Kawasaki W650 reviews

I am not a racer, I'm more a sightseer and for that this is the perfect bike for me. I have found it to be very stable even at 110 mph (on a long staightaway on an isolated backroad) and it corners very well. I weigh 250 lbs. and have had no instability problems at all. Add to that the pleasing sound of the factory exhaust, the classic good looks and the comfortable riding position and this is a terrific motorcycle! I have added a windscreen, throttle lock (for relief of carpal tunnel symptoms) and saddle bags which makes longer rides more comfortable. I also cured the engine backfire problems which apparently plague this model with a relatively simple modification to the reed valves in the exhaust system. Show less

Well after 24years in the motorcycle wilderness i have found what for me is the perfect bike. Japanese sport bikes and tourers, 2 harley davidsons(VERY unreliable), buell X1 lightning(HORENDOUSLY unreliable) all very enjoyable bikes in their own right, BUT..they all seem to fit a narrow spectrum of motorcycling only. Enter W650 kawasaki. So far i have toured long and reasonably comfy distances, got a little sporty carving up my fave mountain roads, commute reliably and just all round enjoyed the hell out of it!! It is Not perfect at any one function but overall it is proving to be "a great all rounder" and for my money thats what motorcycling should be all about. CHEERS Show less

Just bought my new 2000 W650 2 weeks ago for $4599. It was a real steal at this price. It handles beautifully on the back roads and around town. Shifting is effortless and the clutch action couldn't be better. It's got more horsepower than a Suzuki Volusia and it almost 100 lbs.lighter so you know it will run! If only Kawasaki had priced it better I think they would have had a real winner. $6600 was too much for an air cooled twin with chain drive. After all, their 500cc vulcan is only $4600 with liquid cooling and shaft drive. Love this bike! Show less

The stock handle bars provides a difficulty in smooth handling during corners and turns. I have change to a low bar and it gave me an immediate effect on my riding. The stock bars are too high up and creates unstable manouvering during bends and turns. Change to a low bar and u will feel the difference yourself. Show less

I purchased a W650 7/6/02 and have 200 miles on it.The bike is a bit tall which can be cured by a seat change.It looks more like a Brit bike than the new bonneville.I am not an expert but I have owned two Triumphs,Bonne and Tiger. The bars look bent,the center stand clanks when you hit a bump hard,it feels like the frame pivots in the center and the engine is the best of its design I have ever ridden. Blimy! I missed the cut-off to the Pub.Later Mates,I'm bopping in for a frothy mug. GUDDAY to ya! Show less

While the nostalic look is appealing, the ergonomics sealed my decision. This is the kind of bike I learned to ride back in the 70s. After a 20 year hiatus from riding, it just felt right. I tried several mid weight cruisers (even took the road test on one), and kept coming back to the W650. At this point, I've had the W650 for 6 days, putting 135 miles on it. Road manners are good, although the high profile and upright seating position seems to expose me to more wind buffeting than some of the lower, cruiser type bikes. Bottom line - I have no regrets. I get a kick out of the bike AND the attention it's retro look draws. Show less

There are over 300 madly commited W650 riders at w650riders@yahoogroups.com find out how to sort that high speed weave, tear your airbox off and jet up, get loud pipes, different seats, fit an ammeter, choose better tyres, move the indicators, get and fit the factory low bar kit, fit luggage, change the tank badge for a less 'obvious' one, stop the headlight rattle, dump the emmisions crap....and much much more. w650riders@yahoogroups.com Show less

What the new Bonneville should have been. A joy to ride. As user friendly as a light switch. Plenty fast enough for real world use (about 100mph). Lots of unsold bikes in dealers at stupidly low low prices. Stand out from the crowd! BUY ONE! Show less

I'm a 42 year old male who's gotten into motorcycles big time. This is the third bike that I've bought this year (sold one). So now I have this and a Triumph Legend. Anyway just got off riding up I-95 and on some back roads and this bike is a kick. Was originally looking at A Triumph Bonneville but did some research and besides saving $2000.00 I think I got the better bike. I vowed never to own a Japanese bike or car (Pearl Harbor ya know)but I couldn't pass on this one. If your thinking of buying a retro bike, give this one a first and second look over, you won't be disappointed. It handle great and looks and sounds incredible. So once I got pass the fact that Kawasaki built bombers for the Japanese Air Force in WW2, the bike was real easy to live with. So I'll ride my Triumph on the weekends and use this one for everyday commuting. Show less

My 2000 has had none of the stability problems at 70+ MPH mentioned by "Dangerous". Mine feels very stable and planted at 65-75, along with being almost electrically smooth at around 4000 rpm. However, I weigh about 160, probably 175 kitted up and ready to roll. Overall, I'm absolutely thrilled with this tribute to vintage Triumph, and only wish that more enthusiasts would show some interest so that Kawasaki will continue to sell it in this country. Is '01 the final year for it? Too bad that we are so cruiser-happy here, there are so many more interesting bikes out there. While I'm on, has anyone else noticed the lean caruretion (backfires, slow warmup, etc.) and tried to correct it? Would appreciate any suggestions to deal with this one, minor, complaint. Show less