Kawasaki W800

[Raymond]

Today, nailed it all back together - that was fun. Or perhaps not. When the battery is in position, you can see the -ve terminal but it's hard to get to. There's a thick bundle of harness and there's the frame and between those two, there is not enough space to get fingers. Unless one has hands a lot smaller than mine . . .

You need to line up the small nut sitting inside the battery terminal, the end of the thick earth cable, a terminal washer for the battery charger and then push the retaining screw through all those items. But you can't get at any of it. Use of grease to hold fasteners, use of long-nose pliers to hold cables, fiddling with the bits you can reach of the earth cable, use of a magnetic probe to rescue the screw if it drops . . . and it does drop because you can't get hold of it. Liberal use of swearing. I don't know if that actually helps but it happens.

How many attempts to get it all lined up? Not only cannot reach, but can't see either due to hands, tools and the parts themselves getting in the way. Before something shifts and you have to start all over. Oh, the relief when eventually, feels like luck, the screw bites and you tighten up the -ve cable. Then you realise you still have the +ve terminal to do. Access is probably no worse, but there is the red plastic terminal cover, which thinks its job is preventing you from getting the charger lead into position . . .

I took some pictures but they don't add much to the one from yesterday. Anyhoo, job done. Don't want do that again any time soon.

 

[JOHNDADDY]

Today, nailed it all back together - that was fun. Or perhaps not. When the battery is in position, you can see the -ve terminal but it's hard to get to. There's a thick bundle of harness and there's the frame and between those two, there is not enough space to get fingers. Unless one has hands a lot smaller than mine . . .

You need to line up the small nut sitting inside the battery terminal, the end of the thick earth cable, a terminal washer for the battery charger and then push the retaining screw through all those items. But you can't get at any of it. Use of grease to hold fasteners, use of long-nose pliers to hold cables, fiddling with the bits you can reach of the earth cable, use of a magnetic probe to rescue the screw if it drops . . . and it does drop because you can't get hold of it. Liberal use of swearing. I don't know if that actually helps but it happens.

How many attempts to get it all lined up? Not only cannot reach, but can't see either due to hands, tools and the parts themselves getting in the way. Before something shifts and you have to start all over. Oh, the relief when eventually, feels like luck, the screw bites and you tighten up the -ve cable. Then you realise you still have the +ve terminal to do. Access is probably no worse, but there is the red plastic terminal cover, which thinks its job is preventing you from getting the charger lead into position . . .

I took some pictures but they don't add much to the one from yesterday. Anyhoo, job done. Don't want do that again any time soon.

Hoping you get 12 years out of this one too!

 

[Raymond]

Polly just goes on doing what Polly does. Has an outing most days, starts first touch of the button, everything works, apart from the side-stand safety switch, obviously - https://www.xs650.com/threads/kawasaki-w800.59441/post-873855

After twelve years, mileage is only 37,800 but in fairness there are other bikes in the garage which often get picked first. Miss November XS650, owned six years, has done more than 10,000 miles and the Bullet, just over three years, more than 4,000. Plus other bikes now departed.

But Polly just sits there, best bike in the garage and always ready to just get on with it, whether a trip to the shops or a trek to see friends in Cheshire. The black finish on the engine is wearing off, especially the head and barrels.



The frame is getting rusty in all the hard-to-reach places. The black paint on the front rim has hundreds of white spots where the undercoat shows - could be where insects have been washed off? Rear is fine - usually filthy with oil and dust but wipes off clean.



At some time would like to tidy up. Repaint the rims, or replace with new which gives the option of a different colour. Could have a go at wheel building, clean the hubs up, new stainless spokes and new rims?

Take the engine out? I've always baulked at the idea, because it's a very big job with so much stuff to dismantle. And put back again. But would be an opportunity to check the valves again, plus think about the best way to treat the head and barrels.

And with the engine out, would be a chance to tackle the worst areas on the frame.

But I still love the classic looks and in spite of her age and the ravages of time, neglect and winter use, she still gets thought of fondly as Pretty Little Polly Perkins.

 

[bosco659]

That’s a fine looking ride Raymond, I’ve always liked the look. That rim could be painted up insitu. A bit of patience with a roll of masking tape, a 3M scuffing pad and a rattle can of paint would have it looking like new again. I hate masking around rims though. If you were able to break the bead it would be easier to get the tape between the rim and tire for a quicker masking job.

Or…. Leave it as is with its patina and enjoy! I wish I had space for one more daily rider bike that I wouldn’t spend time cleaning all the time or worry about riding it in inclement weather.

