Kawasaki W range, been browsing today.

[Richyba]

I'm near to the end of my visit so thought I'd have a browse round the dealers on my trusty 2 stroke. 

 

I have a W650 at home in Ireland and absolutely love it so I was keen to see the latest W800, it's a stunning looking machine and I would love one but for the 380,000 baht price tag to my mind it's the most authentic parallel twin on the market, if I win the lottery before my next visit I will be ordering one ? 

 

One a more sensible note the W250 looked nice and wasn't as small as I thought it might be and seemed well finished but I reckon the price of 220,000 baht is stupid, if it was a 400 or 500 I would consider it. 

 

Lastly on a budget was the W175 which sadly is tiny but well finished, I can see it giving Stallions a run for the money at 90,000 baht. 

 

Lastly and I didn't dare ask the price is the Z900, I thought it looked great in green and nicer than I expected. 

[thaiguzzi]

# Agree. Those W800's look more British than Triumph... And i'm a Brit bike freak...

# Little 150/250 things/Stallion competition i have no interest in whatsoever.

# Eddie Lawson Z replica - YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

[Richyba]

I agree, I looked long and hard before settling for my 650 at home and it's been a great choice, still love it! 

 

That green thing is a beauty, the other colours looked crap i thought, anyone know a price? 

[OmegaRacer]

Agree on all points except the green Z900. The other 2 tone colors are amazing though.

[Issanman]

2 hours ago, Richyba said:

That green thing is a beauty, the other colours looked crap i thought, anyone know a price? 

Z900RS Cafe is ฿505000.

Z900RS standard is ฿485000.

[DILLIGAD]

 

That green thing is a beauty, the other colours looked crap i thought, anyone know a price? 

If you weren’t there, you wouldn’t understand!

Never seen a cafe yet but the ‘Jaffa’ looks stunning IMO.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Richyba]

Other colours were there but I think they don't have the lines of the green one and look somehow bloated, the W800 would be my choice anyway, love the narrow engine and lack of radiator but each to their own. 

[Agusts]

I was thinking about W175, but I think 175cc will be too weak for anything really, up the hill or highway - you could well be on a 150cc scooter. At that price you can also check Stallion 400cc, that bike has an exceptional engine, 4 valves and EFi from what I heard, not sure how the body will hold up though....(some second-hands selling at 80-90k) 

 

W250 should really be in 120-130k range, I have no idea how they come up with 220k, don't they want anybody to buy it... !? (A bit like bar girls giving the farang silly prices when they don't like them and don't want to go with them....! lol)

 

They say it is the tax on W250 because it is made in Japan, I mean is the tax +100% ... !?

 

Considering most other things are the same I wonder how much really cost more to make a bigger engine, just cast iron block for 75cc more than 175cc, is it the price of extra steel... !?!?!  I think the manufacturers really ripping off consumers on that, say 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 400, 500cc, considering same SOHC, 2 valve, air cooled, how much difference is really in the cost of making of these !!!?     

 

[eisfeld]

27 minutes ago, Agusts said:

They say it is the tax on W250 because it is made in Japan, I mean is the tax +100% ... !?

Buffalo extrement. Japan and Thailand have a trade agreement which by now puts motorbike import duties at 0%. That's how the big-cc Hondas can have normal prices here while being Japan imports.

 

Kawa is just overpricing these models through the roof.

[Richyba]

I agree prices are stupid particularly the 250 makes no sense, I actually reckon the 400 Stallions would make the basis of a good little bike and the price is right, my only reservation is it still looks fairly small and I'm not too slim but by the time I'm back early next year used ones could be 70k, got to be value! 

[Agusts]

You might also like to try and sat on a Suzuki Van Van 200cc, but I generally didn't like it, not much of a highway, comfort bike, abnormally big fat tires for off road and doing crazy maneuvers I guess, also not much power and low top speed from what I read...

[thaiguzzi]

9 hours ago, Richyba said:

I agree, I looked long and hard before settling for my 650 at home and it's been a great choice, still love it! 

 

That green thing is a beauty, the other colours looked crap i thought, anyone know a price? 

The "green thing" is based on the later Z1000's from the early 80's and is an Eddie Lawson rep from American Superbike racing. It was and is a motorcycling icon.

The "other colours" especially the iconic brown/orange (which costs extra) are homage to the very first 4 stroke 4 cylinder Kawasaki's, the legendary Z900...

Both bikes have more kudos, and history, and style, than anything the other Japanese companies have brought out in the retro 4 cylinder market place, especially the Honda CB1100...

And i'm not even a 4 cylinder fan, but those Zed's..............................................

 

[Richyba]

Don't get me wrong I'm sure it's great but the looks just don't do it for me and I can remember the Z1000 although I've never ridden one, it looks kind of top heavy and bloated width wise, each to their own I suppose and I must say the latest CB1100 doesn't look a patch on the older one, anyway 500k will ensure that I won't be having one soon particularly as I'm only here for 2 or 3 months a year, I wouldn't say no to one at home though but it could never replace my W650. 

[NormanW]

I sold my 5 year old Z1000 and 2 year old SR 400 to get the Z900RS Cafè. 

 

I paid 495k as they have a promotion this month of 10k off including free insurance and registration.

 

Love it yeah. Arh those childhood memories!

[Richyba]

Good for you, isn't that what it's all about? Enjoy your ride, I bet its a beauty, drop a pic mine don't have much artistic flare, ride safe ? 

[thaiguzzi]

1 hour ago, NormanW said:

I sold my 5 year old Z1000 and 2 year old SR 400 to get the Z900RS Cafè. 

 

I paid 495k as they have a promotion this month of 10k off including free insurance and registration.

 

Love it yeah. Arh those childhood memories!

Never liked that Transformers Z Thou.

