Its good to see the manufacturers still introducing motorbikes with timeless retro design elements. I personally love these type of motorcycles and that's why I'm writing this article. Its a separate & different feel when we feel and ride a motorbike with the above mentioned parameters. Currently there are only few motorcycles available at the market which remembers the good old motorcycling days in which the Kawasaki W800 model also lines up. Here in this post, let's discuss about the Cafe variant offering of the motorbike from the manufacturer.
Design
This motorbike is nourished with pure retro design elements which is like treasure to the enthusiasts & oldies present out there. To crank with, it gets a teardrop shaped fuel tank perfectly lined up along the single piece seat. The rear end of the same is humped which improves the feel of a retroster even more. Round shaped headlamp assembly along with the headlamp cowl also gives a motorbike a nice look. Rear view mirrors are also round in shape and blackened out. My feel is like the motorbike still misses out some chrome elements. Even though many hates chrome finish, machines like this need a chrome finish at some places. For example, it'll be even well & good if the manufacturer finished both the fenders in chrome along with the rear view mirrors. Anyways, the motorbike still looks great and the fork gaiters adds some more essence.
Low slung clubman handle along with the slightly rear mounted footpegs gives the rider a slight forward riding posture. The riding posture will become even more aggressive if the handle is lowered slightly. Minimalistic body panels along with the extended rear fender even grabs my attention more. All other chassis components are fitted on the conventional double cradle frame which also remembers the past. Another thing which dragged me towards it is the twin exhaust. In my point of view, these lowered flat exhaust design will suit for the W800 variant. Though the bike comes under the category Cafe Racer, I expected a exhaust setup with slight upswept position which helps very much while at leaning the motorbike at the corners. But the exhaust is finished in chrome which is very much welcomed.
Power source
Design
This motorbike is nourished with pure retro design elements which is like treasure to the enthusiasts & oldies present out there. To crank with, it gets a teardrop shaped fuel tank perfectly lined up along the single piece seat. The rear end of the same is humped which improves the feel of a retroster even more. Round shaped headlamp assembly along with the headlamp cowl also gives a motorbike a nice look. Rear view mirrors are also round in shape and blackened out. My feel is like the motorbike still misses out some chrome elements. Even though many hates chrome finish, machines like this need a chrome finish at some places. For example, it'll be even well & good if the manufacturer finished both the fenders in chrome along with the rear view mirrors. Anyways, the motorbike still looks great and the fork gaiters adds some more essence.
Low slung clubman handle along with the slightly rear mounted footpegs gives the rider a slight forward riding posture. The riding posture will become even more aggressive if the handle is lowered slightly. Minimalistic body panels along with the extended rear fender even grabs my attention more. All other chassis components are fitted on the conventional double cradle frame which also remembers the past. Another thing which dragged me towards it is the twin exhaust. In my point of view, these lowered flat exhaust design will suit for the W800 variant. Though the bike comes under the category Cafe Racer, I expected a exhaust setup with slight upswept position which helps very much while at leaning the motorbike at the corners. But the exhaust is finished in chrome which is very much welcomed.
Propelling the motorbike is a 773cc, air cooled, SOHC, vertical twin motor churning out 52PS at 6,500rpm and 62.9Nm of torque at 4,800rpm which produces a decent low end grunt. I researched about the vertical twin motor. It generally represents the engine with a crank angle of 360deg. I've already made a post on explaining different crank angles. Click here to know more about that. The engine is paired to a 5 speed gearbox with slipper clutch assist. The thing which we have to notice here is the cam drive. Unlike the conventional chain drive for the camshaft, it gets a bevel drive which make this motor a unique and to stand out of the crowd.
Other hardware components
Steering head is equipped with the 41mm telescopic forks and the rear end gets a twin shock with a capability of adjusting for preload. Wheels are wired spoke units and also gets discs at both the ends. Other braking components includes 320mm disc clamped by the 2 piston caliper and a 270mm disc with the dual piston caliper at the front & rear respectively assisted by the ABS. The motorbike may look retro but integrated with the modern electronics underneath it. It is equipped with the LED headlamp and twin analog dials for speedometer & tachometer and also gets a small LCD dash for displaying various other information.
Overall, the motorbike grabbed my attention like anything with its retro components. But our country misses this Cafe variant where only the regular W800 is on sales. It'll attract even more customers if this Cafe variant is introduced to our country. But Kawasaki have other plans for us that is W175. Few days before, development mules of the same were spotted testing and the launch is about to happen very soon. If Kawasaki is really about to bring its entry level retro motorcycle W175 in our country with a aggressive pricing, surely it brings heavy competition in the 150-200cc segment where youngsters these days started to turn their heads toward the retro machines.
Related articles
• Kawasaki W175 spotted testing
• Why I prefer retro machines than the modern ones??
Other hardware components
Steering head is equipped with the 41mm telescopic forks and the rear end gets a twin shock with a capability of adjusting for preload. Wheels are wired spoke units and also gets discs at both the ends. Other braking components includes 320mm disc clamped by the 2 piston caliper and a 270mm disc with the dual piston caliper at the front & rear respectively assisted by the ABS. The motorbike may look retro but integrated with the modern electronics underneath it. It is equipped with the LED headlamp and twin analog dials for speedometer & tachometer and also gets a small LCD dash for displaying various other information.
Overall, the motorbike grabbed my attention like anything with its retro components. But our country misses this Cafe variant where only the regular W800 is on sales. It'll attract even more customers if this Cafe variant is introduced to our country. But Kawasaki have other plans for us that is W175. Few days before, development mules of the same were spotted testing and the launch is about to happen very soon. If Kawasaki is really about to bring its entry level retro motorcycle W175 in our country with a aggressive pricing, surely it brings heavy competition in the 150-200cc segment where youngsters these days started to turn their heads toward the retro machines.
Related articles
• Kawasaki W175 spotted testing
• Why I prefer retro machines than the modern ones??
Tags
Retrosters