Kawi W800 vs Triumph Bonnie vs Guzzi

[atadaskew]

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/videos/2011/March/mar1811-video-kawasaki-w800-grouptest/Kawasaki/W800/_/R-EPI-129603

"Both gave the same reasons: a lovely bike to ride because of its comfort, styling and easy-going engine with performance to suit its style.”

Quote:
The new Kawasaki W800 has come out on top in MCN’s world first group test of the latest retro roadsters.

The new Kawasaki is essentially a revival of the old W650 which was dropped from Kawasaki’s line-up in 2006. The revived version not only boasts a larger capacity but also fuel injection for the first time and a host of cosmetic updates.

To find out how good these updates have made the new Kawasaki we pitted it against its closest rivals – Triumph’s Bonneville T100 and the Moto Guzzi V7 Classic – and it was the W800 which proved the favourite of two of our three testers.

At the end of the test MCN Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin concluded: “Two of the three test riders placed Kawasaki’s W800 ahead of Triumph’s T100 Bonneville.

[Snowbird]

         

[atadaskew]

What's wrong with the provided video link?

[Snowbird]

Everything?  

[falconati]

Thread reported for Guzzi bashing  

[gritsngravy]

Must be a helluva improvement over the W650, that thing was sucked.  

[Blunder]

It's MCN UK. What do they know? They've been predicting the VFR1000RR for years.  

[scarecrow]

I really wanted the W800 to come to the US. ...damn.

[atadaskew]

Must be a helluva improvement over the W650, that thing was sucked.  

I wanted one.  Until I found out they crumble to dust when exposed to sunlight.

I wonder if the W800 is better built.
Posted on: April 18, 2011, 05:37:23 PM

It's MCN UK. What do they know? They've been predicting the VFR1000RR for years.  

BIKE says:

"...the Kawasaki's detailing and finish feel more considered and better executed."
"The Bonneville is a great bike. But the W800 is superior. "

[nevinfs327]

I wanted one.  Until I found out they crumble to dust when exposed to sunlight.

I wonder if the W800 is better built.
Posted on: April 18, 2011, 05:37:23 PM

Gotta be better.  Mine has been a lot of fun but definitely has had issues with quality, like the fender splitting in two (the only reason I bobbed it) and the vibration always loosening up something (like the handle bar bolts!).  My headlight has a death rattle inside the bucket which I need to re-resolve with a wad of electrical tape.  

Hopefully the 800 is better, though without the problems it won't feel as authentic as the old Brit bikes it seeks to recreate.

[SVTNate]

To me, the only bike in that category I'd want is the Bonnie.  Or, a Thruxton.  I'd buy one to put in the garage with my Speedie if I could justify that it'd be used for some other purpose than what I use my Speedie for (commuting, riding like an asshole, trying to kill myself on apexes)

[Orson]

it'd be used for some other purpose than what I use my Speedie for (commuting, riding like an asshole, trying to kill myself on apexes)

seems to be a misconception out there that low horsepower bikes can't be flogged thru the twisties

nuthin could be further from the case  

[SVTNate]

I do not disagree, just that I already have a Speedie for that purpose.

I don't really have a *need* or purpose for getting something like a Thruxton, but I think they are really cool and have thoroughly enjoyed the few times I've ridden them.  That's reason enough to buy for the motorcyclist in me, but my financially (sometimes) responsible self can't justify putting one in the garage when it does nothing that my S3 can't do.

[Bottomdog]

Guzzi V7  

Maybe the kawi next

[Grumbler]

seems to be a misconception out there that low horsepower bikes can't be flogged thru the twisties

We can get that coveted adrenaline fix at saner speeds with low horsepower bikes.  

I'm the guy who commuted over Laureles Grade on a Honda 90 Sport from Carmel Valley
to CA-68 during my junior year of high school. Everyone passed me going uphill. Passed
them all going downhill.  

[Rincewind]

That W800 sounds like a fine bike, and I appreciate the attention-to-detail that they gushed over.  I think it's the bevel-drive on the side of the engine that makes it seem really retro-fied.



Official vid



Too bad the Guzzi was not shown to be more competitive to the other two.  Trevor seemed genuinely suprised that the V7 was actually a good bike, but failed to rank it above last.

[Orson]

We can get that coveted adrenaline fix at saner speeds with low horsepower bikes.  

people think less horsepower means less everything.

it's just different. Can't really put it into words.

it's kinda like doin' the funky chicken dance when yer drunk and everyone is staring at you but you don't give a shit how foolish you look cuz, dadgummit, yer having so much fun  

not that I've ever done that...

the funky chicken dance.

Too bad the Guzzi was not shown to be more competitive to the other two.  Trevor seemed genuinely suprised that the V7 was actually a good bike, but failed to rank it above last.

Me thinks Brit scribes put a wee too much emphasis on horsepower  

[Castaway]

So, basically, all three bikes are great.  

[atadaskew]

That W800 sounds like a fine bike, and I appreciate the attention-to-detail that they gushed over.  I think it's the bevel-drive on the side of the engine that makes it seem really retro-fied.

Problem is the W650 looked like that too on the show room floor.

Taken outside was like the scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Donovan took a drink from the incorrect "grail"....

[JSharp]

I have to question the entire retro fad. Especially when the latest copy is of something that was a complete POS in the first place...

[Orson]

I have to say, the Triumph parallel twin is a thoroughly enjoyable engine.

I wuz pleasantly surprised by how much "real world" torque it produced and the sound with the aftermarket peashooters is utterly orgasmic