A Close Battle! Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 VS Kawasaki W800 | Who Will Take The Crown?

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This was a really tough decision! The other day I got the opportunity to ride this 2011 Kawasaki W800 Back to back with the new Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 thanks to Cooperb motorcycles.
Both of these bikes are pretty closely matched on paper but how will they square up in a real world riding scenario? In this video I find out exactly that as I go into which motorbike has the best handling, performance, torque, stopping power, looks, value for money and more. Which of these is the best modern classic? Which Retro bike would you choose?
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[@nickduffy8482]

I am a huge RE fan and don’t think any other bike gives such incredible value for money. But, and it’s a huge BUT, that Kawasaki is just beautiful and the engine is truly a work of art. I’m not a big fan of ‘blacked out’ bikes so side by side the Kawasaki wins the good looks contest today.

[@stuartstibbs2069]

Yep. Hate black anywhere on bikes. The whole world is obsessed with it. In the flesh, the green and chrome W800, sitting in the sun, would have to be the most beautiful bike Ive ever seen, and Ive seen a few..😂

[@JohnSmith-xw5qe]

Yep the blacked out RE against the W800 definitely comes 2nd & am a huge RE fan, but the W800 definitely needs a upgrade on the exhaust to make it sound a lot better Even the stock RE exhaust sounds better

[@saltaireorangebicyclechopp8555]

Normally l'd agree with that but that RE is all black, like a John Player throwback, so l don't mind it. Love the Kawasaki though, only the higher bars like on the early 650 would improve it for me.

[@abngraphics123]

Is royal Enfield reliable

[@florme6494]

Chrome fills the space better and is more interesting to look at. Black is way more practical unless polishing is a big part of owning a bike. But then some don’t have ocd.

[@Bob-xc2us]

The newer W800 has disc brakes all around and the front disc is larger. The newer W800 also use a different Dunlop tire that is better but still not up to tubeless radials. The W800 makes its torque way down low in the rpm range. They are totally different bikes and the W is more true to the past and is not meant to compete with more modern retros. The W is more retro than modern and the RE is more modern than retro. It's all in what you are looking for. I chose to go with the time tested reliability of a Japanese manufactured W800 and have no regrets. (2022 red W800 standard). I agree with you about the slightly awkward seat to foot peg to handle bar relationship. I may install mild bar risers or replace the bars. i also would prefer that the foot pegs be slightly further forward. All that said I can't imagine a better engine for all around drivability in town, on the back roads and even occasional freeway driving. Bags of low end torque that makes it almost impossible to stall. I routinely pull way from a stop without even touching the throttle. Comparing an older W800 to a newer modified Interceptor isn't really fair in my opinion but I understand the problem with getting your hands on a newer W800. Cheers to all: Bob in Canada.

Bob, can you verify one thing for me? on the W650 the right footpeg is like one or two inches more forward than on the left side... is this still valid on your w800?

[@Bob-xc2us]

The foot pegs on my W800 are even left to right fore and aft. I wood be surprised if the W650 pegs were any different from the factory. Is it possible that someone installed a different foot peg and bracket on one side?

Nah... I think it might be repositioned as w800 does not need the space for Kickstarter to flow. I remember noticing this assymetry when I had mine stock

[@olliereed4206]

My mate has a w800 it’s more Triumph than a Triumph😀 The 360 degree crank has that pure Edward Turner sound.

[@Lee-70ish]

My old Matchless 650 had the 360 crank. I think the Kwaka is a great retro . Triumphs and the BSA Goldie are not even close in that style

[@fitriamin3225]

Yup.. I own the black edition w800.. The sound is perfect

[@davidtait7407]

Bought my Kawasaki w800 cafe for £5495 pre reg 22 plate with 0 miles brand new in February this year

[@kelvinjolley6264]

Definitely bargain of the century.

[@leeinwis]

Wow, you got a deal !

