so....seit 4 wochen nun auch eine w800 in meinem besitz. my 2024...neu....aus der kiste...tacho 1km. du meine güte....du kannst 1000 videos anschaun, von den vibrations lesen, dem sound in den videos lauschen, dir kommentare zum fahr-feeling reinziehn, dir 1000 bilder aus allen winkeln anschaun. aber wenn dann das bike "live" vor dir steht, du aufsteigst, startest....und dann den sound hörst....wenn die vibrations in den hintern u die oberschenkel wandern, zudem auch vom lenker aus in die hände und hoch bis in die schultern (nicht nervend/störend oder unangenehm, sondern einfach nur geil)....dann stellst du fest, dass die w800 eigentlich gar nicht beschreibbar ist....sondern diese geilen feelings musst du einfach persönlich erleben. was sehr schade ist (aber dafür kann das bike ja nichts): innerorts bekommst du einiges vom sound mit, aber wenns dann zum ort raus geht, ist schnell schluss damit. dann dringt halt - wie so üblich - der sound nicht bis zu den ohren vor. mein helm ist nicht wirklich laut, aber die fahrtwindgeräusche "übertönen" halt doch den auspuff. vielleicht ist es ja mit einem jethelm besser....müsste ich mal testen. aber das fahrfeeling ist soooo geil, dass man ja trotzdem zu 100% spass hat. war total überrascht, wie chillig die w800 zu fahren ist. also ich meine damit kurven, stadtverkehr stop & go oder wenn man mal rangieren muss, usw usw. ich mach ja stets "meinen kreisverkehr-test" sobald ich mir ein bike zulege. habe meine "stammkreise" in die ich mehrmals einfahre, komplett durchfahre, rausfahre. und die w800 fährt da soooo butterweich rein, durch u raus und das ist natürlich auch allgemein bei kurven so. bis vor kurzem fuhr ich eine suzuki gsx - r 1000 und speziell stadtverkehr/berufsverkehr ( stop & go u kreisverkehr) waren einfach nur stressig. klar....warn viele ps vorhanden u so lag sie halt giftig am gas. hatte noch keine ganganzeige u ich musste immer drauf achten, dass ich minimal im 4. gang war wenns in den kreis ging. selbst im 3. gang machte sie ja beim geringsten gas geben gleich nen satz nach vorne. mit der zeit verlor ich einfach die lust auf dieses "ständige konzentriert sein". die 48 ps der w800 sind fürs chillige umhercruisen völlig ausreichend und sie ist wegen "nur 48 ps" aber trotzdem keine überlahme ente. auf der autobahn kommt sie klar schnell an ihre grenzen, aber auf der landstrasse kann man sie schon recht flott bewegen. ich kaufte sie ja, um gemütlich und mit viel fahrspass über die lande zu cruisen und das macht sie für mich perfekt. ich habe zudem auch noch eine kawa zephyr 750 mit 72 ps und die geht schon recht flott ab. da steig ich dann auf wenn mir nach bisschen mehr drehzahl/beschleunigung ist und vor allem ist natürlich der geile 4-zylinder klang auch ein absoluter genuss. die gesamte optik der w800 gefällt mir ausserordentlich. diesen retro-look finde ich voll gelungen. dazu der sound u die vibrations.....da kann man wahrlich so das gefühl aufkommen lassen, dass man grad 1965 unterwegs ist. was mir zb erst "auf den zweiten blick" auffiel, ist die grösse des schweinwerfers. von vorne betrachtet schaut er ja eigentlich "normal groß" aus. doch als ich, auf dem bike sitzend, mal die armaturen genauer anschaute, fiel mein blick auf den scheinwerfer....also somit ja von oben. und ich dachte dann "boah, ist der groß....das schaut ja geil aus". wunderte mich, wie das sein kann, da er von vorne so "normal groß" ausschaut. dann erkannte ich, dass es am chromring liegt. der ist nämlich in seiner breite so schräg nach oben gezogen und dementsprechend ist dadurch der scheinwerfertopf deutlich breiter als das scheinwerferglas. aber aufallen tut das so richtig deutlich nur, wenn man auf dem bike sitzt. und dieser anblick trägt natürlich auch voll dazu bei, dass man dieses retro-feeling bekommt. ich hatte mal eine 175er nsu, bj 1957....und die kam mir sofort in den sinn, als ich das mit dem scheinwerfer bemerkte. ach ja....erste inspektion ist bei 1.000km. die hatte ich nach 3 tagen erreicht und der händler musste lachen als ich 3 tage nach lieferung anrief, um termin zu machen😂😂😂. war halt so, dass ich eigentlich nie wirklich absteigen wollte😅😅. ok...nun hab ich genug "gelabbert" 😅....wer also am überlegen ist, sich eine w800 zu kaufen, sollte nicht lange fackeln.....er/sie wird keine enttäuschung erleben, sondern das biken neu definiert erleben.
