My thoughts about Bennetts review of Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 vs Kawasaki W800
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- Опубликовано: 23 дек 2020
- I recently saw the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 vs Kawasaki W800 review made by Bennetts and even I agree with most of what they said, there were some minor niggles which I felt it would be the right thing to do to comment on them. Stay with me what do I think about the royal enfield 650 vs Kawasaki W800. But before watching my video - go and check the review here: • Royal Enfield Intercep...
I compared the charts prepared by CycleWorld:
Cycle World W800 dyno test: www.cycleworld.com/how-much-p...
Cycle World Interceptor dyno test: www.cycleworld.com/2019-royal...
You should definitely go and check cycle world website and follow them on RUclips as well.
Awesome music library: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
Let me know what do you think in the comments. Cheers
Sometimes the "Quality" of anything just jumps out and it's hard to ignore. That's what happened to me when I chose to get a 2018 W800 Classic over the newly introduced Interceptor 650. No regrets. It's a Goldilocks bike: Not too fast, not too slow; not too vintage, not too modern.
Exactly. The quality is absolutely top, with the only complaint about this aluminium alloy which is prone to oxidation...
In the end the interceptor is still a better motorcycle.Better mpg .smoother .faster .More customizable.More attractive.Parts are more affordable with more access.More interceptors.And it has a 270 crank making it much much better than a true parallel twin.
Loads of gibberish I'm afraid. Better mpg? Did you watch the video even? Faster? lol... Kawa wasted 100cc you say? Smoother - possibly, but since when smoothness is better for a classic motorcycle? Smooth can be new Gold Wing but classic should be a bit rough. That's what makes it a classic... More customizable? Ah, you mean you can buy a part from catalogue, bolt it on and call it a custom? Lol. Not sure if you know what custom is. More affordable parts? Sure, affordable as they are made of carrot mostly. The quality parts UK made are not cheaper at all... So, yes, your comment makes ZERO sense. But sure, Enfield is really good affordable motorcycle. But better than the W? Not really. Just more affordable and still decent.
@@deltabluesdavidraye My 2022 W800 gets 57 to 62 mpg consistantly, I have had it for 8500 miles.
They are both parallel twins, but the RE has a 270 degree crankshaft while the W800 has a 360 degree crankshaft like the BSA and Triumph motorcycles of the 50's and 60's. The sound of the BSA and Triumph motorcycles of the days of old was GREAT and nothing compared to it.
The quality of a Kawasaki is far superior than a Royal Enfield. The MSRP of the W800 is a lot more, but I find if I shop around I can purchase one for about $7000.00 in the states and most Kawasaki dealers will waive the set up fee and destination charges. On the other hand, most Royal Enfield dealers want to charge a set up fee and a destination charge which brings their price up close to the $7000.00 that I can buy the higher quality and more reliable W800.
I prefer the 360 degree crank of the W800 along with the high build quality, and chrome plated STEEL fenders. The W800 is my choice.
It's all true... but, what I learnt on my mechanical engineering studies is exactly as follows:
www.bikesmedia.in/reviews/difference-between-inline-twin-parallel-twin-cylinder-motorcycle-engines.html
And You are Correct , unlike so-many of the so-called knowledgeable key-board-warriors ; A Parallel-Twin engine is one where both pistons rise and fall Together (360-deg-crank ) , unlike other 'Inline-Twins' where the pistons 'Don't' travel In-Parallel , such as 180, 270-degree-cranks . This makes the 360-degree-crankshaft 'Parallel-Twin , also an 'In-Line-Twin' ....but the Only Parallel...of the three Dave NZ
Both W800 and Royal Enfield are powered by vertical twin designed engines. However, only the W800 is a 360º parallel twin, while the Royal Enfield is a 270º nonparallel twin. Important to know the difference when evaluating the better of the two designs. Harmless vibration in the W800 is one thing, but understanding its advanced valve train design is most important.
Thank you for all the information, very interesting and informative.
I thought the Bennet's review was very good but truth be told in real world riding there isn't a cigarette papers width difference between the bikes. Yes you can argue that the Kawasaki has a better finish or that the Royal Enfield is a significant bit cheaper as a new bike. The wonderful thing about motorcycles is that they all have their benefits and they all have their drawbacks but they all make a person feel something so judging between two bikes that are so close is always going to be subjective. If Santa left either bike in my stocking I would be equally as thrilled so Merry Christmas & a happy new year and I look forward to seeing more of your journeys.