[@danielkerr4100]

for me i want the looks of the RE but the sound of the w800. i own an interceptor 650 and never fails to put a smile on my face, ive tried both bike and ended up going with the re

[@drmachinewerke1]

Get some S&S slip on mufflers The sound is very nice better than any of my other bikes BSA Norton triumph harley Honda

[@stewartnorton6386]

I got my W800 on Friday. First time I saw one online I fell in love but once I saw one in real life I was smitten....most beautiful bike I have ever seen. When I bought it the seller said I hope you like attention and talking to people as people love this bike and he was right. On my first ride out I stopped for petrol and two police officers parked up in a car came over and started asking me about it 😊 The low down torque is superb for lazy weekend riding you hardly have to change gear as it can pull in any and the engine breaking noise make you grin ear to ear, it could be louder but it is easy to remove the dB killers from the pipes and makes a big difference ( search on KZbin). Buying the W800 was possible one of the best decisions I've ever made 🥰

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Great to hear 👍🏼

[@davidbrayshaw3529]

I own a '15 model W800 and I agree with the assessment of this bike as presented here. I haven't ridden the RE, so I'm in no position to compare the two, however. A couple of things to note with the W800. They respond very well to a change of tyres. I'm running Bridgestone radials on mine. If you do purchase one of these, price that in, they need it. Once fitted with decent rubber, that big long wheel base and good rubber come together to make a bike that tracks exceptionally well and it will hold a line like it's on rails. It's worth noting also that the W comes with a 19" front wheel as standard. If you ride on rough roads like I do, you'll see why. It is easy to modify the exhaust on this bike to bring out a bit more "character". A 35 mm hole saw up the pipes will remove the baffles to reveal a more authentic sound without it being over the top, loud. One thing that I will say is that it takes a bit of time to get familiar with how to ride the W800. They just aren't like any other bike on the market, these days. They're geared quite low and they have oodles of power in the low to mid range. It's easy to ride these around town at quite a brisk pace and never go over 3k RPM. On the back roads, it's easy to never exceed 5k RPM. And the engine breaking higher in the rev range is pretty impressive. Once you get used to where and when to shift in order to make use of both the power and the engine breaking, you can really hustle these things along, but in a relative lazy way, if that makes sense. And that makes them a whole lot of fun to ride, and it makes them a very practical bike for "real world" riding. I wish that I'd known about these things, sooner.

[@Bob-xc2us]

Well said.

[@expandingknowledge8269]

The main reason Royal Enfield 650s handle and perform so well is because the frames were developed by Harris Performance. I find my Continental GT-650 very much up to task of navigating twisty roads and switchbacks with complete ease. Pound for pound they are hard to match, just my humble opinion. 🏁🏁 First on Race Day!!!

not only that... more than half of the team that worked on the interceptor engineering came from triumph. That is no secret that both companies exist less than a mile from one another and there was some hard poaching when RE moved it's design and engineering to UK (i remember checking RE engineering Linked in profiles and there were mostly ex-triumph people). Expert move.

[@abadanr]

Fantastic editing - really appreciate the riding (SOUND😊) clips scattered throughout 👍🏻 Keep 'em coming!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thanks a ton!

[@ThePenitentOne]

As much as I love Royal Enfield, I'm riding the classic 350 myself, I gotta hand this one down to Kawasaki. The W800 (and the Meguro K3 variant) is just a top class bike.

[@mattdog1982]

That meguro 👌lovely

[@howardneely2573]

After reviewing so many great bikes I was going for the Cali green interceptor but that blacked out engine looks beautiful.

[@kwakithailand]

Great comparison of these fantastic bikes. Your VDO is a great guideline for those looking for a good retro, Darcy.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Glad you think so!

[@fauveride]

Oh, congratulations on reaching 100,000 subs! This father and son deserve it.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thank you very much!

[@rinzan28]

Beautiful indeed. Enjoyed the review as always.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thank you kindly!

[@sambagogo777]

Yes! 'Versus' videos are my favourite. It's a shame that more KZbinrs don't do them. I suppose it's not always easy to have two bikes available to review at the same time... plus some other 'influencers' are too scared to say anything critical which might risk them being blacklisted by the manufacturer!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Yes it is quite hard to get two bikes at the same time! But we have plans for many more comparisons this year! 😁

[@philipmillen4271]

I love the stealth , every man and his dog goes for shiny bling

[@speedtriplerider7853]

Great comparison there Mr Darcy. Also, good to hear you giving us some of the stats which save me, for one, shlepping round the manufactuers crappy websites. Cheers.

[@robertonunez1085]

Love my Kawasaki w800 2012, same green like yours.Beautiful ride!!!❤

[@ianhalliwell8604]

I'm with you I dislike blacked out bikes, it's chrome all the way for me. The W800 has Kawasaki build quality and legendary reliability everything about it shouts quality. Its the only bike I'd swop my GoldStar for, but obviously a more recent model although that green is very tasty indeed.

