Interesting thread. I've gone completely the other way round. Had a W650 for a short while, ( a few months only) very capable, utterly reliable and good to look at, but not even tall enough for me at only 1.74m on long journeys. I used to end up with very painfull knees and stiff joints. Got an F 650 Twin ( F 700) in 2011 and what a bike. Just as capable, so easy on long journeys ( now I 've changed that awful saddle), and the one thing that keeps me with it, the under seat fuel tank, so I don't have to take the ''tank bag'' off every time I re fuel. ( 80+ miles to the gallon also makes me happy! yes - really- incredible fuel economy).

__________________
-''It is better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction''. ( Herman Siu)
-'' Live life then give life '' (www.lltgl.org.uk)

In my opinion things like abs or traction control - (which i understand are there to try to protect you) - but can in fact reduce your skill level as they may stop you learning to feel the machine, the road, the tyres and brakes as well as if they were not there - as you become reliant to a degree and let the machine sort it out. (bit like people using GPS all the time instead of using maps and thinking about where they are going).
On the bike Abs etc make for more mechanical complications and expense, the bike will be a bit heavier and in certain conditions (off road or icy winter would need to be switched off anyway). Keep things simple learn to feel the machine and ride accordingly. You will put more into your riding and get more out of it. Personally I am not a great fan of Jap built bikes but have to say the w800 is a very good looking machine, no doubt well built and a probably a lot more simple and at least as (if not more ) reliable than the bmw. I would think with its simple low design it would be a very nice machine to ride more so for a beginner - you can easily in time upgrade suspension and brake parts with aftermarket bits and bobs which gives the bike a reasonable upgrade and a more personal feel. Good luck with whatever you go for and enjoy your travels be they short or long. Tchus jake.

Hi all

First off, thanks for all the advice and opinions.

As I wrote before, I went to the guy selling his (only 4 months old) W800. We made the deal. That is, I didn't pay the full price yet, I payed an advance. Sadly I couldn't ride home with the bike yet, because he didn't have a license plate anymore. I did get the papers, and so I'm now in the process of getting insurance and registering it with the authorities...

So I'm now the proud owner of a blue Kawasaki W800, albeit also a bit frustrated that I can't ride it yet

Nice one.

We need pictures of course now.

Andy

Of course! But it'll have to wait until I have the license plate and can go get, because now it's still at the previous owner's place...

Here are some pictures, sorry they're not all good quality. It was with my phone and it was getting dark.

I rode it home from the previous owner's place to mine. A 120 km ride in the dark.

By the way, those little leather side bags came with the bike, the previous owner bought them. I don't think I'm going to leave them on, though.

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Lovely bike. I think you are really going to get places.


OT (sorry I used to be a test engineer for an ABS manufacturer) you should not switch off ABS on ice, it is the exact conditions the system will excel in and seriously reduce stopping distance compared to human control. You may want ABS off on a surface where the tyre can cut in and create extra contact area. Mud, gravel, fresh snow etc.


Right, back OT.


Lovely bike,


Andy

Thanks.
Seems like an interesting job.

10% paperwork (boring), 60% trying to make test electronics work (mostly frustrating), 10% travelling to do the job (and not to good places, although the Alps and Finland are nice), 10% fighting government pen-pushers (sends you loopy) and 10% actually doing the test driving. I have done a 360 degree hand brake turn in a Fire Engine and had a double decker bus doing close to 100 mph (with a Ducati riding test tech sat on the front seat, top deck, feet up, rolling a fag throughout!), but that was twenty minutes out of 13 years.


Give me a 5 O'clock finish and decent bike waiting in the car park anytime.


Andy