Thanks for checking out the video and sharing your experience with the W800! It really is a unique motorcycle isn't it? Of all the machines I've owned an tested these last few years, there hasn't been anything like the W800. It really does feel like an old school machine that you can go to a Kawasaki dealership and buy new off the floor still :). Glad you are enjoying yours!
Dein Weg finde ich sehr spannend. Ich bin neu in der Motorradwelt und schwankte zwischen Guzzi v7, der W800 und der Trident 660 als erstes Motorrad. Habe mich dann für die Trident entschieden, da die PS Zahl den A Schein entspricht und es moderne Features wie die Tankanzeige, Ganganzeige etc gibt. Aber ich saß bereits auf einer w800 und das "haben wollen" war da deutlich größer. Vor allem der Sound. Ich gebe aber zu, ich mag wie schnittig der Dreizylinder einen vorwärts schiebt. Anders als mit deiner 1000er, ist langsam fahren mit der Trident kein Problem. Nur der Sound ist da eher 'mau'. Eine Trident bei 30 km/h zu bewegen, klingt so, als wäre man auf dem Sprungbrett. Bei der w800 oder der Guzzi klingt alles immer nach relaxxness.
Der Lampentopf ist mir auch erst (positiv) aufgefallen, als ich erstmals auf meiner 2024er W800 saß. Hat was von einer Vincent. Der schweineteure (€ 1.600) LED-Einsatz ist ein Gleichteil mit der Z900rs. Dort sitzt er ein einem Kleinen Topf mit "normalem" Lampenring. Bei der W800 haben sie z. Glück an einen großenTopf gedacht und den LED-Einsatz mit einem stark konischen Lampenring eigepasst.
Thanks for checking out the video! I agree, the W800 is a great machine. I really love the character of it. It can be hard to find something that has a bunch of character, but is also reliable, but I think Kawasaki has done it with this guy :)
This may be one of the most characterful bikes Japan makes. I wish they imported the non chromed blacked out model here in the US. My favorite thought is the cafe model. I don't know if they produce that model still but it seems like they only imported it into the US for a year or two. These roads you were riding on look perfect for this type of bike. They are very similar to the roads in my area. Bike with lower power are perfect for these roads. I have an Aprilia Tuono V4 and it is way overpowered and not fun at all for these roads. I had a DR 650 that I recently sold. Very seldom rode it off road, it was mainly my around town and back road commuter. Looking at either a supermoto or a cruiser and I think this bikes looks like a fun option. I think I might try the cafe model, that one just speaks to me. Thanks for the review, one of the best Ive seen.
Thanks for checking out the review and for the kind words! :). I actually haven't seen the cafe model myself, but that would be a cool version, I bet it ends up looking somewhere along the lines of a thruxton? I do enjoy supermotos myself as well, I'm actually working on a shootout video at the moment between my YZ450 supermoto and my DRZ400. It should be out by tomorrow! Also here is a link to the walkaround video of the yz450, if you'd like to check that one out: ua-cam.com/video/ft9-5HLWSw8/v-deo.html
There was about 10 miles on the W800, there are different ideas about breaking in bikes, some people hold to riding easy for the first 500-600 miles, some say you should riding the bike how you are going to right away. I'm a bit in the middle, I don't like to ride the new bikes real hard, but I don't think going mega easy after the bike is fully warmed up is totally necessary either. For example with the bmw boxers, if you go real easy on them at the beginning, they tend to burn oil for a few thousand miles. That's what's going on with my 22 R ninet at the moment.