True, if I would get RE from Santa I wouldn't be disappointed ;)
I have a 2013 w800, run it all year round and it still looks great.
Thanks and Merry Christmas to you
Same to you Catherine
I love your videos. The landscapes are captured beautifully. I own a 2019 W800 Cafe, which is probably the 20th motorcycle I've owned in the past forty years. The W800 has a feel that I've never experienced before. I love it. Thanks.
Glad you like them! I mean both... my vids and W800 ;)
Am I correct in thinking the W800 has longer service intervals and the valves also do not require adjustment so often? Strongly considering a new W8 here as my last bike. Belated Merry Christmas.
yes, absolutely correct and no cam chain on top of that
Many dealers are discounting the W800 by 2g. Still more expensive but alot closer in price.
Thanks interesting info there.. I loved the Enfield when they first came out however not so keen on those OVER SIZE mufflers need scaled down a bit was keen on one until I discovered a tidy W650 for sale which was more within my budget and I love it, however my dream version is the W2 TT Commander that's one sexy bike! I wonder why Kawasaki did'nt re-release the W in that style. (Merry Christmas, and ride safe)
You can't go wrong with W650 ;) W2 TT is a decent bike indeed. I would love to have one as well. Merry Xmas buddy
Crazy justification of the bike you own. The weight figure that matters is the wet weight with a full tank. That is what it’s going to weigh when you ride away from the gas station. The dyno curves are interesting but what we feel is the power to weight based on rear wheel thrust. This is based on weight and gearing. The 5 speed gearbox and final drive ratio chosen on the Kawasaki explains why the reviewers found the the 6 speed RE perkier
yyy, justification? Of what? You mean justification of the Enfield I got or a W? Mate, I just cleared out clear mistakes and misinformation they made in the other review and that's it. If you talking about my W800 - I bought it as hardly used second hand example was cheaper than the new Enfield and it's much better made. End of story. I would buy the RE if that would be the opposite. 6 speed on a 50HP classic is not something to die for btw.
@@UncleLongbeard Bennett rode the two bikes back to back and reported their findings. You didn’t. You post hoc made an argument why you think their findings are wrong. I just pointed out that you can’t make your case without considering gearing which just checking now on gearingcommander is about 10% taller on the Kawasaki. This means the additional
Power will be cancelled out by lower thrust and higher weight. The cycle world report you referenced mentions several times the sluggishness of the w800 compared to the RE and it’s roll on and acceleration measured are superior apart from 0-60 (which is almost certainly due to a gear change needed in the RE). Faster roll ons, acceleration better fuel economy, less weight all favour the RE. The cycle world comparo basically confirms the Bennett result. As you say however the Kawasaki is undoubtedly better made and much more expensive. A second hand one makes a good choice if you are less concerned about vehicle dynamics as most are who ride these types of bikes.
'Less concerned about vehicle dynamics'? 'Sluggishness apart from 0-60'? What? 'Power will be cancelled'? What sort of bollocks is that? I'm sorry but I can't read that nonsense. You have also no clue if I rode them both... Yet, you assumed that I didn't. What's really funny is the fact that I did but it doesn't matter at all. I used the DATA and some known FACTs which i used and compared here. You might argue that the bike feels faster or you like it more, but data is data. End of story. And as a journalists they should provide accurate data not some over stretched info from the internet. So stop telling me what you think I did and stop this nonsense you are writing here because it makes no sense whatsoever.
Nice comparison i swapped my bike in june and it was a toss up between the W800 and Bonneville 865 i went with the bonneville mainly because i had one back in the 60s but think i would have been happy with either one i just love all bikes. Merry Christmas to you and you Family
I quite like bonnies as well but they are a bit too bulky IMO. Just look a bit too fat. That's why I went for the W
@@UncleLongbeard Feel the same way although the Street Twin is much lighter/more svelte. I couldn't afford 15 grand though compared to my $5,000 w650
@@zhukie it is indeed but more complicated and watercooled - which could be a good thing as well, depends on your likings
A nice delve into the fact and figures Longbeard! :-) And DOGGO
Thanks mate and the same to you!
Hah, really enjoyed it, the data and the dive deep aspect - great! And as it happens, watched the other video just before. Bottom line - just ordered a W800, discontinued now I understand. Looking forward to it :-)
Glad to hear that. That's a good bike which you will enjoy for sure as long as you don't expect it to be really fast... As far as I know they only discontinued cafe version but the classic one is still in production.
