Finally, a few photos:
Picking the bike up from Orwells in Ipswich:
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<a href="http://s5.photobucket.com/user/pilgrim632000/media/Kawasaki%20W800/IMG_2004_zps7dcbae3d.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/pilgrim632000/Kawasaki%20W800/IMG_2004_zps7dcbae3d.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2004_zps7dcbae3d.jpg"/></a>
Wife having a go. She likes it so once she's got her DAS, she'll be getting one of her own
<a href="http://s5.photobucket.com/user/pilgrim632000/media/Kawasaki%20W800/IMG_2015_zpsde6d3580.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/pilgrim632000/Kawasaki%20W800/IMG_2015_zpsde6d3580.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2015_zpsde6d3580.jpg"/></a>
I have to say I'm thoroughly enjoying riding it. Back to proper, basic riding on a basic bike. I've also found the Kawa to be very soft and absorbing of the crap road surfaces we have to put up with nowadays. On my F800 it felt like every joint and undulation made itself felt in the handlebars and gave the bike a little wobble.
Throwing it around the bends is far less dramatic as the handlebars must be nearly a foot lower on the Kawa so the range you move around in bends is way less.
Some people moan about no ABS and a single disc front and drum rear but as my instructor always hammered home "Never sacrifice safety for speed or position" so ride to the bike you're on and weather your subjected to. I have never like ABS personally and can't see the point if you keep the right distance between you and the car in front to give yourself time to brake safely and have the ability and confidence to use your front and rear brakes properly rather than just tugging on the front brake and letting technology deal with your lack of ability
I appreciate it's not everyone's cup of tea and it is to each their own but I'm happier than I was on my F800 and I never thought I'd say that. The ability to put both feet fully planted on the ground means I can deal with whatever level differences there are in the ground when I put my feet down.
Please no-one else buy one as I like their relative exclusivity compared to the common as shit in a field 1200 GSA