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Thread: Which pretend classic is best? Kawasaki W650 or Triumph Bonne?

  1. #16
    Join Date
    14th September 2007 - 18:05
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    If you want a triumph lookalike, then buy the triumph.
    But at the end of the day, your the buyer, who gives a fuk wot we think.
    Ride em both and buy the one you prefer. easy eh.

  2. #17
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    23rd December 2009 - 06:41
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    I take offense to my baby being called a "pretend" classic.
    Shes a classy lady, runs well, starts first pop EVERY time & hasnt missed a beat since I got her.
    Shes my daily ride, I've done 45000ks in 2 1/2 years, wouldn't part with her for anything.

  3. #18
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    3rd May 2010 - 18:46
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    Quote Originally Posted by Love my Bonnie View Post
    I take offense to my baby being called a "pretend" classic.
    Shes a classy lady, runs well, starts first pop EVERY time & hasnt missed a beat since I got her.
    Shes my daily ride, I've done 45000ks in 2 1/2 years, wouldn't part with her for anything.
    Enjoy your ride mate ......

  4. #19
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    23rd December 2009 - 06:41
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stylo View Post
    Enjoy your ride mate ......
    I do enjoy my ride Stylo
    Shes the love of my life
    Far more reliable & trustworthy than most men I know.

  5. #20
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    6th November 2008 - 21:28
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    cheers Stylo.

  6. #21
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    9th December 2005 - 22:02
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    Quote Originally Posted by Love my Bonnie View Post
    I do enjoy my ride Stylo
    Shes the love of my life
    Far more reliable & trustworthy than most men I know.
    OI! Enough of that ya hear!
    Trumpydom!

  7. #22
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    26th July 2005 - 12:12
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    But is the Kwaka W650 actually a Bonnie inspiration or a Kwaka W1 650SS of 1965 inspiration? (which was actually a BSA 650 copy)
    http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mod...20650%2065.htm


    "...you meet the weirdest people riding a Guzzi !!..."

  8. #23
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    20th January 2008 - 17:29
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    ....or all just variations of Val Pages parallel twin....?

    Still you can't go past Jack Wickes styling on the Edward Turner models.
    DeMyer's Laws - an argument that consists primarily of rambling quotes isn't worth bothering with.

  9. #24
    It's inspired by Triumph of course,the styling clues are easy to pick up.

  10. #25
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    29th October 2005 - 16:12
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    Quote Originally Posted by nudemetalz View Post
    But is the Kwaka W650 actually a Bonnie inspiration or a Kwaka W1 650SS of 1965 inspiration? (which was actually a BSA 650 copy)
    http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mod...20650%2065.htm
    Quote Originally Posted by Motu View Post
    It's inspired by Triumph of course,the styling clues are easy to pick up.
    Yeah, Kawasaki only referred to the W1 to avoid praising Triumph and remind everyone they made a "Better BSA" back then.

    The styling was pure Edward Turner, though and IMHO is far closer to the original than the current Bonnie. Personally I prefer the W650 based on looks, but I also like the Thruxton and Scrambler and would love one of each!
    You don't get to be an old dog without learning a few tricks.
    Shorai Powersports batteries are very trick!

  11. #26
    If you are going to bring Edward Turner into it,then the modern Triumph aligns much more to his ideals.He would never produce just one stand alone model,he would spin it off into several different versions,and then use components on completely different bikes altogether.Anyone who has owned Triumphs knows that their Trophy is just not a Trophy - it's also a Bonnie,a Tiger,a T110,and Speedtwin or a Saint.......

  12. #27
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    29th October 2005 - 16:12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Motu View Post
    If you are going to bring Edward Turner into it,then the modern Triumph aligns much more to his ideals.He would never produce just one stand alone model,he would spin it off into several different versions,and then use components on completely different bikes altogether.Anyone who has owned Triumphs knows that their Trophy is just not a Trophy - it's also a Bonnie,a Tiger,a T110,and Speedtwin or a Saint.......
    True, I was only referring to the styling. The fact that Triumph has had a lot more success than Kawasaki is, I believe due to this fact and that the brand itself stands in its own right, whereas Kawasaki brought out a single model to cash in on a retro movement that never really took off.

    Still, there are enthusiastic owner groups for the W650 and specialist builders making differing models from the base bike.
    You don't get to be an old dog without learning a few tricks.
    Shorai Powersports batteries are very trick!

  13. #28
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    25th September 2009 - 21:53
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    2005 Kawasaki w650
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    Thumbs up my two penn'oth

    Just to reply to the original post. I have owned a 2005 W650 (Jap domestic model, grey import) for the past year in which time I have put about 10,000km on it via a mixture of daily commuting in Auckland and weekend trips out to the west coast, the Coromandel and Taupo.
    I am a returning biker after a lay off of about 15 years (kids you know, nowhere to put a baby seat etc) and have found the W to be the perfect bike for me. I first saw one a couple of years ago when working in Thailand – my mate had bought one and it reminded me of those late 60’s Brit bikes that I always dreamed of owning. I have always had a hankering for a 1965 Triumph Tiger twin and the W had the same no-nonsense, no frills look but seem to offer the promise of less mechanical input per mile.
    And this has proved to be the case. The bike is plenty fast enough for me, comfortable cruising on the motorway at 110kmph (any faster and the wind blast is a killer, although I did have it up to 145 kmph just for the fun of it but it was a one off!) The bike goes round corners pretty well as far as I am concerned – though I am sure not as well as modern race style bikes – in fact it reminds me of the XS650 I owned back in 1989. The major difference is the lack of vibration on the W. The XS was so bad it wobbled your eyeballs at traffic lights and blurred your vision! The vibes are there on the W but understated. The bike pulls strongly from tickover to redline with no step and sounds pretty good (if a bit quiet). Brakes are adequate for the performance, though the rear drum is a bit dead feeling.
    I did consider trading it in for a Triumph and took a 2005 T100 for a test ride. To be honest, the Triumph felt more mass produced and Jap than the Kawa strangely enough. I changed my mind on the trade in and stuck with the kawa! IMHO the W is better looking anyway, the proportions are better and it just looks less cluttered and of course there is that bevel drive that sets it apart from the rest....
    Overall then, it is an easy bike with a bit of character. Cheap to run (65+ mpg) and maintain – I change my own oil, filters etc and do the valves (dead easy due to sliding rockers and shims) and I am mechanically inept! Would definitely recommend it.
    Oh, if you do get one, get used to old fellas coming over all misty eyed and reminiscing about the old Speed Twin they used to have in Invercargill back in the day.....

  14. #29
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    25th September 2009 - 21:53
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    2005 Kawasaki w650
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    Also - lots of tuning/looks goodies out there as it is a bit of a cult bike in Japan

  15. #30
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    12th April 2006 - 18:44
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    I think Triumph based their new Bonnie on the 1978 Honda Superdream rather than the Bonnie of the same year - big mistake if you ask me. The Kawi looks a lot more the part, being based on it's old sibling. I'm British and I'd have a Bonnie of the Kawi didn't exist, but I can't buy the Kawi as it is just so Kawi.
    "May all your traffic lights be green and none of your curves have oncoming semis in them." Rocky, American Biker.
    "Those that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin, 18th C.

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