Kawasaki W800

While some might believe that the Kawasaki W800 looks too simple and functional for a modern-day motorcycle, we believe that the motorcycle perfectly suits its neo-retro roadster character in the way it looks. The simple design with rounded bits and classic lines might not make it an attention grabber, but it surely has that timeless appeal which will age well with time.

The front fascia of the Kawasaki W800 might look too plain-jane with the round theme for the headlamps and turn indicators, though the former looks appealing with its all-LED treatment. The chrome treatment for the housings of the LED headlamps and amber turn indicators makes the front fascia look classy. Other bits at the front, which make the motorcycle stay true to the classy theme of neo-retro roadsters, are simple-looking curved front fender and rubber gaiters for the front telescopic forks.

The classiness in the design of the Kawasaki W800 is retained in the side profile as well, as the motorcycle looks elegant with the rounded fuel tank and side panels with rounded edges. The fuel tank looks perfectly big for a motorcycle of its size, while it also gets a vertical white striping job with the ‘W’ logo in the middle of it. The engine, along with the fuel tank and side body panels, is finished in a theme of black, while the dual exhaust pipes, with one on either side, are in a theme of chrome.

Towards the rear, the Kawasaki W800 has a minimalist appeal, as it doesn’t get proper functional rear side body panels, just like any other modern-day retro roadster. The curved and chopped-themed rear fender has a large and rounded tail lamp mounted on it, which is accompanied by rounded amber turn indicators. All these lights at the rear also have chrome garnish around them. The long single seat of the motorcycle has a curved design and is well-padded for utmost comfort in urban riding conditions.

The dual-pod analogue instrument console goes well with the overall neo-retro theme of the Kawasaki W800. While the left pod houses the analogue speedometer and an LCD for the odometer, the left one has the analogue tachometer with several warning lights. The absence of a fuel gauge can be bothersome for a few riders.

Like the overall design and engine of the Kawasaki W800, the rest of the mechanical structure of the motorcycle also remains clean and simple. The motorcycle is based on a double-cradle frame and gets a combination of hydraulic telescopic forks with 130mm travel at the front and dual-sided hydraulic coil springs with 107mm travel at the rear. Riding on 18-inch spoke wheels with 100/90-18 tyre at the front and 130/80-18 tyre at the rear, the Kawasaki W800 has a seat height of 770mm and a ground clearance of 130mm. The single 320mm disc at the front and a single 270mm disc at the rear carry out the braking job finely.

Bringing the Kawasaki W800 to life is its four-stroke, air-cooled, vertical-twin, SOHC, 773cc engine, which is one of the finest engines in the middleweight neo-retro roadster class of motorcycles. This engine is paired to a 6-speed gearbox and pumps out a maximum power output of 48 PS and a peak torque output of 60 Nm.

The Kawasaki W800 gets only a dual-channel ABS and slip and assist clutch in the name of safety, with no other modern-day electronic riding aid in place.

For those who seek simple-looking motorcycles which have elegance and a clean visual appeal, the Kawasaki W800 impresses highly with its no-nonsense neo-retro flavour. Apart from the design, the performance of the engine and ride quality also is sedate enough to make it a charming motorcycle to ride.