Kawi W800..... I want one!

Kawi is gunshy about bringing over the W800 since the W650 sold poorly when it was available here 13 years ago.
 
You might not be able to get your hands on a W800 here, but there is the odd W650 floating around - I'd take a look.
 
I like the Bonnie's, very stylish and they stand out in a crowd, however I have always been leery about buying one. I live in PTBO, nearest dealer is GP Bikes. Its a long way to go for service and parts. I've always been a fan of Japanese bikes as they are damn near indestructible. You just can't find fault with Japanese reliability and over all quality. As for buying a used W650, I found the same one in a search today, but $6500 for an 11 yr old bike that has been in storage for the last 5 yrs seems a bit steep and a little worrying. According to the add, he bought it new when it was 4yrs old (I can believe that) but why put the bike away in storage 2yrs later?
 
Morrissey said:
I like the Bonnie's, very stylish and they stand out in a crowd, however I have always been leery about buying one. I live in PTBO, nearest dealer is GP Bikes. Its a long way to go for service and parts. I've always been a fan of Japanese bikes as they are damn near indestructible. You just can't find fault with Japanese reliability and over all quality. As for buying a used W650, I found the same one in a search today, but $6500 for an 11 yr old bike that has been in storage for the last 5 yrs seems a bit steep and a little worrying. According to the add, he bought it new when it was 4yrs old (I can believe that) but why put the bike away in storage 2yrs later?
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It's not unheard of ... somebody dives head-first into motorcycles, and then decides it's not for them, but maybe they'll pick it up again someday... plus he may have been unwilling to sell it at big enough loss given the low interest in it at the time. If his ad is to be believed, it at least sounds like it was stored properly.

As for the modern Bonnevilles ... I would trust one. Triumph has come a long way since the 90's.

Hey, as long we're in the $6500 bracket, I'd rather have this: http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...08-Triumph-Bonneville-T100-W0QQAdIdZ467903001
 
Morrissey said:
I like the Bonnie's, very stylish and they stand out in a crowd, however I have always been leery about buying one. I live in PTBO, nearest dealer is GP Bikes. Its a long way to go for service and parts.
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You'll not have trouble have on any one of the contemporary Triumph Twins, they're as reliable as a rock. Parts haven't been a problem for me at GP, the usual consumables are always in stock, filters, gaskets, brake pads, etc., as well as some aftermarket stuff. As for service, they're so simple, you can do all the wrenching yourself.

Morrissey said:
I've always been a fan of Japanese bikes as they are damn near indestructible.
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Same goes for the Bonnie. Long gone are the days of pools of leaking oil and failed electrics.

BTW, I think there's a W650 at Kahuna.
 
Thanks for the reply Jayell. I know that the modern Triumphs are reliable, and I know that they don't have the problems like they used to. My concern with Triumph is that the closest dealer is an hour away. While I do drive by it every day on my way to work, as far as maintenance goes I know I'm not handy enough to do much more that oil and brake pads myself. Its a long way to go to drop off the bike if I need to leave the bike for a day or two, not to mention needing a ride home. I know that non-Triumph shops can work on them too, but I have heard of non-Triumph shops having a hard time getting parts in and that they have to buy them from the Triumph shops, (can't order them direct) so there is often an added cost to not going directly to a Triumph shop. Was mostly just dreaming. That W800 is the sexiest bike I've seen in years but I know it'll probably never be seen this side of the Atlantic. :(
 
Someone posted in another thread the Honda CB1100A. Ummmm.......love it!!!!!

13_Honda_CB_1100_8.jpg



If dealer network and service are a concern, definitely something to concider from big red.


Honda Canada shows only available in white????? Too bad......


PS....I think some British steel is in my future but, I have a hard time getting the list to a manageable size. Seems to keep growing.........
 
I sat on the CB1100 at the bike show and was pretty impressed. Very nice fit and finish, love the styling. I actually liked the cream/white paint. Only flaw I can see is big engine, little fuel tank. 14.6L disappears quick if you get twisting that right hand! The other down side is the insurance. I'm sure it won't be classed as a sport bike, but I'm loving paying $325/yr for my 600cc! I got a quote of $750 to insure my Wife's 1100cc Virago. I like $325 better.
 
I want one too.

Why not sell it here? They could move quite a few.
The W650 is pretty much a cult bike, instead of depreciation, the prices in the used market keep going up and up...

Also, do a search for W800 Gentlemen's cup... nice videos
http://www.w800-cup.ch/
 
They are beautiful bikes. As said above, not sure how well they would sell here as they're more of a niche market bike.

I looked at both a W650 and a CB750 Nighthawk (both low mileage 2001 models), and while I liked the classic styling of the W650, the Nighthawk won me over.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a W800 if available here.
 
The Honda CB1100A... yep... VERY nice! :O
 
I like the V7's, especially the special, but they just don't have as much style. The W800 is dripping with chrome and until you look close, you'd think it really was a late 60's brit bike. Kawi even offers a café race seat and painted wrap-around-headlight fairing as accessories to add to the vintage vibe. C'est la vie.
 
nakkers said:
Someone posted in another thread the Honda CB1100A. Ummmm.......love it!!!!!

If dealer network and service are a concern, definitely something to concider from big red.
Honda Canada shows only available in white????? Too bad......
........
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Took one out on a demo ride - pretty fun machine! Real nice suspension as I did not have to do anything while going over railway tracks - smooth!
One of the riders said there were 250 or so machines and in order to get one you had to put a deposit down.. nice machine but 15K price tag may be a little too steep for many.
 
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