Triumphrat

Zansongs

My brother told me that Kawasaki made a Bonneville knock off a few years ago, any truth to that?

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My Pony is a B/W 07 T100
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xardoz

The W-650:


It's a sharp little bike, and owners seem to love them. It premiered in '99, and was only imported into the US for two years. Wikipedia says it's still in production, but Wikipedia is the Lucas electronics of reference materials, so make of that what you will.

Kawasaki say it wasn't a Bonnie copy, but an homage to their 1960s W1:


and W2:


which was actually based on the BSA A10, which BSA had licensed to Maguro (sp?) before that company was bought by Kawasaki in the mid '60s.

davidc

I was at a little get together of motorcyclists a few weeks ago, and a guy showed up on a really clean W650. The thing that impressed me was the power of that bike. We went for a ride on some nice roads, and that thing hauled ass - kept up with the larger displacement bikes easily and looked great. Would not mind owning one at all.

Zansongs

Wow!, it is pretty sharp and at first glance you would think it was a Bonnie

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My Pony is a B/W 07 T100
Check out my music
www.myspace.com/zancantwell
www.soundclick.com/zancantwell

CAPTDON

Does look more liks a BSA. The were vibrators I believe as well? :???:

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CAPT D

ohiorider

I just sold my W650 after 7 years and 52,000 miles of ownership, and I miss it already. May keep my eyes open for a good used one. Low mileage ones pop up every now and then, but after all the plumbing issues and other homeowner problems this spring, the motorcycle fund is totally depleted. What a bad way to spend money!

Bob

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2003 T100 (790cc) Lucifer Org and Silv: 122/42 jets, TORs, 17T, UNI filter, no AI, Polaris bellmouth, Metzeler ME880 tires, Progressive 440 shocks (105/150 springs),11-1126 fork springs, gaiters, MotoTwin low bars, 6024 lamp, htd grips, 12v outlet.

dazco

Correct me if i'm wrong, but i think Kawa also made the bike, or a very similar one, in the early 70's for a short period.

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2005 Speedmaster, Neon Blue, Thunderbike pipes, snorkel removed, UNI filter, drilled airbox, 130 mains, TBS needles.(2 shims) And speaking of Speedmasters, HERE'S MINE

Diego

> Kawasaki say it wasn't a Bonnie copy, but an homage to their 1960s W1

They can say what they will about "homage," but the W1 just plain looked like a BSA, while the W650 looks a lot more like late 60s/early 70s Bonnevilles!

Not that that's a bad thing. I wish today's Bonneville engines could look as much like their predecessors as the W650's engine does.

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John

KingBear

Kawa W650 is a sweet machine. I've been a big fan for a long time.

sweatmachine

here's 2 bonnies and a W650:

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Macgruber!


Click for a picture of my slightly modified Bonnie