Things I Hate About My Kawasaki W800

[@hatchetjack1031]

Have a new W800 cafe. Thought I'd hate the bars but love them ( new bars are $30). Have 1200 miles on it now. Delkevic makes replacement stainless exaust. Black or chrome, $600. ( hard to find) Chrome carb covers $25. Mine has round mirrors. HATE the fact that I can't sleep W/ my W....cause I love this bike. Hardly ride my custom HD Nightster any more.😊

[@doriang2220]

Just shows how great the bike is because in the end, there's not much to complain about

[@DirtRider22a]

Very true 👍

[@foma42]

Glad to hear you hate it. They look like a good time, and I think I wanna hate one too. Best, brother!

[@cw9790]

😅

[@jaybou007]

Funny thing: I just can't figure out if I love the exhaust note or not. It seems pretty quiet, but its purr is pretty good. Do I want one? I want one, yes. But do I WANT one?

[@josephsperato5645]

I agree with you on the handlebars. Mine is a 2019 cafe and I did not care for the clubman bars it came with. I had the standard bars like yours put on after 1000 miles. I love it now completely. Just remember mirrors are cheap. Enjoy the bike.

[@johnbailey3008]

Agree about the exhaust! I changed the bars on mine, had to get a new clutch cable, front brake line and throttle cables. Have you ever tried to change the throttle cable s on a W800? What a pain!

[@rodneysweetnam8653]

Hi DirtRider - it's Big Rodders in Ireland. Fit mirror extenders, which cost less than $20, and are simple to fit or remove. I have used 60mm ones on my Honda SH350 and 40mm items on my Monkey bike.

[@KO-pk7df]

I have noticed for decades now, low bars, small reach mirrors etc, sells in the showroom but in practice don't work. So the 1st thing is always raise the bars and get extended mirrors then maybe a aftermarket seat for long distance rides.

[@Soul2burn]

I have a 2019 with a Cozy sidecar. Love it except the battery is a real pain in the ass to remove for winter I put 3,000kms this summer in the pandemic with no issues.

[@percyprune7548]

1. Agree that the mirrors are ideal for looking at your shoulders. 2. Needs a headlight flash button. 3. The weight - close to 500 lbs and with more alloy than a genuine parallel twin it is meant to resemble yet the Triumphs were @ 400 lbs with more iron and steel in them (the 1969 Daytona T100R is 397 lbs). A starter motor and bigger battery cannot weigh that much more. Makes a difference when getting it in and out of the garage. 4. Cylinder block would look better in matt black like a 1960's bike.

[@coloneljawoof6832]

I love my Whiskey 8!!!

[@marksutherlandjr.2121]

lol full sized adult here. This was all GREAT insite, thanks for taking the time to upload these. Stuff like this is exactly the kind of insite I was hoping to get, after much deliberation, the W series is the front runner for all the bikes I'm looking into. So anything I can get from someone that has already pulled the trigger on one, is all good information for me. Enjoyed this upload!

[@DirtRider22a]

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback 👍

[@markdoolan7282]

mate just buy some end bar mirrors . they look heaps cool and you can actually see behind you really well and they're not very expensive at all , and they're dead easy to install with just an allen key yourself. those Kawasaki 's are definitely beautiful quality built bikes, bit exy over here but you do get what you pay for? Just wish they had a little bit more grunt. enjoyed the vid thanks for posting it.

[@AubMar]

I have a 2013 W800 and the previous owner fitted a Motad system, all stainless so I have heat discoloured headers and the silencers don't quite come up to the chrome finish BUT I can take out the baffle and "tune" it for more or less db's. In my list of nit-picks I would mention the centre-stand, it is quite difficult to put it under the bike and its to do with the geometry and leverage of where your foot goes - in contrast I have a Honda CBF600 and it nearly goes onto the centre stand on its own, with tiny effort. And the last thing is the way the engine revs on cold start-up until it gets warm after 2 mins and settles down - this can be a little scary if going into traffic with a cold engine! Otherwise I love it although I would like a spin on a 650 with carbs to see the difference! Thank you for your informative and excellent honest video.