@@PastorMattMoto There is a reason that most motorcycle dealers don't permit road tests of brand new motorcycles. Kawasaki doesn't have "different ideas" about breaking in a motorcycle engine they are very specific. What would a prospective buyer of that motorcycle think? What would the dealer think? You were at or close to redline several times and you provided video evidence. Your ideas of breaking in an engine are fine and dandy for a motorcycle that you own. Not for someone else's motorcycle. I have a 2022 W800 that I broke in by the Kawasaki manual. It didn't burn oil during the break in or since. Riding a new motorcycle hard during break in will result in some oil consumption until the rings and bore are bedded in.
@Bob-xc2us Thanks for the conern, I do appreciate all the feedback I get on the channel, I am always learning new things as well. :) I specifically asked the dealership about this, and they said not to worry about it. The manager there also watches all my videos. I definitely don't think my style of riding on these videos is in any way what could be considered aggressive. I am very respectful of the machines during the approx 15 to 20 mile ride I take them on for the dealership first ride videos. There are many reputable sources that now recommend not completely babying new machines, but it does depend on who you ask. I'm somewhere in the middle currently. I don't think they should be ridden super hard right away, but also putting around for 600-1000 miles is not something that is totally necessary anymore, according to majority of what I have read. I take it along the lines of, the you must only use our proprietary oil doctrine, that some hold to. There is absolutely nothing wrong with sticking to proprietary dealer oil, but I don't believe it is necessary since we have many examples of people running Rotella T6 in motorcycle engines and putting hundreds of thousands of miles of road and racing on bikes from all manufacturers, without oil related failures.
Manufactures put that in the manual for rider safety reasons. If you are a new rider they want you to get to know how the bike handles before you push on. Modern manufacturing has very precise tolerances and does not require break in like it did 60 years ago. If you watch any manufacturing video they spin these engines up to redline right after assembly on the production line. The worst way to break in an engine is to load it or ride at a steady rpm. You should be going thru repetitive periods of acceleration and deceleration without putting excessive stress on the engine. The type or roads and riding he did in this video was perfect for break in.
I have a 2013. Wonderful bike but the handlebar vibrations can be downright painful. I’ve fitted some Halcyon bar-end mirrors (stock mirrors are👎🏽anyway) and some ever-so slightly thicker/softer heated grips to to combat this but it’s still an issue. To be clear, I don’t mind vibrations in general but the steel brake levers seem to have zero dampening and so transfer all the vibes which cause pain in my finger tips as I ride with my index and middle finger slightly resting on the lever, ready for action (as one should). That said, this is a unique and beautiful bike and with the baffle removed or modified it sounds like true authentic 60s BSA. Nothing like it.
I vibrations didn't have time to get to me on this short ride, but you can definitely tell that the W800 is a big single. Tons of character, but with it comes some of those big single vibes. Still a super cool machine though. Did the bar ends and new grips help to extend the time you can ride a bit, before the vibes get to you?
@ Hi Matt. They had a slight effect but those vibes are tremendously stubborn. I have fitted some cushioned brake lever covers which seems to have stopped the vibes getting to the point of pain in the fingertips but haven’t stopped the numbness. I’m quite determined to solve this so I’m going to investigate if the bushings in the lever housing have worn down causing enough looseness that results in extra-vibrations. I got the idea after seeing someone on youtube replace his after having a floppy lever. If that doesn’t work then I may have to fork out for a vibration dampener. Btw, the W is a parallel twin with a 360 degree crankshaft. The effect is very similar to a big single as both pistons rise and fall at the same time. It’s a rather rare configuration these days, as I understand it. 👍🏽
The speed limit for the first 800 km (500 mls) is 4000 rpm. If you had stuck to it, you would have actually been able to experience the character of the bike. But anyway: You nailed it in 25 Min. The most important things about this bike has been said The brakes are actually surprisingly good. One wonders what was done wrong with the superbikes with their complex braking systems. For 2 full floating discs, 12 pistons radially mounted calipers and radial brake pumps, braided hoses and aggressive pads the difference is disproportionate to the effort.