Yup... and that w engine with that side bevel drive is soooo sweet... don't understand how companies want to make that a black blob.

[@alyal6969]

Friggin love your channel guys and your passion for all things classic! I'm looking at the SCR950 but I havent seen many in depth good reviews like you guys do. Think you could get your hands on one? Cheers

[@IanSixbikes-by6ei]

Great to see you testing a W800, a fabulous looking retro, if it was my money it would be the W800 over the Interceptor every time. I could never understand why Kawasaki dropped it from its range especially when just about every other manufacturer has introduced retro's in to their line up, all of which seem to sell extremely well.

[@richardaraujo3492]

I've got a W800, the problem is Kawasaki did what everyone asked and took an honestly retro bike and updated it just enough for modern times. That means you get retro looks and handling. Most people actually want retro looks with modern handling, RE and Triumph seem to do that better overall. It's a compromise either way, though, I think. But I love my W800.

[@Bob-xc2us]

the W800, being built in Japan, cost more to build as they have higher labour rates than India. They had too price it higher so it wasn't selling well. I live in Ottawa, Canada and in the two seasons I have owned my W800 I have never seen another one on the street. They are not a big volume seller here either so perhaps its days are numbered here as well.

[@edwardsenesac]

Nice bikes! I see on the Kawasaki USA website that the W800 is available here with a 2024 model for $10,400 MSRP.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Both gorgeous! That’s interesting to hear, such a shame it’s no longer available here!

[@schetsfiguur]

After weeks of researching, I narrowed down my search to the Interceptor 650 and the W800 Classic, with the preference towards the W800 because of it's beautiful styling and engine. However, after a test drive, I unfortunately realized that the W800 was a lot less comfortable than the Interceptor at my height (6'3). The Interceptor's seat height provides more room, it is easier to move around and get comfortable on the bench style saddle, and it's easier to adjust the pegs downwards (as the break lever of W800 runs below the peg, adjustment optionality is limited). Now I've got an awesome Interceptor 650 and added an aftermarket peashooter exhaust similar to the W800's stock one. Unbelievable how much this changes the style of the bike, truly believe it is best of both worlds like this :)

[@rodneybutler7939]

nice background on this one, ( the dumpsters ) great review !!!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@GauchoSpy]

The W800 has a unique charm, the newer ones are marvelous. You can also find the "old" air-cooled Bonneville/Thruxton (360°) and Scrambler (270°) to compare to the Interceptor, it's a great bike if well looked after.

[@andyjdaviestjk]

Nice review.

[@mloclam6917]

Great content 👍

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thank you 🙌

[@silkycherry]

I see you have learnt how to ride both bikes at the same time. Good Job! 👍

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Hahah thank you! Lucky this was about 50 metres from the dealership 😁

[@user-hf6ok2tj5h]

Glad you finally got to ride that beautiful W800 work of art, even though new ones are not sold in the UK now. Interestingly, you can buy a brand new 2024 W800 here in the USA today with a list price of $10,399. However, Royal Enfield's pricing is considerably lower. The blacked out ("Black Ray") ENT 650 you reviewed is $6,849. And a 2024 "Orange Crush" ENT 650 with brushed alloy engine, chrome exhaust and spoked wheels can be had for just $6,149. Meanwhile, over at the Guzzi dealer, the V7 Special is $9,590 and the blacked out V7 Stone is $9,190. Go figure!

[@kwood1112]

Yes, I noticed that a few weeks back when purchasing my Shotgun 650 - AWESOME bike, btw - that the W800 was considerably more expensive. It's a great looking bike for sure, but I have to think that $3-4K price difference is going to put it at a disadvantage versus the REs.

[@mockbattles]

As for the ‘blacked out’ look, I personally would prefer a combination of a black powder coated block and fins with brushed or polished engine casings and valve cover. I thought RE missed a trick by not doing that with the Super Meteor. Having a degree of shiny bits to break up all that black would be much handsomer in my view. Perhaps they’ll do it for future models. Or maybe I’ll just have to do it myself!

