KAWASAKI W800 or ROYAL ENFIELD 650 - Which Retro bike is for you??

[@josephkay7785]

I looked hard at both, but bought the W. To me it is better looking, more authentic as a retro and with Japanese build quality will be on the road long after an RE is in the boneyard.

[@AdamB5000]

I just bought a new 2022 W800. I don't think they sell well so deals can be had. I'm coming back to riding after 20 years away. I really like the bike, so far. The styling sucked me in. I also didn't care for having a ton of power, and wanted something rather upright and comfortable.

[@TheManoy66]

Yeah i agree they don't sell well in the west but its got a huge following in the east. Especially in Japan and Korea. Go to IG and look for w650/800 posts. Lots of really cool Ws. By the way, congratulations on the new W800! Have fun man! 🔥🔥

[@howlingdog77]

I just bought an RE 650 Interceptor. A good bike for an older rider like me who who prefers torque to top speed. I had also considered a W800 for a long time, but there was something with styling, the lines. Then I saw a W800 scrambler with an aftermarket seat, and realised that it had been the stock seat that made me not liking the looks of the bike. Now I just realized that I want to trade my RE for a W800. With the right seat the W800 is as near perfect as you get. I thought I had made my research properly. More fool me. I have already started modifying my RE, and I'll probably lose money if I sell it. My wife says, if I lose money on another bike, that's it. Maybe I should be satisfied with what I have, instead of yearning after what I don't have. But then again, there's no reason yearning after what you do have, is there? Well, forget money, until it comes back and bites you in the ass. I also have a Yamaha SR 500, which is faster an nimbler than the RE on curvy back roads. More fun to ride. And it has a kick start only. No better feeling than kickstarting your bike. The single cylinder vibrations are tough on your hands on longer trips though. The W800 is so much more expensive than an RE 650. Whichever I choose, I know this will be my last bike. Not counting the SR 500, which I will never sell. Maybe on my deathbed, very dearly… Motorbikes make you crazy, anyway.

[@Bob-xc2us]

Nice comparison video. I looked hard at both these bikes and ultimately bought a 2022 W800 and have no regrets. It was more expensive but the fantastic looks, Japanese quality, low end torque, long stroke engine with 360 degree crank, air cooling and more accessible dealers near me made the choice easy. My W will pull away from a stop at idle without touching the throttle and will purr along a 50kph in fifth gear and pull smartly to 100kph without down shifting. It makes 85% of its maximum torque at just 2500rpm. This low flat torque curve makes it feel more powerful than it really is in normal driving. No it's not a sport bike but it's more fun and easier to drive in everyday riding. Very relaxing and calming to drive. Great stress reliever. Bob in Ottawa, Canada

[@kdsowen2882]

You are right about how a bike 'feels' .I am lucky enough to own 3 bikes which cost me less than one new RE650 . Oldest is a 73 TX650 Yamaha Cafe'. It rides and handles like a 73' bike and looks great . Next is an 03 W650 , which is like riding an old-bike that handles-well and doesn't break-down plus looks great (they are cheaper than 2nd-hand RE650's in NZ ! ) Last is my 1981 Yamaha TR1 (XV1000) . It's modified to look older than it is and has enough torque to keep you grinning all-day . The Kawasaki is easily the-best all-rounder of the-three and the only one suitable for riding around-town , if-anything , it could be considered 'too-pretty' , though they all get attention . I'm not looking forward to the-day that I have to make a decision over which one to keep, but age and the weight-factor , will eventually determine that . Dave NZ

[@pinkhelmet2]

+ 1 on that W650 mate. I toured all the Europe to the Norh Cape with mine and I still love it. I don' really know why the W800 dindn't keep the kick though. I start from time to time my W650 kickin' it with all my bad hip and knee (a breeze to start compared to my XBR500).

[@ElCachorro97]

Kapag Kawasaki even sa Barako na ginawang single service binawasan ng 2 shocks mula 4, hindi nagwowobble side to side hindi tulad ng TMX, YTX at mga China bikes na Pantra ginawang single service. Maganda batalya ng Kawasaki.

