F800 V W800

[dogman]

I never thought that I would ever find another bike that I love as much as my F800, but I finally did... and I had to buy it! The Kawasaki W800. http://www.kawasakiw800.blogspot.com
Now I have to somehow justify keeping both of the lovely machines.
Well you only live once eh?

 

[Sooty09]

Nice bike, a few years ago I wanted to slow down a by buying a modern retro bike, the choice was between a Triumph T100 and the Kawasaki W650. I went for the Triumph and I think with hindsight it was the wrong choice. It was the better bike on paper but not on the road. I like most other new Triumph owners immediately started fitting free flow pipes, jetting kits and air filters to try get the bikes to work. I never met a W650 rider who felt the need to tinker, the bikes was just so right.
A few years later I ended up with the F800GS, I would love a Bonneville with the F800 engine, it has similar bottom end characteristics as my older T140s but with a much higher top end.
How about it BMW, dump the F800R and make a good roadster.

This dose not help you though Dogman, I imagine the feel of both engines is very similar. How about convincing yourself and others the GS is for bad weather and long distances, the Kawasaki for short trips on sunny days so you don't get the chrome dirty. It will be a difficult choice to make each time you open the garage.

 

[John Armstrong]

Nice bike, a few years ago I wanted to slow down a by buying a modern retro bike, the choice was between a Triumph T100 and the Kawasaki W650. I went for the Triumph and I think with hindsight it was the wrong choice. It was the better bike on paper but not on the road. I like most other new Triumph owners immediately started fitting free flow pipes, jetting kits and air filters to try get the bikes to work. I never met a W650 rider who felt the need to tinker, the bikes was just so right.

Recently read the W800 v Bonneville SE test in MS & L and it had me hankering after one or the other. They seemed to like the dynamics of the SE, and the rider certainly didn't like the W800 with a pillion on.

As for the OP must be a wide range in seat heights between the two 800's you own

 

[flying circus]

sooty09 that is superb idea, it could be the perfect bike for the real world, go to the top of the class

 

[dogman]

I like the reasoning around using each bike for a specific purpose - that will work nicely! Re the seat height this was the big surprise for me because although my arse is certainly nearer to the tarmac, the seat to peg distance is the same! This means no difference in leg curve and comfort. The Bonneville however is quite bit lower and for lanky lad like myself was out of the question.

 

[Bury_Dave]

I had a W650 for a couple of years. A great bike for riding about on A and smaller roads. It loved the twisties. Had to go as I couldn't afford two bikes and wanted to tour (and still do).

The W800 can only be better as it has a little more grunt which the 'Dub' 650 lacked.

Reviews seem to polarise. The obvious patriotic Brit is-better-than-anything brigade who are prepared to want a bike that looks kinda retro-ish and those who really want a bike that handles like an original.

Obviously I'm the latter

 

[Ross Dean]

How about it BMW, dump the F800R and make a good roadster

A bit off topic (I love that Kawasaki 800 by the way) but I recently rode my partner's F800R for a day and tried it out "to the full". The F800R is a bloody good road bike - great below 6000rpm and a bit of a rocket above.

 

[v8legend]

I recently rode my partner's F800R for a day and tried it out "to the full". The F800R is a bloody good road bike - great below 6000rpm and a bit of a rocket above.

I had one recently when my bike was being serviced. TBH I thought it was pretty average. Slightly better handling than mine, but not as comfortable. It was no quicker though?

 

[Ross Dean]

I had one recently when my bike was being serviced. TBH I thought it was pretty average. Slightly better handling than mine, but not as comfortable. It was no quicker though?

No quicker? The one I rode took off like a rocket every time I hit 6000 rpm and stayed that way up the rev range until I got frightened - not as fast as my old Ducati S4RS monster (similar size and handling) but a damn site quicker in acceleration than my 800GS. There was a mag review of it some time ago (possibly Ride or Bike) which said "Ride it like you stole it" which should be the BMW slogan for this bike. It is, in my opinion, an under marketed bike. Then again, BM (and all manufacturers') sales folks want you to buy their big bikes ... Different bikes suit different people but I really liked the F800R.

 

[Sooty09]

The one I rode took off like a rocket every time I hit 6000 rpm and stayed that way up the rev range until I got frightened

Thats the problem we found when we had a F800R loan bike, it was great riding like a hooligan for a while, but ride it for long and it became very tedious, Nothing much wrong with bike, just not my style. Its problem is its classed as the BMW Roadster, to me a roadster is a comfy bike which will tour, commute two up, take a top box for the shopping and do a bit of back lane scratching, the F800 falls well short of that description.

I don't think BMW have made a good R bike since the R1100R, the later 1150 and 1200 had more power but was never as smooth or tractable.

The true Roadsters now are bikes like the W800.

 

[dogman]

I had the F800R before I traded it for the F800GS after test riding it while my R was being serviced. Expensive service that was! I liked the R but being tall it always felt a bit small with reduced leg curve. Having had both bikes I could find no difference in performance. Even the gearing felt the same. Essentially the bike is exactly the same with engine and performance but feels miles apart in riding position. I agree that the R should not be considered a roadster. It is an urban naked sports bike. It is a great shame that BMW do not have a classic styled road bike on offer such as the W800. In my view that would be a real winner!

 

[Dean]

so why would choose a new W800 over a New bonny ?










What come first the W800, Bonny, Egg, or Chicken ?

 

[dogman]

so why would choose a new W800 over a New bonny ?



What come first the W800, Bonny, Egg, or Chicken ?

Firstly..
W800 = Better looking, more comfortable, nicer engine and ride, plus higher quality finish!

Secondly..
Probably the egg, unless Triumph ever made a chicken in which case I could be wrong.

 

[Dean]

interesting, Thanks for that