I FINALLY bright my 2000 W650 home. I bought it and a GSX1100G a while back but between my work schedule and life it took me a DAMN long time to get down to Norfolk Virginia and pick up my two babies. I’ve got two more to pick up soon. My moto collection is reaching ridiculous territory….







The W650’s battery was weak so I got to do something on a road bike I had not done in a LOOOOOOOOOOONG time. I kick started it. Yes this bike has a kickstarter.

The ergonomics are just like the aesthetics, perfection. Comfy, confidence inspiring and quite easy to handle. I’m not a tall guy at 5-9 and this bike felt worlds more manageable than the Buell Ulysses that I will soon be adding to the stable.

The bike really pulls off the vintage look but also feels like the perfect blend of classic/retro bike and modern UJM. Sure it’s got carbs and it’s 26 years old but it is also a hell of a lot more powerful and reliable than a 1970’s Triumph Bonnie that I was considering.

The GSX is on the trickle charger so I haven’t taken it for a spin yet but I expect it to feel like a F14 compared to a P51 Mustang in terms of performance against the W650.


This bike has been one I have been trying to wrangle from the original owner for as long as I’ve known him (well over a decade). It lived up to sky high expectations and exceeded them.

What a cool motorcycle. It’s a shame it wasn’t a smashing success for Kawasaki. This is hands down one of the coolest motorcycles I have ever ridden!!!!!

The W650 and newer W800's are interesting motorcycles using 360 degree cranks like the old British brands, at least most of them. How's the vibration at higher speeds say 65-70+mph?

A couple years ago I stopped at Ridersville in Berkley Springs and they had on the floor a new leftover W800 for $7,200 or $7,300 (no fees), I think it was red. I seriously considered buying it at the time.

Yours looks in excellent condition, congratulations!

It’s not bad at all. Honestly this bike is smoother than I was expecting it to be. It’s not inline four smooth at speed but it isn’t terrible either. The brakes and frame rigidity leave some room for improvement on the W650 but neither are terrible.

It isn’t a rocket ship at all at something like 50 hp but for an around town bike and for blasts out to the country it is perfect.

Something to consider, My tolerance for buzzing bikes may be at all time high as I’ve been riding a Kawasaki Z125 Pro a lot lately and to keep it up to 55-64 you have to basically redline it.

Liking that Kawi a lot. I have an 02 Mean Streak i got new and its been plenty of fun. If i would of went the p twin route, i would have more confidence riding now with the lower weight. No regrets tho. Enjoy those a bunch and be safe!

Very nice, my last twin JDM was a 78 Suzuki GS400 that was my to be BIL. He passed before we married but I bought the bike in NorCal from his estate and shipped it back to Cincinnati.

Rode it all over the peninsula for a bit as well.

Eventually it went away, should have kept it in the stable as you say.

Nice score, that seat on the GSX looks like a Corbin, those are nice seats, hard though, but that is Corbins deal. Pull that backrest off and change the seat and it would look a lot more aggressive...

You need a MC22 CBR250RR, now.

45hp, but 19,000RPM

I think it had a similar 0-60 as my 2015 Mercedes C300, around 6 seconds, but the noise...love it.
That, or a piped CBX I6

Sooo, your collection has now grown SO large that you've actually purchased multiple motorcycles that you couldn't even be bothered to pick up! Damn, I think it's time to admit you've got a 'problem' there Dude!

That W650 is pretty sharp, and I was always a fan of those Metzelers. I like that Corbin Seat on the GSX too, which is a big improvement over the stock seats of that era. Nice...

My 1972 Norton 750 Commando Combat still qualifies as a "quintessential 1960s British motorcycle" at least it rides like one. I've been wrenching and riding it a lot lately, and had it up to 90 the other day. I'm pretty sure it'll pull to 110. On the ride I went on last Sunday, I started it 4 times on 1 kick each. Not counting a key off, choke on primer kick when cold.

I've heard "Norton makes mechanics out of mortal men" If I wasn't one already, I am now.

I always liked the original Kawasaki W1 650.

That is some true air-cooled, carburated goodness right there. Very cool bike! And yeah, if you own so many bikes that you don't have time to go pick them up, you have a problem, lol !

The little mechanical knowledge I possess started with my '74 Norton Commando. I tell people that a basic grasp of mechanics was necessary for British bikers to avoid walking home on occasion. We had a small Norton Owners Club branch in Toledo in the mid '70s, and had "Joseph Lucas, Prince of Darkness" T-Shirts made up.

I took the GSX-1100G for a ride.

With that seat the best way to describe the experience is this: it feels like laying back in a La-Z-Boy recliner that has a rocket attached to it.

Holy hell. Compared to the docile W650 it feels like what I imagine a mouse would feel like while riding a rabid raccoon that has gotten into meth and is being chased by a greyhound. It’s beefy, comfy and completely different from what I was expecting. Nothing too crazy but definitely wilder than I had anticipated.

The shaft drive doesn’t articulate or pivot at all like my BMW so it will occasionally feel like a pogo stick if I’m in 1st gear and the RPMs are WAAAAAY too high. What a strange sensation.
I think it would be the bike I would choose in my fleet if I had to ride to New Mexico from Virginia.

What a sweet machine the GSX is, I love the huge air/oil cooled beast of an engine. I’ve been riding a lot of twins lately and while a few of them are larger displacement than this GSX only my R9T has a similar scorching mid range to top end power delivery.

It IS bright.

quote:

Originally posted by NOCkid:
The little mechanical knowledge I possess started with my '74 Norton Commando. I tell people that a basic grasp of mechanics was necessary for British bikers to avoid walking home on occasion. We had a small Norton Owners Club branch in Toledo in the mid '70s, and had "Joseph Lucas, Prince of Darkness" T-Shirts made up.

You are a mechanic Norton made from a mortal man. I saw a comment from a guy who worked for Lucas that they had 80,000 employees in the 1970s, now out of business.

My Kowasaki 800 thread:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...950064505#2950064505

I had a Norton Atlas in the mid 60s - and what you said is absolute truth! Whitworth wrenches and all!!

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
I took the GSX-1100G for a ride.

With that seat the best way to describe the experience is this: it feels like laying back in a La-Z-Boy recliner that has a rocket attached to it.

That is a Corbin seat?, Dual Touring model, it should have a flap behind that logo between rider/passenger that accepts a backrest for the rider. Makes a big difference on longer rides to have that piece.

If it didn't come with it, look around online to find one to use and then take it for a ride. Similar to this....

Link

That rear backrest probably just comes right out, you might have to remove the seat and take a retaining
bolt out of it on the bottom to remove the backrest.

It should have another adjustment bolt in the backrest at the bottom, move that, put up front for a test
and set it up as a rider backrest. Then go crack the throttle.... since you'll be able to stay on...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: HRK,

On the GSX-1100G, that's not a back rest, it's an ass dam to keep you from flying off the back of that scalded dog.

[Detective Rosewood Voiceover]Stick, we gotta talk![/Detective Rosewood Voiceover]

All this Norton talk had me reminiscing. Owned 750 and 850 Commandos. One I outfitted with a sidecar. Kids loved it. Another was a Paul Dunstall export model cafe racer I imported. Many many fond memories.

Aside from the 850 Commando I also had a used '66 Norton N15 that I got from my cousin in 1970. It wasn't in great shape, and wasn't ridden much. I do remember that it vibrated like Hell compared to the Commando with the Isolastic dampening system.