W650 - Value?

[ohiorider]

Amazing .... Kaw couldn't give these bikes away when they brought them to the USA.  I picked up a brand new 2000 model in Aug of 2000, for $4995, rode it for 7 years and 50,000 miles, and sold it for slightly over $3000.  It was an excellent bike and easy to service.

But damn, do those saddlebags (and the way they're mounted) hurt the eyes!  However, that's curable.  Kev, you mentioned some rivet work on the rear fender.  Many of the 2000 models developed a stress fracture in the rear fender.  I don't think Kaw replaced outside of warranty.  You mentioned something about the exhaust system being welded.  If the bike has aftermarket mufflers, that may be the reason, since the mufflers are welded to the header pipe, not clamped.  Mine, however, developed a crack right at the weld.  I had a Kawasaki Extended Warranty on the bike, they honored it, and provided me with a replacement pipe and muffler.  But a decent weld would have been ok, too.

These bikes are equipped with double wall mufflers.  Mine retained their shiny chrome finish all the time I owned it.  I've seen pics of some on eBay and CL that are burned blue, and I have to wonder what happened to those bikes? (incorrect jetting??)The one you're considering appears to have pipes that have retained their factory appearance.

Re those bags (where's the barf emoticon when you need it?)  once upon a time (2000) there was a German company by name of Five Star that made a nice set of bag mounts that worked with the Monokey E21 Givi bags,  Don't know if they're still around.  If you could find a set, the setup makes for a bag system that is scaled in size to the little Kaw.

Bob

http://s115.photobucket.com/user/bcgilligan/slideshow/My%20W650%20Motorcycle?sort=3

Here's a few pics showing my 2000 model in 2006-07 timeframe with the Givi bags mounted on the Five Star mounts.  I preferred the looks of the stock saddle, but the comfort of the Corbin Gunfighter,

[Kev m]

Ha ha thanks Bob, I was hoping to hear from you.

Not that I think I'd go that way, but LeatherLyke used to make bags for the W too.

[mgmark]

<

I just sold my '01 a week ago. The Guzzi is back on the road and I have too many bikes to keep up with, so it went, along with three others that need to go. I was asking 4500, and all the offers I received were around 4K. My bike was very clean, needed nothing. In my opinion 2500 is a good deal. Clean it up without spending a bunch of $$, replace that rear fender with the new reinforced replacement from Kaw, and ride it. They are a great bike just to have fun on.
Mark

[ohiorider]

Kev, as MGMark mentioned, replace the rear fender.  Don't what they cost today, but when I was lightly rear-ended in 2006, insurance paid for a new fender. The fender was $225.75 at the time.  I thought that was reasonable.  OTOH, If I wanted another W650, I'd be looking for one in excellent shape, like the one MGMark just sold. At $4 - 4.5k, that'd make for a nice bike for not a lot of money. 

[mgmark]

Kev, as MGMark mentioned, replace the rear fender.  Don't what they cost today, but when I was lightly rear-ended in 2006, insurance paid for a new fender. The fender was $225.75 at the time.  I thought that was reasonable.  OTOH, If I wanted another W650, I'd be looking for one in excellent shape, like the one MGMark just sold. At $4 - 4.5k, that'd make for a nice bike for not a lot of money.

Yep, that replaced rear fender is a selling point. All of the originals with any miles cracked at the sides so there are no good used ones to be had. Luckily Kawasaki continued making the bike for years for the rest of the world, eventually enlarging the motor to an 800. Along the way they updated the rear fender with inside reinforcement along the sides to prevent the cracks. It is an easy bolt on job to replace it. Retail now is $300 or so, I bought mine through Partzilla at $225. Get it while it is still available. The bike is worth it.
As somene once said about these bikes; "if everyone rode one of these there would be no wars". Pure fun.

[Rough Edge racing]

  What makes those bikes so nice? Just asking because I don't know anything about them...

[Kev m]

  What makes those bikes so nice? Just asking because I don't know anything about them...

It's another modern classic. It's an elegant bevel cam design with kick and electric start but with modern materiels, electrics, decent enough brakes/suspension.

So it feels like a nice smaller classic bike but with JAPanInc. ease of ownership.

[Rough Edge racing]

It's another modern classic. It's an elegant bevel cam design with kick and electric start but with modern materiels, electrics, decent enough brakes/suspension.

