Kawasaki W 800 Edition Speciale 2016 — Specifications

What justifies laying down nearly €9,000 for a motorcycle whose only novelty is a paint change? That's the whole question raised by this 2016 Kawasaki W 800 Special Edition. No revised suspension, no improved braking, not the slightest performance part to speak of. Just a livery. And yet, there's something that works in this proposition, something that has more to do with emotion than spec sheets.

The finish, let's talk about it. Kawasaki opted for a deep, almost total black that wraps around the tank, the side panels, and right down to the spoked wheels. A few white pinstripes cut through that darkness with measured elegance. The chrome on the cylinder head and exhaust stand out all the more, and the small "800 Special Edition" badge on the crankcase plays its vintage card without overdoing it. It's less flashy than the black and gold of the previous special edition, but the result exudes a patinated, almost British charm. You'd sooner picture a Triumph Bonneville parked outside a pub in Kent than a Japanese sport bike. The bevel-gear-driven cam distribution, visible and unapologetic, reminds you that this engine traces its roots to an era when engineers didn't hide the inner workings of their motors.

Beneath this polished attire lies the vertical twin displacing 773 cc and its 48 horsepower delivered at 7,000 rpm. On paper, it's modest. In reality, it's perfectly suited to the program. The 62.8 Nm of torque available from just 2,500 rpm provides supple acceleration, ideal for back roads and village crossings where this W 800 feels right at home. The five-speed gearbox is more than adequate, with the 180 km/h top speed remaining more theoretical than practical. Nobody buys this motorcycle to push hard. You buy it to ride, which is not at all the same thing.

The steel double-cradle frame, the 39 mm telehydraulic fork, and the twin rear shock absorbers form a classic, unpretentious but honest package. The braking, on the other hand, could use a touch of modernity: a single 300 mm front disc with a two-piston caliper, and a 160 mm rear drum. In 2016, even for a neo-retro, the rear drum feels a bit stingy, especially compared to a Moto Guzzi V7 that already offered disc brakes on both wheels. The 216 kg wet weight doesn't forgive sloppy braking, and the 790 mm seat height positions the rider low, which reassures average builds but limits cornering clearance. The 14-liter tank demands regular stops, but then again, that's perhaps the perfect excuse for a café terrace break.

This Kawasaki W 800 Special Edition is aimed at those who ride for the pleasure of riding, with no stopwatch and no required destination. It will suit the experienced rider looking for a distinguished touring machine, or the A2 license holder drawn to its accessible character. Compared to the Yamaha XSR700, which is punchier and more modern, the W 800 plays a different tune — more contemplative, more tactile. The price premium over the standard version remains token and is justified if the colorway speaks to you. It's a motorcycle you choose with your eyes as much as with your head, and that's probably what Kawasaki had in mind from the start.