Great video - I owned one of these from 2000 - 2018 in Japan not far from Akashi, Japan where it was made. My rationale for buying it was that it was supporting local business & employment etc, to the one who controls the budget (the missus). She understood the logic and we became an item. 37,60km and 18 years later I had passed retirement age, heaving her onto the main stand was a major chore, kickstarting no longer appealed, my body was giving me a message, so I passed her on to my son. He has her under wraps, so she will go again some day when he gets round to it. Probably the best 'British' motorcycle that the Japanese ever made IMHO. Very pleased I had the privilege to ride it all those miles. HTH
I have owned dozens of bikes and started riding in 1973. Amongst my bikes is a 1999 W650 that I have owned from new. Apart from one front brake micro switch and battery and tyres, the bike has had nothing replaced. The build quality is by far the best I have come across...simply superb.
What a wonderful breath of fresh air Pam is. Her joy about her bike is contageous. I think i smiled through every minute of the video. Thinking of buying one. Bit closer after watching this 😊
Many thanks Roger! That was one of the most enjoyable visits to the cul-de-sac! And you may know that this has been my old time favorite video from my channel for all the reasons that you mention above ❤️😀👍 best wishes, Mike
@TheMightyGarage Hi Mike, I'm the proud new owner of a 2003 W650. Went to see it today (after buying it from a chap on Ebay). Having it delivered on Thursday can't wait! I'm planning to ride it in the global charity event Distinguished Gentlemens Ride on 19th May. Take care and ride safe. Roger.
Hello Mike, I have a 2000 Kawasaki W650 and I agree with Pam that this is quite the bike, I would say it's the quintessence of the modern retro. I did some brushing up on its history and this is what I found. In the the mid-50's BSA introduced the A7 series 500cc vertical twin. At the time a prestige Japanese motorcycle company called Meguro bought the licensing rights to it, made a number of improvements such as cutting the engine cases horizontally instead of vertically so it wouldn't leak oil, and various other upgrades. The model was called the K1 Stamina. Seeing the success the then upstart Honda was having in small motorcycles, Meguro came out with a single cylinder 250cc bike called the Junior. It was made to the same precision specs as its larger bikes so they were more expensive than their competition which lead to slow sales and Meguro was facing bankruptcy. Enter Kawasaki Precision Aircraft Company. In 1953 Kawasaki bought a small Japanese motorcycle company called Meihatsu and transformed it into Kawasaki Motorcycles. In 1960 Kawasaki began the process of purchasing Meguro and made extensive improvements, renaming the bike the K2. In 1965 they transformed the bike into the Kawasaki W1 with a bored-out engine of 650cc. It was the largest motorcycle made in Japan at the time and was a sales success in Asia and somewhat in Europe, but not so much in North America as it was viewed as too much like the British bikes of that day (and yes, it did vibrate) but it did establish Kawasaki's worldwide reputation for quality and reliability. The W1 series and its successor the W2 were eventually overshadowed by the Mach 3 triple which established Kawasaki's reputation for performance, which in turn was replaced by the Z1 in the early 70's. The W2 was replaced by the W3 (the most attractive of the series) and remained in production till 1975. Fast forward to 1997. The revived Triumph began r&d on a retro Bonneville, and when Kawasaki got word of this they wanted to beat Triumph to the punch and they came out with the new & improved W650 in 1999, a full year before the new Triumph Bonneville. It became one of their best sellers-except in North America. It was on our market only in 2000 and 2001 and the reason could be that it may have been too soon for a retro-style bike. In other parts of the world the W650 was in production till 2008, a victim of noise and emissions regulations. It's replacement was the W800 in its first generation from 2011 to 2016 and its second generation (Euro 5 compliant and still air-cooled!) from 2019 to the present day. The W650 uses a balance shaft (a British invention from the early 1900s) and the engine is smooth as silk, handles beautifully, and is reliable and easy to maintain.***Kawasaki has decided to revive the Meguro brand. It's actually a stock W800 with a paint job reminiscent of the Meguro designs from the late 50's-early 60's and it's unclear if Kawasaki is going to import these to the U.S. and Canada. There's a couple of good videos on RUclips: "2021 Meguro K3"(Kawasaki) and "Kawasaki MEGURO K3" (MoToBike). And here's some other videos that you may like: "2020 Kawasaki W800-Action Video" (Kawasaki), "The Original Icon/The New Kawasaki W800 Street & W800 Cafe 2019/Official Action Video" (Kawasaki Motors), "2020 Kawasaki W800-Tech Video" (India Kawasaki Motors), "2020 Kawasaki W800-Walkaround-2020 Toronto Motorcycle Show" (AutoMotoTube), and "2020 Kawasaki W800 Walk-Around-Specs-Review" (Tripp on Two Wheels). ***I enjoyed your most recent video honoring your friend Dennis with a journey through the beautiful Oregon countryside, it is a fitting and honorable tribute. Denver sends its greetings to Portland and hopes the recent craziness is past and things return to normal. And, as always Mike, stay safe, stay healthy, and keep the sunny side up. With best wishes, Gary
Some great research Gary . Someone put you wrong about the Triumph/Kawasaki part though . Kawasaki inspired Triumph to make their Retro-Bonnie, not the other-way around . Kawasaki Only produced the new W650 for The Home-Market Retro-scene , where the most-desirable-bike was a 60's Triumph . They Never intended-it for export ,nor to compete against other Brands . It was almost a year before they gave-in to pressure from the overseas Franchises and reluctantly-agreed to supply them . One of the reasons they Didn't want-to , was the intentional-vibration built-into the bike for the Japanese-Buyers . Japanese bikers are obsessed with the 'old-bike-experience' and demanded that it vibrate , which is the-main-criticism of western owner/buyers. Kawasaki went as-far as recalling-bikes and removing them from The Markets, after Triumph released their more-powerful Bonneville as They did not want Their-Brand tarnished or damaged by comparisons it was never intended for . It is a very-special-bike designed to celebrate Kawasaki in Japan and to-date is the-most-expensive that Kawasaki has produced in-regard to Development-Cost . Dave nz
I really think this carburated one looks so much better, than the newer models.. Everything just seems to click here - and what a beautifully made seat too.. Bingo bongo baby!
