Is Kawasaki W800 good for long distance touring? Touring on a classic bike

Just a simple question: 'Is the Kawasaki W800 or W650 good motorcycle for long distance touring?', or: 'Can you tour on a modern classic motorcycle?' So, should you consider modern retro W800 for touring or rather buy something else. In this new series of short Q&As - I will try to tell you what I personally think about this motorcycle as a touring bike.
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#touring on a Kawasaki W800

[@BlakesPipes]

I own the W800 Cafe and it's a wonderful bike. Stop every hour to stretch, 6 feet tall and 180 pounds. I feel like a million dollars on it. Have the Concours for 600 mile days.

[@UncleLongbeard]

I had it as an only bike and was still great ;) cheers

[@Bob-xc2us]

I'm 5' 11" and I agree about wanting a taller seat. I find foot pegs to be a little too high which forces a steep angle on the knees and hips. Is fine for an hour or two but not the best for longer times in the seat which is probably a good thing because the derriere gets a little numb in those same couple of hours. A gel pad would probably fix both issues. 20mm bar risers helped a bit with the hip angle.

[@dotdashdotdash]

I recall a biok written by a British chap who toured the world on a Triumph 500cc twin in the 1970s

[@UncleLongbeard]

I know that one ;) but we're not in the seventies and most of the people can't imagine doing that. Cheers mate

[@flat6fever680]

I read that as well.

[@flat6fever680]

Ted Simaon, Jupiters Travels. Had to look it up. I gave that book to the man I sold my Triumph T100R Daytona to. Sadly. Miss the bike.

[@peterweise3836]

It is a good touring bike. Did some trips with it in Europe and enjoyed them on the W800. Will do some again in the future.

[@bootslongwater]

I toured Wales on my W800 with camping gear.Fantastic reliable no fuss touring bike. Replaced it with a BMW r9t ugs as I like simple air oil cooled.UGS is already shaping up to be a good touring bike without buying an overweight and overbiked 1250 gs

[@UncleLongbeard]

Yep, ugs is a nice bike indeed. Different sort of bike than w800 but fun for sure

[@neilgill2269]

Here we goes again,back in the late 60s, missus,& self toured the highlands,on a 500 A.J.S. spare set,plugs & points, inertube taped to frame, all the gear rammed in a tiny fibreglass top box, remember them? That kwacker, back in the day,would have been a RollsRoyce of motor cycles!! What do you mean,no oil leaks! If you got the minerals, you can tour on anything,! From moped to MZ! Just do It!

[@coloneljawoof6832]

I love my Whiskey 8.

[@Bob-xc2us]

I love my W800 and my whiskey.

[@mlecznadrogacysternazmleki5874]

Piękny motocykl jeśli ktoś gustuje w klasykach. Nie jezdzile ale siedziałem i pozycja wydaje się być bardzo wygodna. Jedyny minus to to, ze jakoś ciężko mi sobie go wyobrazić z szybą a ja żeglarzem nie jestem 😅. Jazda ponad 100km/h to totalna walka z żywiołem która na dłuższej trasie jak dla mnie jest koszmarem .

[@UncleLongbeard]

