Another Legendary Model is going.
50th Years Since it was First Launched
Kawasaki Motors Europe has announced that they will be releasing ”W800 Final Edition”.
W800 has inherited the Air-cooling Vertical Twin Engine. It is 50 years since the first W series launched and it has been announced that it will end production on its 50th Anniversary year.
The main reason is because air-cooling engines do not comply with European regulations.
The History of the Air-cooling Vertical Twin Began with the Launch of W1
650-W1 is also well known as ”W1”. The history goes back to ”Meuro Stamina” that was manufactured by ”Meguro Manufacturing Co.” before the absorbed corporation with KAWASAKI.
KAWASAKI expanded exhaust capacity to 624cc, named it ”W1” and released it in 1966 as the motorcycle with largest engine capacity in Japan.
The high performance and typical engine sound of the vertical twin engine put the W series in a high position in and out of Japan.
Also, a model named W2SS was produced with twin carburetor for Northern American customers to correspond to the needs of high performance and high speed that was required at that time.
However W3A ended production in 1974 and there after the flagship model of KAWASAKI was handed to the Z series.
Revival of the W Series with New Engine
W650 launched in 1998.
It featured ”Classic” and ”Neo Retro” characteristics of SRs and ”Naked Model” designs of Zephyr that were popular at the time.
The new air-cooling vertical twin engine is totally different from the one that was mounted to the original model but the spirit has been handed down.
The new engine is a 675cc SOHC engine different from the former OHV engine. Despite the modern features of the vehicle, the engine has been designed to resemble the former OHV engine as much as possible and inherits its exquisite structures.
The W650 finished production in 2008 due to emission regulations.
W800 with Increased Engine Capacity
W800 was released in 2010 as a subsequent model. It must have been a tough decision for KAWASAKI to increase engine capacity due to the strong passion they had for the number 650.
However by increasing engine capacity they have achieved power equivalent to the former specification. FI is used for the fuel system and will offer strong powerful reaction from low rpm.
This year is the 50th year since the first launch of W1 and KAWASAKI will be releasing W800 Final Edition.
We are not aware if it will be available in Japan, however it will also be the last model in Japan despite the fact that Japanese regulations are equivalent to European regulations.
Due to regulations, air-cooling engines are valuable. There may be some announcements like this to follow.
W800 Final Edition – The end of an era
See KAWASAKI Moto Index Page
See Accessories for KAWASAKI W800