Retro Kawasaki
 

I was at my local Kawasaki-dealer to pick up my Vulcan after a service (heading to Turkey this summer) and I noticed a brand new Kawasaki retro style bike in the showroom. I was on my way to work so had very little time to take a proper look. It shows similarities with the Bonneville and it really looked the part! Does anyone on the HUBB know about this model and/or has any experience on this specific bike?! Rob.

Would it be one of the VN900s?

http://www.motorcyclesdirect.co.uk/i...N900CUSTOM.jpg

I imagine you were looking at the W650.

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/...ro-on-its-way/

Sold in US for a couple years and Europe until 2008. Possibly coming back soon as the W800.

Best,
John Downs

I think the latest version is the W800.
More like the original Bonnie than the Hinckley Bonnie I reckon.
Nice bike
Kawasaki W800

Your talking about the w800 the successor to the w650.

I used to have a w650 and rode it to Croatia and back in 2009. lovely bike really flicks from turn to turn on twisty rodes. The engine is phenomenal lovely air cooled twin.

I've seen a couple of W650s locally; they were only brought into North America for a couple of years unfortunately, so you don't see them very often. I don't think Kawasaki has ever brought in the W800 to North America. Too bad; they are nice looking machines.

I knew a guy, years ago, who was riding the W650 and he rated it highly.
The W800 is indeed the new update, and they come up on ebay UK regularly - see the link below.
There is a special edition this year with a very nice colour scheme - maybe what you saw recently!
w800 | eBay

I took a look at them last Nov at the UK bike show; the saddle has loads of room for both the rider and a pillion. Yes, it looks more like a real Bonneville than the current Bonny, and so did the earlier W650.

Retro vs Cruiser
 

I've done some searching and I must say I really like the look of the W-650 and W-800, also a Bonneville or Scrambler for that matter. I really like the mechanical look of the bikes but I am a sucker for (mid sized) cruisers also and when Alexlebrit came up with the pic of the VN-900 I would find it very hard to choose between the two. At the end I normally go for looks and would pick the VN-900 but as I am riding a cruiser at present I would love to own a somewhat more sharp steering bike for a change. I generally find modern bikes very ugly with their sharp fuzzy angles and plasticky looks but I can see myself gearing up one of those retro's with matching panniers and knobblies and head out for an adventure. For now it is all about wait-a-while when they appear on the second-hand market (and my children to finish their studies) so funds become available.........Hell, I could buy a couple of brand new ones when that day comes! Cheers, Rob.