Like the Kawasaki W800? - Watch This! 1st Season Honest Review of Kawasaki W800
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- Опубліковано 14 гру 2024
- Full first season honest review of owning the 2020 Kawasaki W800 (purchased NEW in June 2022)
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I want this w800 as a second bike, I love the retro look and feel of this bike, it stay so true to old British charm!! The engine is so beautiful!!
I agree completely! Thank you for commenting!
My first street legal bike was a 1972(?) Honda 450 and then I stepped up to a 1971(?) Yamaha 650. Hence my nostalgia for the spoke wheel, air cooled twins. Had a rocket for some unknown reason, and then a Goldwing before I hung it up. I picked up the 2023 Guzzi V7 Special in 2024 for $1000 off for new old stock. And at a Guzzi event day that got me another $500 discount. So very good deal at $8490. Now at almost 500 miles I'm starting to get my sea legs back and am head over heels for the thing. Just brought back the old magic of riding a simple machine. Your bevel gear drive overhead cam is beautiful but gotta love a two valve push rod motor. Doesn't get much simpler.
The V7 Special came with the Michelin Road Classics and I will say I'm amazed at how they really don't track at all compared to the old days IIRC. I never cared for speed but this makes me want to lean into the curves. Moto Guzzi does offer both high and low comfort seats with heated as an option.
Fellow New Englander from Connecticut. One reason I was reluctant to get back on a motorcycle was that I have hit three deer. Never on a motorcycle. But in an auto is bad enough. I try to completely avoid driving around dusk in the fall.
For pure aesthetics I will say the W has the Special beat. Love that chain drive too.
@@Blair62 for me the bevel drive did in my decision. Living very rural also limited my brand availability. I have over 4k miles on my W but do split my riding season across 3 bikes
I too had a R75/5 ('73) I feel the same way you do about this bike. Bought one last week, the cafe model. Love the thing. Bummer you have a riding season, I plan on riding this thing through the NW winters as long as the roads aren't frozen.
New England definitely has a riding season but I do love living here. I loved the character of the 75/5, the W reminds me of all the best parts while bringing her own traits in as new favorites.
I own the 2020 cafe version and put 8k on it. I love this bike. You did a great review as I will be getting new tires this next year. I like the cafe seat for a good ride. But that is personal. I own a 2021 Concours for my long rides to Tennessee or Jersey. Luggage rack I put on and foam grip covers. Needs a center stand as the cafe doesn't come with one. 200 dollars! Any way, to any that come across this video, it all depends on what you are looking for. I didn't know when I bought it, but it has worked it's way into my most favorite bike I have ever owned. Love it. But it's getting cool and winter is around the corner and the Concours will be up to the challenge, as I am 100 percent motorcycle living in Virginia.
Thank you so much for commenting! I called VA home in the mid nineties (Warrenton), absolutely beautiful and lots of motorbike friendly roads! I also have multiple bikes including a 'mile eating' touring bike. N + 1, right!? (the formula for how many bikes you should own, (N = the number of bikes you currently own).
I agree with you on the seat. I own a 2022 w800 and it does get uncomfortable after a short ride. There are 2 companies currently making seats for the w800 that you didn't mention, one is K@H seats out of Japan, second is a company called Texavina. They carry over 40 different styles of seats for the w800. I just bought there classic style model M7165 which has a nice flat style to it. Check it out. It costs $179.00
Thank you so very much Petemack6!
Here is the link for others who want to check it out!
texavina.com/w800-ej800/
SO happy that you knew about this and shared it with us!
texavina.com/kawasaki-w800-ej800-2011-2016-2019-present-classic-style-motorcycle-seat-saddle-sku-m7165/
I should be getting the seat in about a month. As soon as it arrives I'll take the bike for a long distance ride and give you an idea of how it feels compared to the stock seat.
I bought a 2022 W800 and I find it fantastic for me. I used to ride a Harley Davidson Heritage that was too heavy and causing back pains.
I'm super glad to read that the W is working out fantastic for you! Thank you for commenting!
Awesome bike. I got to test ride during a Kawasaki event. I really enjoyed. I looking around for second bike. The W800 maybe my next bike. Great photography. You have good eye.
Thank you so much! I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. Thank you for commenting!
The W800 would make a fantastic second motorcycle, I really love mine!
My W800 does well on the 70mph four lane but is is not a Goldwing or other brand heavy weight cruiser. For occasional high speed jaunts it does just fine. The Dart flyscreen is a little higher than the aluminum one you have and it makes quite a difference above 60mph. It is, however, not a full touring fairing .
I like the fly screen look, but it is a blast of air to go 70mph, I have done interstate riding, but for long hauls I would rather take my BMW R1200CLC, with a large, but fork mounted faring.
Great review.
In New England also. I recently test rode a 2020 W800. Were it not for the gas nozzle dings in the tank, it would now be in my garage.
I'm also 5'8" (with a bit more heft) and I concur about the bar risers. It'll be the first mod I do when I get one. After riding a Harley FLH, a Gold Wing, CB750 and currently a VStar950 Tourer, it's definitely a 'compact' bike, such as my former CB350 but taller..
I have found that adding the Omega Racer Comfort seat helps the reach to the ground a bit on the W800, but I'm still breaking it in, so it's a bit of a firm saddle still, more comfortable than the stock seat on the W800 already. Thank you so much for commenting! Where in New England? I'm in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.
I picked up my 2022 W800 and drove it home 200 miles, I thought the seat was bad. I now have 8200 miles on it in 3 months, a few days of close to 400 miles and I like the seat now, so I got used to it, or it broke in.
I am glad it's working out for you! I can do about 3 hours on the stock seat now. I have an old tailbone injury, probably why I am fussy about seats.