I own 2020 w800 cafe and it is a wonderful bike, also have the kawasaki Concours for my mile muncher. Looking at getting the RE Himalayan for off road forest roads as I don't care who makes the bike but see what fits my needs as I am a complete 2 wheel traveler in the US and looking at moving to Tennessee next year. Thank you for putting out great videos.
Glad you enjoyed. I have similar approach. Cheers mate
RE has come a long way if its putting Kawasaki fans on the defensive. This guy seems nearly offended by ppl choosing the RE. Japanese bikes are well known for their quality, unlike bmw .
The new bikes from RE like the Himalayan have proven to be quite sturdy over long and rough terrains. Not zero trouble but good value for even seasoned riders.
A buyer has to basically decide whether he wants a expensive Japanese bike with a proven track record or a much more economical RE with great reviews and loads of character . Individual choice based on riding needs and budget.
this guy (I guess it's me) said he would probably buy RE against new W if there would be no used W's (also v7's and a few others). This guy also own another RE, so he's not sure what is your conclusion ;) but maybe this guy is almost offended by his own wrongdoing. Who knows... 🤣😁👍
I know which I'd prefer, which is why I bought the Interceptor 18 months ago.
@@stevepalmer5670 And that's absolutely great. Both are a good choice so it comes to personal preferences at the end of the day. RE is really decent bike and I like it a lot. Just prefer the other one though ;) Cheers
In my opinion, the Royal Enfield motor IS a parallel twin, it just has a 270° crank, as opposed to the Kawasaki's 360° crank.
On my mechanical engineering studies we used term parallel to distinguish 360 crank, but eventually it's just a name so you can even call 2 cylinder boxer a parallel as the cylinders are in fact parallel as well there. No matter what the fact is that classic British bikes had 360 cranks...
@@UncleLongbeard to that I say "rule Britannia", but I don't like the fact that current "Brit bikes" have 270° cranks, it's just wrong! Also, it seems silly to call a bixer twin a parallel twin, I use the term horizontally opposed, or boxer twin.
Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
Beating a dead horse here about parallel twin definition. I’m in agreement with the author based on accepted engineering nomenclature.
Nice challenge, but as an Interceptor owner I'm not convinced (except for the bit about exhaust header finish).
For example, on fuel economy, I get 68 to 71mpg, carefully logged on fuelly which is way off your figures.
I thought about a w800 and got a seriously hard sell on it at the dealer. 9,000 miles later, without a blip, and as a former Japanese bike owner I'm glad I went RE.
Happy Xmas from March!
Fair enough! I don't care that much about fuel economy really as far as it's not crazy high, so can't argue on that. What's more if I would own Interceptor - I would modify it, so my mpg would be different as well ;) I don't think either choice is bad really however I think the W looks more authentic and it proves to be crazy reliable and that has to be proven by RE yet. I mean let's see at 50k miles and more
You may well get a few more miles per gallon but the servicing periods on the RE's is a joke, how often do you have to take it in for a service if you wish to keep the warranty? every 3000 miles, that is crap in anyone's book oh and of course you have to pay for those services so there is the small advantage in fuel consumption well and truly out the window.
@@ianskeldon6032 that's wrong service for valves and oil change is 6000 miles,check yourself
@@colinjarvis2739 Hi Colin, I can't check myself as I don't own one, Simon a mate does have one and he told me that it needs to have a dealer service every 3000 miles, however he said that the first one is a normal oil change etc and then the second one (at 6000) is to check valve clearances.
Great points.
The early W650s did not have a catalytic converter. They had more torque and horsepower than the later ones you got your graph from. Also better sound.
I didn't know that, but nevertheless I am a bit naughty and prefer to decat the bikes so in my hands it would end up the same ;) By the way I wanted to ask you if you know how big is the HP/torque increase (ish) on 834cc Carillo pistons on W800?
Yes. The W650 gets a stated 51hp and the W800 48hp; possibly due to the 800 being 10kg heavier. i test rode a 2012 w800 and felt it was a bit "anaemic" compared to the 650 which I ended up buying. Mine is 19yo and still going strong...plus the benefit of both a button & kickstart lol
@@zhukie Japanese local market version of W800 is 52HP and 62Nm vs 50/56 for the 650, so again euro 4/5 nonesense here I assume...
