The W800 is the Kind of Motorcycle that Fills you up Even if you Don’t Fly it. It is Such a Motorcycle! | Beloved Motorcycle

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W800(773cc)Owner: Ivor
1. FROM MY BIKE COMMENTS
Check out the W800 user reviews.

W800(773cc)Owner: Ivor

This corner introduces one MY BIKE submitted to Webike Community every week.
The model introduced this time is Kawasaki「W800」and the owner is "Mr. Eyeball".

In this day and age when air-cooled models continue to disappear, Kawasaki is still protecting the W800 series. The roots of this style date back nearly 60 years to the Kawasaki 500 Meglot K2 launched in 1965. While engine design and construction have evolved, the identity of the large-displacement, air-cooled, parallel twin-cylinder roadster has remained unchanged.

Mr. Ivor's W800 introduced here is a 2016 model (EJ800A), one generation before the current model, with an increased displacement & improved OHC engine with bevel gear drive and injection from the W650 model. Before this W, Ivor owned a Kawasaki Estrella and a Yamaha TRX850 (also a great parallel two-cylinder machine!), but after giving them up due to unexpected accidents and transfers, he acquired the W, which is Showa-style and understandable to those who know what they are talking about.

The sound of the W, which still retains the atmosphere of the Meglo K2 that was the starting point of the motorcycle he rode when he was a child, is a great sound, and touring slowly down the road with it is truly an addictive experience.
His impression of the W is 2800 words long, and it clearly shows that he truly loves the W!

Of course, it is not all good things, but also includes detailed descriptions of problems and cautions in owning a W. This is a very useful impression for owners who are curious about the style of the W but wonder what kind of bike it is. This is a very useful impression for owners who are interested in acquiring a W.
I hope that Mr. Ivor will continue to take his time to mature the W and create many memories!

The W800 (EJ800A) was sold in 2011. The wheel size differs from the current model, with a 19-inch front wheel for hawkish running performance.
The engine output of 48ps/6500rpm is modest for a big bike, but the histrionic flavor of the air-cooled twin from the Meglo era that has been handed down to the present has many fans.

A design form that blends in with the original scenery of Japan, the splendor of modeling, including the engine, and the tinkling sound that the fins and exhaust pipes make when the engine is stopped are all air-cooled. Style is familiar wherever you go.

Mr. Ivor has developed a new hobby of landscape photography with W. He plans to keep the beautiful style of the motorcycle and make it more customizable.

FROM MY BIKE COMMENTS

Motive for purchase

He wanted to go from a residential area to one for the convenience of storage! While I was trying to decide which one to keep, the TRX fell prey to a construction vehicle! At the same time, a resident who was moving out of Estrella also asked us to give it to him! I looked for a newer TRX, but I didn't like it very much, and the number of bulbs had decreased considerably.

I was thinking about my next bike. I liked the ride quality of the Estrella and wondered about its older brother, the W. I thought it was still a little early for my last bike, but then I saw a good deal in front of me! I thought it would be too early to buy a big air-cooled bike, but with the recent storm of discontinued and out-of-catalog models, I took the plunge and bought it ahead of schedule.
It has many shortcomings, but it is a Showa-style motorcycle that can be understood by those who understand it, and it is a motorcycle that can interact with people in a machine-like way.
I was determined to go for the W800, which has such a presence and can do everything on its own, and when I think about it, I have a deep connection with the W800.

Advantages

The sound of the twin, in the vein of the K2 that I was given a ride on as a child, is outstanding.
The nostalgic design that brings back memories of my uncle, the origin of my motorcycling, is also superb.
It is easy to handle without feeling its size and weight, and the balance of the body is of a high dimension that does not make you feel anxious about fuel efficiency, and the nostalgia of enjoying cornering with a stable front 19-inch wheel.
The brakes are said to be a drawback, but if you replace them with high-performance pads such as Daytona or SBS, they are quite moderated and you will not be dissatisfied.
In my case, the pads and stock hoses are good enough for my needs.
The design form that fits in with the original Japanese landscape, the wonderful shape of the engine and other parts, and the tinkling sound made by the fins and exhaust pipes when the engine is stopped are all air-cooled, giving it the overwhelming presence of an original Japanese motorcycle.
I have added a new hobby of taking pictures of scenery with my wife and me between tours.
The W800 has a more massive appearance mechanically than the Estrella, and it is indeed the big brother of the W800.
Above all, touring slowly down the road with the best sound is really addictive, and it is the kind of motorcycle that satisfies your heart even if you don't ride.

Disadvantages

Speaking of the biggest drawback, first of all, the inner thighs become a scorching hell during the hot summer season. If you ride at high speed in midsummer, the oil temperature can reach 120°C. Anyway, it is like being on a hot-air fan heater in midsummer. Next, I had a lot of trouble blowing oil, which is a chronic disease, in the beginning. This can be improved by using harder oil and a smaller volume of oil than is appropriate. (I think the measurement with the center stand on is already over the upper limit even if it is half of the oil measurement window.) You have to be careful not to soak the air element with oil by putting too much oil in.
Actually, this was mentioned by both the Kawasaki product certification office and the dealer as well.
Now I can concentrate on riding with peace of mind as if all the trouble I went through was a lie.
That said, it is still air-cooled, and it is not good for continuous high-speed riding in mid-summer, so I think it is necessary to have the time to plan to take breaks frequently.
I was also surprised when I first switched to the new model because the steps rubbed easily while banking and the return spring was weak and suddenly bounced up. I was surprised to find that the return spring was weak and suddenly bounced up. This area is typical of Kawasaki motorcycles.
Vibration is not as bad as that of a real old motorcycle, but it is more than that of a modern motorcycle. Whether this is considered a throbbing sensation, a taste, or an unpleasant sensation depends on the individual! One countermeasure is to install an active performance damper to eliminate this problem. (It is true that it reduces the vibration with a certain tangy taste.)
There seem to be individual differences, but the changes range from quite a bit to somewhat subdued, but generally, the stability tendency and the sense of pulse seem to increase, and the taste is deepened. If you realize that it is a machine to be used as an individuality or a character, you can forgive the rest of it.

Advice for prospective buyers

Anyway, it is a motorcycle to enjoy riding down the road, feeling the heartbeat.
In my case, since it is an old W800, shimmy, and wobble phenomena due to frame resonance may appear when I attack a mountain pass. If the shimmy or wobble phenomenon appears, I usually check the air pressure and bearings regularly, adjust each part of the bike, and perform maintenance. When the shimmy or wobble phenomenon appears, I try not to operate the bike too abruptly, but rather to carefully operate the throttle and brake little by little. Our secret weapon, the performance damper, is quite effective in improving these phenomena. Well, it is a machine that is not to be driven that aggressively, but rather to take it easy and enjoy every moment with the scenery, the road, and the motorcycle. It is not enough for those who say it is power, speed, and cornering, and they often get bored with it because it lacks excitement and thrill. It is an easygoing motorcycle that is fun to ride leisurely and with a relaxed feeling.