Anyone Have a Kawi W650?

[Hawker]

Lots of chatter and pics on another thread about Triumphs so I figured I might be able to venture just one step further. 

I'm going down to Bike Week to demo a V7 and it is first on my list of Standard bikes to purchase.  However, I've also stumbled across a 2001 W650 which most of you probably know did not sell well here, but is still for sale in most of the rest of the world.  It also got fantastic reviews in 2000-01 when compared to the Bonneville. It's a much lighter bike, well designed and quality level is high.  I like the V7 and the W650 because they are a bit uncommon, on the smaller and lighter side and I prefer standards over cruisers and sport bikes.  The Ws are really maintaining their value as they seem to be taking on a bit of a cult status and are hard to find.  $4500-5500 seems to be the norm for a low mileage, all stock bike.

Any thoughts or experience with these bikes.  Thanks for your Guzzi grace and I trust I won't be banned.  ;)

[oldbike54]

Love em , a couple of members here own one .

 Dusty


Sent from a submarine in Oklahoma .

[Arizona Wayne]

Spuddy here has 1.  ;)   Thing is the W650 is chain drive vs. V7 is shaft drive.  I prefer chain or belt drive.  :)

[rboe]

A local buddy has one. Beautiful machine. I'd prefer a GB500, but only for personal historical reasons. And only by a whisker.

[tazio]

I've got a 1968 Kawi W2TT 650. :BEER:
Wish the W800 was brought state side..

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

I've liked these since they came to the USA. Too bad they're no longer available in the USA.
Here's one at an elevated price:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/mcy/4919295985.html

[harrytief]

I have a 2001 w650 that is said to be more stable at high speed than the 2000. It is a very well made bike that is fun to ride ( I've installed Ohlins at the rear and heavier fork springs and a fork brace at the front ) but does not match the much older cx100 for performance and stability at speed. The W will be for sale in the spring.
Harry

[uncle]

I have one...  got it new in 2000 (and have no intention of letting it go).  A great platform for customizing - but other than the Euro low bar kit, mine is stock...

[Kev m]

I've got a V7 and I spent the summer living with a bud who has a W650 that I rode often.

I love my V7, but I almost equally love the W. And you can find another V7 easily over the next W which might be hard to find.

Get the W...

[aschem]

Bought one new in 2000, owned it for 8 years...great bike; lots of fun.

[kirkemon]

Yes, I ride my W650 daily. Great ride, easy to maintain, reliable, rare. Remember it has 8 valves, and a bevel. The 2001 has a better seat and a larger diameter front axel (suppose to be more stability at high speeds, but who knows). I like mine, but somewhat waiting for the next generation V7.

[Hugh Straub]

I sold my 2000 W650 a few weeks before buying my 2007 750 Breva.  The W650 was great fun, handled well and felt very much like my long gone BSA Lightning, but without the oil leaks.  My only mod was to move the rear turn signas to the frame rather than at the stop light fitting, as the rear fender is susceptable to fatigue cracking.  Inspite of the Kawasaki logos all over the bike, folks would ask me what year my "Triumph" was and compliment me on my great resoration.  Its one of the few bike purchases I've made where I sold it for more than I paid.

That said, I prefer the Breva.  Suspension/handling are better, no chain to lube, much less vibration and tappets are a snap, all unlike the W650.  Some how with the W650 (which is a fine bike) I felt like a bit of a poser...pretending to ride 45 year old English iron. My Breva is pretty enough and rare enough to get plenty of compliments without trying to be something it isn't.

[marcogtv6]

My wife has a 2001 w650. Like all Japanese bikes, great quality feel to it, eager engine and interesting bevel drive solution. But it is heavy for a 650 and buzzy at high Rpm's. Ergonomics are poor with the stock handlebars and seat. You just get the feeling they could have done just a touch better and they would have had an even better classic...better front suspension , euro handle bars and a little less chrome and glitz...


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[aschem]

I remember the seat, bars, and front forks all were modified when I owned the bike and it made a big difference (Corbin, Race-tech, and Bikemaster bars) also changed headlight and turn signals and had factory crash bars.