[@michaelmclarney1994]

Great comparison and review. I have an interceptor and really like it. It has a few minor things that I will change, such as foot rests but nothing small money can't fix!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@michaelmclarney1994]

@@MrDarcy-OlMan I think, for me, either the T120 or Speed Twin is the best option but a lot more money. The Interceptor is definitely the most bang for your buck in the segment

[@andreastomblin2137]

I don't know if you remember that I commented on you last video on the W800 and I said that it was between the W800 and the Interceptor and I went out and bought the Interceptor. I am so happy with my Interceptor 650 but boy the W800 looks amazing also. One of the things I really like about the interceptor is the way you can really make it your own with customization. It truly is a great bike and I don't see me ever selling it. Great review as usual and congratulation on 100k subscribers. Thanks ride safe!!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thank you so much, yes the Royal Enfields are very customisable!

[@piotrb2444]

Couple of weeks ago I’ve asked for w800 test done by you - since I appreciate your “modern bloke” approach to bikes with classic appeal. I thanked for the test from few days ago. But this is even better. Another thumb up….it’s a shame I can’t subscribe again. Anyway wish you 1000000 subs. Can’t wait for the old man’s come back.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

He is coming back very soon 👍🏼

[@YangCalgary]

Excellent. Thanks for elaborating on the engine characteristics; that is so important. How would you rank a T100 against both?

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

I’m yet to ride the T100, should be riding one next month 🤞🏻😁

[@Thegeordiemonkey]

Lotta work of arts in there Darcy.😂

[@caldaemon]

The W800 looks more retro and distinguished, but there's a huge price difference here in Ireland. W800 is ~12k€ and RE is ~9500€ both new. Great comparison! Cheers!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thanks for sharing!

[@666louis]

A steel braided brakeline helps a bit with the sponginess. I do miss a 6th gear though just to drop the revs at around 100Kp/h below the buzzy range.

[@BlakesPipes]

As a W800 cafe owner, I can tell you that it's an amazing bike. But I also enjoy the look of RE Int here in the states. But I could have gone either way, it was the cowl on the W and the black out of the engine.

[@user-bu9uj3yq1i]

Really good videos and reviews. One advice to help everyone, like me, show the conversions on the video to the Metric system. When you say i'm this tall or this bike does miles per gallon show some texto with that info. Thanks and keep the good bikes coming.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thanks for the tips!

[@GapBahnDirk]

The blacked out Interceptor makes sense for the rainy UK I think..... 👍👍

[@TheInterloafer]

Fantastic and very insightful comparison. Thank you for posting this. I've had a 2020 W800 since that fateful year and have been using it mostly on city streets where it has been great. Now I want to find "bumpy country lanes" like these and try her out there! Yes, the newer models have disc brakes in the rear (and ABS), and I feel like maybe a slightly louder exhaust note? The stock Dunlop K300 tires do look incredible but I changed them out for Continentals right away because the stock tires were giving me wobble on highway rain grooves. (I got a Continental Trail Attack 3 in the front and Road Attack 3 in the rear and they have been excellent with no wobble.) I appreciate all of Mr. Darcy's notes on the differences with the Interceptor and I find the most notable one is probably the higher-revving engine. Also it looks like there is liquid-cooling on the RE vs. air cooling on the Kawi? Mr. Darcy if you are reading these comments it would be great to see a review of the Interceptor and the Hunter 350 - from a handling perspective and all-around comparison like this one was. Great stuff!

[@Bob-xc2us]

The rain groove issue is some what reduced by running the proper tire pressure. 28psi front and 32psi rear (36 with a pillion). The rear will follow groves is over inflated as most dealers do before delivery.

[@TheInterloafer]

@@Bob-xc2us Ah, interesting. Thanks for mentioning this.

[@TheWanko11]

Love those analog meters on both bikes...

[@marchettejw]

I’ve got an interceptor here in northern Utah, I take mine on the 70+mph highway all of the time. It does a very good job at those speeds. And the look of the bike draws a ton of attention.

[@JoJo-hc4dj]

I do love the look of the W800 👍🏼

[@lukebusbridge6611]

Great video! I have to say both bikes look amazing. The only question I have is, would either/both of them have "enough" power for e.g. an uphill overtake on a motorway at 70mph?

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Yes they’ll definitely do it, not as fast as something with say 60+hp but they can still overtake and go on to 90+mph (on a private test track of course 😉)

[@IanClarke-bi3se]

Love the w800 thanks so much for a superb head to head review So many people have forgotten what a review should be fantastic I really think the w800 would suit me for an every day ride to work bike thanks so much

[@dirkdiggler5164]

Matte black engines cost less to manufacture than polished cases. So they take the cheap way out, but sell it as a feature, ie, "wow, look , blacked out." LOL. Also , chrome stays a lot cleaner for longer than black does! Every bit of black shows every speck of dirt!