No dobra, to kilka moich przemyslen w tej kwestii. 1. nie cierpie szyb i nigdy nie rozumialem jak mozna z nimi jezdzic. Czlowiek sie tam za tym upoci, jak pada to i tak zmokniesz, a tylko goraco sie robi. A poza tym miejsce szyby jest w samochodzie ;) 2. jedyne miejsce gdzie widze sens szyby to jazda powyzej 120km/h - czyli tylko po autostradzie w zasadzie, a w dodatku niemieckiej - czyli cos, czego z gruntu nie cierpie... i nimi nie jezdze. 3. To, przy jakiej predkosci zaczyna byc na moto walka z zywiolem - zalezy w wiekszosci od pozycji na moto. Na moim HD softailu wszystko powyzej 100km/h bylo nieprzyjemne, a 110 to juz kwas. Na W800 z kolei nie czuje zadnego dyskomfortu az do 75mph (120km/h dla tych spoza UK). Powyzej i tak motocykl sie juz meczy. Na R9T z kolei - walka z wiatrem pojawia sie przy 90mph czyli ze 145km/h. Szyby nie mam w zadnym moto, a R9T ma co najwyzej fly screen'a ;) 4. Niezaleznie od wszystkiego, najwiecej da sie zobaczy jadac wolniej, delektujac sie widokami. Czyli zasadniczo ponizej 100ki ;) 5. Zabic sie jest dosc latwo na moto, wiec cos co powstrzymuje mnie przed jazda predkosciami 'zakazanymi' nie jest zle. Zawsze moge jak mnie cisnie, ale generalnie to nie jest fanie... czyli git. 6. A tak wogole, to wszedzie pelno radarow, policji itd. Wiec jazda zdrowo ponad 100 i tak jest nierealna na dluzsza mete. 7. Kiedys mialem szybe w Road Kingu i poza faktem, ze w upale odbijala cieplo silnika spowrotem + wszystkie mozliwe halasy z pieca - na zwyklych drogach nie dawala absolutnie nic poza izolowaniem mnie od chlodzacej bryzy. Moze jakbym jezdzil notorycznie przy 10st celsjusza i deszczu to mialaby wiecej sensu, ale z racji, ze wole jechac w cieply dzien bez deszczu - to efekt byl przeciwny od zadowalajacego ;) 8. Szyba przeszkadza w filmowaniu. Ta oto metoda udowodnilem, ze szyba sensu nie ma. Dziekuje, kurtyna 🤣 Pozdr. 🍺

[@mlecznadrogacysternazmleki5874]

@@UncleLongbeard i taką dyskusję to ja sobie cenię🙂. Znawcą nie jestem ale doświadczenia zbieram i jak każdy z Nas wciąż się uczę🙃. Niestety nie ze wszystkim się z Tobą zgodzę ale może po kolei. Odnośnie pkt 1 Jak Ci doskonale wiadomo, są motocykle z szybami które możemy „ustawiać” w sposób manualny bądź elektryczny. Przy takich rozwiązaniach nie musisz się martwic, ze w ciepłe dni się spocisz. Jedziesz pomału, podziwiasz widoki, szyba w dol. Wyskakujesz na główną, szyba w górę. Doceniłem to w obecnym motocyklu Kawasaki GTR. Dobra, duża szyba skutecznie potrafi ochronić cię przed deszczem o czym sam się przekonałem. Pkt 2. Dla mnie przy 110km/h czyli maksymalnej dopuszczalnej prędkości w UK jazda bez szyby już była uciążliwa ,wiec tutaj ona tez się przydaje😉 Pkt 3 Ten punkt, poniekąd zaprzecza punktowi nr 2😀 Pkt 4,5,6 100% racji Pkt 8 Jeśli masz odpowiednie sterowanie z pozycji manetki do opuszczania szyby to nie sadze żeby to był problem. A tak ogólnie to niektórzy motocykliści uważają, że nie ma to jak poczuć wiatr we włosach. Ja już dawno zapomniałem jak to jest i nie dla tego ze zawsze mam szybę 🤣🤣. Jeśli nasz wolne w sobotę to wpadnij do Triumpha na kawę. Oczywiście jeśli nie będzie padac! Bo chociaż szyba chroni przed deszczem to nie lubie moknąć 😃.Pogadamy, przewieziesz się moim i kto wie…..może zmienisz zdanie! Pozdrawiam i oby więcej takich filmów 🍻

[@UncleLongbeard]

@@mlecznadrogacysternazmleki5874 Lukasz ma elektryczna szybke, a niewazne co sie tam ustawi - i tak jest goraco ;) moze kwestia konkretnej szyby, no ale mniejsza. Wpadlbym z przyjemnoscia, ale w sobote rano smigam nach heimat ;) Z koncowka listopada jak tylko pogoda jeszcze pozwoli to sie chetnie w weekend gdzies pokulam. A co do GTR to kiedys jezdzilem starszym modelem. Bardzo dobry perfekcyjny motocykl - czyli kolejna rzecz, ktora odbiera mi frajde z jazdy ;) Zbyt doskonale rzeczy sa... jakby zbyt doskonale ;) Dlatego tez pewnie nie lubie szyby itd. Wygodnie i bezwietrznie jest w aucie, a jak jade motocyklem, to chce czegos pokreconego, wbrew zasadom i logice.

[@mlecznadrogacysternazmleki5874]

@@UncleLongbeard No to życzę miłego wypoczynku!