[Hawker]

Thanks guys for your input, very helpful.  I'm a bit surprised at how many W owners there are here.

Kirkemon, LOVE those pipes.  :)

[mgmark]

I had a 2001 green tank for quite a while as a re-entry bike into motorcycles after a 20 year layoff. Great bike, really fun to ride, favorite bike for around town riding and also travels well. Excellent forum support. I sometime wish I kept mine.
Mark

[kirkemon]

My wife has a 2001 w650. Like all Japanese bikes, great quality feel to it, eager engine and interesting bevel drive solution. But it is heavy for a 650 and buzzy at high Rpm's. Ergonomics are poor with the stock handlebars and seat. You just get the feeling they could have done just a touch better and they would have had an even better classic...better front suspension , euro handle bars and a little less chrome and glitz...

Very fair evaluation, but you left out what I think is the biggest issue, the weak fork springs. The W650 is a nose diver, but very easy to fix by changing the springs.
The other issues you mentioned can be improved.
First. Get the "Low Bar Kit" which came standard in Japan and Europe. The bars are still 1" and taper to 7/8" so no need to change anything else, although I also installed the correct length cables when I changed over. Big difference.
Then, change the rear tire to a 120 which will be a little taller than the 130. Get rid of the crappy rear shocks, (I went with Ikons).
These changes don't make it the best ride in the world, but much better.

I'm not sure what on the W you're referring to as "glitz", I've always thought it to be fairly plain.
Kirk

[ohiorider]

Hawker, I owned a 2000 W650 from Aug 2000 until March/April of 2007.  During that time, I put slightly over 50,000 miles on the W.  It was a wonderful little machine.  I owned it at the same time I had a Triumph 790cc T100.  I liked both machines, but each had its own qualities.  The W was a sweet and lighter twin that would pull away in top gear (5th) at 2000rpm without a hiccup.  The engine was more old school re bore and stroke ratio .... smaller bore and longer stroke, whereas the Bonnie was a short stroke/big bore engine.  The T100 was more of a long legged machine, capable of all day at 70mph+.  Of course the W could do the same, but it felt a bit flighty at that speed!

If Kaw were to bring the current W800 stateside, I'd do another one in a minute.  The W650 (at least the one I owned) was bullet proof.  The controls were very light, and the tranny shifted like a knife thru butter.  Purchased as a leftover for $4995, sold 7 years later for $3495.  Cheap, fun riding.

Here's some pics of mine, taken close to when I sold the bike.

http://s115.photobucket.com/user/bcgilligan/library/My%20W650%20Motorcycle?sort=3&page=1

I had installed low bars (a Kaw Euro option), and Five Star bag mounts (Twisted Throttle) that allowed me to use Givi E21 hard bags.  I liked the looks of the stock saddle better than aftermarket, but the Corbin saddle turned the little Kaw into a mini sport tourer.  I took the bike as equipped on several long weekend trips, and she never disappointed me.

Bob

[Spuddy]

My wife has a 2001 she rides to the coffee shop and waits for peole to ask what year the Triumph is ('67, '69, '70?)  I ride it more. Yes, weak fork springs. Yes, stepped saddle slides you into the tank and isn't all that comfortable. I just got euro bars from the aftermarket and all is fine.  '01 has marginally better front brake but a larger front hub for better stability.  One thing the Kawasaki engineers aced big time were the peashooters and sound.  I think it's in the stable for life....

Spuddy

[Vasco DG]

I rode a 650 back when they first came out and really liked it, light, flickable, very 'Classic' feeling. We get the 800 out here and there was a bloke staying at the top pub a couple of weeks ago who was doing a long tour of the 'Right Loop' of Oz. Started in Ballarat and was heading up to the end of the tar in FNQ before coming back and heading west to Darwin and back through the center to Adelaide and then home. He was of the Kalal school and had only a duffel bag for all his kit. The bike had been faultless, (This wasn't his first trip.) and his only real concerns were fuel capacity/range for some of the stretches between Katherine and The Alice but he had fuel bladders for that and was, very sensibly, renting an EPIRB in case of disaster in the middle of bum-fuque.