[@christianmouraux7269]

Both great bikes ! My choice goes for the W800 😉

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Fair enough!

[@AjaySingh-228]

This was a great comparison of the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and the Kawasaki W800! It sounds like you had a lot of fun riding these bikes

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was super fun 😁

[@AjaySingh-228]

@@MrDarcy-OlMan ya 😃

[@danielmcneil3004]

Very good review and comparison of two beautiful bikes. I also prefer more chrome on a classic style bike . I am a big RE fan and still lean toward the Int650 over the W800. Seeing them side by side I was wondering if it would be possible fit the W800 seat on the Int650. Could be an easy solution to an issue I had with seat comfort when test riding the Int650. Cheers, Dan ✌️🏍🇨🇦

[@ritvik212]

One of the best comparisons of these 2 bikes. Just a question what are the exhausts on the interceptor? Looks like power rage but are those short or long version?

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thanks! They are PoweRage but I’m not sure what size they are I’m afraid

[@collyernicholasjohn]

I’m a cheap bastard so went for the interceptor, but the finishing on that Quacker is gorgeous.

[@PNH63]

You would be mad to chose the Enfield

[@35southkiwi16]

I agree with your comments re power and speed. Specs don't tell you anything much about the character of the machine. In my youth back in the 80s and 90s showrooms were full of bikes that had HP well beyond their braking and handling capabilities in my opinion.

[@richardorosso7377]

A nice review, yeah 2 different but equally great bikes I'm a little biases towards the W as I've owned the W650 and just love that trip back to yesteryear and like you think they are the perfect country lane cruisers at 5'10" I found the W ok for my stature but possibly higher bars would be a little more comfortable, a friend at work has the RE so may ask him for a go on it.. cheers 🙂

[@raulantonioperezortiz1118]

Very nice video 👌 gorgeous bike the W800..

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Glad you liked it!

[@ilejovcevski79]

As tough as choices go, between these two!

[@johnnyboy1586]

I prefer the lines snd looks of the kawasaki

[@hatchetjack1031]

Ive got a 2020 W800 Cafe w/ ABS ,Disks , front and rear. Excellent performance! Seating similar to the continental GT. Still a 5 speed in 2020. Looks like it will be out in Japan, Australia and the U.S. ..MSRP 2024 $7999. Three models available in Japan, Classic, Cafe and Street. Classic only USA. W800 sounds Awsome w/ Delkevic or Khan Moto exhaust. Cafe and Street models have black engines w/ polished fin edges! Love mine!

[@ripmax333]

If money wasn't a problem I would definitely get the w800, that 360 deg crank soumd is a joy to my ears, it properly retro and I could be wrong but I think these are still made in Japan.

[@besenwieslersepp1011]

The W800 since 2019 sound even better, than the models till 2016

[@Bob-xc2us]

Yes. They are made in Japan and are quite popular there. Like Japanese cars they are more expensive than other brands and have a very high quality reputation like Toyota cars. They also sell a W400 twin in Japan that looks and sounds pretty good. I think they were originally intended for the domestic Japanese market. The original Meguro (predecessor to the W1) back in the sixties was used as a police motorcycle. I don't know when they started selling them to the general public.

[@Tobias611]

Absolutely adore both of them, though I'd have to give it to the Kawasaki for looks. Would maybe be different with the metal/spoked wheels Interceptor! Either way, they're bikes that you turn back to once you've parked to get a second glance, and that'd what it is about!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Totally agree!

[@twowheeledparadox]

14:06 Hahaha! 😂 The W800 is really nice. Also, I agree that the polished alloy cases look better than blacked out ones because the engine is a styling element too. But, RE provided the choice for those who prefer the stealth look and that is good.

[@jroberthadden]

My closest Kawi dealer (Rapid City) has a brand new (2023) W800 on their showroom floor. Price is near $11,000 U.S. They have jumped up considerably in the past couple of years (Bidenomics) so the Interceptor is several thousand $$ less expensive. Also, and you did not mention this, the W has the fabulous Bevel Drive to actuate the lifters. This was a feature on early W bikes and some Brit classics. I prefer the sound and vibes of the 360 degree firing order and the W, I believe, is currently the only bike tuned that way. The Triumph and RE twins, with their 270 degree timing are designed to sound more V Twin like. If I wanted a V Twin I would buy a V Twin. ( I own several, now) 🙂 I would put some mini apes on the Kawasaki and a nice mellow set of reverse cone slip ons and make beautiful music in these wonderful Black Hills in which I ride.

