2019-on Kawasaki W800 Review | the Japanese brand's 47bhp middleweight retro bike collection

Terrible stock tyres, they track grooves in the roads, and Don nt insipire confidence.

Excellent

Front wheel spokes started to Pit very badly, returned to the dealer as bike only 3 months old and they contacted Kawasaki UK, who dismissed the problem as normal wear and tear, total crap as back wheel spokes are fine. The bike has only covered 2K summer riding on rain, so god knows how the spokes will look after a British winter.

First service, checked bike over and replaced missing bolt from rear mudguard.

Engine very enjoyable. Let down by some faults

I usually ride extremely high performance machines. Eg Suzuki RG500 Gamma two stroke and latest version of the superb Suzuki GSXR1000r. However for riding around the local area , bike nights and evening outings to pubs and restaurants I always take my W800 Cafe racer. It's such a lovely machine. BEWARE! If you test ride one you'll buy one. Can't imagine that any motorcyclist wouldn't be impressed. Such fun to ride !!! You MUST try one.

Don’t expect too much from the bike - it’s not a sports bike or tourer. Ambling along A roads and bend swinging it’s in its element with nice torque for a smooth seamless ride. Saddle is painful after an hour but I put that down to a lack of saddle time and carrying a little excess of timber on myself. The brakes are firm and within the capability of the bike, and the large rear disc allows effective slowing and steadying of the bike.

When buying a bike of this nature, remember the engine is part of the persona. It has ample torque for its intend running ground - seeping A roads of B roads. It’ll cruise happily at 70 all day with the vibrations through the bars and foot pegs that wont trouble you, yet let you know something is working happily away beneath. On mixed runs 55 mpg is easily possible with 61 mpg easily on steady dual carriageway / motorway work at 65-70mph.

I’ve only ridden 1,000 miles on the bike so longevity cannot be assessed. However, the build quality is superb and one of the reasons I’m back on a Kawasaki is due to the reliability I enjoyed for two decades with the brand.

Kawasaki have priced the Cafe a little too high I feel compared to competitors products. However, this was a pre-registered 2019 model with ‘0’ miles and £2099 off new list price.

Switch gear looks straight out of the 60’s & 70’s and no excesses. Twin analog clock instrumentation with a small LCD panel for miles, trip meter and a blinking *FUEL* message when the fuel reaches approximately 1 gallon remaining (typically after 135 miles) All you need with no gimmicky frills.

The Street seat is a bit hard and you need to take a break at about 200 km or so. I find the new W800 Classic model's seat is more comfortable. Great all around easy riding bike in the city and smooth on the highway. The suspension set at it's lightest setting is just right for me at only 140lbs. It should be great at higher settings for heavier rider's. The front brake in particular is quite strong and the rear brake is adequate. The clutch lever action is light.

Love the bevel drive for the top end. The 360 degree long stroke engine gives a great exhaust note and smooth acceleration that I find abundant at all speeds. There is a little vibration that is never annoying and dissipates after the bike has traveled 4500km. It feels like you are riding a real motorcycle, not a sewing machine.

The closer you look, the more amazing the detail, (tie down points, metal cages protecting wires and cables, helmet lock etc.)

Lower compression allows the W800 to run on regular fuel rather than premium. 25 L per 100 km (60 miles per gallon). Easy to work on yourself but no repairs needed, Extremely reliable.

No fuel gauge but I find most fuel gauges are too inaccurate. I like setting the trip meter at 0 and knowing when to stop for gas (there is a low fuel warning that makes itself evident in the instrumentation. Riding modes? We don't need no stinkin' riding modes! ABS, fuel injection and disc brakes along with a handy helmet lock is all you need (along with Kawasaki accessory heated grips, or Oxford heated grips, Gears Voyager saddlebags and a Puig windshield).

Great Sunday morning ride out bike, which does draw attention. Exhaust sounds great and retro. Comfortable seat for moderate mileages

With only 47 BHP, is definitely not a sports bike, but will accelerate away from lights at a reasonable pace, but it was never designed to be a racer, more of a good ride to work or take your time lazy day ride.

Reasonable build quality as you would expect from Kawasaki, easy to clean . Would be better if a main stand was supplied even as a optional extra. Due to the year , and low mileage, nothing broken or damaged as yet.

Bike only had covered 800 miles from new , and only had first service.

Totally love the exhaust sound, and the attention it draws when parked up. Recommend the purchase of the Kawasaki crash bars, look good and should hopefully save you money should the unfortunate happen.