Lovely to see Pam so happy with her bike. I also have one thats done 30,000 trouble free miles and as she said ' no oil leaks.' Really like her tasteful paint job, nice colour. Thank you.
She is a true enthusiast! Awesome bike. I’ll try not to bore you, but this reminds me of a 1973 Yamaha XS650 I was hoping to buy in 1974. Since I was 19 and it was used, I couldn’t get financing. I ended up buying a new Suzuki GT380 that I could financing on. I enjoyed my GT but was a bit sad I couldn’t get the XS650. Her bike is a beauty.
Love this visit and chat.......bit bias as I own 2003 model, better than the Triumph Bonneville (well I think, decision for buying years ago tested both), and Triumph Tiger 110 of yours would be my favourite motorcycle (and colour 'shell blue sheen' ...mint!). Mines a lighter olive green with 70s indicators but rest straight as this one. If I ever repaint I will definitely go for 'shell blue sheen...I'm not a purest...... hence reason for Kawasaki as well, joy to ride and do basic minimal maintenance, so reliable.
Years ago when I showed an old friend a photo of my 2012 Bonneville he asked if I had ever seen a W650. I had not. He told me that it looks more like the 60s Bonnevilles than my 2012 did. He was right. Fortunately, Triumph's latest modern classics look much more like the old classics did. I especially like the shaft driven overhead cam on that engine. Very nice.
I was riding a w650 manufactured in 2006. I remodeled it a lot, but it was in very good shape. The engine and body are fairly sturdy and hard to break. It is a popular model among women, beginners and veterans in Japan. It's a very good product and it's a very popular bike in Japan.
That bike is really fun to ride. I modified a carb version (shim the needle .020, removed the idle mixture screw plugs and turned them out to 3 turns and 1 up on the main jet.) It totally transformed the engine and made the bike a blast to ride.
I got a 1999 model with 108000 kms on it. It is looking very nice and runs greatly . We have been to the french meeting near Chambery last 18 21 of june ! About 24 W's and more bikes also It was a journey of around 1540 kms go and back from my home !
Nice----so evocative of the 1960's Bonneville. Nice lady too. Very good mods as well. No wonder she loves it. Amazing that the total specs are almost exactly what the new RE Interceptor is sporting.
I own a 2019 W800 Street model. I absolutely love it. Unlike other twins today, it has a 360 degree crank, is air cooled, and has a long stroke engine. It runs on regular gas (not premium like many bikes today). Unfortunately, the current models don't have a Kickstarter. It is the closest modern bike to the 60s and 70s Brit bikes but you can ride it and not have to wrench (spanner?). They go back to the 1999 W650 and have built a solid reputation for reliability and superb fit and finish. They are closer to the Classics than modern Triumphs. The bevel driven top end is the icing on the cake 🍰. Thanks for bringing a W650 Kawi to your cul - de sac. I'm very interested in what rider's who are experienced with the Brit bike classics think of the W's.
Despite being Japanese Kawasaki...a copy of the triumph 650..but in a way better...it has a classic look with all the modern today bits.. Such a good looking machine and a style that l relate to..So thank you for sharing this marvellous video..and the owner too very well presented..👍👍👍👏👏
I love anything Kawasaki that comes in 650 AND I like Triumphs. Cool bike! I ride a ninja 650 and a Bonnie so this is like the love child of my two bikes.
He Pam and thank for your Kawa W650 telling - I have driven here in Norway 6000 km on my W650 and I love this maschine more and more - And nearly for this winter it has to stay in front of my bookshelfes. Drive safe still and take care of ice in the morning. The season here in Norway are nearly over. But have a nice winter Pam and Kawasaki W650 from USA and The Mighty Garage::
Thanks very much Ken! This has been my most popular video of all time! It seemed to check all the boxes 😉 Pam did such an excellent job with the presentation and her bike is awesome. Best wishes, Mike
Dear Mike, great, first time meetìng a nice Lady and her beautiful bike on Your website! My wife Anni was born in Ebensburg/PA and passed away by cancer in 2012. Sehr hated bikes. But now there is Anne, my girlfriend, and she is a real enthusiac, ownerin of a Harley Softail and former of a Ducati Monster. All the best again from Germany, Ulli
I just test drove one of these today and let me tell you, they are deceptively quick! 56 nm of torque paired with a light weight launches this bike forward with V-twin-like aggressiveness. Loved it!
Pam - I have the 1999 W650 - and the best from Triumph and Ducati and Kawasaki Heawy Industries!! Pam your bike can go for 100000 to 150000 km without problems! A littke SUPERBIKE who people have meaning about! Mostly the best - and I love my W650 and have a BMW 100/7 Scrambler customized - A fine maschine too! - And I have the Triumph Thruxton 900 - But the best is my W650! Thank yoy Pamela!!
I've never seen or even heard of this Kawasaki model. Fooled me when she rode up. I must say, the overlay was a spectacular touch Mike. She sure has taken care of it, and she is right, the paint makes it look just right.
@@Roger_Ramjet Which is 10kg heavier, less hp than the 650 although the torque is much lower in the range. And no kickstart lol. Alas for smoothness its FI
Another lovely bike and proud owner that enjoys riding it, looking after it and showing it off with pride! It looks like it's done 3500 miles, not 35K miles, a credit to the owner. Great interview Mike 👍
@@ivanarnaldomendez Hi Ivan, there is one for sale right now in Portland, Oregon. portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mcy/d/gresham-2001-kawasaki-w650/7183700522.html
It is larger than a 650 cc it is about 676 cc which means it is only 97 smaller than the W800. Both the W650 and W800 (77 X 83), are under square the 650 more so (72 X 83), providing great torque compared to many other modern vertical twins.
