I test drove a RE and while it's quite nice, it's very refined compared to our old 650. I suppose I could grow to like or even love one, but at this point, I'm not beating down the dealer's door to get one, lol. I like my old rough-around-the-edges 650s.
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Kawasaki W800
- Thread starter Raymond
- Start date
They are hard to find , here’s one in another city about 90 miles from me.
Check out this other beauty they have,
Check out this other beauty they have,
Funny, Kawasaki does the best British retro and the best Japanese retro.
I had a dream Yamaha made a 1200cc version of the XS motor with fuel injection and a 270 crank. When I woke up, half my pillow was gone.
I had a dream Yamaha made a 1200cc version of the XS motor with fuel injection and a 270 crank. When I woke up, half my pillow was gone.
Interesting....I have been watching Allen Millyard videos and working out how to make a 979cc XS650+1 triple.....
XS650D
XS650 Junkie
You've got the bug Pete! Lol
Here's a 2019 in KC for 6K.
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/mcy/d/overland-park-2019-kawasaki-w800-cafe/7293552547.html
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/mcy/d/overland-park-2019-kawasaki-w800-cafe/7293552547.html
Back when the W650 first came out (99 or 00?), I seriously considered trading in my 95 Ducati M600 for one. I even arranged a test ride on one, at a dealer a couple of hours away. As I remember, it was very nice and civilized, but not as entertaining as I had hoped. The Duc still had the upper hand in handling, braking, power, low weight, and of course sound (open air box cover, and CF slip ons). So i ended up keeping it.
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Gratuitous photo of Polly at the seaside - that's Berwick-on-Tweed pier in the background:
Taken a few years ago - that's the matt black original exhaust system.
Taken a few years ago - that's the matt black original exhaust system.
That Blue Kawasaki looks very very nice.They are hard to find , here’s one in another city about 90 miles from me.
View attachment 188229 View attachment 188230
Check out this other beauty they have,
View attachment 188231 View attachment 188232
I didn’t realize you had changed the exhaust, I like the one you’re running now better than the black exhaust. I don’t know why so many factories are churning out those flat black exhausts now, I’ve always liked chrome. So the exhaust now....is that a factory exhaust?
Bob, the original exhaust was too quiet and for some reason K fitted a one-piece system - both headers, both silencers and the link pipe under the engine were all welded up, making removal a PITA.
So I bought a stainless Motad system, intended for a W650. Separate silencers & headers, no link pipe, therefore fitting much easier. Much lighter, sounds better, and I prefer the look of the stainless. Have since added a lambda sensor on the r/h pipe.
Anybody need an original system?
So I bought a stainless Motad system, intended for a W650. Separate silencers & headers, no link pipe, therefore fitting much easier. Much lighter, sounds better, and I prefer the look of the stainless. Have since added a lambda sensor on the r/h pipe.
Anybody need an original system?
I ran Michelin Road 5s on my 2006 Honda 919 and they were the best tire I've ever had, also bought from Fortnine. Their traction in the rain was better than anything else and while I never did drag footpegs on that bike, I wore the chicken strip off completely in very short order.
Raymond, I was watching some YouTube videos about working on the W800 ( what can I say I like watching guys work on their bikes, I’m a geek that way ). I was wondering if you’ve ever tackled a valve adjustment, I didn’t find a lot of info out there except one video in Italian. I see it’s a shim system and it looks a wee bit complicated. That is something I’ve never tried.
I also saw a video for a battery replacement, and I thought , why would somebody make a video about that , so of course I watched it.
Well no wonder, they buried that thing in there and it’s a job to get it out.
Lovely bike though, and I sure wouldn’t mind owning one.
I also saw a video for a battery replacement, and I thought , why would somebody make a video about that , so of course I watched it.
Well no wonder, they buried that thing in there and it’s a job to get it out. Lovely bike though, and I sure wouldn’t mind owning one.
As much as I like my XS650, I see no point in owning another motorcycle so much like it, especially since I'm capable and enjoy keeping it up. I'm sure you agree. How about an FXR?
Raymond, I was watching some YouTube videos about working on the W800 ( what can I say I like watching guys work on their bikes, I’m a geek that way ). I was wondering if you’ve ever tackled a valve adjustment, I didn’t find a lot of info out there except one video in Italian. I see it’s a shim system and it looks a wee bit complicated. That is something I’ve never tried.
I also saw a video for a battery replacement, and I thought , why would somebody make a video about that , so of course I watched it.
