[ethanhunt123]

Originally Posted by timuseravan

Very true. I still don't understand how Kawasaki can price the N650 so fantastically and then really screw-up everything else.

Not really ... Kawasaki has a bunch of well priced bikes - Ninja 300, Ninja 650, Versys 650, Z900, Ninja 1000, ZX-6R, ZX-10R, Versys 1000.

Its just that when their pricing goes wrong - it goes bonkers - Z900RS, Versys 300X, Ninja 400

[bigron]

One of those few bikes that gives that typical 60's riding experience in 2019. With the headlight fairing ( missing here) this looks so so good.
Who would have thought that a Royal Enfield retro would make more sense that a Kawasaki in 2019.

[Turbanator]

Got a chance to look W800 here in Canada today. There were no Demo bikes but showroom guy obliged by starting. It sounds so sweet, something one has to actually hear and to my ears better than Bonnies.

Here are some pictures, given the international pricing, I will say, this is fairly priced. Obviously they can't compete with RE or other domestic guys for whatever reasons but this can definitely be a bike to get if you are ok with paying premium.

[UK07Rider]

No doubt, it is a beautiful machine that one can imagine someone like Steve McQueen riding but and this is a big but...Considering the price that one has to pay for it, I fail to understand who is going to go for this one? Also, even if we leave the Interceptor 650 aside, why won't someone get a Ducati Scrambler at this price rather than going with the Kawasaki?

[gururajrv]

I wish I’d more money at this very minute - I’d have placed it all on this sexy looking machine that reminds me of the legendary RD350! I’m always inclined towards fully faired bikes. But this ticked the right string in my heart. If I’ve a chance to buy a big bike in future, this would be my pick - atleast I’m lucky to own a bike that looks retro enough and is way too close to look like an RD350.

[BowMan]

Perhaps this is just me. Or perhaps there are others too who believe that that this entire "retro modern" thing has now been milked to the hilt by everyone from billion dollar corporations to neighborhood mechanic and is soon about to be beaten to the death and buried. Just like all fads and fashions wear you down after some time I have grown weary of manufacturers offering nothing new to the table under the guise of these retro modern bikes. How long can even the hipsters keep sipping on the same brew. They must one day want to venture farther than their cafes' and do things that are more interesting and adventurous than taking selfies with their bikes.

I really think the two wheeler industry needs a breath of fresh air.

[the_skyliner]

What a beautiful looking machine! But clearly overpriced for the kit it offers. Too late, too little from Kawasaki which is surprising as most of their other products are quite VFM.

Let's wait for Z900 RS Cafe Racer to see if that is priced sensibly this time around. Will it be coming via CKD route or CBU?

[Turbanator]

Originally Posted by BowMan

who believe that that this entire "retro modern" thing has now been milked to the hilt by everyone

I really think the two wheeler industry needs a breath of fresh air.

Your observations are correct but what's the harm? If there are customers, who somehow connect to their past or even otherwise

I guess age plays a vital role, so such retro bikes may appear better to someone like me or maybe just the way people have different likings some people like such designs!

They must one day want to venture farther than their cafes' and do things that are more interesting and adventurous than taking selfies with their bikes.

Maybe TESLA should venture into 2 wheelers. But I get your views, someone has to come up with fresh ideas

Originally Posted by the_skyliner

Let's wait for Z900 RS Cafe Racer to see if that is priced sensibly this time around. Will it be coming via CKD route or CBU?

There was a Z900 RS alongside and despite members here or otherwise comparing Z900RS with W800, with my limited knowledge, I found these totally different machines. W800 is a classic bike and Z900RS a modern 4 cylinder bike and If I may say, looks more like other bikes from this age.

If someone is actually looking for a cult bike from the seventies and around, nothing beats this. I expect it rides better than a bonnie and will be eagerly awaiting for a proper test drive sometime in Mid August when these start reaching dealerships. There is some Voucher offers on the website, hope they pass on to these bikes as well.

[navin_v8]

I was drooling over the internet a few years back when Kawasaki announced their retro classic W800. I was always in awe of UJM designs, part of this maybe because I grew up drooling at these bikes as a kid.

The Kawasaki W800 besides the legendary and iconic Kawasaki Z1(from which the new Z900RS is inspired from) which bettered the Honda CB750 of the yore were all based on UJM designs.

The Big 4 Japanese manufacturers were having a cut throat competition and cutting edge technology during the late 60's and 70's. Each one of them Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha pulled out a rabbit from their hats (I always had a soft corner for Kawasaki though) which were lapped up by enthusiasts and sounded a death knell for the British and to a certain extent European motorcycle manufacturers.

IMO Kawasaki is marketing the W800 and Z900RS as niche products. Maybe they aren't looking at numbers in this segment or maybe it is the CKD/CBU route which is pushing up their prices. Need to see their international pricing as well.

I love how the W800 looks(that bevel gear camshaft is a sight to behold and I am in awe) albeit not a fan of blacked out engine. If its a UJM then it has to have chrome, but that's just me.

Having owned British Classics I feel the UJM has as much character and nostalgia attached to it.

[ethanhunt123]

Originally Posted by navin_v8

IMO Kawasaki is marketing the W800 and Z900RS as niche products. Maybe they aren't looking at numbers in this segment or maybe it is the CKD/CBU route which is pushing up their prices. Need to see their international pricing as well.

They know they cant compete with RE 650 twins ... so why reduce margins unnecessarily.

[navin_v8]

Originally Posted by ethanhunt123

They know they cant compete with RE 650 twins ... so why reduce margins unnecessarily.

May be or may be not. AFAIK this is the second iteration/time IKM is offering the W800 which they were contemplating on launching (chrome version in India maybe sometime in 2017). There were no RE 650 twins at that time and it was to presumably compete against Triumph Bonneville. Most Indian auto journo's had predicted a launch in 2017 but IKM never launched it for reasons best known to them.

See this article for reference:
https://www.ibtimes.co.in/kawasaki-w...-report-719731

[Mafia]

Looks beautiful!

IMO is the bike is smaller in size than anything similar in the market.

The launch seems a couple of years too late. Considering how similar the looks are to the RE and the game has been upped by the 650 twins.

Nostalgia/ retro market has the JAWA as well.

[Ajaybiz]

When we have original British Bonnie's who is going to touch these bikes.
They are in between the price bracket of RE Interceptor and Bonnie's, I doubt that apart from hardcore Kawa fans anyone else is going to fall for them.

[ethanhunt123]

Originally Posted by Ajaybiz

When we have original British Bonnie's who is going to touch these bikes.
They are in between the price bracket of RE Interceptor and Bonnie's, I doubt that apart from hardcore Kawa fans anyone else is going to fall for them.

The only reason for someone to buy W800 over Bonnie is cheaper maintanence cost. Otherwise you are right - Int650 makes more sense in the head than both Bonnie & this.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by Ajaybiz

When we have original British Bonnie's who is going to touch these bikes.

With the air-cooled engine, vertical twin firing order, an old-school bevel gear cam drive, and that styling - W800 is probably more 'original' than the current Bonnie lineup.

That said, the brands do matter too. And Triumph brand feels more authentic on a classic looking motorcycle, than Kawasaki.

Z900RS is my kind of classic Kawasaki - with the right kind of pedigree that the Japanese motorcycles where known for!