I bought my Kaw W650 and Triumph T100 because I like riding British-style motorcycles. Obviously, since I now own one of each. The Kaw hit the American marketplace approx one year before the new Bonneville. I saw it at the Cleveland Motorcycle Show in Feb of 2000. I test rode it in July, 2000. By Aug 2000, there was a W650 in my garage. 52,000 miles later, it is still ridden and much liked.
My T100 purchase came along several years later, in late 2005.
I may ride the T100 for a week straight, then switch over to the W for a week's worth or riding. The T100 sees its fair share of road time, actually this past year I rode it more than my BMW and W650. Part of the Triumph's mileage was the result of a 5000 mile trip in late May/early June. I considered taking the W650, but decided it would be neat for my buddy and me to be riding identical models.
Thinking out loud, if the W650 had been designed, built, and badged by Triumph, and the T100 was designed, built, and badged by Kawasaki, I wouldn't like one bike any less or any more. To me, they are both real motorcycles, bare-bones machines with only vital essentials required to take me on my rides. It is evident the design teams from both companies were driven to produce something unique, and to that end, I believe they both achieved their design goal extremely well.
I am pleased that Triumph has made a spectacular comeback, and that they've decided to support those of us who like retro machines. I am also pleased that Kawasaki saw fit to produce the W650 and bring it to the USA. Triumph and Kawasaki have provided me with an opportunity to own two relatively inexpensive motorcycles designed around the classic British vertical twin layout. Both are well-built, both run well, are a pleasure to ride, and are do-anything bikes. If Kaw brought the W650 back as a 750 or 850 along with incremental improvements, I'd own one. That is not likely, so I will ride my T100 until such time as Triumph performs their magic and brings out the next edition of the Bonneville. Then I'll weigh old vs new, and make my decision at that time to hold it or fold it.
Bob