So it feels like a nice smaller classic bike but with JAPanInc. ease of ownership.

 Now I remember seeing on at the Curtiss museum last summer....It has Japanese well groomed styling......Is it a 360 degree engine ?

[Mr Pootle]

Kev, you're right about those bags. They seriously detract from the looks of an otherwise attractive bike.

[Bob Wegman]

If you paid him rent when you lived at his home give him $2500.  If he didn't charge you any rent give him $4500. Then you are even.

[Steph]

It's another modern classic. It's an elegant bevel cam design with kick and electric start but with modern materiels, electrics, decent enough brakes/suspension.

So it feels like a nice smaller classic bike but with JAPanInc. ease of ownership.

The W650 is the only bike that actually turns my crank these days, exactly for the reasons above.
My only questions as I've not ridden one (& actually considering one too) is:
-Does the counter balanced void the engine of sensations
-does the single brake does the job on two fingers? I like the two finger double discs setup in general. 

2.5k sounds like a deal, not sure what's to debate here

[ohiorider]

  What makes those bikes so nice? Just asking because I don't know anything about them...

What makes them such nice bikes?  My demo ride at the dealer in August of 2000 immediately took me back to my days 34 years before, with memories of riding a buddy's 650 TR6 Triumph.  It was like a time machine for me.  Mine would do anything I asked of it.  When Grebmrof and I planned to ride our 790cc Bonnevilles from Ohio on a round trip out west thru N Mex, Ariz, and Wyoming, I was seriously entertaining the thought of taking the W650.  However, we decided to take our two nearly identical bikes instead.  With Kaw's Euro handlebars instead of the high risers, this bike fit me perfectly, and I'm certain it would have been fine on that 3000+ mile ride.  I had it set up with Givi bags, a small tank bags, a National Cycle fly screen, and ...... not much else.  It was a sweetheart!

Here's a comparison chart I created at the time .... W650 vs T100 Bonnie.  I liked both of these bikes, rode both for 50,000 miles each.  Yeah .... the W felt a bit spindly compared to the T100, but both bikes had their unique characteristics.  And the W sounded pretty damned good even with the stock pipes!

Here's my chart.



Bob

[ohiorider]

The W650 is the only bike that actually turns my crank these days, exactly for the reasons above.
My only questions as I've not ridden one (& actually considering one too) is:
-Does the counter balanced void the engine of sensations
-does the single brake does the job on two fingers? I like the two finger double discs setup in general. 

2.5k sounds like a deal, not sure what's to debate here

#1:  No, the engine does exhibit some vibes .... not bad, but enough to let you know you're riding a motorcycle, and the stock pipes have a rather nice bark to them, too.
#2:  As I recall, the single disc is very sensitive.  The pressure required is quite light.  Maybe too light.  I recall having something jump in front of me (a critter of some sort) and I'd make the front tire howl before I modulated the brake pressure.

[wrbix]

The bags might be ok but look like they're mounted at the wrong angle.

.....and wholly behind the rear axle - what was he thinking?

[jas67]

Now I remember seeing on at the Curtiss museum last summer....It has Japanese well groomed styling......Is it a 360 degree engine ?

The W650 engine is 360 degree and has a single counter-balance shaft.

[kirkemon]

Bob - your chart didn't list weight or number of valves (unless I mossed it).

The biggest flaw is the weak fork springs. Unless replace the front will collapse in a panic stop, and nose dives during regular braking.


I haven't experienced the problem with the rear fender. Maybe it's due to the fact that I relocated the rear turn signal to under the rear of the seat, thus reducing some weight on the fender. This repositioning was quite easy because that's where they were mounted in the Japanese versions -no holes to drill and easy wiring!

[ohiorider]

Bob - your chart didn't list weight or number of valves (unless I mossed it).

The biggest flaw is the weak fork springs. Unless replace the front will collapse in a panic stop, and nose dives during regular braking.


I haven't experienced the problem with the rear fender. Maybe it's due to the fact that I relocated the rear turn signal to under the rear of the seat, thus reducing some weight on the fender. This repositioning was quite easy because that's where they were mounted in the Japanese versions -no holes to drill and easy wiring!

As I recall 4v/cyl.  And yes, the fork springs were really soft.  But in general, they were fine for normal riding.  And if one didn't like the spring rate, it was easily fixed.