Try to guess the last twin cylinder bike with a bevel-gear shaft driven cam and a kickstarter before you scroll down. I'll give you a hint. It is not a Ducati.
The Kawasaki W650 had a bevel-gear shaft driven overhead cam parallel twin with a kickstarter. It was only sold for a short time around 2000-2001. Just wanted to share this modified W650.
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm21/JonTravisKing/W650_Gold_BlkRims3.jpg?t=1234797160)
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm21/JonTravisKing/W650_Gold_BlkRims2.jpg?t=1234797125)
Good looking bike.
The W650 is a nice ride. Would make a great commuter IMO ~
JM
There was a shop about 20 minutes from here that wedged one of those engines in a modern Triumph frame. Looked pretty good.
I like basic everything is. Fewer electricals = less chance for electrical gremlins.
"And now you know, the rest of the story..."
Cool bike, thanks for the tidbit.
mitt
These are very nice too.
I heart Deus Ex bikes.
http://www.deus.com.au/ (http://www.deus.com.au/) (okay, somehow the website isn't working for me)
Although not strictly W650s, they do have a few nice examples.
That is a beautiful bike, I'm guessing they didn't make them in big numbers?
Very cool bike.
While not quite as sweet as the one in the OP, there's one on ebay right now.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcycles___KAWASAKI-W650-W-650_W0QQitemZ260360110290QQddnZMotorcyclesQQddiZ2283QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_motorcycles?hash=item260360110290&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A317|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcycles___KAWASAKI-W650-W-650_W0QQitemZ260360110290QQddnZMotorcyclesQQddiZ2283QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_motorcycles?hash=item260360110290&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A317%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
Sold in huge numbers in Europe and Japan from 1999-2004 then unfortunately discontinued ,although Kawasaki had a 750 version ready to go ,the bike was killed off by emmission regs in Europe.
A great bike .tunable an extra 8-10bhp is easily obtained.
Quote from: Rameses on February 16, 2009, 03:57:11 PM
Very cool bike.
While not quite as sweet as the one in the OP, there's one on ebay right now.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcycles___KAWASAKI-W650-W-650_W0QQitemZ260360110290QQddnZMotorcyclesQQddiZ2283QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_motorcycles?hash=item260360110290&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A317|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcycles___KAWASAKI-W650-W-650_W0QQitemZ260360110290QQddnZMotorcyclesQQddiZ2283QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_motorcycles?hash=item260360110290&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A317%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
I'm glad you posted the eBay auction for the stock W650. After looking at the stock bike I saw quite a few cool details on the bike in the original post. Most notably is the polished parts including the rear break drum, heads, bevel drive cover, and engine covers. The stock black painted rear drum is not attractive at all, but when polished it is a work of art. The front & rear turn signals are very well intergrated. The ugly lip at the bottom of the stock tank is minimized by painted that area black with a pinstripe.
Quote from: jerryz on February 16, 2009, 08:19:58 PM
A great bike .tunable an extra 8-10bhp is easily obtained.
You wouldn't happen to have any links to aftermarket performance parts such as exhaust?
Quote from: Travman on February 17, 2009, 12:00:36 PM
You wouldn't happen to have any links to aftermarket performance parts such as exhaust?
sounds like you're buying
Wow, I've never even heard of that bike, shame too it's sharp as all get out. That could easily end up on a buy list for me. Personally I think they did a better job of capturing that classic styling than Triumph did. I'd have guessed the one you posted was over 40yrs old, and not merely a modern reproduction.
Quote from: Scottish on February 19, 2009, 12:31:21 PM
Wow, I've never even heard of that bike, shame too it's sharp as all get out. That could easily end up on a buy list for me. Personally I think they did a better job of capturing that classic styling than Triumph did. I'd have guessed the one you posted was over 40yrs old, and not merely a modern reproduction.
+1
Just noticed the taillamp on Travmans bike, is that a cats face? Looks pretty kewl!
Quote from: Scottish on February 19, 2009, 12:31:21 PM
Wow, I've never even heard of that bike, shame too it's sharp as all get out. That could easily end up on a buy list for me. Personally I think they did a better job of capturing that classic styling than Triumph did. I'd have guessed the one you posted was over 40yrs old, and not merely a modern reproduction.
Kawasaki did do a great job with the styling, but I do have one very small nit to pick. The W650's head is cast like an early Triumph on the left side. However, spark plugs are in the center of the combustion chamber in the W650, leaving this opening where a sparkplug resided on the engine they emulated.
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj63/m143fronty/DSC09362.jpg?t=1234924840)
Quote from: Raux on February 19, 2009, 11:13:59 AM
sounds like you're buying
It's on my list of cool maybe someday bikes, but any spare change is going towards my next Ducati.