Classic Motorcycle Mechanics – September 2019

6000rpm.The chassis hasbeen
overhauled toimprovesteering
response andgivethe W800 a
sportier edge.The steel double-cradl
chassis is all-new,withthicker tube
to improve stiffness,whilethe
non-adjustable forks have also
increased in diameter,upf rom
39mm to 41mm. The olderbike's
rear drum brake has been replaced
with amore moderndisc, and the
front discincre ases in diameter from
300mm to 320mm. Perhapsthe
most significant change,though, is
the move froma19infrontwheelto
afaster steering 18-incher,which
also matches the rear.
Cosmeticallyit’s also new.The
W800 hassome lovely detail
touches andthat air-cooled engine r
of beautyand th erightfulcentre-piece. Thetwin,
swept-back exhaustappears tohavebeen stolen
from the original KawasakiW1, while the metal
flakes in thepaintwork, retroseat and‘oldschool’
switchgearmakeitl ook freshfrom the70s.
So,for 2019there aretwo variants tochoose
from :the £8399 Streetort he pricier £9099 Café.
Both share thesamebasic platform andhave
identical engines,performance, chassis and
brakes.The Streetis ea sily identifiablewith its
laidback bars,wide retroseat, chromespok ed
wheels an ddetailssuch asablack-only bevel
co e e e a écomes

chromebevel cover and, mostobvious ly,afront

cowl.Ibeganmy ride on the Street, whose

relativelylow(770mm) seatmeant thatmy 5ft 7in

frame was securely flat-footed.

Those laidback bars,asoft seatand wide rubber

foot-pegs immediately relaxthe senses. ‘Let’stake

it easy’, they seem to tell therider. The view from

the seatisp ure 1970s.Ilove thesimplicity of the

switchgear, whilethe ornate clocks aresimplewith

large, clear faces–analoguerev-counteronthe

right andspeedometer on the left.There’salsoa

small digital display for multiple trips andclock.

e a a e s o -s oke -de ee

STREET AND

CAFÉ

PRICE

Street £8399

Café £9099

ENGINE

773cc air-cooled parallel-

twin SOHC 8v

POWER

53bhp (35kW)@6000rpm

TORQUE

46.39lb-ft (62.9Nm) @

4800rpm

TRANSMISSION

5-speed, chain final drive

FRAME

Steel double-cradle

SUSPENSION

Front:41mm conventional

telescopic forks,non-

adju stable.Rear:twin

shocks with pre-load

adjustment

BRAKES

Front:single 320mm disc,

two-piston caliper.Rear:

270mm disc,two-piston

caliper

TYRES

0x18.Rear:

unlop K300)

BASE

mm

PACITY

res

EIGHT

Café 790mm

EIGHT

Café 223kg

ACT

saki.c o.uk

co e e e aécomes

drop bars andblackwheels and

engine, plusside tank-pads, a

e aa e s o soke de ee

crankshaft,starts witharewardingburble.

Kawasaki admits it spentafairchunk of the

budget on the exhaust note,andablip of the soft

throttle reveals an authentic toneplus theodd

‘pop' on the overrun:lovely!

In with the finger-light clutch (withanew

back-torquelimiter),aneat clickinto firstgear

and ourJapanese adventure begins.Theydrive on

the left,sor iding shouldfeel natural, but doesn’t,

as the alien road furniture and traffic takealittle

gettingused to.Thankfully,Kawasaki’snew W800

is effortless and easy to ride,itsflat torquecurve

andprecise fuelling allowing you tosmoothly

Front:100/9

130/80 x18 (

WHEE

1465 m

FUEL CA

15 li

SEATH

Street 770mm,

KERB

Street 221kg,

CON

http://www.kawas

Modern and classic

meet in this retro

Kawasaki.

mechanics