I so enjoyed that video. I have a 2014 W800 and I really do enjoy owning, riding and caring for it. Pam just said it all so much better than I can. Thank you for sharing this with us all.
My bike. My second favorite bike in the world behind the Yamaha SR 400 and 500. I love it. I have customized mine a fair bit, and I love it. Air boxes gone, bigger jets and two in one pipe. Absolutely wonderful bike. And you can get 60 HP with a few touches. Gorgeous.
Ohhhh... now I get that centerstand looking thingy. Obviously I really miss the centerstands (ride-off pedestal in BSA speak). She said that her bike is a treasure... just try to find one in the midwest. It surely is a treasure. Another great video, Mike.
Although rare, they seem to be a lot more common in the US even though the model was only sold there for 2 years instead of 7 everywhere else. They are thin on the ground in Australia, so people must hold onto them (unsurprisingly lol)
I have a w650 as well and I absolutely love it! I've had some other issues but my bike is beat up a little more than Pam's. City living plus street parking wears one a bike. I also get people stopping by to comment on my "Bonnie" lol
To everyone owning a W800 or a W650. It might be a good Idea to remove the helmet lock. On the back side is a 4-Digit-code for the Lockingsystem. A potential thief could remove your helmet lock (one bolt), take the code to a mechanic and let him make a key based on the code. That key will turn on the bike.. For me it was convenient. I lost my key and was thankful for that easy method to get a new one...
A Japanese styled modern 650 Triumph twin! The sound is almost identical, even though it's an ohc 8-valve. The seat is definitely styled on the early Triumph!
I've never seen a Kawasaki 650 before, it definitely strongly resembles the Triumph and BSA, it really looks good, like a Brit bike, and that bevel gear drive is very nice. I've had a couple of Ducati's, and that is a dead solid cam drive. I bought seven basket case Yamaha 650's, in the early nineties, and built them, fixed one I had with the spare parts, and put six people on cheap bikes to ride. I think that Kaw is really well set up, I didn't even see the kicker until you mentioned it. That is a very nice bike I think. Thanks for showing this off!
Go Pam ! You never can tell , who rides a bike ! I have the same one down here in NZ. They are getting very hard to find in original condition and go up in value !....every year . Dave nz
I’ve had a 2000 W650, a ’08 Bonneville T100 and now a ’20 W800. The Hinckley Triumphs are great bikes, but I prefer the Kawis. Pity they don’t get the love they deserve in this country.
Thank you, David. I had the pleasure of riding Pam‘s bike last week and took a few video clips that I will be publishing in the next couple of weeks. I really enjoyed the bike. It was a ton of fun. Would love to hear more about your 20 W800. Does it feel a lot more powerful than the 650? Best wishes, Mike
NICE BIKE! Ironic that the Kawasaki W650 and W800 are the best looking Brit Bikes ever. If Kawasaki could get the price down about $1,500 to $2,000 they woould blow Royal Enfield and even Triumph right off the sales charts. Indeed, I went to the shope to look at a new W800. Loved it. But I went home with a new Bonneville T120 because of pricing. I still think the W-800 looks more like a Bonnie than a Bonnie; but in the end I could not bare to pay a bit more for a W800 than a T120 that had considerably more power.
You can often find W800s that are marked down. Also, in most places both the T120 and T100 cost more than the W800. The T120 cost about $2000 to $3000 more in Western Canada.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries began making motorcycles with the Kawasaki brand after purchasing Meguro, and their existing 650, which was an evolution of the BSA 500 which was built after the war under license by Meguro. There are some devoted Meguro (pre-Kawaski) collectors out there. I have seen a Meguro along side an early Kawasaki 650. A few Meguros of different models made it to the USA courtesy of returning GI's.Very impressive machines. Always wanted a Meguro, or a W... maybe when I win the lottery... You have a very fine bike, and one with a history going back, oh, let's say, about seventy years. BTW mostly because of import difficulty, there are even Japanese versions of American V Twins!
7:19 Sweet indeed! Reminds me of the once- mine Yamaha 500 single. Kick start only. I learnt how to never stall at a green light, from the inconvenience when it happened😀
Excellent, that was a nice surprise Mike. Pam sure sings the praises of her great looking & reliable bike. It's so nice to be learning the story behind the visitors bikes, their little add-ons & tweaks to make it their own. atvb t ..
They are are great bike. Even the first ones back in the late 60s were exceptional . Old school looks with modern reliability. And they were pre unit construction. The recent ones didnt sell that well here in Australia. Great bike for medium height riders. Good on her for getting that bike. The rear mudguard looks very neat.Not cluttered like the Bonnie with that horrible Star Trek tail light. and indicators.
The W800 'low ergo' seat fits the 650 perfectly and lowers the seat height by 1.5". Also adds a much more flowing line which fits the bike better, I'm 5'7" and have one on my 650. I test rode the 800 before finding my bike (in Perth and I'm in Sydney lol) and wasn't impressed by comparison. 10kg heavier with less hp and jerky FI response. Does have a lot lower torque however.
The original W1 from the late 60s was BSA influenced, because of Meguro/Kawasaki . But these newer ones are obviously Bonneville influenced, and look great !
My wife has a W650 (1999 with high bars) bought new, now has over 80,000 miles on it. It's done numerous tours around the UK and the rest of Europe. It is the best looking retro bike ever made and (sadly as a Triumph man) much better than the Bonneville of the time.