@@besenwieslersepp1011 you said the difference is "disproportionate to the effort". If you put a $4,000 scope on a $50 yard sale .22 and you never reach past 80 yards,you can honestly say it doesn't do any better than the $40 scope you bought a K-Mart in 1982.Therefore the EFFORT to build the ATN is DISPROPORTIONATE to the performance difference between said scopes.
Thanks for checking out the W800 video! Yeah these brakes are surprisingly good. They have really nice feel as well, they don't have a hard aggressive bite at the top like modern brembos do, but they feel really good and appropriate for the type of machine this is, and the kind of riding most people are likely to do on the W800 :)
@@bruceclark5627 The W800 is not designed for 150mph speeds. Nor will it attain those speeds. The brakes are phenomenal for the intended use and capabilities of the machine. Not everything in motorcycling is about how far above the speed limit your motorcycle can go but I do understand the attraction.
Don't listen to the hype, it's a piece of crap, handles like a supermarket trolley, vibrates like a ....one of those vibrating things, the seat is a diabolically painful ball breaker, it leaks oil out the head cover, and it doesn't age well. I've owned both the 650 and 800 both very disappointing, not a patch on the far superior current Triumph Bonnies.
Thanks for checking out the video :). Yeah the suspension was a bit soft for me, but I thought it felt nimble enough, for what it is. I think if Kawasaki brought the MSRP down a couple thousand, it would be more in line with the rest of their lineup. Thanks for sharing your long term experience with the W800 as well. When people buy Kawasaki, they expect to get a reliable machine. If they wanted to get something for a fun time, but not a long time....they'd get a Ducati! Haha. To be fair, I have heard the newer Ducs are much more reliable now.
Search the history of the Kawasaki W series. It all started in 1966 with the W1 after Kawasaki took over the Merguro motorcycle company. Meguro made motorcycles using the BSA A7 engine design under license from BSA. In 1999 Kawasaki came out with the W650 a full year before the Bonneville. In 2011 they reintroduced as the W800. In 2019 they reintroduced it again as the W800 with stronger frame and forks. Disc brake on the rear, ABS braking system and better emissions to meet the stiffer Euro regs. It is true that it looks like a vintage British bike but in the 60s and 70s all bikes looked like British bikes. That's just what motorcycles looked like back then and, in my opinion, what a motorcycle should look like.
@@PastorMattMoto The new Triumphs are great motorcycles. Too bad they are made in Thailand or is it Taiwan. For me one of the draws of the W800 is the Japanese quality in materials and workmanship.
![VMRS 2024 - Vintage Motorcycle Rally & Swapmeet [Part 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OeoOFhpKj-E/mqdefault.jpg)
so....seit 4 wochen nun auch eine w800 in meinem besitz. my 2024...neu....aus der kiste...tacho 1km. du meine güte....du kannst 1000 videos anschaun, von den vibrations lesen, dem sound in den videos lauschen, dir kommentare zum fahr-feeling reinziehn, dir 1000 bilder aus allen winkeln anschaun. aber wenn dann das bike "live" vor dir steht, du aufsteigst, startest....und dann den sound hörst....wenn die vibrations in den hintern u die oberschenkel wandern, zudem auch vom lenker aus in die hände und hoch bis in die schultern (nicht nervend/störend oder unangenehm, sondern einfach nur geil)....dann stellst du fest, dass die w800 eigentlich gar nicht beschreibbar ist....sondern diese geilen feelings musst du einfach persönlich erleben. was sehr schade ist (aber dafür kann das bike ja nichts): innerorts bekommst du einiges vom sound mit, aber wenns dann zum ort raus geht, ist schnell