2020 Kawasaki W800 First Look: Upright and Shinier
Following up on last year’s introduction of the W800 Cafe, a standard 2020 Kawasaki W800 is delivering the W800 into the retro scene.
With roots in the 1966 Kawasaki W1 four-stroke twin—which started life as a BSA-licensed design—the 2020 Kawasaki W800 brings traditional British styling into the 21st century. Let’s check out what differentiates the W800 from its café-going brother.
2. To slow down the 2020 Kawasaki W800’s handling, it is fitted with a 19-inch front wheel. The Cafe has a pair of 18-inch hoops, compared to the 19-inch front on the standard W800. Of course, wire-spoke wheels are retained for the classic look. Era-appropriate bias-ply Dunlop K300 GP tires are mounted on the rims. ABS is standard on the W800, just as it is on the Cafe version.
3. Silver is the color for the SOHC vertical twin, which puts out 46 ft/lbs of torque at just 4800 rpm. Rather than the contrasting black/silver look of the W800 Cafe, the standard W800 is pure silver, as part of the overall effort to brighten its look. Oh, and what looks like pushrod tubes instead house a bevel gear to drive the overhead cam—well done, Kawasaki. The dual Keihin 34mm throttle bodies are tastefully hidden behind a cover, so you don’t have the visual indignity of not having carburetors. The five-speed transmission is mated to an assist-and-slip clutch—much better than what the W1 had.
5. The Café’s bikini fairing is a no-show on the W800. That’s as it should be. The 2020 Kawasaki W800 is pure naked retro goodness.
6. Instead of the plain racing-inspired paint on the tank of the W800 Cafe, the standard W800 gets flashy. The W800 has a Candy Cardinal Red paint job, with a chrome W tank emblem and sweeping silver racing stripe.
7. If you’re budget-minded, you will be happy to discover that the W800 is $600 less expensive than the Cafe. MSRP on the 2020 Kawasaki W800 is $9199.
2020 Kawasaki W800 Specs
ENGINE
- Type: Vertical twin
- Displacement: 773cc
- Bore x stroke: 77 x 83mm
- Maximum torque: 46 ft/lbs @ 4800 rpm
- Compression ratio: 8.4:1
- Fueling: EFI w/ dual Keihin 34mm throttle bodies
- Transmission: 5-speed w/ Positive Neutral Finder
- Final drive: Chain
CHASSIS
- Frame: Double cradle w/ 50mm square-section backbone
- Front suspension; travel: Non-adjustable 41mm fork; 5.1 inches
- Rear suspension; travel: Spring-preload adjustable shocks; 4.2 inches
- Tires: Dunlop K300 GP
- Front tire: 100/90 x 19
- Rear tire: 130/80 x 18
- Front brake: 320mm disc w/ 2-piston Tokico caliper
- Rear brake: 270mm disc
- ABS: Standard
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
- Wheelbase: 57.7 inches
- Rake: 27 degrees
- Trail: 4.3 inches
- Seat height: 31.1 inches
- Fuel capacity: 4 gallons
- Curb weight: 496 pounds
COLOR:
- Candy Cardinal Red
2020 Kawasaki W800 Price:
- $9199 MSRP