[@massmike11]

I like the cast wheels much better.

[@splodge5714]

The W800 looks nicer and has a better build quality. Not bad for a bike that was designed in 1999 when Kawasaki launched the W650.

[@deltabluesdavidraye]

Does not have a better build quality by any means.The R.E. engine is far superior with its horizontally split cases 270 crank,Forged steel crank rods and forged pistons .

[@garryclarke-kray4071]

I’d take the RE all day long and especially in the black it looks awesome .

[@naveenbhat1930]

W800 sounds awesome..... almost like the bmw boxer twins.....

[@simoncaddick9085]

Or B.S.A. A7's..

[@r.i.p2464]

Same firing order

[@LowQualityPigeon]

I love RE but c'mon w800 is way ahead in this battle

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Might have been if it was a newer version but when you ride them back to back the royal Enfield was slightly better in my opinion. But everyone has their own opinion 😊

[@LowQualityPigeon]

​@@MrDarcy-OlManI see. That's great to know. Thanks for letting me know.

[@mattdog1982]

I have an interceptor, but I’d have no problems having a w800 either. Lovely bike. It’s a shame Kawasaki don’t bring these to UK shores any,ore.

[@scoopidiboopz77z26]

Royal Enfield should focus more on their dial design because that is what a rider would be looking throughout his journey.

[@operamatthew]

a new W800 will be arriving to my house later this month. i’ve never ridden one and didn’t have to. it’s perfection.

[@IPlayTerribleGames]

How are you liking it?

[@operamatthew]

@@IPlayTerribleGames absolutely perfect out of the box. it’s quite alot quicker than i was expecting as well. it’s the only motorcycle i have no desire to modify.

[@RE650NZGraeme]

I think the Powerage Exhausts are the same as the Enfield Precision ones from Hitchcocks and I also think Tec Bike Parts have a similar or offer the same set as well for the Interceptor 650. I have the Enfield Precision and they sound exactly the same and do give improved performance and fuel economy.

[@massmike11]

I would also like to see RE switch to belt drive, chain drive requires so much more maintenance and is not even needed. On that class of bike, belt drive is so much easier to keep maintained.

[@Roger_Ramjet]

Can't go wrong with either 👍

[@bobman7881]

Current w800 are disc front and rear with ABS Agree with you about the bar height I just bought a W800 the fit and finish is better than the RE The stock w800 seat is soft but I didn’t like it after very few miles, I put a Corbin seat on it and made it way better W800 valve adjustment if far simpler I’m 6’4” 260lbs I fit on it your dad would be ok I think Good video thanks

[@olavius771]

The old W800 with spokewheels and without ABS vs brandnew Interceptor with alu rims? 😳

[@danielkerr4100]

spoked wheels all day long, cast wheels on a retro look bike are disgusting imo

mmm... get the facts right... W800 is still around new and it is way pricier than the interceptor... revised engine, disk brakes at back and that's pretty much it. Interceptor is one hell of a machine for the price it costs... it is unbeatable... but W800 aren't a dime a dozen, are more polished and exclusive. in the end... I too would be hard to choose. If I was to buy new, I would by interceptor... if I could opt for a second hand, I would go w800 or even w650 for the carbs and kickstarter on a 25 year motorcycle...so almost a classic.

[@Bob-xc2us]

The newer W800s have 270mm rear disc brake, larger 320mm front disc, anti lock brakes, a stiffer frame and 41mm forks in place of the older versions 39mm forks. They stop quite a bit better and handle a little better. The newer ones also get different Dunlop K300 tires to replace the old style harder compound Dunlop tires.

[@ananddarnal6702]

For me, REs new colours of spoke wheel version look the best

[@DweebLord]

I hope they still make Interceptors with the spoked wheels and chrome. The blacked out look just doesn’t look right to me personally.