schluss damit. dann dringt halt - wie so üblich - der sound nicht bis zu den ohren vor. mein helm ist nicht wirklich laut, aber die fahrtwindgeräusche "übertönen" halt doch den auspuff. vielleicht ist es ja mit einem jethelm besser....müsste ich mal testen. aber das fahrfeeling ist soooo geil, dass man ja trotzdem zu 100% spass hat. war total überrascht, wie chillig die w800 zu fahren ist. also ich meine damit kurven, stadtverkehr stop & go oder wenn man mal rangieren muss, usw usw. ich mach ja stets "meinen kreisverkehr-test" sobald ich mir ein bike zulege. habe meine "stammkreise" in die ich mehrmals einfahre, komplett durchfahre, rausfahre. und die w800 fährt da soooo butterweich rein, durch u raus und das ist natürlich auch allgemein bei kurven so. bis vor kurzem fuhr ich eine suzuki gsx - r 1000 und speziell stadtverkehr/berufsverkehr ( stop & go u kreisverkehr) waren einfach nur stressig. klar....warn viele ps vorhanden u so lag sie halt giftig am gas. hatte noch keine ganganzeige u ich musste immer drauf achten, dass ich minimal im 4. gang war wenns in den kreis ging. selbst im 3. gang machte sie ja beim geringsten gas geben gleich nen satz nach vorne. mit der zeit verlor ich einfach die lust auf dieses "ständige konzentriert sein". die 48 ps der w800 sind fürs chillige umhercruisen völlig ausreichend und sie ist wegen "nur 48 ps" aber trotzdem keine überlahme ente. auf der autobahn kommt sie klar schnell an ihre grenzen, aber auf der landstrasse kann man sie schon recht flott bewegen. ich kaufte sie ja, um gemütlich und mit viel fahrspass über die lande zu cruisen und das macht sie für mich perfekt. ich habe zudem auch noch eine kawa zephyr 750 mit 72 ps und die geht schon recht flott ab. da steig ich dann auf wenn mir nach bisschen mehr drehzahl/beschleunigung ist und vor allem ist natürlich der geile 4-zylinder klang auch ein absoluter genuss. die gesamte optik der w800 gefällt mir ausserordentlich. diesen retro-look finde ich voll gelungen. dazu der sound u die vibrations.....da kann man wahrlich so das gefühl aufkommen lassen, dass man grad 1965 unterwegs ist. was mir zb erst "auf den zweiten blick" auffiel, ist die grösse des schweinwerfers. von vorne betrachtet schaut er ja eigentlich "normal groß" aus. doch als ich, auf dem bike sitzend, mal die armaturen genauer anschaute, fiel mein blick auf den scheinwerfer....also somit ja von oben. und ich dachte dann "boah, ist der groß....das schaut ja geil aus". wunderte mich, wie das sein kann, da er von vorne so "normal groß" ausschaut. dann erkannte ich, dass es am chromring liegt. der ist nämlich in seiner breite so schräg nach oben gezogen und dementsprechend ist dadurch der scheinwerfertopf deutlich breiter als das scheinwerferglas. aber aufallen tut das so richtig deutlich nur, wenn man auf dem bike sitzt. und dieser anblick trägt natürlich auch voll dazu bei, dass man dieses retro-feeling bekommt. ich hatte mal eine 175er nsu, bj 1957....und die kam mir sofort in den sinn, als ich das mit dem scheinwerfer bemerkte. ach ja....erste inspektion ist bei 1.000km. die hatte ich nach 3 tagen erreicht und der händler musste lachen als ich 3 tage nach lieferung anrief, um termin zu machen😂😂😂. war halt so, dass ich eigentlich nie wirklich absteigen wollte😅😅. ok...nun hab ich genug "gelabbert" 😅....wer also am überlegen ist, sich eine w800 zu kaufen, sollte nicht lange fackeln.....er/sie wird keine enttäuschung erleben, sondern das biken neu definiert erleben.
Thanks for checking out the video and sharing your experience with the W800! It really is a unique motorcycle isn't it? Of all the machines I've owned an tested these last few years, there hasn't been anything like the W800. It really does feel like an old school machine that you can go to a Kawasaki dealership and buy new off the floor still :).
Glad you are enjoying yours!