Really nice little bikes and I love the fact the cam is shaft driven, a real 'I thumb my nose at you' to Ducati! :D

Pete

[lrutt]

sorry, but never did care for the way the Japanese copy things. If you want something that looks like a Bonnie,  get a Bonnie. The Triumph air cooled twins are bullet proof bikes, every bit as much as this Kawi.

And that tower shaft on the right side just ruins the looks for me. What did they do...sneak a little Ducati DNA in the mix?

Yes I hear they are reliable bikes. but as a low volume seller and Japanese at that, parts will be harder to come by if you plan on keeping it any length of time.

[Kev m]

sorry, but never did care for the way the Japanese copy things. If you want something that looks like a Bonnie,  get a Bonnie. The Triumph air cooled twins are bullet proof bikes, every bit as much as this Kawi.

And that tower shaft on the right side just ruins the looks for me. What did they do...sneak a little Ducati DNA in the mix?

Yes I hear they are reliable bikes. but as a low volume seller and Japanese at that, parts will be harder to come by if you plan on keeping it any length of time.

Well, culturally speaking the Japanese have always borrowed from their neighbors in concept (cuisine, martial arts, etc.) but at the same time improved upon them at the same time.

But that's not really what is going on with the W650.

Brush up on your history before you take umbrage. They didn't "copy" Triumph, they literally licensed the didn't to build a Maguro/BSA. I believe the bevel drive (which BTW is a mechanical thing of beauty you have to see up close to appreciate) was true to the original design.

Anyway Kawi built these decades ago and bright beck their own product complete with kick and electric start.

Around town the bike feels light and nimble, but it's stout enough to cross the entire country on.

You absolutely feel like you're riding a brand new antique, complete with decent brakes and running gear.

I couldn't get enough miles on it last summer when I was staying with my bud.

[Scoops]

The W800 is more like a Bonnie than the 'new' Bonnie.  Having test ridden both i'd choose the Kwaka over the Triumph, just on build quality alone. However it doesn't have the cool factor that some people look for.

I ended up buying my V7 because it was cheaper, and a little bit more unusual (here in the UK anyway). Getting parts to customise it has been relatively easy and largely cheaper than aftermarket Bonnie parts.

Whichever you choose, they are all good bikes, and the important thing is you are out there on two wheels having fun.

Pick whichever bike makes you turn around and look at it as you get off and walk away from it.....

[Rough Edge racing]

 No one is more of a die hard vintage Triumph guy here than I am. I find it flattering the Japanese have used styling clues from a bike long gone out of production...I find the W650 an interesting bike, not my style but interesting. Anyone that confuses a W650 or new Triumph Bonneville with a vintage Triumph doesn't really see the difference so it doesn't matter. I mean all genuine Triumphs announce their arrival with valve clatter... ;D And the kick starter thingie..
  Riders don't buy them as an alternative to a vintage bike,they buy them for the styling and convenience of a standard bike that doesn't weigh 750 pounds

 

[Gliderjohn]

Have any owners here ever received a speeding ticket by radar? Why I ask is I remember when they first came out and Motorcycle Consumer News did a review they were totally perplexed that they could not get a radar reading. They said they were also evaluating some other bikes that day and no problem getting readings on them. They finally wired the tag from the support van to the forks and were then able to get readings. I cannot see any reason why radar would have a problem reading the speed of one.
GliderJohn

[rboe]

The headlight bucket normally makes an excellent radar target (I find that my XR650L seems to be a poor radar target though) so that is very interesting.

[Kev m]

I betcha I would be enough of a target while riding one. ;D

[drbone641]

Less cross-section generally equates to a later pickup. Meaning by the time they get a lock, you have seen them and slowed.
ex.) F-15 radar would pickup another F-15 long before it would pickup an F-5.

[Gliderjohn]

Quote from drbone641:

Less cross-section generally equates to a later pickup.

My understanding they were not getting any readings with no problem picking it up after adding the tag.
GliderJohn

[LowRyter]

Kaw certainly has cred for 650 parallel twins since it's "W" series from the 60s.  Yeah it was a BSA licensed design.



I'd wager the new Kaw twin is a bit lighter than the new Bonnies.