Kawasaki bringing the W back

[Rat_ranger]

So a dealership near me has one on the floor and it is back on the US website. The W800 is finally replacing the short lived W650 here. A little under $10k, aimed at the vintage/cafe market now. https://m.kawasaki.com/motorcycle/w/retro-classic/w800?cm_re=GLOBALNAV-_-PRODUCTGROUPLIST-_-MPP

 

[spotty]

we've had them in oz for ages, brodie has one that hes performing tasteful modification and weight removal surgery on

i did like this bit in the ad...

KAWASAKI ADVANCED DYNAMIC ANALYSIS DESIGNED FRAME

now, from memory, dynamic means ever changing which is maybe not something you'd be wanting your frame to be doing, especially advanced ever changing, i'd be wanting something more static and stable

 

[doc_rot]

the analysis is dynamic, not the frame. its a lot more complicated to run stress analysis with a dynamic load rather than a static one.

 

[doc_rot]

damn just looked up the power specs. 46 hp 44ftlbs... leaves alot to be desired for a 800 cc bike. Thats worse than the kz750twin was putting out in the mid 70's

 

[Rat_ranger]

Wow, I didn't realize it was that low on power. My XS650 made 45hp at the wheel. Even the lowly ninja/vulcan 500 made 49.

 

[Tim]

They launched that in Canada already also. We never got the last W800 - just the W650 many moons ago.

Nice looking bike, but honestly I prefer the latest Triumphs or even the Guzzi V7. The W650 seat always slid me forward to the tank, and the W800 feels a bit 'massive' in person.

My BMW F800ST makes 85hp and 63lb torque.

 

[doc_rot]

I know you can mod the the w650 to make 80ish hp if they're overbored and high strung, but the weight combined with the low power on a modern bike, even of this style, is disappointing IMHO.

 

[Rat_ranger]

Weight could be a little lighter, but its really not far from the mark there. Power really should be up closer to 65, and come on a 5 speed? My tiger 800 is 500ish pounds with a few extras, and 90ish hp, it flat out moves too. So looks are good in pictures, by the spec sheet is lacking a bit.

 

[SONICJK]

Sweet bike but damn 45 HP? What are they smoking?
4 stroke 250 CC dirtbikes these days are putting out 44 horses.

It's air cooled so it can't be making that kind of HP/cc but still 45 ponies out of an 800cc bike seems pathetic.
My 800cc F800 puts out double that.

 

[doc_rot]

thats 46 at the wheel BTW

 

[Rat_ranger]

I guess that really isn't too far off the 883 sportster. They advertise 53hp but dyno low to mid 40s. I would just expect a little more for a "performance" classic style bike.