KAWASAKI W800 (2011 - on) Review

Version: Classic (chrome)

Year: 2020

Annual servicing cost: £230

This is a great looking bike, air cooled and mechanically more genuine retro than anything else out there. It is like riding a 60s bike that starts and stops when you actually want it to. Ridden back to back with the Interceptor, Kawa feels a lot more solid, and looks more proportionate side by side with a modern Bonnie. But as with most bikes, aesthetics are truly matters of taste. I travelled most of England, France and Spain on mine with a total reliability and adequate retro comfort. Mods and issues - please read on.

Buying experience: Probably bought the last green one in the country. Called the dealers all day.- that was pretty much my buying experience, a day on the phone…

Version: Cafe

Year: 2020

Annual servicing cost: £180

Would have been 5 out of 5 but finish let's it down. Lovely torque rich slow revving engine, and the burble and pops from the standard exhaust is wonderful. It doesn't handle like a sports bike, it doesn't brake like one either, but it's not supposed to be. It's so much fun on sweeping bends, bumps can unsettle it but that adds to the charm!! The bronze/brown tank is wonderful in the sunlight. Its comfyish (I have a back and hip issue, so sit up and beg positions cause me all sorts of problems), I can manage a couple of hrs without a break, it does around 60mpg and looks utterly gorgeous.

Buying experience: Orwell motorcycles the best dealers I have ever dealt with.

Version: W800

Year: 2020

Annual servicing cost: £250

Absolutely not for everyone. Want power? Buy a modern Bonneville. Want value? Buy a Royal Enfield Interceptor. But for those who want a classically styled roadster with top notch modern build and a dose of scarcity, it’s an easy bike to fall for. Best for looks, noise, comfort and a nebulous ‘zen’ factor that keeps its rider chilled out. No good for those whose idea of a great journey is to travel so quickly that they almost arrive before they set off. Also a very good bike for a rider that doesn’t mind engaging regularly in conversations with strangers, because the classic W800 seems to attract plenty of attention from both bikers and non-bikers.

Buying experience: Purchased new from a good dealer, having seen the bike in the showroom for months with no interest. Got 24 months interest free and have been well looked after.

Year: 2011

Annual servicing cost: £220

Full markes for perfectly realisig its design brief - that is, "recreate a 1966 Triumph Bonneville in every way but make it bulletproof, everywhere". Slating areas of ownership of the W800 are exactly like slating a 1966 T120. To experience a shard from the true cross of motorcycling the W scores 10/10. As a daily rider in 2021, the W scores like a Bonnie would. If you love an MT10, you will likely hate this. That's okay, its not meant for you.

Buying experience: Privately from an awesome octagenarian who had it from new, and was giving up biking only under sufferance from his family. Rode it almost daily, and maintained it perfectly. I paid £3500 advertised price including a topbox, weather and dry covers in 2019. I've added 4k miles since then.

Year: 2016

Annual servicing cost: £35

I love the looks of the bike apart from the hideous rear light and the n/s injector cover which is totally different from the o/s one! The original seat was torture after a couple of hours riding and the exhaust is way too quiet. Fuel injection can be choppy at low speeds and the suspension and brakes are not up to scratch for a modern bike, having said this it is a very easy bike to ride with loads of character. The W800 is a bike that can be personalized to no end and I've made quite a few changes to mine to make it perfect for me, these include a better suspension, higher bars, fuel controller, Corbin seat, Motad exhaust and Thruxton rear light to name just a few. It's been totally reliable and apart from the front forks crazing under the lacquer it still looks like new.

Year: 2013

Best proper retro out there especially as a base to modify.

Version: Special edition

Year: 2016

I keep looking but I can’t find anything better. I love this bike to death. It’s a great ride and reminds me constantly of my 1974 Bonny. The only downsides for me are: it’s just a little too small. It’s slightly underpowered, especially two up and it wobbles at speeds. The power issue is a simple fix, I’ve bought a tune up chip from the states which gives it 15 per cent more power combined with better fuel consumption. We shall see if it ever arrives. Lastly, it wobbles at speed. Doesn’t matter if the shocks are on position 2 or 200 - it wobbles. I’ll be changing the shocks imminently. I recently test rode some Harley’s, triumphs and a norton. My little W800 just beats them hands down in quality and smoothness - especially the thruxton r which I found disturbingly clunky - especially the gearbox

Buying experience: I bought the bike from a dealer in Birmingham last year. They were highly professional