[@DirtRider22a]

Good info and glad you enjoyed the video 👍

[@harrytitus9184]

Aub mar, I suggest that you have not got the correct way of the center stand. I have a W650 and hold the left handle bar, grab the left side ring under the seat, push the center stand down while pressing firmly on it and pulling back at the same time. The bike goes onto the stand without much effort. This is the same on the W800.

[@AubMar]

@@harrytitus9184Think I have the correct way okay, there aren't many ways to do it, its not my first bike, maybe my 64th so not lacking experience or technique! Like I said its a geometry issue, the amount of leverage between the foot pad and the two centre stand ground pads is just too small, I did look into the why's! It works of course but could work a lot better with slight alterations in the configuration, perhaps if you tried out another bike like the Honda CBF models you will have a greater understanding of what I am trying to say here!

[@ballsteven4926]

Im 5ft. 9, like the bars as supplied,nil issues. Agree with the comments about the mirrors. I really like this bike overall, but if I was to nit pick, I feel that the vibrations felt from the motor at certain RPM's are a little annoying, but Im getting used to it. Also, wish it had an extra gear for increased speeds for highway riding. The bike could easily handle 6th gear. Otherwise I like this bike.

[@jlrutube1312]

Just change the size on either the front or rear sprocket and that will mostly fix the need for a sixth gear. You can probably go a tooth or two more on the front or two or three less on the rear... or for a big gear change do both.

[@DirtRider22a]

Going up 1 tooth on the front was perfect for me, and fixed the speedo error as well

[@spydie]

Wish I had your red one. I have the new blue one. What I don't like about the mirrors are they are rubber mounted, which causes more vibration/ movement than a solid mirror. I don't know which would be worse, the movement from the rubber mounting or vibration from a solid mount.

[@timjohnson1199]

Love the bike, so pretty. I'd stare at it in my garage and others would do the same outside my favorite gin mill. Can't quite justify the price.

[@DirtRider22a]

Yeah, at msrp it’s a tough decision. At msrp+dealer fees+any other crap, it’s an easy choice to buy something else.

[@gorrion.pr.600]

Yeah,, i do the same with my 2003 vulcan 800👍

[@davidfreiboth1360]

Most of it is indeed nit picking. I always hated the "standard" bars typically fitting lower European bends to my past bikes. Finally Kawasaki is importing a standard with proper Euro bars. Bravo!! The exhaust and throttle body covers, nit picking. The mirrors, however, I am totally with you on. I often fit extenders so I can actually see more than my arms but this system, while admittedly optimized to eliminate vibration, so far has been impossible to modify with extenders.

[@DirtRider22a]

The only thing I forgot to mention that most people seem to have a problem with is the seat being a little harsh but Kawasaki has to draw the line somewhere and I have honestly only ever had one bike that the stock seat felt good after a few hours in the saddle so it’s par for the course as far as I’m concerned

[@bradanderson1024]

How about the steel post 1/4 below the center of the seat. Try sitting in the middle of the seat and say goodbye to your prostate gland.

[@extrameatsammich]

35mm carbide tip hole saw to cut the baffle weld and pull the entire thing out. I am 6'1 and coughtoofatcough and the only thing I can see in the mirrors is me. The anti-vibration mounts for the mirrors are ugly as sin, the mirror stalks are reverse thread so you can't just take the mounts off. EDIT - This does NOT work on the 2019 and newer bikes. You can make it work but it is not an easy mod like it used to be and the gains are really not worth the effort.

[@DirtRider22a]

I was afraid to try the hole saw trick, I kept reading that the exhaust design changed around 2018 and it only worked on the older ones.