Dein Weg finde ich sehr spannend. Ich bin neu in der Motorradwelt und schwankte zwischen Guzzi v7, der W800 und der Trident 660 als erstes Motorrad. Habe mich dann für die Trident entschieden, da die PS Zahl den A Schein entspricht und es moderne Features wie die Tankanzeige, Ganganzeige etc gibt. Aber ich saß bereits auf einer w800 und das "haben wollen" war da deutlich größer. Vor allem der Sound.
Ich gebe aber zu, ich mag wie schnittig der Dreizylinder einen vorwärts schiebt. Anders als mit deiner 1000er, ist langsam fahren mit der Trident kein Problem. Nur der Sound ist da eher 'mau'. Eine Trident bei 30 km/h zu bewegen, klingt so, als wäre man auf dem Sprungbrett. Bei der w800 oder der Guzzi klingt alles immer nach relaxxness.
Der Lampentopf ist mir auch erst (positiv) aufgefallen, als ich erstmals auf meiner 2024er W800 saß. Hat was von einer Vincent. Der schweineteure (€ 1.600) LED-Einsatz ist ein Gleichteil mit der Z900rs. Dort sitzt er ein einem Kleinen Topf mit "normalem" Lampenring. Bei der W800 haben sie z. Glück an einen großenTopf gedacht und den LED-Einsatz mit einem stark konischen Lampenring eigepasst.
Centre stand, camshaft is driven via bevel gear, and 360 degree engine...yeah, it's retro. Cool bike for VERY casual riding.
It's definitely a ton of fun, but I agree, it's not meant to get super sporty with. A really cool looking and characterful machine tho :)
Perfect for responsible riding
Coolest Modern day Retro hands down 👌
Thanks for checking out the video! I agree, the W800 is a great machine. I really love the character of it. It can be hard to find something that has a bunch of character, but is also reliable, but I think Kawasaki has done it with this guy :)
What a cool bike !!! Thank you for this review !!
Thanks for checking out the video, I had a blast on the W800 as well :)
It's a 360 degree parallel twin like the old British bikes. The pistons rise and fall at the same time but fire alternately at 360 degrees apart.
Yeah it's definitely a different feel to most other parallel twins, really cool!
i wonder if it would be wasted spark too? or is that a thing of the past..
@@AndyPat239 It probably is. If I find out for sure I will let you know. Many motorcycles, even 4 cylinders, use a wasted spark system.
I wish it was all black. Beautifull bike
This may be one of the most characterful bikes Japan makes. I wish they imported the non chromed blacked out model here in the US. My favorite thought is the cafe model. I don't know if they produce that model still but it seems like they only imported it into the US for a year or two. These roads you were riding on look perfect for this type of bike. They are very similar to the roads in my area. Bike with lower power are perfect for these roads. I have an Aprilia Tuono V4 and it is way overpowered and not fun at all for these roads. I had a DR 650 that I recently sold. Very seldom rode it off road, it was mainly my around town and back road commuter. Looking at either a supermoto or a cruiser and I think this bikes looks like a fun option. I think I might try the cafe model, that one just speaks to me. Thanks for the review, one of the best Ive seen.
Thanks for checking out the review and for the kind words! :). I actually haven't seen the cafe model myself, but that would be a cool version, I bet it ends up looking somewhere along the lines of a thruxton? I do enjoy supermotos myself as well, I'm actually working on a shootout video at the moment between my YZ450 supermoto and my DRZ400. It should be out by tomorrow! Also here is a link to the walkaround video of the yz450, if you'd like to check that one out: ua-cam.com/video/ft9-5HLWSw8/v-deo.html
The owners manual indicates to limit the rpm to 4000 and below during break in period. (1000km/600miles). How many miles on that bike?
There was about 10 miles on the W800, there are different ideas about breaking in bikes, some people hold to riding easy for the first 500-600 miles, some say you should riding the bike how you are going to right away. I'm a bit in the middle, I don't like to ride the new bikes real hard, but I don't think going mega easy after the bike is fully warmed up is totally necessary either.