[@mr.solitude3352]

Nice comparison. Thank you for sharing it. Mighty generous of you. As for me, I won't ride any retro/cafe bike smaller than a Kawa Z900RS. That's because many of us live near highways and occasionally have to ride on them for a while. The roads you call home play a large part re. which bike best suits you. Thanks again.

[@Bob-xc2us]

The Z900RS is a great bike but a little too spirited for me at 70 years of age. On my 68th birthday I picked up my 2022 W800. It's a great machine and suits my riding style to a tee. It cruises effortlessly at 75mph on the four lane highways and is so pleasant to ride on the smaller roads or in traffic. The 360 degree crank long stroke engine just sounds so nice and the low end torque makes it effortless to drive in traffic. It will putt around at 30mph (50kph) and pull briskly to highway speed without down shifting. Truly a pleasure to ride and so relaxing. Bob in Canada

[@stewy62]

I really like the W800 in green although I’ve never seen one in the flesh 🇬🇧

[@TheManoy66]

You will love it once you see it in person. The green is pure eyecandy IMO. 👍

[@Icanreadgood1]

what about the triumph street twin 900cc? how would that bike compare to these two bikes?

[@TheManoy66]

I would have to experience the street twin first before i do that. I might visit a local triumph dealership one of these days. 🤔

[@frenchenstein]

Great video. Enjoyed this very much👍🏽 I have the W800, 2011 model, it's a wonderful bit of kit❤️

[@ElCachorro97]

Maski simpleng switches high quality yung materyales kumpara sa RE650.

[@samueljeppsen9785]

Loved your review

[@pinkhelmet2]

I don't have a W800 but seems that yours was the first after the 650 (wich I own). Same brakes, no ABS and yeah I would've liked the handlebar a bit higher and closer. But good review/comparison.

[@Bob-xc2us]

22mm bar risers worked for me. Much more comfortable now.

[@stevenbatley8666]

The Quality of the W800 is far superior ,but of course the W800 is far more expensive.

[@GunCollector007]

Very nice review

[@blrmotorcyclesinc.]

Great , wonderful comparative video, if I give you an option of having 3 motorcycles a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 plus a Royal Enfield Classic 350 and also a newly launched Triumph Speed 400 all 3 together versus one Kawasaki W800 ,which option would you choose,please kindly share your thoughts.

[@TheManoy66]

I would love to test ride a triumph 400 if given the chance and i still have to ride the reborn Classic 350. So for those bikes i'm still in the dark. I will find the time to visit the dealerships here and ask if i can take one of their bikes for a spin. 😉

[@christianmouraux7269]

I go for the W800 😉

[@deanblanton-fh3gq]

Between the two there is no comparison regarding the Enfield and the Kawasaki W800. Just look at the two for starters. The Kawasaki has far more class than the all blacked out crap look. Which makes the bike look cheap. Enfield calls it their classic look. It’s far from that. It also lacks horse power and handling which is important to any rider. In my past I’ve own several classics. The Enfield was a great bike when the British manufactured it. Even the new Triumph is much better looking and still produces a decent bike. Now BSA has entered the picture, if ya like a two wheel vibration machine. It’s a sing cylinder. A tuff rider at a long distance. In my opinion the Kawasaki is far better bike to ride. The Enfield needs to go back to their drawing board.

[@krhump]

Nice vid

[@matusknives]

Guys, whatever you do, don’t tell your girlfriend that though she is beautiful, she is a little rough on the edges, but has a lot of potential 😅

[@pauloakes5718]

Hi from the cat and fiddle👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@stormytempest6521]

W800, no ifs no buts.

[@Bob-xc2us]

YES!

[@dwheeler016]

The W800 looks small for you.

[@Bob-xc2us]

It's a mid size bike but still bigger than the Interceptor and a bit heavier.

[@michaelbrett3749]

Hello you were riding around on a fake copy of a Triumph and at 46HP it matches the 1960s Triumph in that area too. You should have bought a real Triumph Bonneville which started the retro fashion instead of pretending with both of these wanna bees