Had friend who never had ridden a bike buy one cheap from shop that was new but year old stock. He two weeks later drove it from Houston area to California and back. Had everything planned out and went off without a hitch,
Biggest mistake they made with the W800 was eliminating the kickstarter. Even with a fully charged battery, if I had one of these I'd kick it over every time. It's fun to be part of the process...
You would need a fully charged battery anyway - unsure what magic Pam used to kick-start on a flat battery? - these need charge to start (and run). Having said that they are the easiest kick-start I have used. But you always get that added excitement when they fire up. Best bike I have owned in over 40 years of riding.
Great looking bike 👍🏼 It sounds like it has the old 360 degree crank making it sound like a proper parallel twin unlike the newer Triumphs with their 270 degree crank.
Kawasaki has really tried to copy a Triumph and they succeeded in it and Sister you look gem of a person in video the way you explain the bike great Enthusiasm. From India
Seriously considering picking up one of these beauties instead of the 800. Love that kickstart feature - a good bridge between classic and modern. Thanks for sharing the video!
Great video! I remember being tempted by the W650 when it was introduced 20 years ago, but the time wasn't right for me. It looks, sounds & is more in proportion to the Meriden Bonnevilles than the Hinckley Triumphs, as Quentin Willson alluded to at that time. And knowing Kawasaki, reliability shouldn't be a problem. If it hadn't been for the Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor, I'd have gone for a second-hand W650.
Good morning, Mike! I have her exact model, with 88,000 trouble-free miles. These W650s are quite a treat to own. Only upgrade I'd recommend is using emulators in the forks, to tidy up a bit of sloppiness in the front. Best wishes from Atlanta,GA, David B.
Lovely review of a really good, classic 650 Kawasaki. Hello from the UK. Pam is clearly a happy bunny with her W650 and a proper enthusiast. I currently have a Z650b1 - little cracker it is, too. Love the simple but effective modifications she’s made….lovely.
Here's a link to part 2 of this video, in which I had the pleasure of riding this great bike
ruclips.net/video/eNqBGKrP5T8/видео.html
Great video - I owned one of these from 2000 - 2018 in Japan not far from Akashi, Japan where it was made. My rationale for buying it was that it was supporting local business & employment etc, to the one who controls the budget (the missus). She understood the logic and we became an item. 37,60km and 18 years later I had passed retirement age, heaving her onto the main stand was a major chore, kickstarting no longer appealed, my body was giving me a message, so I passed her on to my son. He has her under wraps, so she will go again some day when he gets round to it. Probably the best 'British' motorcycle that the Japanese ever made IMHO. Very pleased I had the privilege to ride it all those miles. HTH
Not often someone modifies what is a beautiful retro out of the factory and actually makes it better, well done, remarkable job.
I have owned dozens of bikes and started riding in 1973. Amongst my bikes is a 1999 W650 that I have owned from new. Apart from one front brake micro switch and battery and tyres, the bike has had nothing replaced. The build quality is by far the best I have come across...simply superb.
Way nicer than a modern Bonneville. It's what Triumph should have done when they came back. #classic
What a wonderful breath of fresh air Pam is. Her joy about her bike is contageous. I think i smiled through every minute of the video. Thinking of buying one. Bit closer after watching this 😊
Many thanks Roger! That was one of the most enjoyable visits to the cul-de-sac! And you may know that this has been my old time favorite video from my channel for all the reasons that you mention above ❤️😀👍 best wishes, Mike
@TheMightyGarage Hi Mike, I'm the proud new owner of a 2003 W650. Went to see it today (after buying it from a chap on Ebay). Having it delivered on Thursday can't wait! I'm planning to ride it in the global charity event Distinguished Gentlemens Ride on 19th May. Take care and ride safe. Roger.
Fantastic news Roger! Congratulations! Cheers, Mike
When Pam kick starts it and bursts out laughing, loved it, good onya Pam.
Hehe, I know! That was a nice moment. I feel like that every time one of my old Brit bikes first kick 😊
We need another update about her and the bike ☝️😀
What a wonderful bike owner! I’m picking up my W800 in about a week and I simply cannot wait!
Awesome! Good luck with your W800. They are terrific bikes. Best wishes, Mike
Hello Mike, I have a 2000 Kawasaki W650 and I agree with Pam that this is quite the bike, I would say it's the quintessence of the modern retro. I did some brushing up on its history and this is what I found. In the the mid-50's BSA introduced the A7 series 500cc vertical twin. At the time a prestige Japanese motorcycle company called Meguro bought the licensing rights to it, made a number of improvements such as cutting the engine cases horizontally instead of vertically so it wouldn't leak oil, and various other upgrades. The model was called the K1 Stamina. Seeing the success the then upstart Honda was having in small motorcycles, Meguro came out with a single cylinder 250cc bike called the Junior. It was made to the same precision specs as its larger bikes so they were more expensive than their competition which lead to slow sales and Meguro was facing bankruptcy. Enter Kawasaki Precision Aircraft Company. In 1953 Kawasaki bought a small Japanese motorcycle company called Meihatsu and transformed it into Kawasaki Motorcycles. In 1960 Kawasaki began the process of purchasing Meguro and made extensive improvements, renaming the bike the K2. In 1965 they transformed the bike into the Kawasaki W1 with a bored-out engine of 650cc. It was the largest motorcycle made in Japan at the time and was a sales success in Asia and somewhat in Europe, but not so much in North America as it was viewed as too much like the British bikes of that day (and yes, it did vibrate) but it did establish Kawasaki's worldwide reputation for quality and reliability. The W1 series and its successor the W2 were eventually overshadowed by the Mach 3 triple which established Kawasaki's