@@UncleLongbeard yup... Euro regulations force the factory defaults to lower figures.
@@UncleLongbeard Did not Kawasaki retune the W800 to make it A2 compliant.
Hi from Australia Uncle Longbeard - Yes you have made some good points there - My best mate has the W800 and i have the interceptor. Both have about the same kms about 5000. We frequently swap bikes - I like the sound of the W800 - however prefer the smoothness of the Interceptor. On trips the RE is at least 10mpg better - He concedes that. I do like the lower seat height of the Kwaka as i am a short arse but prefer the better handing of the RE. They are both great bikes! Cheers
Absolutely - they are both great indeed. I prefer W mostly because of the well proved reliability which is hard to beat. There is well documented bike from Japan with almost 500kkm on the clock and no engine work done on it yet. Even the new RE is way better than it was and it is a reliable bike indeed - I highly doubt it's that good... But only time will tell, so we will see.
Great tip, it is exactly what I did, 2nd hand W800 with 2000 miles, as good as new!!! Thanks for this video.
You just ..love that Kawasaki lol .Merry Xmas to you and the family
haha, as most of the bikes I had ;)
New w800 cafe is cool, abs, rear disc...and you can remap the EFI for more power.
Possibly it is but the rear disc looks ugly, much prefer the drum and I also don't want more electronics. I remapped my own EFI as well. Not having 2 lambdas is a bonus too ;) But other than that cafe is absolutely top bike
Bang on take!
Was going to buy a RE Interceptor (put a deposit down) until I checked out the W. RE is a great bike, but to me the W just looked better (subjective of course), had more of a classic bike vibe with the 360 degree crank and was better finished, no plastic chain guards and fenders. I was not too concerned about cost, so went with the W (the W is overpriced compared to the RE, no argument there). Both are great bikes and you really can't go wrong with either.
Well said.
Howdy. Thank you for this review. I have been trying to work out this very issue between these 2 bikes for some time now and I have come to exactly the same conclusion you did. 2nd hand low km W800 in excellent condition. It's a safer buy regarding reliability and durability of finish and $2 to $3k Aussie dollars which is about 1.3k to 2k Euro less than a new RE Interceptor. Also I know looks are personal but the Enfield looks good but the W800 looks perfect to me. Thank you 4 confirming my thoughts and preventing me from changing my mind due to the vibration of the W800
Glad my mumbling was useful ;)
@@UncleLongbeard Yup it was. You certainly have a unique style.
The Interceptor IS a parallel twin.A parallel twin is an engine with two cylinders side by side no matter what the crank configeration is.
Parallel twin has it name from the pistons which are moving parallelly together. With 270 degree crank they are not. So it is simply twin or inline twin. i.pinimg.com/originals/7f/df/92/7fdf92848ebe43912b17abaaf8f91028.jpg
@@UncleLongbeard Rubbish.Parallel twin is the configuration of the cylinders,as opposed to v twin or horizontally opposed twin.
@@stevepalmer5670 It looks to me like a bit pointless conversation. The term parallel twin was there to differentiate this type of parallel pistons setup from the other types of twins. It's referred to this type of setup in many engineering books, but you may call it all rubbish if you prefer. www.bikesmedia.in/reviews/difference-between-inline-twin-parallel-twin-cylinder-motorcycle-engines.html
@@UncleLongbeard Read Royal Enfields description of the engine.
@@stevepalmer5670 corporate description vs engineering books... Hmm, where should I source my knowledge from... No comments
Two RUclips tips: 1) Marlon's "Honest Review" of the W800 (and the Bonny: they're all hilarious), and 2) If you can get help wirh the German, Ulf Penner has detailed instructions on tuning the W800 in stages (1, 2 & 3) complete with dyno curves for each
I know both
I'm here in July 2023 considering a W800 after 20 years away from riding. The closest ones I can find to me can be had as low as $7,800 (before any fees). But I wonder if I can get them to go lower. 2022 bikes in mid 2023.
I've been considering the W800 or a Moto Guzzi V7. I am attracted to both. There is something about the W800 that keeps me looking at it. It has a charm that I cannot describe well, but it's there.
You got it right. There's something hard to describe about the W... But V7 is nice as well
Różnica w pojemności jest podobna jak pomiędzy MZ250 i Wsk 125- może by je też porównać :-) A tak na poważnie- miło się Cię ogląda stary druhu! Kawasaki że najlepsze też już wiem od dłuższego czasu! Pozdrawiam.