I just bought the Kawasaki Z650rs as I am most comfortable on this style of bike a felt it would be a good starter bike since I haven't turned a throttle in 40 years.
Welcome back to motorcycling! I strongly recommend to everyone coming back to riding to take a beginner riding course. Technology on motorcycles has evolved SO much, and riding techniques have improved and changed in order to accommodate the technology increases (which result in higher performance all around, when used properly).
ABATE and MSF are both great places to look for courses in your area, an advanced class would be a good follow up and you use your own bike for those in most cases.
Thank you for commenting!
@@bigbluemotorbikedog I have my MSF course the end of April. Passing the course will also give me my endorsement. I am really looking forward to it.
@@bluesysaxman I love it! Thank you for responding! The Z650RS is a terrific bike! SO happy that you are returning to motorcycling and taking your course!
I have a 2004 W650…I guess you put the front shield on to hide the plastic base to the speedo..I did same but it ended up changing lights and headlight anyway. Wonderful bikes. The W800 is gorgeous and will hold its value and increase in the future…
I love the look with the front shield! Which one did you get? Do you have links for the replacement lights?
Thank you for commenting!!
Great vid, I have the street version, very happy with it except the tyres are a bit iffy and the lack of aftermarket support
Thank you for commenting! I really like Omega Racer for aftermarket, there's Webike too out of Japan, shipping takes a bit, just as a heads up. What kind of aftermarket parts are you interested in? Have you checked out the Michelin Road Classics? (replacement tires)
@@bigbluemotorbikedog I'm in the UK, I also vlog with my bike. Not long had the W800, bought it with 780 miles on it - or there abouts.
I have no idea if the seat on mine is after market, recovered original or what - let me know what you think if you should look.
It got blown over the other week and sheared the foot peg off and bent the brake lever, so those 2 cost me nearly £100. Haven't looked into tyres yet but thanks for the heads up on that front!
Great summary of the W800. My Kawasaki's were built in Thailand, but I have heard the W800 is being built in Japan. Can you confirm this?
I can confirm that the Kawasaki W line is built in Japan.
@@bigbluemotorbikedog Thank you for that conformation. It's another reason to justify the purchase of yet another motorcycle. I've found a new 2021 at a dealership for $6900.
@@dcjr1053 That's a great deal - love new old stock! (I bought mine in 2022 and it's a 2020)
If I keep my tires a t 28psi front and 32psi rear when riding alone I don't notice much, if any, seam tracking. Some people are installing radial tires with radial tire approved inner tubes. I am not sure that's a good idea for long hot touring rides but may be ok for day trips. Has anyone done this?
Which tires are you running on your W? My W came with the Dunlop GT 300 series, and they were good at seam tracking. I swapped them out for the Michelin Road Classics and love them, I usually run 32psi in both tires.
@@bigbluemotorbikedog I still have the GT 300 ties and with proper pressure I don't notice any objectionable seam tracking. Maybe I am just used to it. It's like riding on gravel. You get used to letting the bike do its own thing without fighting it.
@@Bob-xc2us Yeah I think that could be it... with the Road Classics I feel a lot more confident in the wet, twisties, and at higher speeds, I encountered a 'floaty' feel from the GT 300s at Interstate speeds, wasn't a fan. If it works for you, definitely looks more period (60s/70s) correct than the Road Classics do.
I'm shopping bikes the W800 is first one on my list.
Have you been able to test ride one yet? I absolutely love my W800, it fit exactly the feel of riding that I was looking for!
I hvnt, I've been consuming as much of these types of videos as I can in the meantime. I started shopping Bonnie's mostly and a couple other modern retro bikes. When my father mentioned about the W series from his days growing up riding. With it being a Kawasaki, it fell on Def ears until I actually saw the bike. I knew then that I had a problem on my hands. Cause I know myself well enough to know that I'm going to want some semblance of performance. It's just the way God wired me, but the look of the W series full stop best looking motorcycle in the class.
@@marksutherlandjr.2121 You have a lot of good insights, the one thing I can tell you is that the spec sheet does not do the W justice. The gearbox is flawless, and is dialed in to provide a genuine retro experience of the performance bikes of yesteryear, the exhaust is perfect IMHO, and the motor is an understressed over engineered wonder that should last a lifetime. IF what you are looking for is a modern engine performance bike specs that look retro the Z RS series definitely delivers there, but for me, riding the W (take as long of a test ride as you can) is what cinched it up for me, it's just a joy to ride.
W800 has nice torque too..
What's the fuel economy like?
I tend to ride a bit like an old(er) man (because I am one) and I get around 60 miles per gallon or 25.5 kilometers per liter. On Average if you are a more spirited rider, around 50 milles per gallon.
I ride the Cafe version and it's 50/50 highway and B roads each day, 25 miles one way and get around 225 miles per tank which does translate to 54 miles per gallon. Been riding it a year and 8k miles on the clock. I do have a problem with the fuel light, it comes on with more then a gallon left in the tank and if you did not see the milage prior to the fuel light comes on, it flashes fuel and you don't see trip A to see how far you have gone to know if it's been 10 miles or 40. I guess what I am saying is, you get to know your bike and look at your trip A and adjust. Never been on a long trip yet that I use a full tank in one sitting. Cafe doesn't have a centerstand. Other then that, perfect bike. All will be in Awww of you. But it's how it makes you feel!
I have owned a W800 for three years pulling a Cozy European sidecar I love the bike and being 70 years of age, it will be my last bike but that said i absolutely love my machine I have a video of it on my UA-cam site Soul2Burn
LOVE IT! Does the #68 have special meaning? So very cool, thank you so much for commenting! Do you go touring?
@@bigbluemotorbikedog Yeah it was the age at which i bought the bike. As for touring at 70 years of age I still go for trips to Calgary approx 400 kms