W800 Test Ride Review: W800 Came Back with More Style!

W800_19.jpg Motorcycle Reviews

▲Photo by Atsushi Sekino

[Kawasaki W800]Details and Test Ride Reviews

The W series, which ceased to exist with the 2016 W800 Final Edition, is back in 2019, meeting the latest Euro 5 emissions regulations! This year, 2020, the W800 with 19-inch front wheels, the royal road of the W series, is finally back. Former editor-in-chief of a motorcycle magazine for beginners, Hiroaki Yatagai, took it for a test ride.

The model in the photo is the 2019 model with "metallic dark green" coloring and optional engine guard.

Styling that looks great in any place and in any style

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[Overall length/full width/height] 2,190mm/790mm/1,075mm
[Curb weight] 226kg
[Wheelbase] 1,465mm
[Minimum Ground Clearance] 125mm

The W800 has a classic design reminiscent of early motorcycles, with its wire-spoke wheels, twin shocks, and two cabton-type mufflers on either side. The W800 may look old-fashioned, but with injection, ABS, and ETC 2.0 as standard equipment, it is up-to-date and safe to ride.

[Selling Price]
Metallic Ocean Blue: 1,100,000 yen

*Metallic dark green for the model

Low handlebar position for retro

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[Seat Height] 790mm

The side covers stick out to the left and right, though not as much as the first generation 650, giving the impression that the legs can be spread out a little. However, the seat height is originally low at 790mm, so a rider of 172cm height can sit on the seat with his heels firmly planted. The upper body position is a bit forward-leaning thanks to the single pipe bar handle. This is a more sporty position than W800 Street, which has pull-back handlebars.

All-around performance for city driving, travel, and dirt driving

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The W800 is back with a more dignified look and feel

The W, which was discontinued in 2016 as a final edition, has made an impressive comeback to meet Euro 5 regulations. Moreover, the W800 Street in the upright position, and the W800 Café with separate handles. The W800, with its deep paint job, heated grips and other advanced specifications, and a magnificent return with three variations of the W800 model from 2020. The W800 featured here is the most conventional model in the series, equipped with the same 19-inch wheels as its predecessor.

Closest in style to its predecessor, the W800, not much has changed except that it's now Euro 5 compliant, right? I straddled it with such preconceptions, but I realized that I was very wrong. The taste of the motorcycle was completely different. When I started up the engine, the exhaust note seemed much fatter. The sound of the engine has a nice, bass-driven sound that is appropriate for a vertical twin, and while this may have had a positive effect on the sound, the mid to low-speed torque seems to have been increased. In fact, looking at the specs, the peak power and torque figures have not changed, but the maximum torque was shifted from 2,500 rpm to 4,800 rpm. It's clear that the new W has undergone some sort of engine character change in its rebirth.

However, what was more surprising was the chassis. Not only the engine but the feel of the chassis has changed unexpectedly as well. Simply put, the motorcycle's driving characteristics have become more dignified, just like the engine. The previous generation W had more nimble and straightforward handling, but the new W has heavier handling and more straight-line capability. Don't let it be misunderstood, it's quite peculiar. In fact, it seems to have been slightly oversteered in cornering, and the handlebars cut inward slightly as you turn with a self-steering rig. However, it's not extremely difficult to ride, but it's well kept within the "seasoning" level. The reincarnated W has been given a relaxed handling personality and is back.

In fact, what has changed? What about the specification specs, the same distance between the shafts, the same caster angle, and the same amount of trails? If you look closely at the old model and the new one, you'll notice that the bottom shape of the front forks have been changed and the tire brand has changed as well.

I've ridden the W series many times since the 650 era, and I'm always impressed with its versatility. The engine is easy to handle from low speeds, making it easy to use in town or on the road, and even though it's air-cooled, the 773cc displacement is enough to handle high speed driving. And thanks to the combination of spoked wheels and 19-inch front tires for classic styling, it's so easy to handle when taking it to the dirt. The beauty of the W series is that it can be used for a wide range of purposes from commuting to touring.

Detail Meters & Lights

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[Displayed items]
Speed/Engine RPM/clock/fuel warning light/odometer/Trip meter x 1

Equipped with two guideline analog meters. On the right is the engine speedometer, with the red zone starting at 7000rpm. On the left is the speedometer, with a small digital panel at the bottom, and buttons between the two gauges to switch between clock, odometer, and trip meter. The only fuel indicator is a warning light, and when it is on, the fuel level is 3.8 liters.

