Topic: What Motorcycle Have You Been Obsessing About Today?

[dirtyjeffer]

The blue on the 2021 Kawasaki W800 is lovely 

i still don't understand how the W800 was allowed to be built (as it is SOOOO close to a Triumph Bonneville in appearance).

Ummm..because it's a re-make/retro model of their W model from the 60s?

which was still a "clone" of the Bonneville back then?

No.

Some *might* say BSA. But Kawi had a legit license to do so.

Also...stylstically...in the 50s and 60s...there was only so much that could be done to distinguish the product.  Kawasaki distinguished itself by having their W series with the largest engine of any Japanese bike at the time (IIRC).

makes sense...it is a good looking bike...likely as reliable as a Toyota too.   

i like all the retro bikes coming out (many with modern features).

[Arthur Dent]

I like the W800 because it lacks a lot of the modern features. It apparently rides like an oil but with fuel injection. No ride modes, not even a fuel gauge.

[rrocket]

I like the W800 because it lacks a lot of the modern features. It apparently rides like an oil but with fuel injection. No ride modes, not even a fuel gauge.

You know they made a W650 in the 2000s.

Might be able to find a used one and save a few bucks.

[Arthur Dent]

Pretty rare finds. I've only seen one in Alberta in the last five years. It was a US import.

[DriverJeff]

The blue on the 2021 Kawasaki W800 is lovely 

They're a very pretty bike, but a little too 'retro' in the way they ride. 

[Jaeger]

The blue on the 2021 Kawasaki W800 is lovely 

They're a very pretty bike, but a little too 'retro' in the way they ride.

Too bad.  Also no fuel guage on any modern bike is pretty lol to me.  But pretty it has in spades.

[Arthur Dent]

I never owned a bike with a tach or fuel gauge 

[dkaz]

There's a low fuel light but not something you want to illuminate on a road with fuelling stations spaced at least 100 km apart. There's a digital odometer, it wouldn't have taken them much to add a small fuel gauge in there.



I never had a bike that didn't come with a fuel gauge, although my Vino 125 came close with its afterthought fuel gauge. I don't know how much of a factor it was in me having to do the walk of shame to the gas station, twice. The 4.7 litre fuel tank sucked.

[Fobroader]

Aren't Harleys usually a no fuel gauge type of situation?? I couldn't imagine not having one on a street legal vehicle

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[Jaeger]

There's a low fuel light but not something you want to illuminate on a road with fuelling stations spaced at least 100 km apart. There's a digital odometer, it wouldn't have taken them much to add a small fuel gauge in there.

Indeed.  We're not talking complex tech here.

[Triple Bob]

There's a low fuel light but not something you want to illuminate on a road with fuelling stations spaced at least 100 km apart. There's a digital odometer, it wouldn't have taken them much to add a small fuel gauge in there.

Indeed.  We're not talking complex tech here.

Like a damped tailgate. 

[rrocket]

The vast majority of my bikes never had a fuel gauge. Sportbikes and dual sports of the era never had them. Nothing more than a low fuel light which meant switch to reserve.

Even some of the dual sports didn't even have that. No nothing.

[Jaeger]

The vast majority of my bikes never had a fuel gauge. Sportbikes and dual sports of the era never had them. Nothing more than a low fuel light which meant switch to reserve.

Even some of the dual sports didn't even have that. No nothing.

And you walked to school barefoot.  In the snow.  Uphill.  Both ways.   

[Gurgie]

The vast majority of my bikes never had a fuel gauge. Sportbikes and dual sports of the era never had them. Nothing more than a low fuel light which meant switch to reserve.

Even some of the dual sports didn't even have that. No nothing.

I've only had 1 bike with a fuel gauge, my last one (ZZR-600) didn't even have a low fuel warning light. When it would start to miss, switch over to reserve & you're fine. Always reset the trip meter & then I'd know approximately when I'd have to refuel, usually around the 300km mark was a safe bet. Unless I was really ripping around town with it, then 250km was the safer bet. Never did I run outta fuel with it.

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[JohnnyMac]

Hmmm, so what would a typical range be for a bike?  I'm sure it depends on they type of bike, cruiser, dual sport, touring, etc.  How far would the longest range standard tank take you?

[Jaeger]

Aaaand the downside of a fuel gauge is.....?    I mean, you car doesn't "need" a fuel gauge either - just keep an eye on your trip meter and know what your average range for a tank is.  If the low fuel warning light comes on, you still have a reserve - just go get gas, right?  I mean, why do we even bother? 

[Jaeger]

Hmmm, so what would a typical range be for a bike?  I'm sure it depends on they type of bike, cruiser, dual sport, touring, etc.  How far would the longest range standard tank take you?

I've got a 15.4l tank and average a little over 5 l / 100km - so theretically 300km should be doable.  But just like with my car, I tend to fill up when I'm just below a quarter tank.  I'm weird that way.    Some bikes have much bigger tanks, but they also tend to have more power and use more fuel - others will know far better than I what the maximum might be.

[Triple Bob]

Hmmm, so what would a typical range be for a bike?  I'm sure it depends on they type of bike, cruiser, dual sport, touring, etc.  How far would the longest range standard tank take you?

I've got a 15.4l tank and average a little over 5 l / 100km - so theretically 300km should be doable.  But just like with my car, I tend to fill up when I'm just below a quarter tank.  I'm weird that way.    Some bikes have much bigger tanks, but they also tend to have more power and use more fuel - others will know far better than I what the maximum might be.

I used to get 220km out of the FZ-09, got 250km out of it once, looking for a gas station in rural PA. 

On the Triumph I can get about 275km, could probably stretch to 300km if I was really desperate.

[rrocket]

The vast majority of my bikes never had a fuel gauge. Sportbikes and dual sports of the era never had them. Nothing more than a low fuel light which meant switch to reserve.

Even some of the dual sports didn't even have that. No nothing.

And you walked to school barefoot.  In the snow.  Uphill.  Both ways.   

It's just the way it was at the time.

Pretty much everything from the era had a simple 3 gauge dash. All through the 90s and into the 2000s. Fuel gauges didn't become the norm until digital dashes hit the scene.

Touring rigs had fuel gauges..but not the sportier stuff.

Manufacturers didn't differ much from this layout.

[Jaeger]

Hmmm, so what would a typical range be for a bike?  I'm sure it depends on they type of bike, cruiser, dual sport, touring, etc.  How far would the longest range standard tank take you?

I've got a 15.4l tank and average a little over 5 l / 100km - so theretically 300km should be doable.  But just like with my car, I tend to fill up when I'm just below a quarter tank.  I'm weird that way.    Some bikes have much bigger tanks, but they also tend to have more power and use more fuel - others will know far better than I what the maximum might be.

I used to get 220km out of the FZ-09, got 250km out of it once, looking for a gas station in rural PA. 

On the Triumph I can get about 275km, could probably stretch to 300km if I was really desperate.

Sounds like 300km is a pretty average range then.