[@extrameatsammich]

@@DirtRider22a This is true. You can get the baffle out but it is real work and you risk damaging the pipes. I used an air hammer to shrink the diameter of the inner pipe. It did change the tone but didn't really make it any louder. It sounds good but I am looking for a bit more so I ordered the Type 2 peashooters from Omega Racer.

[@timclarke9627]

I used Flanders mini apes on my Bonnie, not too high, not too low, just right. Had to get longer cables, but all worth it.

[@chadfe]

I replaced the bars on my cafe. I could barely get the front brake on without having to replace the brake line and abs cable. Also thing I hate about the cafe: You need to take the exhaust off to get a paddock stand on the bike. I opted instead to buy the center stand when I had to replace my tires.

[@FRANK-cents]

where did you buy a centre stand ?

[@spydie]

I did put handlebar risers (which also moves them back toward the rider because of the angle the mount is at). I put 30mm risers on it and now it fits me. I think the chrome FI covers are EXPENSIVE! I paid the $37 each because it really needs it (and they are stock in other countries). I don't like the mirrors either but I what I don't like is that rubber mounting which I feel it gives them more vibration movement than solid mounts. Most motorcycles today have mirrors too short to see past your shoulder. NUMBER 5:::: The damned vibration between 50 and 70 mph (3000-4000 rpm). Their counterbalance system sucks.

[@DirtRider22a]

Going up one size on the counter shaft sprocket helped with vibration a lot and also corrected the error in the speedometer

[@spydie]

@@DirtRider22a I disagree. I did that. It did correct the speedometer, but the vibration is just as bad and all it did was the move the point right into all the cruise speeds I used (50-70mph). I don't notice it after I've ridden it half an hour, but each time I get on it I go through that new "learning process" all over again! lOL. I don't remember my W650 vibrating that much, but maybe it did.

[@DirtRider22a]

@@spydie I should have specified I guess haha the vibration was still there for me too but it raised it to a speed that was above my normal riding speeds so for me it felt like a win win, after doing the sprocket change I felt like I didn’t notice the vibration until I got to 70 and I rarely rode that fast and above on the w800

[@spydie]

@@DirtRider22a mine starts right at 3000 rpm which is 50 mph and it stays there till 70 mph which is 4000 rpm. Then it smooths out again

[@DirtRider22a]

@@spydie how many miles? Curious if it will maybe get better once it gets more miles on it, I could be Mis-remembering but I feel like mine was definitely at higher speeds, may need to go back and watch some of my videos on it to maybe remind myself lol I sold it awhile back unfortunately

[@Milo19970]

This bike is on my wishlist. I hope it's comfortable enough, I'm 6.1

[@DirtRider22a]

I think you’ll fit just fine, my dad is the same height as you and he fit it pretty well 👍

[@wordsmithgmxch]

Shouldn't be a problem. I'm 6'2", got 90,000 pleasurable km on mine.

[@wordsmithgmxch]

Mirrors: shape / size is not your problem. What you need is a pair of offset extensions. They're sorta L-shaped fittings. One part screws directly onto the bar mounts; then, the fat black mirror mount screws onto the leg of the "L". That moves the mirrors outboard by about an inch a side. Problem sorted.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Hello. Wow! $1000 for the full exhaust system. I paid $1135.37 for my 1971 Kawasaki H - 1, 500 c.c. Superbike. It came with three segmented exhaust systems of three exhaust manifolds and three mufflers too. Speaking of handlebars, the H-1 had wider bars making it harder to see your elbows in the mirrors and they extended further back. Would make an excellent swap. The first models of the W series used H - 1 handlebar grips. By the way, the H - 1 would smoke the W Series in the 1/4 mile and in top speed. Also, in wheelie contests. The H - 1 and the Samurai put Kawasaki on the map. They weighed 385 lbs.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Hello, just for fun here is a video of an H - 1: KZbin video: Kawasaki mach III H1 500 onboard

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Hello, the difference between, the H -1 and the W -650/800 is the W - 800 will outlast the H -1. Today if I were to buy a new motorcycle it would either be a 650 c.c. Royal Enfield Interceptor or the Kawa W- 800. Both carry on the tradition of the Triumph and B.S.A. Lightning 650s. The W -800 has the edge because there is a cute Japanese girl riding the W all over Japan in her free time. It's an excellent KZbin Channel.