Jakbym miał to bym porównał ;) Lepiej pomyśl, gdzie pojedziemy jak już się wyrwiemy z tych wszystkich lockdown'ow :)
Interesting comparison which i wouldnt argue with though i would say at the price you have so much money to play with. I have the Intercepter and love it, I had a new f800 http before this and the Intercepter totally outclassed that bike in every way
the price of the new RE is really good but I had a few Enfields and they need to prove some reliability to me first.
@@UncleLongbeard that sould have read F800 gt. I read and watched loads of reviews and water two years before I decided to buy one last year. Apart from my wife not liking the seat which I have replaced now I have no complaints
@@gordonjenkins8171 I guess if I could only buy a brand new bike, I would buy the interceptor hands down. I still have another enfield though and one is causing enough issues :D Also, barely used W800 was still cheaper, so for me the choice was obvious. But I'm not saying INT is a bad choice. It's a lovely bike - otherwise I wouldn't be talking about it :) As you can see there is no f800 on my channel :D
Test drove W800 and RE650, RE drove all over the W800, and the RE is £2000 cheaper, so if you wish to upgrade tyres, suspension etc you can afford to do so, the interceptor is a true riders bike very a gel do what you want go where you want where you point it where you lean it no crazy vibration just as smooth as a baby's butt.
1. Smooth is the word I hate. It means no character... As it's smoothened out. And yes , the stock W is smooth as well, too smooth actually so I made mine a bit more nervous...
2. Barely used w800 is £2k cheaper than new RE. I paid £4k for mine with just 7k miles on the clock, can you find an Enfield for that price? No? how come?
3. We'll see how the Enfield will cope with the mileage over 100k. The w800 does that with no issues.
Other than that I agree 😂 Interceptor is a brilliant bike and if not the arguments above I would get one.
Time will show up whether or not the RE is a good long-term prospect. It may well be but the W is already proven.
true ;) We just need a few years to check
I not convinced yet oil change every 3000 valve clearance 6000 it not cost affective you can get a better bike for your money I do believe in Australia they use semi oil
Thanks for the detailed and well presented video. You covered all the points that I have been pondering with regard to buying a pre-loved low miles W800. Ive owned a recent RE and would not wish the experience on my worst enemy, if I had one . The W800 is clearly the superior machine. I see from aonother of your vids that some people are dis-satisfied with your bike cleaning regime. To those people I suggest they get a life and mind thier own business. Thanks again and ride afe.
Thanks for the comment mate. I would say even more - with the W you don't need to bother about the mileage being that low as those bikes are capable of doing really high miles completely trouble free. There is a well documented W800 from Japan with way more than 400k on the clock with no work done to the engine whatsoever. Talking about bike cleaning it's just bollocks. I clean my bikes like every normal person. That is actual weakest point of Kawasaki - poor coating quality and engine alloy prone to oxidation. Plus British winter humidity... Nothing more than that.
Well said.!.. RE650 is The-Flavour-of-The-Month at the moment, and they were 'riding that Wave' somewhat . As you say though , they are still a great bike in their own-right . I have the W650 ( because it was a bargain at the time, 21K's ) , being another 'old-fart' and Short, it suits me. Try investigating Hi-comp std-pistons, rather than bigger-bore . It is a lot cheaper and the gains are probably as much fun , especially with open-headers and the right cam . A Power-commander or Ignitech would boost things too, I think you have to do ALL those things with the kit you are considering/mentioned in comments . Anyway , have fun, throttle-on... Dave NZ
Had the w 650 in 2002! Great bike! Got w800 2014 model,no comparison!!! 650 was quality! 800 has perceived quality but really isn't the same! Tried the re intercepter, totally outhandles the w 800. .....my w650 survived winters!?! ,W800turned to a pile of rust after 1 winter. !!!!!
Well, I don't have much of bad things to say about 800. I can only say that W650 looks and sounds a bit better stock and have a kicker ;) Can RE outhandle the W? Might be, but it might be just the feeling because of 18" front and stiffer suspension. It doesn't matter to me really, as it handles much better than I hoped for. Thanks for the comment mate, cheers
love w800
I suppose once you get a Kawa you become part of the group and it's difficult to accept that a cheaper bike could be better, but it seems it is
I got a few Enfields and still got one my friend :D So hmm... cheaper bike is still cheaper and less trustworthy. Paint is not the same, chrome is not the same and so on. You will see it in a few years. In the meantime you can watch this guy who nailed it:
ruclips.net/video/1fkDIJv0S50/видео.html
And don't get me wrong - I love the Enfield... but I just don't trust it as much as my W.