reputation for performance, which in turn was replaced by the Z1 in the early 70's. The W2 was replaced by the W3 (the most attractive of the series) and remained in production till 1975. Fast forward to 1997. The revived Triumph began r&d on a retro Bonneville, and when Kawasaki got word of this they wanted to beat Triumph to the punch and they came out with the new & improved W650 in 1999, a full year before the new Triumph Bonneville. It became one of their best sellers-except in North America. It was on our market only in 2000 and 2001 and the reason could be that it may have been too soon for a retro-style bike. In other parts of the world the W650 was in production till 2008, a victim of noise and emissions regulations. It's replacement was the W800 in its first generation from 2011 to 2016 and its second generation (Euro 5 compliant and still air-cooled!) from 2019 to the present day. The W650 uses a balance shaft (a British invention from the early 1900s) and the engine is smooth as silk, handles beautifully, and is reliable and easy to maintain.***Kawasaki has decided to revive the Meguro brand. It's actually a stock W800 with a paint job reminiscent of the Meguro designs from the late 50's-early 60's and it's unclear if Kawasaki is going to import these to the U.S. and Canada. There's a couple of good videos on RUclips: "2021 Meguro K3"(Kawasaki) and "Kawasaki MEGURO K3" (MoToBike). And here's some other videos that you may like: "2020 Kawasaki W800-Action Video" (Kawasaki), "The Original Icon/The New Kawasaki W800 Street & W800 Cafe 2019/Official Action Video" (Kawasaki Motors), "2020 Kawasaki W800-Tech Video" (India Kawasaki Motors), "2020 Kawasaki W800-Walkaround-2020 Toronto Motorcycle Show" (AutoMotoTube), and "2020 Kawasaki W800 Walk-Around-Specs-Review" (Tripp on Two Wheels). ***I enjoyed your most recent video honoring your friend Dennis with a journey through the beautiful Oregon countryside, it is a fitting and honorable tribute. Denver sends its greetings to Portland and hopes the recent craziness is past and things return to normal. And, as always Mike, stay safe, stay healthy, and keep the sunny side up. With best wishes, Gary
Many thanks Gary for the additional info. I appreciate you sharing this. It's a very cool bike. Best wishes, Mike
Some great research Gary . Someone put you wrong about the Triumph/Kawasaki part though . Kawasaki inspired Triumph to make their Retro-Bonnie, not the other-way around . Kawasaki Only produced the new W650 for The Home-Market Retro-scene , where the most-desirable-bike was a 60's Triumph . They Never intended-it for export ,nor to compete against other Brands . It was almost a year before they gave-in to pressure from the overseas Franchises and reluctantly-agreed to supply them . One of the reasons they Didn't want-to , was the intentional-vibration built-into the bike for the Japanese-Buyers . Japanese bikers are obsessed with the 'old-bike-experience' and demanded that it vibrate , which is the-main-criticism of western owner/buyers. Kawasaki went as-far as recalling-bikes and removing them from The Markets, after Triumph released their more-powerful Bonneville as They did not want Their-Brand tarnished or damaged by comparisons it was never intended for . It is a very-special-bike designed to celebrate Kawasaki in Japan and to-date is the-most-expensive that Kawasaki has produced in-regard to Development-Cost . Dave nz
I really think this carburated one looks so much better, than the newer models.. Everything just seems to click here - and what a beautifully made seat too.. Bingo bongo baby!
Lovely to see Pam so happy with her bike. I also have one thats done 30,000 trouble free miles and as she said ' no oil leaks.' Really like her tasteful paint job, nice colour. Thank you.
Yes but it's trying to be what it isn't.
@@bonkeydollocks1879 Who cares, it looks great!
@@dougfielding8215 hang on a sec, other people spout shite I'm just doing the same
She is a true enthusiast! Awesome bike. I’ll try not to bore you, but this reminds me of a 1973 Yamaha XS650 I was hoping to buy in 1974. Since I was 19 and it was used, I couldn’t get financing. I ended up buying a new Suzuki GT380 that I could financing on. I enjoyed my GT but was a bit sad I couldn’t get the XS650. Her bike is a beauty.
You got the better bike!
Love this visit and chat.......bit bias as I own 2003 model, better than the Triumph Bonneville (well I think, decision for buying years ago tested both), and Triumph Tiger 110 of yours would be my favourite motorcycle (and colour 'shell blue sheen' ...mint!). Mines a lighter olive green with 70s indicators but rest straight as this one. If I ever repaint I will definitely go for 'shell blue sheen...I'm not a purest...... hence reason for Kawasaki as well, joy to ride and do basic minimal maintenance, so reliable.
Years ago when I showed an old friend a photo of my 2012 Bonneville he asked if I had ever seen a W650. I had not. He told me that it looks more like the 60s Bonnevilles than my 2012 did. He was right. Fortunately, Triumph's latest modern classics look much more like the old classics did. I especially like the shaft driven overhead cam on that engine. Very nice.
I was riding a w650 manufactured in 2006.
I remodeled it a lot, but it was in very good shape.
The engine and body are fairly sturdy and hard to break.
It is a popular model among women, beginners and veterans in Japan.
It's a very good product and it's a very popular bike in Japan.
That bike is really fun to ride. I modified a carb version (shim the needle .020, removed the idle mixture screw plugs and turned them out to 3 turns and 1 up on the main jet.) It totally transformed the engine and made the bike a blast to ride.
Triumph Thruxton carb-needles work even better ! Dave NZ
What a great statement.
" Im proud of this bike, I love this bike and I'd love to tell you about it".
Perfect 👌👍😊
I have about the same feelings about mine :D
@@UncleLongbeard Are parts a problem?
@@jessbailey6718 not at all
@@jessbailey6718 These 650s have a cult following, especially in Japan.
They're very well-supported..
@@babyfacenc The W800 s as well.
I got a 1999 model with 108000 kms on it. It is looking very nice and runs greatly . We have been to the french meeting near Chambery last 18 21 of june ! About 24 W's and more bikes also
It was a journey of around 1540 kms go and back from my home !