[@juleshyde4298]

I enjoy the clubman bars on my cafe. But I prefer a bit more of a sport posture. I agree on the throttle body covers though.

[@billybobb7252]

As ol' mate Fred Gassitt always said just cut the freaking pipes before the mufflers. Ha ' As for your mirrors you shouldn't be looking at your shoulders just adjust them so they reflect what's behind you. Its a common mistake among drivers of all vehicle's.

[@robertkollath8929]

I bought this same bike in March 2021, beautiful bike I am 6'4" . . . the mirrors. . . to get to 5 some might say, not me, but some might say only 5 years not six. Nice review I subscribed.

[@Jf_1900]

I'm 6'4 too bro and thinking about getting a w800, hows it fitting you?

[@Francey4782]

Surprised more people don't put mini apes on these, or what l've heard called "US Spec" bars. Not sure l'll ever be able to buy one but if l do, think l'll put some on.

[@tomforum1]

Hey DirtRider22: My W650 has weird bars. The middle part at the risers is 1" diameter and the part where the controls bolt on is 7/8". I looked up the Tusk 15mm risers you mention, they have 2 sizes, 7/8" and 1 1/8". You don't mention which you used on your W800? What size are the bars at the clamps? Also, with the 15mm risers, did they just fit in with no issues with brake hoses, cables and wiring? I have a new W800 coming in the spring.

[@DirtRider22a]

The stock bars on my w800 are 7/8” and all cables cleared fine 👍

[@tomforum1]

@@DirtRider22a Thanks man...much appreciated.

[@kdsowen2882]

have to totally agree about the exhaust . It's the same on my W650 and a replacement in NZ is probably closer to a grand and a half . I'm close to just cutting them off because the sound is so pathetic and the motor is strangled by them . Dave NZ

[@DirtRider22a]

Yeah, it’s a real shame tbh

[@digbypowell6208]

Yeah on yah Dave get the grinder out mate ! You gonna ride to cold kiwi in September?

[@jordannatter5616]

I'm 5'3 and just bought this bike. Wondering if I should go ahead and raise the handle bars now xD

[@DirtRider22a]

Depends on what riding position is most comfortable for you. I prefer to be completely upright if possible

[@jered2177]

Those are good looking bikes

[@DirtRider22a]

I couldn’t agree more!! 👍

[@UncleLongbeard]

I fully agree about the exhaust. It should have slip ons and it would be much much better

[@DirtRider22a]

That’s my biggest and only “real” complaint

[@Prosecute-fauci]

The only thing I don’t like about my W800 is the clubman bars. That are pretty uncomfortable after about 20 minutes of riding. My wrists don’t like them, and my back doesn’t like them.

[@DirtRider22a]

I sat on the cafe version and knew instantly it wasn’t for me lol

[@Prosecute-fauci]

@@DirtRider22a I bought mine (2019 model) for $5990 with only 700 miles on it last week. For an extra $130 I purchased the standard handlebars. I’m still waiting for them to come in the mail. I also purchased the factory heated grips for $300….

[@michaelripplinger2169]

5. Smallish tank/limited range. 6. Black engine. (Black barrels look great, everthing else should be chrome or polished metal, classic bonney). 7. Tube tires and spoked wheels. 8. The tower valve train still looks unbalanced.

[@DirtRider22a]

I think the spoked wheels are a plus

[@aaronwilliams1285]

Will the w800 wheelie lol id appreciate your feedback ? Thank you.

[@DirtRider22a]

Absolutely not lol way to heavy and way under powered

[@aaronwilliams1285]

@@DirtRider22a thank you lol

[@TheSodaLake]

Dubbaya! Thanks for the review, friend

[@Petrslav]

Honest guy gaming the KZbin clickbate. Hilarious. Although I do like the video discussing negatives of the bike. I'm considering buying this, and the few videos on it tend to focus on the positives.

