it was available here back in 2000-1. If you can get to a bike show and talk with one of Kawasaki's reps, or if you Email the company, let them know you want this bike available here!
thespeez 3 months ago
w800 good looking reliable great handling retro rocket .bonnie was the love of my life until ifound myself pushing more than riding it!
kdt9111 9 months ago
i own this w800 its greatto ride by no means underpowered. the overall finish is excellent. ihave also owned a triumph bonnie which broke down if it rained! thank god that kawasaki can build great looking bikes that run well no matter what the weather .triumph should provide umbrellas in the toolkit!!!
kdt9111 9 months ago
Buy the REAL bike - a Triumph Bonneville!
casperdog777 11 months ago
The w 650 was very very hard to install an aftermarket exhaust...
No Torque....
I know this, once i had one...
And: show me an Aftermarket Exhaust, which fits optically, which makes good, or at least, an Sound, which you can stand, without getting Ear-Cancer, and which gives good Torque!
in reality, theese small Twins needs much Back Pressure, and, installing an Exhaust, which eliminates This ugly sound, also elininates Torque/Hp!
Stay with " Wrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir"!
gooldii1 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Sounds like SHIT!!
Muahahaha!!!
I mean, there ist nothing, which is able to stand it!
It sounds even worser, than an Motorscooter!!
Wrrrrrriirrrrrr!
Wrrrirrrr!-Wrrriiiiiiiierrrrr!!!!
Wrrrrrr-wrr-----wrrrrr-wrrriiiiiiiiierrrrr!!!
Forget about it.
gooldii1 11 months ago
I checked in with the dealer, and this particular bike is sold now, so to those cerebrally challenged people who think it will be a sales flop, think again.
sfbdotcom 1 year ago
@sfbdotcom> You obvisly dont know Kawasaki historie,- it is NOT a Triumph Bonneville Look-alike !!
The first Kawazaki w-model came in 1967, and this new W-800 is a copy of Kawasaki,s own W-1 from 1967.
The W series are sometimes described as Japanese copies of the 650cc BSA A10,- but that,s inaccurate.
You can read all about it on wikipedia,- just seach for Kawasaki W ,- I am not allowd to copy the adress here on youtube.
krogshede 8 months ago
@krogshede And you obviously can't spell! ROFLMAO Also, it is certainly very much a similar concept to the modern Bonneville and there are many styling cues which are similar. Also, I actually do know Kawasaki history, rather than have to look it up on wikipedia.
sfbdotcom 8 months ago
@sfbdotcom If you are going to be profane, you are blocked my illiterate friend. goodbye
sfbdotcom 8 months ago
@sfbdotcom Now when we can get these here in America, we'll be set! Kawasaki, are you listening?
thespeez 3 months ago
It wont get a better Sound, because its sensitive to Changes in the Exhaust!
with other Pipes it even lost Power, so it will have...40 Hp than!
It sucks, it sounds like an "Staubsauger"!
It will be a Flop, like the 650, which also was not succesfull!!
get the Original, an Triumph, or a Harley!!!!
gooldii1 1 year ago
@gooldii1 I do own a Triumph actually...
Like all efi bikes the exhausts and intake can be modified - easily. Simplest mod is to drill the baffles. Won't get any more power, but will possibly sound better. All the makers of exhaust systems now have the know-how to uprate sound quality and horsepower as just about every bike in the world is now EFI. Of course a good system may not come cheap. But they will be out there.
I won't give a comment on the sound until I hear actually one.
sfbdotcom 1 year ago
@gooldii1 Like gooldii says, I'm not sure why an exhaust change on this bike would be any different to any other FI bike? Stock it does sound awful - but there's not too many bikes these days that sound good. Trumpys and Harleys are great bikes, but there's something proportionally about this bike which makes it look more 'right'. To me anyway.
SRPornography 11 months ago
Agreed it needs a better sounding exhaust tho'
sfbdotcom 1 year ago
Looks nice!
Good Film, Thanks!
But, this Motorcycle has NO Sound at all, and it has week Fork, it has a week Brake, no Abs, und not 2 Brakes in front...it has nothing, which would have been necessary, to prevend making all the old Mistakes of the Flop W 650 once again!
So, it looks nice, but thats all!
I just say: 48 Hp!
48!
That sucks!
gooldii1 1 year ago
@gooldii1 Hi,
Well I've seen a Dyno run on YouTube which shows over 50hp at the rear wheel, so assume 55-60 at the crank. That is plenty for this sort of bike. If you want modern stuff such as ABS which means the modern equivalent - go get a Triumph Street Triple - great bike! If and when the dealer lets me, I'll post a full and hopefully unbiased report.
sfbdotcom 1 year ago
I do remember the original W650, but it's a while since I've seen one. I don't therefore know what changes have been made to turn it in to the W800. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has the details. On the plus side, I would say that it comes across as well finished, especially the paintwork on the tank which is lovely and lustrous. It's a shame that Kawasaki have decided to only import the green, as I really like the orange, which reminds me of the 70's BMW R90S.
sfbdotcom 1 year ago
Asked the man today if I could have a test ride. He said no as there are so few in the country. However, might be possible in a week or two.
sfbdotcom 1 year ago
Looks great! I like the "old school" styled bikes. I wonder how well it handles.
RC62 1 year ago
@RC62 It is pretty, and Kawasaki have gone to great pains to make it as authentic as possible. The only thing that bugs me is how can they charge so much for something that has absolutely no new technology in it at all. We'll see what it rides like when they let me do a test ride.
sfbdotcom 1 year ago
@sfbdotcom Kawasaki had to make some consequent investments for the W800, there has been many changes since the W650, even if it's not really visible at first sight and has nothing to do with new technology: the frame has been redesigned, the engine as well as the new digital injection, lots of new or redesigned parts, etc. But still a little bit pricey, yes.
garcibus 1 year ago