Love Yam SR singles especially a drum front brake 500 - may buy one someday... Gotta be a S/H version with a carb.

Z900 Cafe - Impressive bit of kit, styling wise it is excellent for a Japanese factory.

Pics and road test evaluations please. Keep us informed

[moe666]

What people typically miss is the coust of many bikes can work out to 100,000b per 100cc. I am not saying every bike will be priced this way but a few seemed to be priced in this manner

[DILLIGAD]

I sold my 5 year old Z1000 and 2 year old SR 400 to get the Z900RS Cafè. 
 
I paid 495k as they have a promotion this month of 10k off including free insurance and registration.
 
Love it yeah. Arh those childhood memories!

Your the man Mr Grimsdale!!
Enjoy!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NormanW]

23 hours ago, Richyba said:

Good for you, isn't that what it's all about? Enjoy your ride, I bet its a beauty, drop a pic mine don't have much artistic flare, ride safe ? 

Nice one thanks. I'vegot a YouTube channel jonniethai yet not sure if you can share here. I should know given how long I've been a member;)

Just had her wrapped and made some video clips so will fathom how to piece them together.

 

Meanwhile things have changed a tad since I posted a photo so here goes for the url on a pic the other day before I picked her up.

Let the good times roll.

 

[thaiguzzi]

1 hour ago, NormanW said:

Nice one thanks. I'vegot a YouTube channel jonniethai yet not sure if you can share here. I should know given how long I've been a member;)

Just had her wrapped and made some video clips so will fathom how to piece them together.

 

Meanwhile things have changed a tad since I posted a photo so here goes for the url on a pic the other day before I picked her up.

Let the good times roll.

 

I don't think there has been a prettier bikini fairing made in the 21st century.

[canthai55]

Nice to see styling not influenced by the Transformers, or some Sci Fi edgy, wedgy, plastic wrapped abomination.

You can actually see the engine, and it looks like a motorcycle, not a kids toy.

[NormanW]

41 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

Nice to see styling not influenced by the Transformers, or some Sci Fi edgy, wedgy, plastic wrapped abomination.

You can actually see the engine, and it looks like a motorcycle, not a kids toy.

Yes. Bring back the 70s and 80s.

[OmegaRacer]

1 hour ago, canthai55 said:

Nice to see styling not influenced by the Transformers, or some Sci Fi edgy, wedgy, plastic wrapped abomination.

You can actually see the engine, and it looks like a motorcycle, not a kids toy.

Amen to that!

[papa al]

2 hours ago, NormanW said:

Yes. Bring back the 70s and 80s.

Those were the days my friend.

[We thought the'd never end]

& so far, so good.!

[Richyba]

Back to W s I found a pic of my W650 in Ireland, would love it here! 

[moe666]

5 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

I don't think there has been a prettier bikini fairing made in the 21st century.

Enjoy your new ride good looking bike

[thaiguzzi]

6 minutes ago, moe666 said:

Enjoy your new ride good looking bike

I couldn't own one. My inner self/voice would not allow me. It has 4 cylinders. It is water cooled. It has no carburetors.

At least it has a round headlight and analogue clocks...

Doesn't mean I don't like it, just I can't own one.

[guzzi850m2]

Congt NormanW on the Z900 cafe, love the new Z900 retros as well, the much cheaper Z900 looks like some kind of insect as mentioned.

 

I was actually at Kawa big bike Pattaya earlier this week as asked for a deal if I trade in my V650 2015 (mk3) for a Z900rs. They offered me 150k baht!! <deleted>, I told the sales lady I can get 180K baht from the insurance if totaled. I think that is really lousy from Mityon that they thread a old customer like this, and I obviously didn't take the deal. Doubt I buy any bike/scooter from Mityon again and I also bought my pcx150 6 years ago outside Pattaya as it was +5000 baht cheaper there because Mityon had inflated the prices due to demand on the new 150cc model.

 

Back to the W800, yes lovely bike for sure but they been discontinued from the factory, last year I think and Kawa Thailand will sell remaining stock.   

[NormanW]

29 minutes ago, guzzi850m2 said:

Congt NormanW on the Z900 cafe, love the new Z900 retros as well, the much cheaper Z900 looks like some kind of insect as mentioned.

 

I was actually at Kawa big bike Pattaya earlier this week as asked for a deal if I trade in my V650 2015 (mk3) for a Z900rs. They offered me 150k baht!! <deleted>, I told the sales lady I can get 180K baht from the insurance if totaled. I think that is really lousy from Mityon that they thread a old customer like this, and I obviously didn't take the deal. Doubt I buy any bike/scooter from Mityon again and I also bought my pcx150 6 years ago outside Pattaya as it was +5000 baht cheaper there because Mityon had inflated the prices due to demand on the new 150cc model.

 

Back to the W800, yes lovely bike for sure but they been discontinued from the factory, last year I think and Kawa Thailand will sell remaining stock.   

Thanks. Arh right ok. 

Yeah they offered 200k for my 2013 Z1000 which on the insurance was 340k.

Sold to a dealer for 260k. Sold the SR to the same lad.

Yeah touring less now (3 times a year instead of 6) so combined those 2 bikes into 1 with the RS which will act as my touring and daily commute to Rayong and back. 

Got the bag on the back now rather than panniers off yhe zed.

 

[guzzi850m2]

1 hour ago, NormanW said:

Thanks. Arh right ok. 

Yeah they offered 200k for my 2013 Z1000 which on the insurance was 340k.

Sold to a dealer for 260k. Sold the SR to the same lad.

Yeah touring less now (3 times a year instead of 6) so combined those 2 bikes into 1 with the RS which will act as my touring and daily commute to Rayong and back. 

Got the bag on the back now rather than panniers off yhe zed.

 

Which dealer was that?