[@motomeditations]

Ridden 80,000 km on my w650 absolutely trouble free (now is is 104 k km of total mileage). several thousand of them - with my wife (including terrible roads in Altai or in the north of Russia). My height is 183 cm, and for people taller than me, I would not recommend the w650 / 800. Otherwise, it's a great touring bike.

[@UncleLongbeard]

true

[@robsonenduro3316]

I am 185cm - not good? :)

[@UncleLongbeard]

@@robsonenduro3316 i recently spoken with the 190 guy on w800, and he was perfectly happy. So it depends

[@RussellHank-t3t]

I've been considering buying this bike but I'd like a seat like the stock one of the Honda CB900C. I'm a fan of true classic bikes. I despise the cafe racer style, especially where the seat is concerned. Ugly has never been my thing. Because of this seat, I'm still considering a 1980's original bike.

[@UncleLongbeard]

Old bikes have much more comfortable seats.

[@KariLappi]

I have w650 model 2000. Orginal seat is not good. I bought from Omega racer new seat. Its much better.

[@TheAustralianPatient]

No worries Goldmember.

[@faridelfadani5404]

It is, and some

[@slash502]

yeah W800 was a little small for me at 6 foot 2. Where do you get your musics for your youtube videos matey? Really good stuff

[@UncleLongbeard]

Check the video description. There's a link for the music

[@sscbkr48]

Fit and finish aside, I prefer the look of the w650 but can't find any comparisons with the 650 Interceptor.

[@UncleLongbeard]

You saying that fit and finish of the w650 is better than w800 or RE? I can't say a bad thing about quality of the 800... But I would defo agree that RE quality is lower. And to be frank, I prefer W650 over my w800

[@weyzonez9975]

Hello from Indonesia Uncle 👍

[@UncleLongbeard]

Glad to see you here. Cheers mate

[@Appley81]

what panniers supports do you use?

[@UncleLongbeard]

those www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256388657998?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=MrxeCKMfRsi&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=8j1XC-ZlTcC&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[@Mo_G]

The 2013 w800 do have abs ? And wha the bad things in this bike ? And thx for the video 😊

[@UncleLongbeard]

The abs is present from 2019

[@Soul2burn]

I've owned a 2019 W800 and being 70 years of age added a sidecar to it. Its been a trouble free three years and mostly enjoyable to ride Check outt my video of it on my channel

[@warrenfowler5046]

Hi I’ve just bought a busmar double adult chair and intend fitting to my w800, how you getting on with yours, many thanks Warren

[@Soul2burn]

as i said in my post its been trouble free for three years. It is attached with the standard mounts i had to modify two of the mounts though but it was no big deal@@warrenfowler5046

[@neilgill2269]

P.S. I think im gonna buy one of them kwacker 800s, Just about aford one, on me pension.

[@UncleLongbeard]

brilliant bike, like an old one but it just works ;)

[@theodorstravels]

I thought all miles are the same size.

[@UncleLongbeard]

nah, some are bigger than the others ;)

[@FreedomRider1982]

👍💯

[@GiancarloBenzina]

Too many cheap parts on that bike and too small service network for serious long distance touring. The W800 is a great bike, but it dies in 2024. It is a niche bike for style purpose, it wasn’t ever built for any more, not even commuting. It can do all that but it’s structural concept wasn’t meant to do the hard miles in difficult terrain for years and years, not even adjusted to it. Bikes that take a beating are the ones that took it already by thousands of people traveling far, africa twin xd07, t7, st1200, vstrom650 and such. I know that’s not what it’s about for you and that’s why you’re right anything can be your bike for long touring - as long as you can live with the consequences of it wich vary drastically.

[@UncleLongbeard]

Right now I'm riding borrowed Versys 650 which is more or less the kind of a bike you mentioned. I would never ever choose it over my W800. The Versys is riding absolutely fine but it is completely soulless commuting machine. Even it is more comfortable and a bit faster than W, it is so boring I would never buy it. I think same applies to all the bikes you listed. I also think the W is simpler and more reliable from most of them as well. I don't really know what cheap parts you mean? I don't know about any, but it might be that you know that bike better than me. But anyway, each to their own. The video is not about if the Africa Twin is more reasonable touring bike for most of the people. It is simply answering the question people interested in W800 can have.

[@Bob-xc2us]

It's a street bike for goodness sake. Not a Paris to Dakar rally bike. By a bike designed for where and how you will be riding it.