Thanks mike, and thanks to pam for showing us her beutifull bike.
Nice----so evocative of the 1960's Bonneville. Nice lady too. Very good mods as well. No wonder she loves it. Amazing that the total specs are almost exactly what the new RE Interceptor is sporting.
Bill Marsh - the RE Interceptor has a short stroke 270 degree engine though. Different character.
What an awesome lady. Popped it right up on the center stand! I like the way she "bonnified" that bike.
That's how its built, it predated the Bonneville by a couple of years
I own a 2019 W800 Street model. I absolutely love it. Unlike other twins today, it has a 360 degree crank, is air cooled, and has a long stroke engine. It runs on regular gas (not premium like many bikes today). Unfortunately, the current models don't have a Kickstarter. It is the closest modern bike to the 60s and 70s Brit bikes but you can ride it and not have to wrench (spanner?). They go back to the 1999 W650 and have built a solid reputation for reliability and superb fit and finish. They are closer to the Classics than modern Triumphs. The bevel driven top end is the icing on the cake 🍰. Thanks for bringing a W650 Kawi to your cul - de sac. I'm very interested in what rider's who are experienced with the Brit bike classics think of the W's.
The new Bonnevilles have 360 degree cranks.
@@mark.e.p No, actually they have 270⁰ cranks since converting to water cooling. Their engine has a short stroke with decorative cooling fins.
You've got some real little gems uncovered on your channel, Mike. Both bikes and persons. Many thanks again!
Glad you like them! Thanks very much for your nice note. I appreciate it. Cheers, Mike
Despite being Japanese Kawasaki...a copy of the triumph 650..but in a way better...it has a classic look with all the modern today bits.. Such a good looking machine and a style that l relate to..So thank you for sharing this marvellous video..and the owner too very well presented..👍👍👍👏👏
I love anything Kawasaki that comes in 650 AND I like Triumphs. Cool bike!
I ride a ninja 650 and a Bonnie so this is like the love child of my two bikes.
What a beautiful bike and what a lovely person! I've seen this video several times precisely because of it. By the way, I own a W800 2021 model.
Awesome bike! Glad it's owned by someone who really appreciates it.
What a beautiful bike 👍🏍
Thanks for sharing and safe rides
He Pam and thank for your Kawa W650 telling - I have driven here in Norway 6000 km on my W650 and I love this maschine more and more - And nearly for this winter it has to stay in front of my bookshelfes. Drive
safe still and take care of ice in the morning. The season here in Norway are nearly over. But have a nice winter Pam and Kawasaki W650 from USA and The Mighty Garage::
I've always liked the look of the W650. It's great to see Pam excited about her great bike. Thanks for the video.
That is one beautiful bike and that lady knows what she is talking about great video Cheer's
Pam was great, I can tell she really enjoys riding her machine. I never knew about these Kawasaki W650s, very nice Bike!
Thanks very much Ken! This has been my most popular video of all time! It seemed to check all the boxes 😉 Pam did such an excellent job with the presentation and her bike is awesome. Best wishes, Mike
Like others mentioned, sounds like a proper vertical twin. Nice modifications Pam!
What a sweet lady on her beautiful bike. The best regards from Denmark🇺🇸🇩🇰🇬🇧
Dear Mike, great, first time meetìng a nice Lady and her beautiful bike on Your website! My wife Anni was born in Ebensburg/PA and passed away by cancer in 2012. Sehr hated bikes. But now there is Anne, my girlfriend, and she is a real enthusiac, ownerin of a Harley Softail and former of a Ducati Monster. All the best again from Germany, Ulli
I have a 2013 W800. These are the nearest you can get to something really retro in a modern machine. great fun
I just test drove one of these today and let me tell you, they are deceptively quick! 56 nm of torque paired with a light weight launches this bike forward with V-twin-like aggressiveness. Loved it!
Thanks for sharing Tony. Best wishes
@@tonyrichengod9280 🤫 don’t tell the rocket boys!
A beautiful looking bike. It certainly has the wow factor. That petrol tank paint job is so classy. Loving your cul-de-sac motorcycle meet ups.
Pam - I have the 1999 W650 - and the best from Triumph and Ducati and Kawasaki Heawy Industries!! Pam your bike can go for 100000 to 150000 km without problems! A littke SUPERBIKE who people have meaning about! Mostly the best - and I love my W650 and have a BMW 100/7 Scrambler customized - A fine maschine too! - And I have the Triumph Thruxton 900 - But the best is my W650! Thank yoy Pamela!!
W 650 looks great 👍..Great enthusiasm for biking...Drone work good to...😎🇬🇧🏍🇺🇸..
Awesome bike. Amazing that it is a 20 year old classic.
Great bike. She made some really nice changes to it. The handlebars, seat and paint job really make it feel like a 60's British twin.
I totally agree! Thanks Dave, cheers, Mike
Thank you for this pleasant interview and yes - this Kawasaki W 650 is truly a feast for the eyes - Many greetings from Germany!
I've never seen or even heard of this Kawasaki model. Fooled me when she rode up. I must say, the overlay was a spectacular touch Mike. She sure has taken care of it, and she is right, the paint makes it look just right.
Just been introduced as bigger w800 in USA for 2020
@@Roger_Ramjet Which is 10kg heavier, less hp than the 650 although the torque is much lower in the range. And no kickstart lol. Alas for smoothness its FI
Thank ou. It was nice to just enjoy a person's enjoyment of a nice ride.
Another lovely bike and proud owner that enjoys riding it, looking after it and showing it off with pride!
It looks like it's done 3500 miles, not 35K miles, a credit to the owner.
Great interview Mike 👍
Thanks a lot Dom. It was such a great visit with Pam. Best wishes, Mike
the bike and rider matches perfect! happy to watch this episode. thx.