Version: Special edition

Year: 2016

I keep looking but I can’t find anything better. I love this bike to death. It’s a great ride and reminds me constantly of my 1974 Bonny. The only downsides for me are: it’s just a little too small. It’s slightly underpowered, especially two up and it wobbles at speeds. The power issue is a simple fix, I’ve bought a tune up chip from the states which gives it 15 per cent more power combined with better fuel consumption. We shall see if it ever arrives. Lastly, it wobbles at speed. Doesn’t matter if the shocks are on position 2 or 200 - it wobbles. I’ll be changing the shocks imminently. I recently test rode some Harley’s, triumphs and a norton. My little W800 just beats them hands down in quality and smoothness - especially the thruxton r which I found disturbingly clunky - especially the gearbox

Buying experience: I bought the bike from a dealer in Birmingham last year. They were highly professional

Version: AGF

Year: 2011

Annual servicing cost: £50

The bike is very comfortable to ride (way better than the W650) and a virtually maintenance free bike. A well balanced bike with a very secure easy riding experience. Excellent value for money. Fantastic manufacturer support as regards any technical issues/updates/recalls. Exhaust note is very quiet which results in a very sophisticated motorcycle. More exhaust volume and a bit more mid range power is easily tapped into by removing the rubber air filter snorkel and even more so by removing exhaust baffles. Apparently the ECU is self learning and can be reset by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. Warm idle speed and cold idle speed are also easily adjustable via two screws. I have removed baffles and snorkel and my bike sounds like an old 70's Bonneville and goes like one too (I am old enough to compare), virtually the same bore and stroke so shouldn't be a surprise really.

Buying experience: Paid 4,000 pounds from a dealer for bike with 13,000 miles. Paid the advertised price of 4,000 pounds.

Version: W800 SE

Year: 2016

Lovely looking but lots of vibration. Took this beautiful looking bike out for a test ride today. I'm 6ft 3"....... It's a bit small for me. After an hour and 25 miles on B roads, A roads and 15minutes on a motorway I knew it wasn't for me. I have read about vibrations on the bike......Jesus it was like riding a pneumatic drill. I couldn't believe the vibrations through the pegs, handle bars etc. Getting back on my f800 gs was like sinking in to a sofa. Stunning looking motorcycle for the smaller rider who can live with lots of vibration.

Year: 2014

Can be skittish if pushed hard but this bike is more about relaxing cruising

Year: 2011

I've had two of these, both the green and chrome originals. The first I bought new (early 2011 build) and put around 40,000km on it, and while I still had that one I bought a second (late 2012 build) with 1500km on it from an old fellow who decided it was too heavy for him. I've run old Brit bikes for years and the W800 feels and rides pretty much like a more sophisticated, slightly heavier and more substantial version of a 60's 650 or 750 twin. Been riding for nearly 50 years, many years of touring, owned a lot of big bikes and don't drive a car; the W800 is a great bike.

Year: 2014

Annual servicing cost: £100

A usable and attractive motorcycle that delivers on all fronts. It takes on the Bonneville head to head and is a definite equal. It is a smaller frame and lighter too. In terms of looks it is arguably a much better looking ''British'' bike and it has faithfully incorporated much of the the old British bike ethos. If you like modern classic this is definitely one to consider seriously.

Version: classic

Year: 2012

I have owned the W800 special Edition (Black with Gold wheels) for 2 years now and simply love it. Great bike for everyday use and days out with a pillion, has a great engine which just purrs along but is let down slightly by a weak front brake, and very soft front end but to be honest it just adds to the character which is why I haven't changed a thing. You really cant ride one of these bikes anywhere without grabbing attention, the amount of car drivers that sit at the lights and open their windows to tell me what a great looking 'proper' bike I have is amazing and just about everywhere you park up you will have people straight over to take a good look. For less than 6000 brand new OTR a bargain as well.

The W800's the best-looking retro on the market. Just a pity I'm 6 inches too tall to ride one so ignore the ownership scores.

Have come full circle from pocket rockets to KTM singles to Beemers to the W800. Bought this for the daily commute and it is perfect for that. Easy to ride, not fast but enough power and torque to cut through traffic, and arrive in style. Great bike to use as base for the ultimate cafe racer, i added Norman Hyde bars, rear set, changed winkers, fenders. Cons: some small quality issues (rust areas, FI light issues), crap exhaust, aftermarket parts fairly rare, gets wobbly over 70 Mph. Pros: gorgeous looks, great to personalise, engine with personality, cheap to run

