W650 - Now a Collectors Item

[xwhatsit]

The "Kawasaki" from the sixties was a Megura, which was a copy of a BSA A10.

Meguro. Meguro was another company that was already producing this Meguro BSA A10 clone (albeit with a Kawasaki sourced engine), and when Kawasaki took over in late 1965, they continued to produce this model. This was when they introduced the Kawasaki badge.

To me it looks like the W650 was based more on its successor; the Kawasaki W1. Makes sense, too, as the W1 was 650cc as well as the W650 of course; although apparently in the last year of the Meguro it had some styling changes and was bored out to 650cc.

#1: 1965 Kawasaki 500 Meguro
#2: 1966-1968 Kawasaki W1
#3: Another shot of the W1
#4: 1960 BSA A10 Super Rocket for comparison. Not sure if this is exactly the right model, there were a hell of a lot of different A10s.
EDIT #5: The W650, of course

[denill]

The "Kawasaki" from the sixties was a Megura, which was a copy of a BSA A10.

Some More on the Meguro:

[Skunk]

Meguro. Meguro was another company that was already producing this Meguro BSA A10 clone (albeit with a Kawasaki sourced engine), and when Kawasaki took over in late 1965, they continued to produce this model. This was when they introduced the Kawasaki badge.

To me it looks like the W650 was based more on its successor; the Kawasaki W1. Makes sense, too, as the W1 was 650cc as well as the W650 of course; although apparently in the last year of the Meguro it had some styling changes and was bored out to 650cc.

That's the one I was thinking of. The W1. Meguro was the company Kawasaki purchased to play with motorbikes.

[rok-the-boat]

Yeah, it's worth hanging on to it, but you'd better keep it for 20 years or so ...

I would add, too, that the W650 is the bike that Triumph should have made - they should have more-or-less reproduced the 1970s Bonnie, making it reliable and leak-proof. What they have created reminds me of a 1980s CB250N Bland SuperDream.

[xwhatsit]

Yeah, it's worth hanging on to it, but you'd better keep it for 20 years or so ...

I would add, too, that the W650 is the bike that Triumph should have made - they should have more-or-less reproduced the 1970s Bonnie, making it reliable and leak-proof. What they have created reminds me of a 1980s CB250N Bland SuperDream.

The modern one is a pretty chubby bike, isn't it? Not like the real ones, which were quite lean and graceful.

Doesn't mean I wouldn't sell my soul for a Thruxton though, lol.

[oldfella]

What are they like to ride?

Hi,
Very nice bike - I have just thrown a new clutch into mine (at 64,500km) it was sticking. The plates etc were still within the wear limits. Sad to say it appears whoever serviced the bike last (before I bought it) used too much of the wrong oil. I probably didn't need to change the clutch, but now it's been serviced properly (by me) it's running beautifully.

Good brakes, good handling, and great fun.

Cheers,
oldfella