Lovely lady and lovely bike
Nice stories in the cul de sac
I really like your show
Big hugs from Santo Domingo
Hi Ivan! Thanks very much for your kind words. I'm glad that you like the videos. Best wishes, Mike
@@TheMightyGarage if you get notice of one for sell I will appreciate
@@ivanarnaldomendez Hi Ivan, there is one for sale right now in Portland, Oregon. portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mcy/d/gresham-2001-kawasaki-w650/7183700522.html
It is larger than a 650 cc it is about 676 cc which means it is only 97 smaller than the W800. Both the W650 and W800 (77 X 83), are under square the 650 more so (72 X 83), providing great torque compared to many other modern vertical twins.
So nice! And such a cool vibe in this video. Kawasaki for days and days...
Glad you enjoyed it!
I so enjoyed that video. I have a 2014 W800 and I really do enjoy owning, riding and caring for it. Pam just said it all so much better than I can. Thank you for sharing this with us all.
Many thanks Graeme. Glad you enjoyed it. Best wishes, Mike
My bike. My second favorite bike in the world behind the Yamaha SR 400 and 500. I love it. I have customized mine a fair bit, and I love it. Air boxes gone, bigger jets and two in one pipe. Absolutely wonderful bike. And you can get 60 HP with a few touches. Gorgeous.
Ohhhh... now I get that centerstand looking thingy. Obviously I really miss the centerstands (ride-off pedestal in BSA speak). She said that her bike is a treasure... just try to find one in the midwest. It surely is a treasure. Another great video, Mike.
Although rare, they seem to be a lot more common in the US even though the model was only sold there for 2 years instead of 7 everywhere else. They are thin on the ground in Australia, so people must hold onto them (unsurprisingly lol)
Got the same here in Paris. Thanks for your Channel Mike ! Love it
I have a w650 as well and I absolutely love it! I've had some other issues but my bike is beat up a little more than Pam's. City living plus street parking wears one a bike. I also get people stopping by to comment on my "Bonnie" lol
An ex girl friend of mine had a W650. Rode fantastically, sweet handling and lovely to look at, funnily enough so was the bike...
Fab
To everyone owning a W800 or a W650. It might be a good Idea to remove the helmet lock.
On the back side is a 4-Digit-code for the Lockingsystem. A potential thief could remove your helmet lock (one bolt), take the code to a mechanic and let him make a key based on the code. That key will turn on the bike..
For me it was convenient. I lost my key and was thankful for that easy method to get a new one...
A Japanese styled modern 650 Triumph twin! The sound is almost identical, even though it's an ohc 8-valve. The seat is definitely styled on the early Triumph!
I've never seen a Kawasaki 650 before, it definitely strongly resembles the Triumph and BSA, it really looks good, like a Brit bike, and that bevel gear drive is very nice. I've had a couple of Ducati's, and that is a dead solid cam drive. I bought seven basket case Yamaha 650's, in the early nineties, and built them, fixed one I had with the spare parts, and put six people on cheap bikes to ride. I think that Kaw is really well set up, I didn't even see the kicker until you mentioned it. That is a very nice bike I think. Thanks for showing this off!
Thank you very much John. I’m glad that you enjoyed this video. It’s my all-time highest viewed video!
Go Pam ! You never can tell , who rides a bike ! I have the same one down here in NZ. They are getting very hard to find in original condition and go up in value !....every year . Dave nz
Beautiful retro styling and the engine note sounds great
I’ve had a 2000 W650, a ’08 Bonneville T100 and now a ’20 W800. The Hinckley Triumphs are great bikes, but I prefer the Kawis. Pity they don’t get the love they deserve in this country.
Thank you, David. I had the pleasure of riding Pam‘s bike last week and took a few video clips that I will be publishing in the next couple of weeks. I really enjoyed the bike. It was a ton of fun. Would love to hear more about your 20 W800. Does it feel a lot more powerful than the 650? Best wishes, Mike
NICE BIKE! Ironic that the Kawasaki W650 and W800 are the best looking Brit Bikes ever. If Kawasaki could get the price down about $1,500 to $2,000 they woould blow Royal Enfield and even Triumph right off the sales charts. Indeed, I went to the shope to look at a new W800. Loved it. But I went home with a new Bonneville T120 because of pricing. I still think the W-800 looks more like a Bonnie than a Bonnie; but in the end I could not bare to pay a bit more for a W800 than a T120 that had considerably more power.
You can often find W800s that are marked down. Also, in most places both the T120 and T100 cost more than the W800. The T120 cost about $2000 to $3000 more in Western Canada.
"Looks like a BSA A10"...yah...right, A very nice Japanese Triumph! Love the bevel drive
Yep japanese triumph
You don't see any matured mom riding cool classic motorcycle. Here's one!
Ride safe!
Kawasaki Heavy Industries began making motorcycles with the Kawasaki brand after purchasing Meguro, and their existing 650, which was an evolution of the BSA 500 which was built after the war under license by Meguro. There are some devoted Meguro (pre-Kawaski) collectors out there. I have seen a Meguro along side an early Kawasaki 650. A few Meguros of different models made it to the USA courtesy of returning GI's.Very impressive machines. Always wanted a Meguro, or a W... maybe when I win the lottery... You have a very fine bike, and one with a history going back, oh, let's say, about seventy years. BTW mostly because of import difficulty, there are even Japanese versions of American V Twins!
That is a beautiful green color !!
Great video the bike looks fantastic great condition stay safe 🇬🇧👍🏻
7:19 Sweet indeed! Reminds me of the once- mine Yamaha 500 single. Kick start only. I learnt how to never stall at a green light, from the inconvenience when it happened😀
Love these bikes! Pam is the coolest!