[@per-arnehjorth9785]

When I first saw the new paint schemes for the Interceptor I thought, come on, what is this? And cast wheels, and "blacked out", -that is not funny anymore! I have to admit though, the "Black Ray" looks quite nice with the tank graphics matching the rear suspensions gold. The bike looks a little "bad ass". 😊 I am not so sure I like the "Barcelona Blue" version, probably not. I am not so keen on the later "blacked out" Kawasaki W800:s either. This one is beautiful! 👌

[@UncleLongbeard]

I bought my '11 W800 for 4300 just before the premiere of the Interceptor. 6 years and 20k miles later I still got it and I will probably keep it as the price is not worth selling it really. If I would have a choice - would I buy the RE? No, I wouldn't. I like the Interceptor but I prefer the look of the W. You can get it cheaper and I trust it much more when it comes to reliability. Within 20k miles I only adjusted the tappets. No other mechanical work needed. With RE I'm certain that wheel bearings, clutch and a few other things would require my attention. If the Enfield would be cheaper though, I would probably lean towards it I guess.

[@ShuvGh]

Chrome looks better on both of the bike, except its too hard to maintain the shine.. so black is more handy..❤

[@machineabart]

Kawa made in Japan. RE made in India. I looked closely at both of them and I think the quality of the RE is nowhere near the Kawasaki. I noticed one thing. The Brits are not entirely objective regarding brands like RE or Triumph and I guess it is natural. I got my W800 today and I must say it stole my heart because of the way it looks. It looks way better than any RE or Triumph in my opinion. And don’t we buy those retro mainly for their looks? Modern bikes are almost always better in most aspects but the looks because most of them look like crap. Don’t you agree?

[@user-aerodelax]

I agree - i have a bit of two souls in me. I like retro bikes, but also "neo retro" like Honda CB650R style. Actual i consider to get a w800, because of is air cooled motor + sound + look at all and i really like that Kawasaki put an LED headlight on it. I not sure, if a triumph speed twin 900 can be compared with a w800. I like the way of soft modern elements on the triumph, like the rear light, the "modern rims with tires" and a Retro Hud with all information. But the small 12l tank size and the halo frontlight is odd, and, to be honest, i don´t know the quality of triumph. I think it must be pretty good for the price. :P

[@hackerrank9173]

RE is way more reliable and looks are just awesome too.....

[@Thegeordiemonkey]

Sat on an interceptor the other day and the shotgun, far too painfull for my crippled coccyx, 350 to try next although a w800 is a consideration if i can get a sit on one.

[@MVFRNinja]

I'd say this was a pretty fair comparison. Even though Kawasaki is still selling the W800 new in the United States, they haven't changed it very much since the earlier EU versions. The engine is mostly unchanged, but if you look at dyno information, the new (2019+) W800 doesn't produce peak torque until ~4500 RPM now. I'm not sure what changes Kawasaki have made to the engine to produce this result. The engine, with it's lazy, long-stroke, very undersquare design, still produces a ton of torque from idle on up and pulls smoothly but there is a bit of a more pronounced bump in "power" feel around 4K on the tach. I do know the new engine has a different oxygen sensor arrangement too, using two sensors with one in each header instead of a single one below the engine in the crossover tube. The other changes are that the new W800s have ABS now, and a rear disc brake. Unfortunately the ABS pump occupies the empty space directly in front of the engine, inside the frame cradle, and it's not great to look at and kind of spoils some of the look of the engine area. I own a 2019 Cafe version of the W800, which has a small bullet fairing and an 18" front wheel, with low clubman bars. Great to look at, but is definitely a committed riding position. I've had it since it 2020 and it's been basically flawless during that time. I will say some people find the vibrations between 3-4k RPM to be borderline excessive. What is annoying is that cruising in top gear at 60mph (100km/h) puts the engine right in the worst of those vibes and it does become uncomfortable. I wish the engine were a bit smoother in this range. Thew new W800s are a bit expensive for what they are -- MSRP in the states is about $10,400 USD, while the RE twins are roughly 60 percent of that! To be fair, the W800 is one of a few Japanese bikes that is actually still built in Japan, so make of that what you will.

[@PacAnimal]

9:03 This I can't agree with. Drum brakes are a breeze to maintain in the field. Mainly, there's no brake pads to be pushed back when reinserting the wheel. They also fully disengage when not pressed, so you can take the wheel off easily. They can be fully disconnected without anything vital leaking out, and you can carry a spare wire with you on a long trip. You can carry lots of them in the space of a bottle of brake fluid. Drum brakes have more robust parts, less oil and lubrication requirements and no seals to be kept absolutely clean. You can basically rebuild them during a sand storm. Disc brakes have better performance and cooling, and are perhaps easier to adjust as you can do so while they're fully mounted, while adjusting brake shoes are a bit of a pain in the rear, but for a puncture way out in the woods, I'm much rather taking off and remounting a wheel with a drum brake, any time.

