I bought my first motorcycle the last day I was in my 20’s. A 2003 candy burning copper Suzuki SV650S was my introduction into the addictive world of riding motorcycles.

Sportbike motorcycles almost exclusively held my complete attention for well over a decade. My love of the fast bikes began to taper off after my Yamaha YZF-R1 superbike decided to do a little tank slapper at triple digit speed. I ditched the R1 for a 1000cc v twin Suzuki SV and then a tube frame Buell X1 which I adore.

I’ve always loved the look of retro bikes like the Triumph Bonneville & Thruxton as well as the BMW R Nine T but until recently the sport bikes always tempted me just a bit more.

Well guys I’m getting old.

I’m drawn much more towards the 1960’s British styling and will soon be adding a bike to my collection that looks just PERFECT. Even the engine looks unique.

So what am I talking about? A 2000 Kawasaki W650!

Why is it special?

1960’s style
Kick start
Electric start too
Unique Bevel gear (looks like a drive shaft going from the head to the engine case)
Modern Japanese manufacturing
Low maintenance
Excellent reliability


I have been trying to convince my friend to sell me his W650 for OVER A DECADE! He is the original owner and I figured it’s one he would never sell as he rarely keeps a bike long other than his W650. Imagine my shock when after years of saying “if you ever sell this bike call me I want it” he finally called me out of the blue agreed to sell it! What a surprise!

Those unfamiliar with the Kawasaki W650 will probably think it is a Bonneville at first glance.





This is the bevel gear and how it works on the W650. This tech is something typically seen more on Italian motos such as Ducati.



Here is one on a Ducati



Has anyone here owned a W650?

I’m not going to win any races but this is going to be perfect for around town riding as a daily and for rides out to the country.

I may be slowing down but I am still just as excited about motorcycles and riding as I was when I bought my first bike.

I've always liked the Bonnie. If I were buying new today, a Speed Twin 900 would be on the shortlist.

quote:

do a little tank slapper at triple digit speed

What exactly is this? I'm officially out of motorcycles and the thought of this...whatever it is, scares the shit out of me.

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:

quote:

do a little tank slapper at triple digit speed

What exactly is this? I'm officially out of motorcycles and the thought of this...whatever it is, scares the shit out of me.

A tank slapper aka speed wobble or death wobble, is a rapid, violent side-to-side oscillation of a motorcycle's handlebars that can lead to a loss of control. It usually happens at high speed.

In my case as I downshifted to pass a car the R1 did a slight wheelie and when the front wheel came down it began to violently jerk the bars back and forth.

By the grace of God I regained control and didn’t go off the road into the woods.



Pipe Smoker that is awesome that you found that thread. Is there a way to see what year it was posted? I love to see that my enthusiasm for the W650 culminated in me eventually finding a beautiful example.

Hell yeah!

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
A tank slapper aka speed wobble or death wobble, is a rapid, violent side-to-side oscillation of a motorcycle's handlebars that can lead to a loss of control. It usually happens at high speed.

In my case as I downshifted to pass a car the R1 did a slight wheelie and when the front wheel came down it began to violently jerk the bars back and forth.

I just think of the IOMTT riders. How they recover from some pretty violent wobbles is insane

quote:

By the grace of God I regained control and didn’t go off the road into the woods.

Thank God! Because we have a lot more watch talk to do!

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
<snip>
Pipe Smoker that is awesome that you found that thread. Is there a way to see what year it was posted? I love to see that my enthusiasm for the W650 culminated in me eventually finding a beautiful example.

Just click on the link I provided to see its posting date.

SIGforum has superb search facilities.

I'm drawn to 1960-80 styled motorcycles too, the W650 and some W800 versions look nice. I really like some of the bikes Royal Enfield is putting out.
For now my retros are a 2008 Sportster and 2014 CB1100.

Have you ridden your friends W650 before?

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
Well guys I’m getting old.

Welcome to the brotherhood, my friend!

Good lookin' Kaw ya got there, for sure.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
In my case as I downshifted to pass a car the R1 did a slight wheelie and when the front wheel came down it began to violently jerk the bars back and forth.

Next time, crack the throttle and lift the front wheel off the road again!

Yes those are scary, my Road Glide Ultra will do it if the tire pressure gets low normally you can take you hands off the bars and set cruise at speed and it won't wobble a bit.

Back to older iron, when I left California I got my wife's brothers 1978 Suzuki GS400 (yes it's not 60's but JMO 70's rule anyway ) he used to ride all over the city. He passed on and I shipped it back to Ohio where I rode it for a while, she had the seat recovered and I put a 2-1 pipe on it as the stock headers were shot and no factory replacements were around. Sold it after I got to Florida. If I could find it I'd get it back.



Since we all have an affinity for two wheeled machines, one item on my bucket list is Vegas in January for the Mecum Motorcycle Auction.

Think I'll put 2027 on the calendar, we should have a SF Motorcycle and Gun meet then, rent some motorcycles, cruise the Red Rock Canyons, hit the Pioneer Saloon Link Pioneer Saloon for some food maybe cruise over to Hoover Dam....

Click the link and you can drill down by motorcycle, type, range of years, amount etc.

https://www.mecum.com/auctions...as-motorcycles-2026/

[toolman on]Oh oh oooh oooh ohh[ /toolmanoff]

1978 HD Cafe HD XLCR under $10K, same as Michael Douglas raced in the opening scene of Black Rain...

Link 78 XLCR

Damn, that's a nice bike!

Then I did the math: 26-year-old bike, 77-year-old knees and back...

Real life sucks!

As a teenager, everybody around me had Triumphs. They are what got me started in motorcycling.

My first ever ride was a 65 or so montgomery wards by benelli 50. After that, a 69 bridgestone 175 with tho rotary shift. Never have graduated to liking the modern styling. Was looking at those kawis and the bonnies. Went a different route all together. 3 wheels now but not ruling out a 2 wheeler.

Royal Enfield has been putting out some very interesting and quality bikes for a bit now. Their bear 650 might be my next. It has a lot of what you seem to like. The only thing I wish they came with was a kick starter for back up....and a center stand.

For now, I have a Royal Enfield Scram. It is beautiful in its simplicity.

I had the original version, back in the day. The picture was taken in Japan in 1972, I bought the bike used.

It was GORGEOUS, but I just wasn't loving the Amal carbs and never quite figured out the proper drill to make it start reliably. Didn't keep it long and if I recall correctly, traded it towards a Yamaha RD350.

Oh yes, the rd350. How i wanted one of those, especially when one blew past my 175.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
I'm drawn to 1960-80 styled motorcycles too, the W650 and some W800 versions look nice. I really like some of the bikes Royal Enfield is putting out.
For now my retros are a 2008 Sportster and 2014 CB1100.

Have you ridden your friends W650 before?

I have an 08 Nightster (nice and low for an old man) and a 1985 RZ350 Kenny Roberts in yellow and black.

Circa 1970, taken at St. Helen Michigan. I bought this two years prior new off the showroom floor, 1967 BSA Lightning. Being a dumb eighteen year old it was cosmetically thrashed but mechanically fine. Triumph Bonnevilles and 900 Sportsters were no challenge but in late 1969 when the new Honda 750 came out, well I saw a lot of their taillights…..
14256384-B560-49ED-947E-C545F165A9D6 by nailheadjr, on Flickr