presentation of the W 800 Street 2019
It's just bad luck. Just as the Vintage movement was confirming its rise, Euro4 standards sabotaged the survival of the W 800, Kawasaki's epitome of 'classic', the W1 of the '60s, like a retro bike with nothing neo about it, as frail as a bee among the bumblebees.
Push me out the door and I'll come back in through the balcony. A break in the Akashi workshops allowed this machine to prepare for its comeback. The W 800 is just as it was before, but it's changed almost everything.
its resemblance to the Triumph Bonneville is nothing new. It's been that way since the W 650. And it still is. We even wonder what's changed since its last installment in 2016. Let's take a look..... So, there's less, much less chrome. Black everywhere, smaller turn signals, an LED headlight borrowed from the Z 900 RS. Oh, and since it had to comply with legislation, it's no wonder it's got ugly reflectors and ABS tracks.
That can't be all; Kawa has announced that only 10% of the old W has been renewed. So a whole bunch of parts have been reworked, without it necessarily being obvious.
the presence of ABS is one of the first indications. With the front drum, it would have been quite difficult to install. As a result, the W 800 Street, like the Café, gets a rear brake disc - with a two-piston caliper. The front disc has been enlarged from 300 to 320 mm, while the wheel housing it has been reduced from 19 to 18 inches. Spoke rims, sausage pots and fork gaiters are still a must.
The double-cradle steel frame is identical in form, except that each component has been re-evaluated, tube thickness modified and rigidity reviewed for all its constituent parts. The fork is larger, with 41 mm per tube. The fuel tank has been enlarged by 1 liter. As for the scales, they are 5 kilos heavier.
The W 800 intends to show a little more rigor in its escapades. In addition to increased frame rigidity, the suspension has been strengthened. Let's not get carried away, though: the bike dreams of undulating country roads, not arsouilles.

The big advantage of this engine is its honesty: it smells like the old days, it lives like the old days, and it conceives power like the old days. It boasts a maximum output of 35 kW, the same energy as the old version. Its 48 hp correspond to its shape and vocation. A small bonus: they are reached a few 500 rpm earlier than before. Torque is even a little fatter: 0.3 mkg, peaking at 6.4 mkg. We're delighted... moderately so. Maximum power is obtained at 4,800 rpm - whereas theex-W 800 offered it at 2,500 rpm.
This block isn't a thunderbolt, but rather a pleasant mill for cruising, with more class than vigor. Yet Kawa has fitted an anti-dribble clutch. This makes for safer downshifting(if you shift 8 gears atonce...) and, above all, a pleasantly smooth lever action.
As a bonus for young drivers, the watts are just right for the A2 license.
with its relaxed riding position, the W 800 is an inviting invitation to pleasure riding. On the handlebars, you'll find the two-dial, two-needle speedo, a digital window and a significantly enriched series of indicator lights. The internal decoration has been revised, while the red zone has lost 500 rpm. In any case, quick revving was never really its thing.
The center stand is no longer standard. Neither are the grip-knees on the tank. Well, if it keeps the price down.
Oops no, the price is not contained at all. The upgrade hurts the wallet, as the W 800 is 17% more expensive. It's barely less expensive than a more powerful and better-equipped 900 Bonneville T100. Faced with a Street Twin, it's not even worth a try. The Kawasaki W 800 Street will have to rely above all on love at first sight.
A crush not only on its plastic but also on its pastoral riding style. Its behavior promises to be a notch above the one we tested on the nostalgia roads.
M.B - Manufacturer's photos
Key facts Kawasaki W 800 Street (2019) : What you need to know before you buy
Highlights
- W1 revival
- Aspect moteur
- Consumption
- Comfort
Weak points
- Measured power
- Less chrome than ex-W 800
- Cher
Prices
| Basic version | |
|---|---|
|
10,049€
|
Performance
- Max speed : approximately 170 km/h (105.60 mph)
History
Specifications Kawasaki W 800 Street 2019
- Chassis
- Frame : Double steel cradle
- Fuel capacity : 15 liters (3.96 US gallons)
- Seat height : 770 mm (30.31 in)
- Length : 2,135 mm (84.06 in)
- Width : 925 mm (36.42 in)
- Min height : 1,120 mm (44.09 in)
- Wheelbase : 1,465 mm (57.68 in)
- Weight when fully loaded : 221 kg (487 lb)
- Front axle
- Telehydraulic fork Ø 41 mm, Wheel travel : 130 mm (5.12 in)
- Braking 1 disc Ø 320 mm (12.6 in), 2-piston caliper
- Front tire : 100 / 90 - 18 → Order this type of tire
- Pressure : 2 bar
- Transmission
- 5 stage gearbox
- Secondary by chain
- Rear axle
- 2 lateral shock absorbers, Wheel travel : 107 mm (4.21 in)
- Braking 1 disc Ø 270 mm (10.63 in), 2-piston caliper
- Rear tire : 130 / 80 - 18 → Order this type of tire
- Pressure : 2.25 bar
- Motor
- two-cylinder Vertical , 4 strokes
- Injection Ø 34 mm
- Cooling system : by air
- 1 ACT
- 4 valves per cylinder
- 773 cc
- 48 ch (47.30 hp) to 6,000 rpm
- 6.40 mkg to 4,800 rpm
- Power-to-weight ratio : approximately 4.39 kg/ch
- Weight / torque ratio : approximately 32.45 kg/mkg
- Compression : 8.4 : 1
- Standard equipment
- Brake assist : ABS
- Practical information
Maintenance
During assembly, the manifold fasteners may not be tightened to the required torque. As a result, the exhaust manifold fasteners may come loose and fall onto the road, increasing the risk of an accident.
Used
Compare the W 800 Street to its competitors
Fuel consumption
Range
Torque
Power
Power-to-Weight ratio
Torque-to-Weight ratio
Speed
FAQ Your frequently asked questions about the W 800 Street 2019
- What is the power of the W 800 Street 2019?
-
The W 800 Street 2019 develops a power of 48 ch (47.30 hp)
- What is the torque of the W 800 Street 2019?
-
The maximum torque of the W 800 Street 2019 is 6.40 mkg to 4,800 rpm.
- What is the maximum speed of the W 800 Street 2019?
-
The W 800 Street 2019 is capable of reaching a top speed of approximately 170 km/h (105.60 mph) on the track.
- What is the weight of the W 800 Street 2019?
-
The W 800 Street 2019 has a a weight when fully loaded of 221 kg (487 lb).
- QWhat is the seat height of the W 800 Street 2019?
-
To ensure good accessibility, the W 800 Street 2019 offers a minimum seat height of 770 mm (30.31 in).
- What is the price of the W 800 Street 2019?
-
The price of the W 800 Street 2019 is 10,049€ in France
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Bikers' reviews Leave a review - 7 reviews
Still so easy to live with in town... Rating : 3/5 Respond to Nouvelle EDITION bien ou pas ??
On the W650, with my 1.87m, the small handlebars were lower and less set back, so I was much more comfortable and had a better riding feeling.
It's a pity, because this new reissue is very successful, with ABS that ensures safety even at legal speeds.
This bike is mostly urban, ideal for cool rides. Rating : 3/5 Respond to danycal
And I preferred the chrome engine, especially for a classic!
I've had enough of this black-painted engine craze! Rating : 2/5 Respond to fzb