I've fallen in love...

[Butch (cb)]

From where I sit that would be a real tough call. Although not all my motorcycles get exercised regularly I do get attached to them, which is why I have a few I suppose. If it were me I’d be with you – I’d have that Kawasaki before either the Triumph; which I like the look of less, or the Guzzi; where I think it’s real hard to find decent swept up dealers if you want any work done.

The connection with the earlier W650 is a nice idea though I’m not sure if that is more of an illusion in practice. But get some test rides and choose with your heart. And don’t be a stranger.

[nimrod650]

when i mentioned my old triumph 6t on the forum i came under fire seems its ok to mention kawasaki its not even british a new forum home page logo ITS TIME YOU HAD A KAWASAKI

[nimrod650]

With the Kawaski W800.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm9LUaFj3Qc
http://www.kawasaki.eu/W800

I met one recently and loved the look of it. I believe the bike has a tenuous connection with the A10.

I've been viewing road tests on YouTube and although there are some niggles the bike does seem to be just the ticket for my needs.

I cannot keep two motorcycles and the BSA would have to be sold to help fund the Kwaka.
None of my offspring would really be excited to inherit the A10. At 66 I'm still able to kickstart the BSA but my leg and ankle joints give me gyp so there will come a time... Also I'm a pensioner so cannot really afford to break the A10 engine.
I'm not ready to do this yet but I am very tempted.
What do you guys think?

have you thought about an older style bmw rs

[Greybeard]

when i mentioned my old triumph 6t on the forum i came under fire seems its ok to mention kawasaki its not even british a new forum home page logo ITS TIME YOU HAD A KAWASAKI

I said there is a tenuous connection with the A series. This is from Wikipedia:

In 1960 the Akashi-based Kawasaki Aircraft Company acquired an interest in the Meguro motorcycle company, which had obtained a license to produce a copy of the 500 cc BSA A7. Meguro had been Japan's largest motorcycle manufacturer but in the late 1950s its models had become less competitive and it was short of money. Kawasaki's investment enabled Meguro to launch its A7 copy as the Meguro K.


Which has evolved into the Kawasaki W series. The model in the picture is from 1965.

[WozzA]

  I STILL prefer my A10's..   

[olev]

the W650 is not the old W1. It was similar to the W800 but The W800 has fuel injection.
attached a pic of a slightly modded W650.
I like it.
cheers

[bsa-bill]

knew I had a pic some place
The Triumph variant

[worntorn]

I STILL prefer my A10's..   

I like the A10 a lot but there are many roads here in Western Canada and the US that are just too much for it.
For example, in a few weeks  I'm riding with two friends to a Vincent rally in Montana. We will go over the 11,000 ft. High Beartooth pass and many other mountain passes. The entire trip is 3200 miles. The roads in Montana have 70 MPH speed limits, but traffic moves faster than that.
I know this is too much for the A10. I did this trip four years ago on the Vincent, two up plus luggage, and at times I used all that it had.
I will likely take this new Triumph as it is really well suited to fast mountain riding. It has a surplus of power and braking, plus the handling is superb.
And I won't need to pack tools and parts like I do on the old bikes.

The A10 is nice on lower speed roads such as going down Highway 101 along the coast, 55-60 mph speed limit, actual speed of traffic about 65 mph. I can see that it would also be a nice bike for  many of the A and B roads in the UK. I sometimes wish we had more roads here  like the A& B roads in the UK, they were great fun on the Vincent.

My thought on the Kawasaki is that if you are going to get a new bike, it would be nice to have something that will handle today's high speed traffic if needed.  48 HP might be a bit light, at least on the high speed, high altitude roads we ride over here.

Glen

[Manx71]

I have owned a W800 and can give some imput.

Great bike! 

48 hp doesnt sound much but its got good torque and beats the modern bonny out of the traffic lights.
Its also (if you ask me) nicer looking than the bonnie.

If you were to buy a used one, make sure that its had the throttle rocker upgrade. Otherwise they are a solid and reliable machine.
It is however slightly more "old", than retro. the rear end is a little saggy if you ride hard on corners and the shocks and fork are too soft. ok for touring though.

I sorted this on mine by fitting fox rear shox and a fork brace.

Its a little bit to quiet for me, so I fit a Remus exhuast (expensive!)

You will be surprised at how many folk will ask if you restored it yourself, and the attention it grabs.

I sold mine to buy the A10 and had a little change left to buy the dominator. I originaly built the w800 for the gravel road jaunt, but after i got i painted I was worried about dropping it. Haha.

[Manx71]

As you may notice, I was naughty and got the tank resprayed with an upside-down matchless logo.

[jachenbach]

Never heard of the W800 until this thread. Nice, classic look.  If you can get a test ride, that'd either convince you to get one or forget it, I'd think. There's a lot to be said for going out riding with few worries of problems, although I gotta say that was probably why I never "bonded" with my BMW. Never really got to work on it. Or maybe not. I certainly love my Guzzis, and haven't had to do anything but routine maintenance on them. I say, if it makes you smile, get it!

[Greybeard]

I seem to remember seeing one the W800's, or maybe the W650 with a customised tank carrying a BSA badge. Raised some eyebrows!