Yeah good points...plenty of smallish things add up...
I've watched the Bennets review and yes it is very good. But I agree with you. Your comments are valid, and it's important to get the facts right. The devil is in the detail as they say. However of course it makes no difference in the real world. I reckon most people buy what stirs their soul and for me the Enfield just doesn't look as good. It's podgy around the middle. The Kawa looks trim and that bevel drive on the engine is reason enough to buy one. Low mileage scondhand for around the £4500-£5000 mark. It's a no brainer. Cheers and Merry Chrimbo
sure it makes no difference at the end :) But no matter what Kawa looks better :D Merry Christmas
That bevel drive makes an already ugly engine even uglier.
@@stevepalmer5670 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Dear Uncle. After much research I took your advice and bought an always garaged, very lightly used, (2,400 klms) 2015 Black edition W800. Here in Australia, after adding a years tax and insurance I paid AUD$7000 or about 3,650 GBP. I am as happy as a pig in the brown stuff. But I want to ask if you think that if the tyres (Which of course look almost brand new) need to be replaced. I read about tyres having a use by date but hate the idea of binning them unless they are dangerous. You also mention that the original W800, 2011-2106, is slightly more powerful than the 2019 - on bike. Do you know why this is so? Should there be some name to differentiate between the original drum brake model and the resurrected ABS two disk version? e.g. The God version and the Jesus version? : - ). As an aside I had a Polish uncle. Thoroughly nice chap he was too. Happy Riding.
Congratulations mate, you will enjoy for sure. I don't remember what I said and what the power difference is, but I rode both and you can't feel any. The older one with drum brake is more authentic tbh, but both are nice. About the tyres: the rubber gets harder after years and it could become slippery. Do the rear brake test, if it will slip easily, just replace both. If not than ride it
You forgot to mention that the W is rubber mounted. At least my 01 W is. Maybe they dropped the rubber mounts on the 800. I've gotten 64 mpg on my W when not using inner city metro gas. It's very tourquey. The torque starts at idle. It's a long stroke engine. More so than the brit bikes it emulates.
It still is rubber mounted but there is still too much vibrations for some 🤣👍
interesting....but....even if the R.E was way better in every respect,i wouldnt swap my w650 for one .ive had the w800 too but much prefer the simplicity of the 650, carbs,kicker etc , ........merry christmas !!
I didn't have w650 but I prefer the look of it... And the kickstarter. But I simplified the electronics on my 800 and now it's ok. I think it would work with carbs as well. Merry Xmas mate
I read that any performance gains from extra Cc's on the W800 over the W650 were negated by the emissions hardware, so removing them would surely result in a better engine? Also, I read that the torque curve on the W650 was less linear and therefore more characterful?
@@mattcc6603 yes i read that too. makes sense ...... im sure lots of w riders have got or have had lots of bikes like myself....[probably around 60 or so] and the w650 is the best of the bunch for me. it really does do everything very well , usually after 6 months of owning a bike im already looking for my next one...not this time,and if i had a garage full of bikes id go for my little dubya everytime .i love it
@@vaudiw1 I can't wait to be able to test ride both W's! The Interceptor's lump appears squashed to me, so it doesn't make the shortlist.
@@mattcc6603 I think exactly that. Kawasaki had to increase the capacity to compensate for stricter rules. On the other hand I got rid of all that electronic limiters and I think now I unlocked the potential of extra cc's. I don't think that w650 torque has anything to do with character - the curve is pretty flat. I think it's basically the higher power increase on high revs. I also think that the main difference in power delivery is the rev limiter on 800 kicking in 500rpm faster (I think it's 500 but not 100% sure) and eco limited fuel injection.
So glad you made this video. That video was a lot biased since the guy owns an Interceptor
You might say I was biased as I have the W, however I got a few other bikes and my friends have Interceptors... so I hope that I'm neutral on that ground ;)
There is a well-discussed W650 in Japan , that has now passed 450K with NO engine-work... And, like you, I would not say NO if an RE650 landed in my lap , new 'Bike-Adventures' rock ! Dave NZ
yep, I saw that one from Japan. Great stuff
I have a W800. It’s a beautiful bike - in my opinion the most beautiful currently made. Its built quality is outstanding. But the vibration is not “moderate” or “character”. From 3000 to 5000rpm it is profound. As in almost intolerable. Makes your butt numb. I cruise back roads and mostly 55mph or under. If I regularly rode over 55 I would not ride this bike. When the Super Meteor 650 arrives in the US I will be seriously considering it. Totally because of the wicked engine vibration on the W800. It is so bad it overwhelms the other stuff.
