Bevel drive added to the herd.

[Moto Motivo]

  Sadly it is not a Ducati!

 

[El-Twin]

  Sadly it is not a Ducati!

But it is beautiful. That classic Bonneville stance. 

[Moto Motivo]

But it is beautiful. That classic Bonneville stance. 

It looks like a Bonneville, but is a Kawasaki W650.

[ungeheuer]

Very nice 

I'm perverse, I like the  Kawa W650 (and its brethren) ahead of the Triumphs which its seeming to emulate.

[SpikeC]

 I was tempted by one of those back in '68 when I ended up with a CL305. I should of borrowed more money!

[Pedro-bot]

Nice find.
Don't come across those too often.

Love the kick start too!   

[Curmudgeon]

Very nice 

I'm perverse, I like the  Kawa W650 (and its brethren) ahead of the Triumphs which its seeming to emulate.

Only sold here for two years because the dealers couldn't give them away. Full of character and visual cues but the shimming of the bevel gears can be problematic and they can be unstable at higher speeds. The Hinckley bikes are heavier and have a lot more torque and BHP especially post 2005 with the 865 twin. W650 has a quite loyal following in Europe. W's last a long time with reasonable care. Bonnevilles are super reliable though with a lot of early ones already over 100,000 miles.

My son had one for half a year before selling it on eBay. Check it out. Have to say I much prefer my '09 T-100 EFi. Interestingly the W800 isn't much more powerful than this W650. Guess they bumped it up mainly for Euro 3. http://newvoiceoldcars.com/ebay/history/01W650/

To the OP: Sure does look better without those Kawa badges! 

[DucatiBastard]

Nice ride! That would be a 2000, correct? Were the tank badges just stuck on or has yours had bodywork? Also, what front tire are you running?

I LOVE mine, it is a wonderfully relaxed cruiser.  I've removed the reflectors and moved the license plate up (loosen the taillamp, tuck the top of the plate behind, use the bottom plate holes to mount) Otherwise, its stock.

Yeah, the front end gets reeeal light at 65mph+ but do your Rollie Free impression and you can take it much higher.

I was sold on the bike because of the kick-start.  It makes you feel like you're really doing something.  Also, it's got a tach, which is missing on the new Bonnies...

[SpikeC]

 There are some pretty serious custom jobbies being built around these!

[Moto Motivo]

Nice ride! That would be a 2000, correct? Were the tank badges just stuck on or has yours had bodywork? Also, what front tire are you running?

I LOVE mine, it is a wonderfully relaxed cruiser.  I've removed the reflectors and moved the license plate up (loosen the taillamp, tuck the top of the plate behind, use the bottom plate holes to mount) Otherwise, its stock.

Yeah, the front end gets reeeal light at 65mph+ but do your Rollie Free impression and you can take it much higher.

I was sold on the bike because of the kick-start.  It makes you feel like you're really doing something.  Also, it's got a tach, which is missing on the new Bonnies...

Yes, it is a 2000 model.  I received the bike without the tank badges, but they had to be stick on, because there are no signs of the tank being re painted.
Front tire is a Dunlop Gold Seal K70 and works well for the bikes performance.
Performance wise the bike is not rocket ship, but as you said, a relaxed cruiser.  The motor is super quiet and I also like the sound it makes after punching holes in the baffle plates.  I shortened the rear mudguard and replaced the tail light and turn signals with smaller aftermarket items.
The bike came in as a trade in on one of my Suzuki TR500 2 stoke tribute bikes. See picture.  I still have to decide if the W650 is going to be stock or custom.  At the moment I am enjoying the bike as it is and it might be staying stock for a
while.

[fastwin]

That Suzook ring dinger is awesome!!!!

[ungeheuer]

That Suzook ring dinger is awesome!!!!

Yup, absolutely awesome 

Love to hear the ga-zing coming out of those expansion chambers 

[stopintime]

............ and it might be staying stock for a while.

 

[Moto Motivo]

 

[MendoDave]

I see it has a disk brake on the front. Thats probably good enough. But that swingarm looks a little thin for that kind of power. Otherwise I like it.