Detail Driving performance

Vertical engine

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[Engine type/Displacement] Air-cooled, 4-stroke, OHC, 4-valve, in-line 2-cylinder/773cc
[Maximum output] 38kW/6,500rpm
[Maximum torque] 62Nm/4,800rpm

It is called a "vertical twin" in the sense that it is a twin-engine with cylinders standing upright against the ground. The W's engine has a 360-degree crank layout, which means the two pistons rise and fall at the same time. The two pistons move up and down at the same time, which enhances the vertical throbbing sensation of the vertical twin. The new W800's Euro 5 compliant exhaust sound is thicker than the previous model, which makes this throbbing sensation more pronounced.

The beauty of the engine

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The W series engine was designed with a lot of attention to detail in terms of the shape of the air-cooled fins and other components, and the most striking feature is the distinctive bevel tower on the right side of the engine. Inside, the shaft rotates from the lower crank to the upper cylinder head, where the power to drive the camshaft is transferred to the cylinder head. It is called a bevel tower because it uses bevel gears for power transmission. The beauty of the engine is so impressive that they even installed a cover for the oil filter cartridge underneath the engine.

Foot grounding
[Tire size] Front: 100/90-19/Rear: 130/80-18

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The W800 uses 19-inch sized wheels, unlike the Street and Café, which use 18-inch tires up front on the variant models. The larger wheels create a larger gyroscopic effect as they spin, giving the W800 a more straight-line, classic character. The new W800 has the same dimensions as its predecessor, but the tire choice has been changed to Dunlop's K300GP and the front fork bottom area has been completely redesigned. These changes seem to have created a more classic and weighted handling character.

Handlebar

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Whereas the variant W800 Street has a more upright, pull-back position (925 mm wide), the W800's handlebars are closer to a single letter (790 mm wide) and have a sportier, slightly more forward-leaning position than the W800 Street.

Brakes

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[Front] Tokico Single-Sided Push 2 Pot/φ320mm disk
[Rear] Single push 2 pots/φ270mm disk

The new W series brakes are hydraulic disc brakes to comply with the ABS requirement. The intervention is just right, and it's good enough for both road and dirt tracks.

Shift pedal

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The gears are 5-speed return type. There are 15 sprockets in the front and 37 in the rear. The chain is a 520 seal chain.

Exhaust System

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The exhaust system is a characteristic cabton-type exhaust system that looks like the toadstools of a plant. The exhaust system is reportedly Euro 5 compatible, but the idling sound is surprisingly thick and more powerful than its predecessor.

Injection

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Despite the classic look, the fuel delivery system is fuel injection rather than a carburetor.

Detail Utility

Fuel tank

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[Fuel capacity] 15L
The 15-liter capacity tank has a teardrop shape and the part of the tank that grips the knee is equipped with rubber pads, which is rare nowadays. The fuel cap is hinged, and of course, the fuel is regular gasoline. There's also an accessory power outlet underneath the tank.

Seat
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Tuck and roll type seat with white piping. The seat is thick and comfortable throughout. The seat can be removed with the key cylinder on the left side of the vehicle, and the ETC on-board device is built into the seat.

Steel Fender

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The chrome-plated steel fenders are another element of the W's identity. In the new W series, the blinkers, which were located next to the seats in the previous model, have been moved to the tail lights to make it easier to load the motorcycle.

Steel side cover
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The side covers on both sides are also made of metal, rather than plastic, for a premium feel. The inside is an air cleaner box with a built-in sliding filter. The fuse box and battery can be accessed from the left side.

Center Stand
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In addition to the side stand, the center stand comes standard. This makes it easy to lubricate the chain, clean the spokes and fix a puncture on the road.

Lever adjuster

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The clutch and brake levers have five and four lever adjustments, respectively. The clutch and brake levers can be adjusted to the desired grip width without the need for tools, a mechanism often found on Kawasaki models.

ETC2.0 standard equipment

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There is very little space under the seat, but the ETC on-board unit is standard equipment in the rear. The antenna is mounted in front of the gauges, and there are indicators embedded in the gauges.

Cargo hook
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Both sides of the seat are equipped with loading hooks for loading luggage on the tandem seat. Above the fingers are the keyholes for removing the seat. Below is the helmet holder.

Switch box

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[Left] Switchable headlights, turn signals, horn, passing lights, hazards, grip heater switch
[Right] Starter switch/kill switch

It's a simple switch box with minimal functions, but the W800 has a grip heater with a temperature control function. The W800 has four temperature settings, including off.

Summary

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If you don't play sports, W's character is just fine!

The greatest feature of the W series is its character, which can be used in any situation, but most importantly, it has a universal design that is suitable for any kind of rider, young or old. They look great anywhere in Japan, and are suitable for young women, men, and even older riders. It's the same with clothing. You can ride in a casual town wear style, and you can also ride in tightly fitted motorcycle clothes. If you're not interested in riding fast and sporty, it's rare to find a motorcycle that's so versatile that it can be used for everything from touring to city riding.

See KAWASAKI Moto Index Page
See Accessories for KAWASAKI W800

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