I've certainly enjoyed riding my T100 for the past two riding seasons, and plan on doing the same thing this year, next year, and the year after that.
But I owned a sweet 2000 W650 since August of 2000, before I bought the T100, and rode them both during the 2006 riding season, and a short part of 2007. Sold the W in April lf '07.
I got some bad news off the W650 site recently. Apparently, the little W will be axed in Japan after 2008. That to me is too bad. There is certainly enough room in the retro world for more than one Bonneville-style bike, especially one that was as nicely-constructed as the W650. I guess I thought a company like Kawasaki, that kept the original Concour in their lineup for 20 years, would stick with this bike, maybe even bring it back to the USA once again, maybe as a 750 or 800cc.
Sorry for the flash back .... but I couldn't help it when I saw the photo of this really nice example on the W650 Forum.
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.
Last edited by ohiorider : 01-13-2008 at 10:58 AM.
Kawasaki didn't think clearly when they made the W650. The W650 was a re-ash of the W1, W1SS, W2, W2SS, W2TT and W3, which themselves were a copy of the Meguro K2 when Kawasaki bought out Meguro. The K2 was itself copied from the BSA A7. These things were made from 1966 to 1975 but they didn't sell well in the US. (Or anywhere else for that matter.) Why would you re-introduce an unpopular bike? If it didn't sell in the 60's and 70's, why would they sell in the 90's and 2000's? Now, the W650 was mildly popular in Japan but obviously not enough. Had they re-introduced a retro Z1000 or an improved H1/H2, things might have worked better. All the same, I wouldn't mind owning a W650. I bet they are a pretty descent bike, just not one that a lot of people had emotional ties to, like the Bonneville. (Helooo? Suzuki???? How about a retro new GT750 Water Buffalo???)
Kawasaki didn't think clearly when they made the W650. The W650 was a re-ash of the W1, W1SS, W2, W2SS, W2TT and W3, which themselves were a copy of the Meguro K2 when Kawasaki bought out Meguro. The K2 was itself copied from the BSA A7. These things were made from 1966 to 1975 but they didn't sell well in the US. (Or anywhere else for that matter.) Why would you re-introduce an unpopular bike? If it didn't sell in the 60's and 70's, why would they sell in the 90's and 2000's? Now, the W650 was mildly popular in Japan but obviously not enough. Had they re-introduced a retro Z1000 or an improved H1/H2, things might have worked better. All the same, I wouldn't mind owning a W650. I bet they are a pretty descent bike, just not one that a lot of people had emotional ties to, like the Bonneville. (Helooo? Suzuki???? How about a retro new GT750 Water Buffalo???)
yeah! what he said. Retro kz 1000 please!
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Who says being a tool is a bad thing? I have more use for my tools than I do for most people.
Had they re-introduced a retro Z1000 or an improved H1/H2, things might have worked better................. (Helooo? Suzuki???? How about a retro new GT750 Water Buffalo???)
Unfortunately,I don't think we are going to be seeing any new 2 smokers in the U.S. any time in the near future.Even though,with modern technology they could get them to pass emissions.I love two strokes.
Cheers!
Bruce
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Alright Sweat, I'll bite.
Who's Howard Johnson?
What's he so right about?
& does this have anything to do with that rug that tied the room together (Dude)?
Geez Louise! & I thought I was obscure!
As for the W650. I'm not sure we ever got them out here. If we did I've never seen/noticed one. & I'm with Sweat & the other guy, who thought that Kwaka (& the other Jappy's) should reproduce some of their iconic models from the past (which ain't a W650. Sorry Bob).
I'd like to see an update of the original Z900, with the ducktail fairing (I loved that bike).
Just as long as they don't try & resurect those killer two-strokes from the mid-70's, the Mach III 500 triple, & the H2 750 twin (Tojo's Revenge, as they were known out here). They've killed more than enough of us already.
P.S. My faltering memory has just thrown up a line from the Frank Zappa & the Mother's of Invention composition (it's too long to be called a song) Billy was a Mountain, which has a Howard Johnson reference. But I never really knew what Frank was on about most of the time, especially in that piece. So I'm still in the dark here.
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"They told me I was goin to have to work for my living, & all I wanna do is ride." Jackson Browne (the Road & The Sky)
Last edited by Old Scratcher : 01-13-2008 at 12:41 AM.
The history is interesting... what's really compelling to me is that it's just a beautiful vertical twin standard that would surely be much fun to own & ride... I wish it had been a more successful endeavor for Kawasaki... in a world of endless, endless numbers of harleys and sport bikes... I'd rather see more like this... lucky of you to have had the ownership experience you did, Bob... bet you miss her from time to time.
Alright Sweat, I'll bite.
Who's Howard Johnson?
What's he so right about?
& does this have anything to do with that rug that tied the room together (Dude)?
Geez Louise! & I thought I was obscure!
.
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Who says being a tool is a bad thing? I have more use for my tools than I do for most people.
I think its a nice looking bike, but I think the poor thing suffers from the fact its a kawasaki trying to look like a bonneville, the engine does not look quite right as well, and how can a kawa trying to look like a bonnie compete with a modern bonneville clone that wears a triumph badge , has more capacity ,and an engine that resembles the original externally well.
I think the market share that bike had triumph have taken a big slice out of it, and it cant probably survive when triumph is beating it, and before we feel sorry for the poor old japs ,is that not what they did and deservingly so to the poms who never moved on with there designs thinking that they could serve up outdated designs forever..
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Regards Ron
Hurricane pictured(Harry)
Mate we did actually get the W650 here in oz. I very nearly bought one from what used to be Griffo's Kawasaki in Cairns, but I hung out and bought a new T100 from Wayne Leonard instead. I did test ride the W650 and it was a very nice little bike. It was only "heart over head" thing that made me go for the T100.
Mate we did actually get the W650 here in oz. I very nearly bought one from what used to be Griffo's Kawasaki in Cairns, but I hung out and bought a new T100 from Wayne Leonard instead. I did test ride the W650 and it was a very nice little bike. It was only "heart over head" thing that made me go for the T100.
.....and the Kawa 750 Mach iv was a triple BTW!!
Cheers mate,
Russ
True it was a triple but was one of the bikes that made kaw the king of the hill back then
I had a h2 and a h1 I would love to have one now but the prices are crazy on them now.
If there ever was a bike made to scare the s--t out of you that was it.No one wanted a 4 stroke kaw back then.Even when the 900 came out a 750 with chambers and alittle port work would eat a 900 in the 1/4 mile.Looking back thats the only thing i ever had on the street that could beat anything that pulled up to a stop light.In the mid 70s mine would run 11.80s in the 1/4 back then that was fast.The last 1/2 of the 1/4 mile new bikes would eat it but the first 100 yrds you could still give them hell.
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