[@tabchanzero8229]

There seems to be an option available to get a lower/flatter seat. Do you think this would help with the uncomfortable position? I'm also 5' 7".

[@DirtRider22a]

Not sure, for me the height of the seat isn’t an issue, more the reach to the bars and regardless of seat thickness I can only scoot so close to the tank. But the 1” risers have fixed my issue and only cost 20$

[@zhukie]

I am 5'7" too and have the "Low Ergo" seat. MASSIVE difference

[@frenchenstein]

Five foot seven is quite tall. I'm five foot six 🤣😂😅

[@jdl1276]

Kawasaki W800 - removing db killer, awesome sound - KZbin

[@doriang2220]

I'm the same height as you and love the standard bars. I have long arms though maybe that's why

[@DirtRider22a]

Also if you have the “standard” you have taller bars right? All 3 versions of the bike come with different bars from what I understand

[@doriang2220]

@@DirtRider22a I have a 2016 model. I don't know if the bars are different.

[@coyote102076]

Good vid!

[@DirtRider22a]

Thanks!

[@Guitarooster52]

In the end it’s still a beautiful bike though!

[@DirtRider22a]

Very beautiful bike!!!

[@timjohnson1199]

That's the thing. I love to park it outside my favorite bar.

[@biondanishgenomeinstitute8193]

#5: hard to get the battery out.

[@robertodebeers2551]

I like this bike a lot. But, I agree about the chickenshit handlebars. Maybe get a set of old stock Triumph TR6C bars with cable extensions. Stay safe out there, Bro.

[@bgibbs699]

nice looking bike

[@DirtRider22a]

Thank you, appreciate it 👍

[@bt7843]

I HATE the mirrors. Everything else I can live with.

[@bfarm44]

Buy a hole saw that fits over the db killer and cut them out your looking at nine bucks harbor freight you don’t drill out the bottom you cut that sucker out of it

[@DirtRider22a]

I had seen videos of this done but read that the internals on the 2018 and newer bikes were different and the baffle is welded in not only at the tip but also about 8 inches in, so I was afraid to try it

[@adityakhatavkar2010]

I am concerned about ground clearance

[@kdsowen2882]

If you take the correct hormones and supplements....you just might grow a little-taller

[@adityakhatavkar2010]

@@kdsowen2882 it might be possible that you don't have natural T production

[@whendashow6935]

Are you able to flatfoot the bike both feet?

[@DirtRider22a]

I don’t think I can truly flat foot. But it’s very close, either heel will be just a little off the ground

[@whendashow6935]

@@DirtRider22a Thanks, that sounds pretty good, I see the seat is different from the Cafe version, I wonder if that is the lower seat version (1" shorter)

[@DirtRider22a]

@@whendashow6935 not sure, when I purchased mine the dealer had a cage sitting next to it but I never tried sitting on the cafe one to compare

[@whendashow6935]

@@DirtRider22a I compared the pictures at the website and the cafe and regular version seat height looks equal but they do have that "Ergo fit" seat option for both, it's a little expensive though

[@frenchenstein]

All fixable dude👍🏽

[@DirtRider22a]

I agree

[@craigmorgan3276]

You mean like no hp , I believe a 1970 Yamaha 650 twin made more hp

[@larespuertorico]

Nice scenery where’s that located?

[@DirtRider22a]

Northwest Alabama

[@IanTheEarlobe]

Lol dude you’re too funny nice review though.

[@redbilly5972]

For 9 grand. I am turned off by a lot of W's

[@DirtRider22a]

Yeah they are a bit pricey, I was lucky to get mine new for $7400 plus tax and title. But full msrp+ tax and title I think I was quoted around 11.5k which is definitely to much for that bike IMO

[@MrTeff999]

Leave that catalytic converter alone.