Lovely bike though, and I sure wouldn’t mind owning one.
There are a couple of good clues about working on the Kawasaki W800 in this excellent YouTube video:
Interestingly, the videographer pointed out precisely the same fault regarding the exhaust system noted by Raymond in his post above.
NOTE: do not attempt to drink anything while watching this video.
(perhaps I should have put that information before the link to the video.....?)
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hovel
ol' stupid
YES ! Great bike that handles better than the later Dyna's (FXD) that took its place. Wonderful for an all day ride. The EVO engines (3 layer valve cover) are fine engines and easy to work on. They were the first engine that Harley made, pretty much guaranteed to run 100K with normal maintenance.
There are a couple of good clues about working on the Kawasaki W800 in this excellent YouTube video:
Interestingly, the videographer pointed out precisely the same fault regarding the exhaust system noted by Raymond in his post above.
NOTE: do not attempt to drink anything while watching this video.
(perhaps I should have put that information before the link to the video.....?)
Oh man! That guy is too funny! I subscribed to his YouTube channel.
Bob, yes, I have done the valves on the W800. About the hardest part of the job is taking the fuel tank off - towels/rags to protect the paintwork, plus dexterity or assistant to unclip the fuel pump wiring. Then it's straightforward - the rockers push to the side to give easy access to the shims. Needs a long, narrow socket to get to the plugs - they're buried deep in the head, so you do them while the tank is off.
Never changed the battery, not difficult but you have to be ready for a fair bit of dismantling including those lovely metal side panels to get at the battery.
Marty, had an FXR twenty years ago, a good Harley. As for the W800 and owning a bike so similar to the XS? Well, I had the W800 first, since 2014, and it is a keeper. So really the question is, why did I buy the XS650? Still can't answer that one . . .
Although they are clearly in the same class, they are nonetheless very different bikes. The W800 sets a high bar. East to ride, good torque, smooth, handles well within the performance range, etcetera.
But I love the XS650, probably because I've had so much involvement. Much more visceral than the W. If the 800 is a good girl, then the XS is a bad one.
So, I'll probably keep both bikes - the W 'coz it's too good to get rid of, the XS because I've done too much work/spent too much money to part ways. Then there's the wee Honda NX250 - technically, it's for sale but I haven't made strenuous efforts in that direction. And it's the most eager bike in the garage - like a puppy jumping up and down just demanding to be taken out.
This is the dilemma I face when I open the garage doors. Aren't I lucky?
BTW I don't own a car.
Never changed the battery, not difficult but you have to be ready for a fair bit of dismantling including those lovely metal side panels to get at the battery.
Marty, had an FXR twenty years ago, a good Harley. As for the W800 and owning a bike so similar to the XS? Well, I had the W800 first, since 2014, and it is a keeper. So really the question is, why did I buy the XS650? Still can't answer that one . . .
Although they are clearly in the same class, they are nonetheless very different bikes. The W800 sets a high bar. East to ride, good torque, smooth, handles well within the performance range, etcetera.
But I love the XS650, probably because I've had so much involvement. Much more visceral than the W. If the 800 is a good girl, then the XS is a bad one.
So, I'll probably keep both bikes - the W 'coz it's too good to get rid of, the XS because I've done too much work/spent too much money to part ways. Then there's the wee Honda NX250 - technically, it's for sale but I haven't made strenuous efforts in that direction. And it's the most eager bike in the garage - like a puppy jumping up and down just demanding to be taken out.
This is the dilemma I face when I open the garage doors. Aren't I lucky?
BTW I don't own a car.
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LTGTR
XS650 Addict
5Twins - I volunteer at a motorcycle shop one day a week - I work in the repair section but they sell new Royal Enfields and retro type bikes including XS650's, Z1, CB's, CBX etc - I do PD's and Servicing on some of the RE's - they seem reliable - very few come back with problems - the 650 twin is miles ahead of the 500 and 350 singles, to ride - the singles have a forward style foot peg, arkward and the crankcase seems to hit your foot - the physical size of the 650 twin motor (especially cylinders) is huge - I dont know if that means it will last forever - its much bigger than our XS650 - the finish is a bit poor in places e.g. the chrome is not show chrome as we know it - they sell a lot of them in Adelaide - there are 2 dealers.
Regards Ray.
Regards Ray.
A good explanation, then I thought more of my own position. I have three more XS650's!