For example with the bmw boxers, if you go real easy on them at the beginning, they tend to burn oil for a few thousand miles. That's what's going on with my 22 R ninet at the moment.
@@PastorMattMoto There is a reason that most motorcycle dealers don't permit road tests of brand new motorcycles. Kawasaki doesn't have "different ideas" about breaking in a motorcycle engine they are very specific. What would a prospective buyer of that motorcycle think? What would the dealer think? You were at or close to redline several times and you provided video evidence. Your ideas of breaking in an engine are fine and dandy for a motorcycle that you own. Not for someone else's motorcycle.
I have a 2022 W800 that I broke in by the Kawasaki manual. It didn't burn oil during the break in or since. Riding a new motorcycle hard during break in will result in some oil consumption until the rings and bore are bedded in.
I thought the same thing as I watched him hit redline numerous times on a bike which he said had 9 miles on it. I wouldn’t want to buy that one.
@Bob-xc2us Thanks for the conern, I do appreciate all the feedback I get on the channel, I am always learning new things as well. :)
I specifically asked the dealership about this, and they said not to worry about it. The manager there also watches all my videos. I definitely don't think my style of riding on these videos is in any way what could be considered aggressive. I am very respectful of the machines during the approx 15 to 20 mile ride I take them on for the dealership first ride videos.
There are many reputable sources that now recommend not completely babying new machines, but it does depend on who you ask. I'm somewhere in the middle currently. I don't think they should be ridden super hard right away, but also putting around for 600-1000 miles is not something that is totally necessary anymore, according to majority of what I have read.
I take it along the lines of, the you must only use our proprietary oil doctrine, that some hold to. There is absolutely nothing wrong with sticking to proprietary dealer oil, but I don't believe it is necessary since we have many examples of people running Rotella T6 in motorcycle engines and putting hundreds of thousands of miles of road and racing on bikes from all manufacturers, without oil related failures.
Manufactures put that in the manual for rider safety reasons. If you are a new rider they want you to get to know how the bike handles before you push on. Modern manufacturing has very precise tolerances and does not require break in like it did 60 years ago. If you watch any manufacturing video they spin these engines up to redline right after assembly on the production line. The worst way to break in an engine is to load it or ride at a steady rpm. You should be going thru repetitive periods of acceleration and deceleration without putting excessive stress on the engine. The type or roads and riding he did in this video was perfect for break in.
I have a 2013. Wonderful bike but the handlebar vibrations can be downright painful. I’ve fitted some Halcyon bar-end mirrors (stock mirrors are👎🏽anyway) and some ever-so slightly thicker/softer heated grips to to combat this but it’s still an issue. To be clear, I don’t mind vibrations in general but the steel brake levers seem to have zero dampening and so transfer all the vibes which cause pain in my finger tips as I ride with my index and middle finger slightly resting on the lever, ready for action (as one should). That said, this is a unique and beautiful bike and with the baffle removed or modified it sounds like true authentic 60s BSA. Nothing like it.
I vibrations didn't have time to get to me on this short ride, but you can definitely tell that the W800 is a big single. Tons of character, but with it comes some of those big single vibes. Still a super cool machine though. Did the bar ends and new grips help to extend the time you can ride a bit, before the vibes get to you?
@ Hi Matt. They had a slight effect but those vibes are tremendously stubborn. I have fitted some cushioned brake lever covers which seems to have stopped the vibes getting to the point of pain in the fingertips but haven’t stopped the numbness. I’m quite determined to solve this so I’m going to investigate if the bushings in the lever housing have worn down causing enough looseness that results in extra-vibrations. I got the idea after seeing someone on youtube replace his after having a floppy lever. If that doesn’t work then I may have to fork out for a vibration dampener. Btw, the W is a parallel twin with a 360 degree crankshaft. The effect is very similar to a big single as both pistons rise and fall at the same time. It’s a rather rare configuration these days, as I understand it. 👍🏽
The speed limit for the first 800 km (500 mls) is 4000 rpm.
