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

[Big Dave]

Both are good vehicles. The Kawasaki has a pound for pound performance edge.

When I ride a new Triumph I feel like 'I'm riding a Triumph'.

When I ride a W650 I feel like 'I'm riding a copy of a Triumph'.

[JimO]

Both are good vehicles. The Kawasaki has a pound for pound performance edge.

When I ride a new Triumph I feel like 'I'm riding a Triumph'.

When I ride a W650 I feel like 'I'm riding a copy of a Triumph'.

the triumph is a copy of the triumph as well though

[nudemetalz]

...and the Kawasaki is a copy off a Kawasaki which is in turn a copy of a BSA......

[Paul in NZ]

...and the Kawasaki is a copy off a Kawasaki which is in turn a copy of a BSA......

Erm - Dunno... The W1 / W2 was initially a rebadged Meguro who couldnt make their mind up if they were copying a BSA or a Norton for a while. The styling was very un BSA and it went on quite late to about 1973 (from memory) hich was really amazing since BSA gave up on the pre unit 10 years earlier...

Mind you - they probably should not have bothered because in my opinion the A7 / A10 bikes were a happier unit than the A50 / A65...

Point is - style wise the W650 looks very little like the W1/W2 but its a lot like the T120

I like them a lot. They are cheap enough for a special now too.....

[nudemetalz]

Yes you are right, I forgot about the Meguro.

[tamarillo]

I was looking for a weekend fun bike and thought about the bikes you mentioned, then I bought a 79 XS650 and set about having a bit of fun re-building and modifying it. I can only say that you cant buy the satisfaction of having your handywork get through re-certification and back on the road. It vibrates like a bastard, is offensively loud, but its a totally involving ride...heaps of fun, and in the windies its bloody hard to shake off.

That is very very cool...

[tamarillo]

Have to ask - why either? Why get a retro with teh compomises the adhere to in trying to look retro. Do other mid sized bikes use old twin coils on the back?

Test a good mid sized modern (Kawasaki veryses etc) against these pose machines and then choose. Do you ride it or look at it?

Like others said if you're gonna have a classic get one - try airhead beemers if you need more reliabilty.

[Paul in NZ]

Oh Oh.... is it just me - or did the room just get a bit hotter

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/Ne...-w800-is-real/

[Motu]

Is the management of the new Triumph company going to laugh this one off like their predecessors,or are they going to take it seriously.Because being a died in the wool Triumph fan,I know which one I'd be buying...and it'd have a green tank.

[Paul in NZ]

Is the management of the new Triumph company going to laugh this one off like their predecessors,or are they going to take it seriously.Because being a died in the wool Triumph fan,I know which one I'd be buying...and it'd have a green tank.

Different people buying them now Motu. Engine enthusiasts will buy the kawa, the image concious (like Big Dave) will go the triumph + accessories + jacket + cool factor Although - it would appeal to my sense of sick humour if it happened again...

Joking aside - I'm actually pleased this sector is getting more bikes - good stuff...

[Bren]

Oh Oh.... is it just me - or did the room just get a bit hotter

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/Ne...-w800-is-real/

Oi....nice link.....good to see Kwaka is going to release a larger version....might just be a possibility for me at some stage....

[Paul in NZ]

Yeah - gives me more chance to wind Big Dave up too ...

[Bren]

Yeah - gives me more chance to wind Big Dave up too ...

Well with the green paint it looks like an authentic Kawasaki, it reminds me in part to my first ever bike....a Kawasaki Z200...and the piping on the seat...very iconic of the 70s and early 80s

[Paul in NZ]

Well with the green paint it looks like an authentic Kawasaki, it reminds me in part to my first ever bike....a Kawasaki Z200...and the piping on the seat...very iconic of the 70s and early 80s

The piping is more a 50's 60's thing mate... unless my memory has gorn.... again ;-)

[AllanB]

Too late Kawasaki - silly buggers if it was a 750-800 to start with I'd have purchased one a decade ago. Still better late than never. Make a darn nice project bike.

60 hp

My 1983 750 twin Kawasaki made 55 hp.

Surely they could have easily gotten 70hp out of it and really stuck it to Triumph.

Now that would be a kick - if you consider that the Bonneville was once a true performance bike then a Japanese copy of a Japanese copy of a copy making more power than Triumphs own copy .......