Kawasaki W800 Release in Australia 2011

[Twisted]

Just found out they will be selling these in Oz next year. Nice retro Triumph Bonnie style bike with Japanese technology. Although it has a drum brake and 14ltr tank   .

Supposed to be a fair bit of after market mods available too so you can make flat trackers and cafe style racers. Very interesting. Just wondering what they will cost.

http://motoaus.com/road/road-bike-features-and-reviews/2011-kawasaki-w800-full-details-pictures-and-video.html

[Caffeine]

I'd make room for one in my garage.  If I had a garage.    And could afford another bike. 

[tt_four]

Definitely a cool looking bike. Hopefully the price isn't too bad. I just have a hard time paying modern bike prices for something that looks like it was from the 60s. I always loved the Triumph Thruxton, but if I wanted a bike that style I'd just buy and old one and build it up that way instead of spending $10k on it, you know?

[The Buddha]

Aussies: Was/Is the w650 being sold in australia right now ? In US it died in 2001 I think.
Cool.
Buddha.

[JB848]

Sweet looking little scooter. Have to get my James Dean gear out to go riding

As far as the drum rear brake? They might as well gave you an anchor to throw out they work about the same

[mister]

Aussies: Was/Is the w650 being sold in australia right now ? In US it died in 2001 I think.
Cool.
Buddha.

The W650 was sold here. Not any more though. So now if you want one you've got to buy 2nd hand. And the prices are steep and expensive relatively speaking.

Looks like Kwaka is trying to cash in on the retro market - as is Honda with the release of the 2010 CBF1100 thing.

Buddha, I may be opening an endless debate here - like the one with oil and chain lube - though wonder... is a bike engine more likely to have a longer life if it is aircooled or watercooled - assuming the rider has mechanic sympathy and treats them equally?

Michael

[The Buddha]

This is all my opinion ... no "fact" in this whatsoever.
No question if they are stressed the same there abouts and otherwise the same or close, its water.
In a way that actually is a bit counter productive. Cos water cooled will be heavier. So you are better off getting the cyls closer, the jacket shared across and doing things that allow it to account for water cooling from the get go.
I actually suspect a water cooled bike with its lack of temperature gradient across the surface cross sections will allow you to run more valves - in fact that itself can work as a longevity issue, small light valves will ease the wear on those ... OK forget it let me back track ...

GS makes 40 hp. It stays as is. I am making this rather poor assumption that they knew wha tthey were doing, and worse yet, "SO DO I" If that's not scary I dunno what is.

So, I get to design a 500 that also makes just about 40 hp with water cooling. Part for part I am not allowed any better material ... like gs has intake valves made of crap, I cant use inconel, I use that same crap ... with that design restriction, I can easily build a 487 that will live 2-3 times as long as a GS. Of course I am not cutting off the fins off a GS and dipping it in water ... that will be stupid, it will look fugly, weigh 30-40lb more and make less power - cos the water pump, fan and thermostat and sheiete all need motor power and electrical power.

The focus is to get water vs air and deal with it as a design parameter. EX'es are not the right comparison IMHO, they were built to make more power. They dont last any less ... however they are even shittier than a GS for internals. I wont do that, they also have stupid design flaws, those would also have to be eliminted. Then ... they are heavier, cant have that. More along the lines of a GSXR 1076 cut in 1/2.

Cool.
Buddha.

[Twisted]

Aussies: Was/Is the w650 being sold in australia right now ? In US it died in 2001 I think.
Cool.
Buddha.

No the W650 is now defunct and the W800 will now be replacing it. It is supposed to put out similar horsepower to a Bonnieville.

[Twisted]

Definitely a cool looking bike. Hopefully the price isn't too bad. I just have a hard time paying modern bike prices for something that looks like it was from the 60s. I always loved the Triumph Thruxton, but if I wanted a bike that style I'd just buy and old one and build it up that way instead of spending $10k on it, you know?

Yeh I get what you mean. I love the cafe style racer look and it is one of the reasons that pulled me to getting a bike and learning to ride. But the Thruxton isnt to badly priced when you consider you pay 7-9 grand for a decent SR 400 or SR 500 these days that were manufactured in the 70's or 80's. I am looking very keenly at a Thruxton. It is just the aggressive riding position putting me off them at the moment but apparently the 09 -10 models have flat bars instead of clip ons. So a much better riding position. Have a listen to these Triumphs and tell me if it puts a smile on your face.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNbyAY8Ryjw


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swaqU7Oj6Cw

[pave_spectre]

Have a listen to these Triumphs and tell me if it puts a smile on your face.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNbyAY8Ryjw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swaqU7Oj6Cw

Much prefer the sound of the second one. First sounds pretty good at idle but just grates the ears when he revs it IMO.

[JB848]

Best sounding bike I have ever heard is a Kawasaki Zephir 550 1990 with a Yoshimir pipe, sweet music my god!!!

[Twisted]

Best sounding bike I have ever heard is a Kawasaki Zephir 550 1990 with a Yoshimir pipe, sweet music my god!!!

An inline 4 just doesn't have the same personality as an angry twin IMHO. But yes there are some nice sounding bikes out there.

[The Buddha]

Aussies: Was/Is the w650 being sold in australia right now ? In US it died in 2001 I think.
Cool.
Buddha.

No the W650 is now defunct and the W800 will now be replacing it. It is supposed to put out similar horsepower to a Bonnieville.

In US w650 lasted 1 year, or maybe 2, 2001 or 2000 ... that was it.
In australia did it last longer ?
Cool.
Buddha.

[Twisted]

Aussies: Was/Is the w650 being sold in australia right now ? In US it died in 2001 I think.
Cool.
Buddha.

No the W650 is now defunct and the W800 will now be replacing it. It is supposed to put out similar horsepower to a Bonnieville.

In US w650 lasted 1 year, or maybe 2, 2001 or 2000 ... that was it.
In australia did it last longer ?
Cool.
Buddha.

Pretty sure it was available till 2008 here. There were a lot of grey imports from Japan as well. We have a motorcycle store here called Dues located in Sydney that supplies a lot of after market parts for them and the SR400/500. I would say a lot of the parts will fit the newer model.

http://www.deus.com.au/

[the mole]

Nice looking bike,but the 14 litre tank sucks. Why do manufacturers asssume that all bikers are posers and don't need to go anywhere, unless they buy a designated 'tourer'.
Nothing wrong with the drum rear brake, you're not going to get fade in that thing unless you're thrashing it on a race track, after all, the harder you're braking, the less you're using the rear.

[Twisted]

Nice looking bike,but the 14 litre tank sucks. Why do manufacturers asssume that all bikers are posers and don't need to go anywhere, unless they buy a designated 'tourer'.
Nothing wrong with the drum rear brake, you're not going to get fade in that thing unless you're thrashing it on a race track, after all, the harder you're braking, the less you're using the rear.

What about if I am chasing WRX's?