If you had stuck to it, you would have actually been able to experience the character of the bike. But anyway: You nailed it in 25 Min. The most important things about this bike has been said
The brakes are actually surprisingly good. One wonders what was done wrong with the superbikes with their complex braking systems. For 2 full floating discs, 12 pistons radially mounted calipers and radial brake pumps, braided hoses and aggressive pads the difference is disproportionate to the effort.
Get it up to about 150mph and you'll notice the difference.😅
@@bruceclark5627 I did not say, there is no difference.
@@besenwieslersepp1011 you said the difference is "disproportionate to the effort". If you put a $4,000 scope on a $50 yard sale .22 and you never reach past 80 yards,you can honestly say it doesn't do any better than the $40 scope you bought a K-Mart in 1982.Therefore the EFFORT to build the ATN is DISPROPORTIONATE to the performance difference between said scopes.
Thanks for checking out the W800 video!
Yeah these brakes are surprisingly good. They have really nice feel as well, they don't have a hard aggressive bite at the top like modern brembos do, but they feel really good and appropriate for the type of machine this is, and the kind of riding most people are likely to do on the W800 :)
@@bruceclark5627 The W800 is not designed for 150mph speeds. Nor will it attain those speeds. The brakes are phenomenal for the intended use and capabilities of the machine. Not everything in motorcycling is about how far above the speed limit your motorcycle can go but I do understand the attraction.
I call it a standard bike.
Thanks for checking out the W800 video! Yeah I think standard is right term for these cruisers as well :)
Kawasaki also calls it a "W800 Standard" bike as opposed to the Street or Cafe version that are no longer sold here.
Het Matt how tall are you ?
Hey thanks for checking out the review! Im about 6 foot with the Garnae race boots on, about 5'10 otherwise.
@@PastorMattMoto Thank you
@@PastorMattMoto Ive ordered a 2025 model today just waiting on stock, they told me the new models should be in stock in about 30 days here in EU.
@@joaovasco3969 Awesome! It's such a fun machine! I seriously did not want to give it back :)
У меня w650. Супер мотоцикл.❤
They are a ton of fun!!
Don't listen to the hype, it's a piece of crap, handles like a supermarket trolley, vibrates like a ....one of those vibrating things, the seat is a diabolically painful ball breaker, it leaks oil out the head cover, and it doesn't age well. I've owned both the 650 and 800 both very disappointing, not a patch on the far superior current Triumph Bonnies.
Thanks for checking out the video :). Yeah the suspension was a bit soft for me, but I thought it felt nimble enough, for what it is. I think if Kawasaki brought the MSRP down a couple thousand, it would be more in line with the rest of their lineup.
Thanks for sharing your long term experience with the W800 as well. When people buy Kawasaki, they expect to get a reliable machine. If they wanted to get something for a fun time, but not a long time....they'd get a Ducati! Haha. To be fair, I have heard the newer Ducs are much more reliable now.
I had a 1969 Kawasaki. It was a direct rip off of a Royal Enfield. A clone if you will. I see Kawasaki is at it again here in 2024
I had not even heard of RE in 1969. I would have compared it more to a Triumph Bonnie.
It does look alot like the Royal Enfields. I actually haven't had the chance to ride an RE yet, hopefully soon! Thanks for checking out the video :)
The Triumph Bonnevilles are absolutely sweet machines :). I've been on a Thruxton, what a blast!
Search the history of the Kawasaki W series. It all started in 1966 with the W1 after Kawasaki took over the Merguro motorcycle company. Meguro made motorcycles using the BSA A7 engine design under license from BSA. In 1999 Kawasaki came out with the W650 a full year before the Bonneville. In 2011 they reintroduced as the W800. In 2019 they reintroduced it again as the W800 with stronger frame and forks. Disc brake on the rear, ABS braking system and better emissions to meet the stiffer Euro regs. It is true that it looks like a vintage British bike but in the 60s and 70s all bikes looked like British bikes. That's just what motorcycles looked like back then and, in my opinion, what a motorcycle should look like.
@@PastorMattMoto The new Triumphs are great motorcycles. Too bad they are made in Thailand or is it Taiwan. For me one of the draws of the W800 is the Japanese quality in materials and workmanship.