Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800

[WozzA]

My W2 handled like a bucket of $hit..  she would kick like a bucking bronco when leaned over under power.
a common fix in the day was to add a steering damper to the fork triple tree..

[Greybeard]

a common fix in the day was to add a steering damper to the fork triple tree..

Just like a BSA then 😉

[Rex]

I must admit I've never seen that addition to any BSA. Common on Morini's and Yamahas back in the day though.

[muskrat]

G'day Rex.
That big knob near the handle bar clamps is the steering damper.
Cheers

[Rex]

P'raps I've misunderstood, but I thought Wozza was referring to the little add-on telescopic dampers that were common some years back to aid handling on the fork-shakers of the day?
Thankfully my A7 could never be accused of that, nor needed standard or additional fork damping of any sort.

[Worty]

Just to say my Kwaka W650 is a fantastic bike, which has been mistaken for a Bonnie a few times now.  The engine is virtually bulletproof, the bevel is smooth and, whilst it can 'kick' a bit on corners, it's definitely no worse than the A10 (better, in fact, as it doesn't spray the rear tyre with oil).

You do get the usual for a 22 year old Japanese bike, bit of corrosion and engine casing tarnish, etc, etc.  But completing my January 500m run it never missed a beat in frost, rain, cold, etc, etc.  GB will, no doubt, back this up (as will others) riding a modern gives confidence of completing a big journey on the bike instead of on the breakdown truck. 

This summer, I'm off to Dundee on the bike with a stop off half way there and back.  Should complete around 600m/1kkm - do you reckon the run-in Beeza or the Kwaka??   

[Roger (Doomtrainbarx)]

Definitely the Kwak ! 

[rustydusty]

Ha! Back in the day, my Harley buddies used to lament how the Japanese bikes brought an end to most of America’s motorcycle industry. I told them that it wasn’t Japanese bikes, it was the British bikes. They were faster, lighter, and more reliable. Also they were here long before the “riceburners”…

[WozzA]

I thought Wozza was referring to the little add-on telescopic dampers that were common some years back to aid handling on the fork-shakers of the day?

Yep thats what I was referring too..   

[Black Sheep]

Going to Dundee? That's where my wife's Guzzi was stolen from the hospital car park. Also where I disturbed the fine chaps in process of trying to steal my Norton. Take a good lock! 

[BagONails]

I was so struck by the looks of a 2013 W800 I saw being sold as a repairable write-off I ended up buying it as a project. Its going in for its roadworthy type inspection in a couple of weeks.  With luck the stainless steel pan scrubbers I've inserted into the after market exhaust will tame the dB enough to get it passed 

Must say there is something marvelous about the ease of starting, that never fails to impress. Switch on, quick press of the button and vavoom she catches, revs up and then slowly settles to a fast idle all without even touching the throttle.  Never mind fuel taps, ticklers, choke levers, clearing the clutch, feeling for compression, should I open the throttle a bit or not kind of uncertainty? Haha but where's the fun in that I hear you ask?

Well I don't know but hopefully in a few weeks I shall be able to report back 

[Worty]

My W650 is still on carbs, whereas I think yours must be injection.  You're right though, there's something indulgent and 'wrong' when the press of a button gets everything going so easily.  I bought the Kwak because it had a bit of age and patina to it, only 22 years but I didn't want anything too new - don't ask me why.

I think you'll be pretty happy with the 800, it'll have almost all of what I reckon you'd want whenever you want it, and if it's true to form, it'll outlast us all.  Only slight 'downs' on mine is there seems to be a lot of travel on the forks, but it is really comfortable, and it can skip a bit on fast, bumpy corners.  Having said that, it's a cruiser for me.  If I wanted to lose my licence quickly, I'd get a sports bike.

Only other Japanese bike I'd consider is a Yam XS650, but I do like this Kwak.  Spent ages looking for the right thing and came across it during a search - the look and specs with the bevel drive did it for me - no questions.