Did you ever had a proper British parallel twin? The vibrations in the W are really moderate in comparison. The W has counter balance shaft, just think what would you get without it... And I will tell you more: compared to my Harley EVO vibrations on the W almost don't exist. Zero, null... ;) So, yes, you can buy the bike which is tamed even more if that's what you expect. Everything depends if you want a modern "smooth" bike, or a real retro which shakes like it was in the past... except much less than that. I road mine at every constant speed starting from 50 up to 85mph, and I didn't have any problem whatsoever. But as I said I'm used to the bikes which vibrates much more. And I like it.
I’d go for a W650 or W800, Quality machines,they look like a old Triumph with out the oil leaks and starting hassle, and it’s got a lower seat height that suits me, I’d be Tiptoeing on a RE 650.🇬🇧♣️👍
I guess it's a safer choice 😉
W800 for the win. One of my very favourite bikes.
Joyeuses fêtes de noël my uncle 🥴
et à toi mec
man i think this wasa great coparison but i,m biased i have owned 2 2012 w800,s still have one 12000ks on ,terrific bike a keeper ,if i didnt have z500,s and xs650 i would have a enfield 650 also......
Why you sound soo biased....
biased about what exactly? Just stated the facts as the owner of both brands mate...
Both of these bikes are surprisingly cheap on the used market, RE especially since the name isn’t well-established here in the U.S.
true
Kawasaki W800 👍👍👍 but expensive. 😀
Out the two I’d say Kawasaki, simply because they have longer heritage as a manufacturer (Enfield I think mid 1960s). Thats not to say that I don’t like the Enfields, but quite opposite & fond of the original bullet 350 they made, as you can’t really compare them its like comparing a CZ/Jawa 350 twin to a Yamaha RD350 both were good but aimed at completely different markets.
With Enfield all depends if you separate English history from an Indian one. And if we talk about just an Indian, their first own construction ever was EFI engine for the bullet, then Himalayan and then 650. With Kawasaki they have a bit more experience ;)
@@UncleLongbeard dude totally agree, & really they are still a company in its infancy. Kawasaki certainly has much more experience.
Royal Enfield made their first motorcycle in 1901.
Different price points, but there is no denying the engineering that has gone into Kawasaki machines. The made-in-Japan fit and finish is second to none. The history, heritage, foundation, etc... The Japanese make amazing motorcycles. Huge fan.
Different price point for the new one, yes. But then - 3'yo W800 with 4k miles on the clock would cost you same money as new RE... No denying new RE price is great but I know which one of those I would trust more.
Or simply, “different prices”. These channels will not tolerate HGTV lingo.
@@sammyday3341 different prices but you can buy barely used w800 for the price of new Interceptor. Better?
So if you woke up and found that aliens had landed and taken your bike back to their mother planet for messing about in their crater fields. what other bike would you replace it with - assuming that all remaining W800's on Earth had spontaneously combusted and you could'nt get another one. Merry Xmas
Haha, that would be interesting to see why aliens chosen that particular bike ;) To be honest even if W800 would be available I would probably buy something else ;) I really like that bike, but I have a list of other bikes which I also like and don't have. So I think I would switch to check on something else. But if the money wouldn't be a problem I would like to keep the W with me. For now though I had an idea of buying cheap W650 to rebuild and tune it. When it comes to different models just to name a few I'm really keen on T120 watercooled (not so keen on the gearbox though), r9t urban gs, indian scout bobber, moto guzzi griso, moto guzzi v85tt, v7, round barrel guzzi... and the list go on for miles ;) Plenty of ideas and bikes, but not enough time and money... Merry Xmas
@@UncleLongbeard Dear Santa - a 2v Griso or V7II for me too, please! Merry Christmas!
@@UncleLongbeard mine would be the BMW nineT racer, but it would be like marrying a 20yr old girl: I would not ride it much because would not like to see other people oogling it, as every BMW she would be expensive to maintain, and when I would get to ride it, It would completely break my back.
@ good point mate. I like the Racer as well.