I fell in love with this bike in the few seconds it took to get up to 60mph after I opened up the throttle on a brief test ride. This was going to be my first big bike so it had to be just right. Took the Bonnie out also because I always fancied one and well, it's a Bonnie! But the Kwak just grabbed me immediately. Although the Bonneville engine was perky enough, the ride was fidgety, not the comfiest and after 20 mins I was glad it was over. The W800's twin is much smoother yet still impressively torquey & responsive. Ride position was better and as has been said by MCN and Bike, etc., the fit & finish is way ahead of the Triumph. Wasn't sure about having to clean all that chrome and lustrous paint mind, but actually it's a real pleasure because you will fall in love with the damned thing. It's so obviously been made with a rare touch that is largely missing from the sea of plastic that dominates bike showrooms these days. And to quote my SV650 owning mate- "Whoa....It looks SO much better in the flesh!". Of course only one manufacturer dominates the retro class which means much more people will be drawn, Harley-like to the heavyweight 'brand' that is Triumph instead of Kawasaki- better known for lime green sportsbikes. Their loss I'm afraid. Everyday, I realise I made the right choice and although other bikes may enter/exit the garage in the coming years- I'll always have a corner for the W800.

Having swopped a Yamaha R6 for this bike I can say I have fallen in love with it. The engine is simply lovely, it is tractable and has plenty of torque. The Yamaha was quicker, but the W800 is much more fun to ride. Around the towns and villages that I drive the engine is beautiful, you don't have to keep changing gear as it will pull really well from below 2000 rpm in second, third, whatever you happen to be in really. The suspension mops up the sleeping policemen without even a murmer. I guess the brakes are not as good as the Yam but, what the hell, I hardly ever use them except if a black cat runs in front of me. I simply love it.

Back in late 60's (yeah I'm that old)Yamaha released its version of the Triumph. Kawasaki released it homage to the BSA. The Yammie hung around for a few years in various rebirths, but eventually disappeared. The Kawasaki didn't. I have ridden the W650 (when they 1st came out) & a friends bike. I liked it a lot, sure it did not have heaps of grunt. But performance fitted the retro brief. I have test ridden the W800 & same story, but with a tad more power. The finish on these bikes is great & in Kawasaki's own words, is a homage to the original W1. Compared to a lot of modern Euro & other Japanese bikes, its pretty understated style wise. Comparing it to Triumphs (like the T100) is fair, but you have to remember that even these Triumphs are not from the original manufacturer, but from a company that bought the name & is just doing the same thing that Kawasaki is doing in their interpretation of what a "Retro" bike should look like. (Kind of like Triumph's interpretation of a Japanese sports bike, the TT600, a CBR clone). I could also mention that Triumphs are manufactured in Thailand, But lets not go there. Both manufacturers do a good job in the way the bikes are presented, put a 60's Triumph or BSA next to them & you would soon see that the reality is only a nod with a few styling cues. What Kawasaki give you is a complete bike, you don't have to fork out more money on "Extras" like center stand, tool kit, knee pads & so on & the motor is a gem. I'm buying one.

After getting myself in quite a frenzy over the W800 I rushed (in the snow) to the Scottish Bike show last Saturday, eager to see the beastie in the flesh. Well I have to say I was disappointed! My heart literally sank. Ok its a nice bike but there is something not quite right with it. The engine isn't as good looking as it is on paper somehow, the tank badge rather gross, the seat looks like a blow up lilo and all in all its just trying to hard. Right.... back to the Triumph stand.... The Bonneville looks quite dull in comparison, but it just seems a tadge more 'genuine'. Shame they didn't have the Thruxton on show (why the hell not?) So what to do.... well I was out today on my Royal Enfield Bullet EFI DeLuxe and it caused more interest than any of the plastic fantastics or other chromed wonders, so no thanks Kawasaki and yeah maybe one day hello Thruxton. But until then I'm sticking with the Bullet.Cheers Chennai. (PS ignore my scores I haven't had the pleasure of riding one yet)

After getting myself in quite a frenzy over the W800 I rushed (in the snow) to the Scottish Bike show last Saturday, eager to see the beastie in the flesh. Well I have to say I was disappointed! My heart literally sank. Ok its a nice bike but there is something not quite right with it. The engine isn't as good looking as it is on paper somehow, the tank badge rather gross, the seat looks like a blow up lilo and all in all its just trying to hard. Right.... back to the Triumph stand.... The Bonneville looks quite dull in comparison, but it just seems a tadge more 'genuine'. Shame they didn't have the Thruxton on show (why the hell not?) So what to do.... well I was out today on my Royal Enfield Bullet EFI DeLuxe and it caused more interest than any of the plastic fantastics or other chromed wonders, so no thanks Kawasaki and yeah maybe one day hello Thruxton. But until then I'm sticking with the Bullet.Cheers Chennai. (PS ignore my scores I haven't had the pleasure of riding one yet)