 

[clemens]

Dear all,
I am new here. After having ridden only enduros/adventure bikes (DT, Ténéré, XRV 650 RD03, PR7) for all my life, I am now the owner of a 2012 W800.
A really minor issue that bugs me is "the rattling of the the speedometer and rev counter housing". How can this be mitigated?
Thx in advance
Clemens

 

[Raymond]

Well, Hi, @clemens welcome to the Forum. My W800 has never suffered from rattling speedo and rev counter housing so I have no suggestions. What do you think of the bike in general? Do you have other bikes as well? Cheers, Raymond

 

[clemens]

Well, Hi, @clemens welcome to the Forum. My W800 has never suffered from rattling speedo and rev counter housing so I have no suggestions. What do you think of the bike in general? Do you have other bikes as well? Cheers, Raymond

Hi @Raymond ,
thanks for replying. I own the W800 (slightly modded, see attached files) since 2 weeks only and I really love riding it.
Although I must admit that I (coming from enduros) still have to get used riding it. That said I still have my Kove 450 Rally, which makes fun as well

 

[RC4MAN]

That's a beaut, been trying to resist buying one and thought I had it licked, but now hmmmmmmm........

 

[Adamc]

Hi @Raymond ,
thanks for replying. I own the W800 (slightly modded, see attached files) since 2 weeks only and I really love riding it.
Although I must admit that I (coming from enduros) still have to get used riding it. That said I still have my Kove 450 Rally, which makes fun as well

Love the funky colour, so cool.

 

[Raymond]

There's been a quite few scrambler styled W800s in the UK.

 

[Its been a long time]

There's been a quite few scrambler styled W800s in the UK.

View attachment 352224View attachment 352226

I remember there was a very nice W800 Metisse doing the rounds a while ago.

 

[Raymond]

There's been a lot of customs based on the W800. One of the dealers - was it Padgetts? - was knocking out scrambler style, and Bike EXIF showed various café racers.

This one is by delightfully-named deBolex engineering.

 

[RC4MAN]

Raymond, who's making the high pipes?

 

[Raymond]

Raymond, who's making the high pipes?

No idea. Probably a matter of approaching the after-market pipe manufacturers?

I bought a Motad stainless-steel 2 into 2 when the bike was nearly new, which is lighter, much easier to fit & remove and lets out a more mellow tone than the strangulated original but unfortunately Motad went bust a few years later.

 

[Raymond]

Yesterday Polly had her longest outing for a wee while, trip to Carluke to visit family, about 120 mile round trip. Weather very hot, so selected my oldest fabric jacket which I believe used to be waterproof long ago but no longer even pretends. However, it's thin and the wind comes through, ideal for a bit of ventilation.

Lots of roadworks and lots of traffic but nonetheless the ride to Carluke was very enjoyable. Hmmm, it was obvious even before I arrived that some heavy weather was coming in.

After a pleasant family interlude, I set out just as the rain was starting, hoping to outrun the weather. No chance! Got well and truly soaked. Then the rain stopped and I dried out, then it started again and I got wet again, then it stopped again and so on. Such fun and at least I didn't get too cold.

It's not the rain that matters, been wet on a motorbike many, many times, but I don't much like wet roads. They say you lose 10% of your grip and 90% of your confidence on wet roads but you just gotta get on with it.

Saw a few groups of superbike riders, parked in lay-bys, sheltering under the trees. Cheeky little wave as I rode past.

Must go and wash the filth off the poor bike.

 

[RC4MAN]

Ah decisions, decisions.
Been considering a lighter bike than my V-Rod (over 650 loaded and normally ridden) and just yesterday two things popped up locally
A cherry running 82 650 Heritage Special with 17k miles for $2200 and a local dealer has a nice 2022 W800 ABS with 5k miles at $5200 or offer

 

[Raymond]

You, Sir, are on the horns of a dilemma.

Are you looking for advice?

 

[Mailman]

a local dealer has a nice 2022 W800 ABS with 5k miles at $5200 or offer

Yeah , I’ve kinda regretted not getting one when I had the chance. They’re a great bike!

 

[RC4MAN]

You, Sir, are on the horns of a dilemma.

Are you looking for advice?

Thanks Raymond, I should go with the newer bike, I already have, in parts, 3 other 650's, none of which are running at present.

 

[RC4MAN]

But then I've been reluctant to copy the 650 advert link here because a really cherry HS with low miles at that price, I'm afraid someone here might snatch it up before I make up my mind