KAWASAKI W800

i did the same thing ,got off my 1200gsa onto a bonnie it felt like a toy ,so i went back with a fresh view a few weeks later ,much better ,just take them for what they are ,relax into the ride ,and chill .
i wouldnt mind either the w800 or bonnie .
come on bury dave get some pics up soon :rob
 
Me at the dealers (Orwell Motorcycles ) about to head off.



Have to admit i felt a bit like a circus clown on a mini bike after the F800 and a GSA 1150 previous to that but it soon passed. Much as the intimidation i felt when i first sat on the 1150 did.

I imagine if i had both it would feel odd every time i got on each , but having just the one there's no issues.

And the wife loves it !!
 
Went the Scrambler route myself as second bike to 1200GS :thumb

It's a back to basics bike and just as much fun in the right conditions.

At 6' 3" the bonnie's and W800's are just too dinky for me but the Scrambler is a bit higher with more leg room and I had the seat rebuilt 1" higher with slightly taller shocks.

Also the 270 degree motor in the Scrambler is a gem especially after a few mods to liven things up :D.

They are great bikes for modifying to your own tastes :cool:


 
Anyone else own(ed) a GS and a Bonnie and can offer any advise?

Yeah, I have both in the garage at the moment. Horses for courses really :beerjug: I took a Kwak W for a half day test, didn't like it much. Generally seemed a bit agricultural, didn't like the look of the engine with that big ugly lump stuck on one side of the barrels and it felt and sounded rather weedy. Went for a s/h T100 Bonnie with 800 miles on the clock instead. Five minutes up the road on the test ride and I just turned back to the dealers and bought it. It's a 50th Anniversary model, looks much like the original '59 Bonnie I owned back in the day except this one doesn't try to spit me off at every opportunity nor does it piss oil all over my garage floor.

The Bonnie is ideal for sunny day bimbles, nipping into town for odds and ends and generally hooning around B roads. Mine has Norman Hyde 'silencers' which sound absolutely lovely, proper Trumpet noise :thumb Sure, it is smaller than the GS but honestly not an issue - I jump from one to the other with no probs. Suspension is a bit basic, but then it's not exactly a track bike. Going to swap the OE units for IKONs soon, both rear units and front springs. Added a Scottoiler and a centre stand. Junked the OE Dunlops for Avon Road Riders, much better rubber IMO. Smallish tank, fill up around 120 miles. It is a keeper, I love it :D

The R1150GS is for long range stuff - weekends away, France, Spain on hols and longer day trips around home. I bought it new in 2003 and she's another keeper, wouldn't part with it. Every time I ride it, I think 'Why on earth would I consider selling this?' Had test rides on all subsequent GS's from 650 to 1200 and I'm just pleased to get back on my big armchair and keep my dosh for trips :bounce1

Loves of my life:
 

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Finally, a few photos:

Picking the bike up from Orwells in Ipswich:

<a href="http://s5.photobucket.com/user/pilgrim632000/media/Kawasaki%20W800/IMG_2001_zpsca647080.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/pilgrim632000/Kawasaki%20W800/IMG_2001_zpsca647080.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2001_zpsca647080.jpg"/></a>

<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 :thumb2

<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 :hide

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 :D
 
Interesting this as I do find myself unintentionally following trends, and am only aware after they happened...think this is one of them.

I picked up a new Bonnie T100 a couple of weeks ago, new from Youles in Blackburn, Triumph were doing a deal of £600 of goodies so I had a centre stand, pillion handle and got the TORs aftermarket exhausts as extras (fantastic noise, not too loud, and pops nicely on the overrun)
Weather has been stunning every day since I got it and I've stuck 500 mile on it in a couple of weeks and absolutely chuffed. Amazed at how smooth the twin is, that its got a bit if 'urge' if needed, and that 140 miles is about the tank limit, which is good because its about the same range as my backside sat on the plank/seat !

Think I've now got a toy for every occasion (I know, you can never have enough toys!!) as it just fits in the garage nicely alongside my 1200 GSA and Kawasaki ZXP F2P. Choose the mood, choose the toy....

Enjoy the W800, especially during this heatwave !!
 

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got the TORs aftermarket exhausts as extras (fantastic noise, not too loud, and pops nicely on the overrun)

Lovely Bonnie, good choice.

The popping will get on yer tits after a while and she won't run as sweetly. Since you've fitted the TORS, the Air Injection (AI) system is redundant as its job was to feed the correct mixture to the (now non-existent) cats. You'll get dark blue pipes and white plugs as she's now running lean. Disable the thing by bunging a marble or ball-bearing up the injector tube, or fold the tube back and zip-tie it. Simple mod but soooo effective. Easy guide on how-to on Triumph Rat :cool:
 
Lovely Bonnie, good choice.

The popping will get on yer tits after a while and she won't run as sweetly. Since you've fitted the TORS, the Air Injection (AI) system is redundant as its job was to feed the correct mixture to the (now non-existent) cats. You'll get dark blue pipes and white plugs as she's now running lean. Disable the thing by bunging a marble or ball-bearing up the injector tube, or fold the tube back and zip-tie it. Simple mod but soooo effective. Easy guide on how-to on Triumph Rat :cool:

.....and what ever you do, do not visit this web site http://www.triumphtwinpower.com/ :D:D:D

To make a modern Triumph twin run as it should you want to:
  • Remove the air box snorkle
  • Replace with a TTP Breathe Airbox Intake Cover or simular
  • Install a free flowing filter
  • Remove all the air injection gubbins
  • Remove the 02 sensors
  • Buy and install a TTP custom map using Tune ECU
.
You then have a bike that runs like what it should have out of the factory :thumb
 
Anyone got a similar list of 'to-do's ' for the W800. As this is a W800 topic , like ..... :augie

I'm enjoying the braking. Much better to control than something that is either off or ON :eek

I wish I'd been able to keep my W650 that i had to sell to fund the GS1150A. I'd got that right where i wanted it.

Now i have to buy a 2 into 1 exhaust, better front springs and better gas rear shocks plus farkles. :blast
 


I really really like this, been looking at scramblers recently but wow this is right up my street at the mo:clap

Rich:beerjug:
 
Yep Rich, that's my plan. I posted that link in post #4

I've got the bars and white GRP front guard plus bash guard coming from LSL and rear alloy mudguard plus a few other bits coming from Martin at the W650 shop.

Moving to smaller indicators on the rear and moving then to under the seat with a much smaller tail light on the alloy guard.

Remove plastic tank badges and replace with original vintage 1960's Kawasaki tank decals.

Then a 2 into 1 from Zard.

The upgrade front springs and rear shocks and I'll be a happy bunny
 
Do you know, I love the look of this bike.
Richie3264 and I drooled over this bike at the NEC, and we have been looking at triumph scramblers. But, I really love the old school look. :thumb2
Bury dave, have you seen this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HawNynxsn7Y

PS. sounds better with headphones on.
 


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