Magnificent knock off

[lucian]

Never seen one of these but I like it. I had a t100 for a short spell and found it nice to look at but boring to ride. I think the seller may be right, this may be a collectible. Any thoughts?




https://maine.craigslist.org/mcy/d/2000-kawasaki-w650-triumph/6362829944.html

[Testarossa]

They're pretty desirable now and that seems to be a typical price for a good one.

The original W-series began in 1960 as a licensed version of the BSA A7, the Meguro K.

The 1999-2000 version was an all-new OHC design.

[Chesterfield]

Never seen one of these but I like it. I had a t100 for a short spell and found it nice to look at but boring to ride. I think the seller may be right, this may be a collectible. Any thoughts?
Sure it`s collectible it will be worth $7000 in ten more years. Passbook savings will do you better with no maintenance costs.



https://maine.craigslist.org/mcy/d/2000-kawasaki-w650-triumph/6362829944.html

[ohiorider]

Slight correction to the seller's ad:
He/she says "........ These Kawasakis were only made for two years and are soon to become very desirable ........"

Actually, they were only available in the US market as 2000 and 2001 models before Kaw decided to quit importing into USA.  They were available in Europe (and presumably Asia) for several more years, until the W650 was replaced by the W800, which was never imported into the USA.

I rode mine for 50,000 miles, and the little Kaw never failed to please.

Bob

EDIT:  I owned and rode both a 2000 W650 and 2003 790cc Bonneville Centennial Edition concurrently for several years.  Here's a brief comparison chart I put together outlining basic differences.

[Shorty]

If the Bonneville bored you, the Kaw would put you to sleep. I found the W650 to be even more underwhelming than my 790 Triumphs. The kick start is a nice novelty feature, as is the bevel tower, and it is refreshing to see a classic styled bike. Kawasaki could not give them away when they were new, however. It seems that more people, me included, would rather see "TRIUMPH" on the tank. 

[ohiorider]

If the Bonneville bored you, the Kaw would put you to sleep. I found the W650 to be even more underwhelming than my 790 Triumphs. The kick start is a nice novelty feature, as is the bevel tower, and it is refreshing to see a classic styled bike. Kawasaki could not give them away when they were new, however. It seems that more people, me included, would rather see "TRIUMPH" on the tank. 

Shorty, since all this stuff is subjective ...... I have to say I found the W650 more interesting and involving than the T100.  Having owned a BSA 650 Scrambler (A10,) and spent a good bit of time on a Triumph TR6 in the mid-1960s, the W seemed more true to the older bikes than the Triumph.

[lucian]

I would imagine the engine performance may be less than the t100, but they did a nice job aesthetically. I like  the old school touches like the kick start ,twin instruments, carbs, rear drum ,chrome fenders, fork gators, pea shooters and a classic rear rack.  Really reminds me of all the old Nortons, bsa's and Triumphs I grew up watching all the cool older guy's riding.  ( I'm 56)  At 5,500 it is already holding it's own value wise.  Sometimes knock off's surpass the real deal somehow. I wonder if it has points or elct?

[ohiorider]

I would imagine the engine performance may be less than the t100, but they did a nice job aesthetically. I like  the old school touches like the kick start ,twin instruments, carbs, rear drum ,chrome fenders, fork gators, pea shooters and a classic rear rack.  Really reminds me of all the old Nortons, bsa's and Triumphs I grew up watching all the cool older guy's riding.  ( I'm 56)  At 5,500 it is already holding it's own value wise.  Sometimes knock off's surpass the real deal somehow. I wonder if it has points or elct?

No points ...... it isn't that retro! 

To me, it was just a sweet little motorcycle. Stock pipes sounded pretty good.  The tranny was as smooth as any bike I've ever owned.  Loved the Kaw neutral finder!  For a Japanese motorcycle, it was very British in feel (aside from the fact it was manufactured in Japan.) (I'm 74 btw !)
Bob

[Shorty]

Shorty, since all this stuff is subjective ...... I have to say I found the W650 more interesting and involving than the T100.  Having owned a BSA 650 Scrambler (A10,) and spent a good bit of time on a Triumph TR6 in the mid-1960s, the W seemed more true to the older bikes than the Triumph.

They are pretty neat bikes. Be nice to see the W800 available stateside. Part of my decision to buy my Bonnies was the fact they were made in England, (albiet with Oriental manufacturing influence)  That is no longer a consideration, as Bonnies have been assembled in Thailand since about 2008. Very subjective, as you say.

[sign216]

As others have said, I really like the kick start feature.  Too bad Kaw didn't think this would sell in the USA, or...maybe they knew right, and the real answer is "too bad USA riders don't appreciate a lightweight, old school bike."

[ohiorider]

As others have said, I really like the kick start feature.  Too bad Kaw didn't think this would sell in the USA, or...maybe they knew right, and the real answer is "too bad USA riders don't appreciate a lightweight, old school bike."

I purchased my W650 in August of 2000.  The dealer had four of them on the floor ..... I bought one of them, for $5234.00 out the door, which included 'fees' and 'freight.'  I think Kaw learned their lesson from their experience with the W650, and decided to keep the W800 in Europe and Asia.  Our magazine testers seem to always say 'bring it, we'll buy it.'  That is, until the bike is actually brought to the US.  Then it is more like 'we were kidding about the buying it part.'

I only sold mine because it was no longer in Kaw's USA product line, and it had over 50,000 miles on it.  Seemed like a good time to sell.  She was running nicely, and I was going to continue piling on the miles ...... I treated this little bike like a 3/4 scale BMW sport tourer.  So, it was time to move on, and sell the bike to someone who would probably ride it more on the weekends instead of longer distance trips.

She was a sweetheart!




upload png google


With small tank bag, Corbin saddle, flyscreen, and Givi E21 bags, I'd take this bike anywhere!

[keener]

they sold them  in Canada , here we get some models that do not make it to the USA ...they didnt sell well though, but those that had them seemed to be well pleased ,  i remember a couple of riders touring on a W650 and a Suzuki 650 Tempter they had come from Eastern Canada and loved the bikes reliable and cheap to run , big miles for any bike probably 7500 return ..