Kawasaki W800 build quality 👍👍👍
Yes 👍
Agree !
Interesting Milocz. The data points are all inarguable, but in truth the W800 is incredible more expensive than the RE, absolutely all reflected in the quality of finish and engineering. When I was looking for a bike last year I was shocked to see the awful finish of the good looking REs, as I was with the huge size and modern componentry on the Thaiumph bonneville.
If you want a toy for 700 sunday miles per year the RE will offer the best value by far. If you want a bike for all seasons for ever, a clean used W650/800 is the only choice IMO. They can genuinely hit 100k miles with just regular servicing. My 15k miler is much better than new.
Another great vid my friend. Happy Christmas ! :)
True indeed. I have same thoughts about modern bonnie as well
Where's the awful finish on the RE?
@@stevepalmer5670 welds. Castings. Seams. Some shown in miloczs video.
@@snakedoctor3319 Non of that on my Interceptor.
@@stevepalmer5670 I agree. I lucked out buying the limited Orange Crush alien edition. lol
Im buying the Royal endfield GT 650 😁
nothing wrong with that, brilliant bike
So... Motorcycle press not doing great journalism. Should I be surprised?
Well, they were reasonably good to be honest, just missed some informations requiring some digging...
I have Yamaha and BMW so I just can say that Kawasaki looks better! 🙋♂️🇭🇷
I agree with you 🍺
@@UncleLongbeard 🍻! Merry Christmas to all and 2021. with more freedom for riders
Great review...I like the W far better, and I agree the power can easily be upped. It will age very well too. Suspension is bad, but can be fixed. Tyres too.
I actually quite like the stock tyres ;) They look proper old school but behave quite well. For sure much better than old school tyres.
Most unreasonable review ever ..
Got to test ride a W800 and Interceptor 650 back to back.Definitely W800 is far superior in built quality and finish compared to Interceptor 650.But it's almost 3 times the price of interceptor 650 in India which is a bit too high.Both the motorcycles are great for the money you pay but Interceptor 650 offers much more value for money since it offers almost 75% of W800 at 35% price. I think interceptor is an excellent beginner mid capacity motorcycle which doesn't intimidate the rider both in performance and price.
I totally agree and disagree at the same time. Indeed, when you are only looking for a brand new bike only and there are no used ones on the market... then Interceptor is a brilliant offer. But then... First of all, there were a lot of promotions for new W's or for that matter Guzzi V7 in the dealerships. Both just 15% more after the discount than Interceptor. And knowing that there are already some minor issues with Interceptor's quality and some faults - I would certainly go for Kawa... or Guzzi.
Also, used W800 with 10-20k miles is way cheaper than any used interceptor for a moment. What's more - right now in the UK you can buy 2 used W's for the price of a new RE. For me, it's a no-brainer. And I would trust older Kawa much more than Enfield... even though they improved since carburetted bullet time, but they are still not there.
@@UncleLongbeard I totally agree with everything you have said ,it's just that I think there were only not more than 100 W800s sold in India so far and non available in used motorcycle market.Still I completely agree W800 is far superior in quality and performance in par with Bonneville T100.For Indian market interceptor 650 makes more sense for the city roads and traffic conditions here in India but W800 is better for highway speeds.Interceptor is more budget and affordable in middle weight category.
@@blrmotorcyclesinc. for India I bet, the RE is a better choice. BTW. I think that W800 is not on par with t100, it's slower but more "classic British" and also more reliable.
@@UncleLongbeard you're right again... it's a more true BSA than BSA or Bonivelle than a new Bonivelle.
@@blrmotorcyclesinc. isn't it? ;) I seriously think that both RE and W800 are most true to the old British style.
Why don't you tell us what you really think? 6 words or less.
W800.🎱
Kawasaki FTW! :-)
don't you love a biased video?
I have confirmed your review is not unbiased when you talk about the vibration. W800 vibrates a lot and it is very intrusive. RE's engine is butter smooth.
Butter smooth motorcycle doesn't sound good really. I don't want my bikes to be butter smooth for sure. It sounds synonymous with lacking any character.
@@UncleLongbeard your personal liking is different from others. I don't like vibrators. But when you review you need to tell the truth. You said vibration in w800 is very minimal. That is wrong. You never mentioned RE has the smoother engine.
@@sivam450 you clearly never rode classic British parallel twin, haven't you? If you would, you would know that w800 have minimal vibrations.