Excellent, that was a nice surprise Mike. Pam sure sings the praises of her great looking & reliable bike.
It's so nice to be learning the story behind the visitors bikes, their little add-ons & tweaks to make it their own.
atvb t ..
Pam, what a lovely lady and she got a great bike too. Nice.
I love to see ladies enjoying bikes 👍🏻
They are are great bike. Even the first ones back in the late 60s were exceptional . Old school looks with modern reliability. And they were pre unit construction.
The recent ones didnt sell that well here in Australia. Great bike for medium height riders. Good on her for getting that bike. The rear mudguard looks very neat.Not cluttered like the Bonnie with that horrible
Star Trek tail light. and indicators.
The W 650/800s are nothing like the W1s and W2s from the 60s. They were the bikes based on the BSAs.....
The W800 'low ergo' seat fits the 650 perfectly and lowers the seat height by 1.5". Also adds a much more flowing line which fits the bike better, I'm 5'7" and have one on my 650. I test rode the 800 before finding my bike (in Perth and I'm in Sydney lol) and wasn't impressed by comparison. 10kg heavier with less hp and jerky FI response. Does have a lot lower torque however.
The original W1 from the late 60s was BSA influenced, because of Meguro/Kawasaki . But these newer ones are obviously Bonneville influenced, and look great !
That’s one beautiful bike! A true classic. 👍 Good riding 😎
Many thanks for your kind note. Best wishes, Mike
Love it, beautiful bike.
In my opinion all motorcycles should have a kick start.
My wife has a W650 (1999 with high bars) bought new, now has over 80,000 miles on it. It's done numerous tours around the UK and the rest of Europe. It is the best looking retro bike ever made and (sadly as a Triumph man) much better than the Bonneville of the time.
I like the color of the tank and the kickstarter. Nice movie!
Beautiful retro motorcycle , & one happy , enthusiastic lady owner 😊👍
Thanks a lot Mike! Glad you liked the video. Cheers, Mike
Very nice and Pam made some nice changes.
Had friend who never had ridden a bike buy one cheap from shop that was new but year old stock. He two weeks later drove it from Houston area to California and back. Had everything planned out and went off without a hitch,
You are absolute right to enjoy this bike!!!! Greetings from germany 👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you Christoph! Vielen Dank, beste Wünsche, Mike
Biggest mistake they made with the W800 was eliminating the kickstarter. Even with a fully charged battery, if I had one of these I'd kick it over every time.
It's fun to be part of the process...
You would need a fully charged battery anyway - unsure what magic Pam used to kick-start on a flat battery? - these need charge to start (and run). Having said that they are the easiest kick-start I have used. But you always get that added excitement when they fire up. Best bike I have owned in over 40 years of riding.
Kick started mine on a flat battery it was so flat if I tried to indicate it wouldn't run
@@timwrigley8382 I've kick-started many a bike with flat or nearly flat batteries as well.
Had a dead battery on my W650. Started fine on the kick start.
right bro and SISTERS!
Wow! This W650 looks amazing! Though I love the original w1 or w2 ss
Great looking bike 👍🏼 It sounds like it has the old 360 degree crank making it sound like a proper parallel twin unlike the newer Triumphs with their
270 degree crank.
Not 360 degree! most inline twin are 180 degree.
I love my 270.
@@MrKdr500 wrong.
MrKdr500 all of my older triumphs were 360 both pistons up and down at the same time hence the distinctive sound and vibration
Yes it is a 360, with a balance shaft.
Really nice bike.Love the colour.Like the superimposing of the scrambler picture on top.Like the miking up too.Top work.
Kawasaki has really tried to copy a Triumph and they succeeded in it and Sister you look gem of a person in video the way you explain the bike great Enthusiasm. From India
Came out before the Bonnevilles and was based on the 60s Ws which were produced on a licence from BSA.
Thanks for liking my comments
Seriously considering picking up one of these beauties instead of the 800. Love that kickstart feature - a good bridge between classic and modern. Thanks for sharing the video!
Great video! I remember being tempted by the W650 when it was introduced 20 years ago, but the time wasn't right for me. It looks, sounds & is more in proportion to the Meriden Bonnevilles than the Hinckley Triumphs, as Quentin Willson alluded to at that time. And knowing Kawasaki, reliability shouldn't be a problem. If it hadn't been for the Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor, I'd have gone for a second-hand W650.
Nice to see you don't forget the ladies nice bike fair few over here stay safe
Good morning, Mike!
I have her exact model, with 88,000 trouble-free miles.
These W650s are quite a treat to own.
Only upgrade I'd recommend is using emulators in the forks, to tidy up a bit of sloppiness in the front.
Best wishes from Atlanta,GA, David B.
That sloppiness keeps me honest. I like it when a bike runs out of ability before I run out of skill!
Nice bike, I have got two of these. I'd recommend the lady to use Blue Job to get rid of the blueish color of the exhaust pipes - works well!
Thank you! Yes, I’ve tried the blue job myself on my Commando and it worked great 👍 best wishes, Mike
Lovely review of a really good, classic 650 Kawasaki. Hello from the UK. Pam is clearly a happy bunny with her W650 and a proper enthusiast. I currently have a Z650b1 - little cracker it is, too. Love the simple but effective modifications she’s made….lovely.
Thanks for a lovely note Nigel. That was a really enjoyable visit by Pam. Best wishes, Mike
Lovely looking bike and a great colour
I rode as a passenger on an early '70's DOHC 650 Yamaha and the vibration was insane. I couldn't tolerate keeping my feet on the foot pegs!
Pam is a hoot!
She has a very nice motorcycle and yes I thought it looked a lot like a Triumph too!
What a happy lady. Ride safely Pam.
Piękny motocykl. Jak moje marzenie o nim! 👍🇵🇱
I always liked those bikes, looks like a triumph