[@martinthe3rd664]

I was considering the W800 because the looks but realized all these bikes are trying to look like a Bonneville, and the Bonneville is still being sold and with 1200cc engines at that (and reasonably priced 1200cc as well). So T120 for me, but I'd still argue the W800 looks more like a Bonneville than the real thing :)

[@adejames88]

You are getting better and better at this and now it’s my second favourite motorcycle channel after Freddie’s. However, pointing to a bike and saying “this has 49bhp, this has 48” is fine and works but carrying on using “this” when you are showing riding clips doesn’t work as we don’t know which bike you are referring to. Small point but you probably need to refer to the name of the bike when comparing as I am sure you will not know where you will insert the riding video at the time you are recording as that will happen in editing. Great video though, both great bikes but am constantly amazed that the W800 only has 49 bhp. Even my HD Street has 57 from its 750 engine. It should have 65 to 70 from that size of engine. I totally agree that all out power isn’t needed but it’s nice to have some in reserve and I definitely wouldn’t buy another bike with less than 70 bhp. Unless it was the T100 as that bike isn’t far off 70 and is stunning.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Yes you’re right after I watched it back I realised, my apologies

[@adejames88]

That’s how we get better at things , like I said great video and the channel just keeps improving

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thank you 😊

[@darrylredmill4376]

50hp is plenty in real world solo B roads. Motorway and with pillion etc then fine, have a bit more .

[@ronoldcross8189]

Wales to Scotland - Approx 409mi (645km). Jump on the INTERCEPTOR and Away we go! [CA: Los Angeles to San Francisco or th Reno] No problem.

[@o00scorpion00o]

W800 for looks and Interceptor for sound.

[@jota1221]

I’ve had a 99 W650 and the later W800. I always preferred the 650, felt more perky and alive than the 800.

[@bikerbeliever8169]

The biggest issue with the w800 as nice as it is that price. Here in the states over $10k!!!

[@BirdArvid]

Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU Mr Darcy, for your opinion on the blacked out look; the discussion about which bike looks best isn't a contest, it's an embarrassment; the W800 looks as beautiful as bikes back then did; the blacked out Enfield looks like blacked out bikes do: as though the spotty teenager on the corner found a box full of different finishes of black and proceeded to spray EVERYTHING: UGLY! With the light alloy wheels the Enfield will now completely disappear in a crowd: the same bike with the brushed metal finish on engine and fenders and rims, with spoked wheels of course and a bright colour on the tank; that would be a real discussion about the better looking bike here. Here in the US, many bikes can only be had in blackonblackonmatteblackonblack; it's so sad. Two great bikes, great video; keep up the good work!

[@mebeasensei]

Resale value of the w800 will be way higher than the RE interceptor in 10-20-30 years. (and the new w800 has slipper clutch, traction, ABS, and injection kits are available to up the HP)

[@jeffwatson4908]

A nice comparison. While following the evolution of the W800 I have no experience with one. But I had a W650 and regrettably sold it over 10 years ago. I know that the W800 had a very nominal increase in horsepower but a greater torque and no carbs.The w650 though was totally reliable had a decent suspension and power. Of note, it was supposedly based on a BSA model Kawasaki produced in the 60s under licence. It certainly looked British. Fellow riders seeing it for the first time scratched their heads convinced they were looking at Brit bike that somebody had simply put a Kawai medallion on and would dismiss it as a Japanese knock off. What would they say today about Royal Enfields? Finally two things, where is the kick starter (w650 had one) and was it not dangerous standing in front of what is clearly a Zombie containment facility?

[@mattmacpherson1033]

Kawasaki design theme is very classic. I like classic. Too bad it does not have much power.

[@jamesschneider3828]

I really dislike the blackout package on the Enfield and love the chrome on the w800. In this setup the Kawasaki is a true classic style.

[@andyc750]

the Kawasaki is by far the more authentic retro bike both in engineering with the 360 degree crank so will feel and sound far more like the bikes they mimic and also in the way it makes power, the Enfield is a styling exercise with a more modern design mechanically

[@muttineni03]

I'm curious how peak torque kicking in just at 2500rpm feels like but i have no way to know as W800 is not sold in my country, may t120 or t100 might give me an idea, i own Int btw.