[REpozer]

I wouldn't be surprised if it did hit the States.

 It fills a marketing need for many people wanting to live a simpler/retro, less complicated life.

  As always, price will be a factor.

[1Blackwolf1]

  Hopefully it makes it stateside, I really like the lines of the machine.  Brit looks, Japanese engineering.  A definite win win situation.

[singhg5]

Piece of art !!!

Japanse have a way of picking up anything and then polishing every aspect of it, till it is just perfect - better than the original !  Whether it is cars, motorcycles, electronics or swords.  Because they understand first the spirit behind it and then with ruthless mechanical precision give it a new meaning, and sprinke the design abundantly with elements of human desire for comfort.  Then stamp it - Made In Japan.

[ace.cafe]

I think they did a nice job with it.
I also liked the W650.
The bevel drive cams is a cool feature.

[boggy]

This may sound like blasphemy to some of the modern Triumph'ers out there, but I think the W800 looks more "classic Brit" than a new Bonneville.  Don't get me wrong... I like the Bonnies, but with their bulky tanks they look a little bit more overweight than a classic Brit machine.

I agree that this W800 has some nice lines.  A shame the U.S market isn't hot enough for it.  I think it would make a great platform for some cafe, scrambler, and tracker mods.
 
Where are all of those dame W650's that didn't sell here?  Dustin' up in some warehouse?

[ace.cafe]

Honda is also having a go at the "retro" market, with a new motorcycle in the "standard" category.
It seems to recall the styling of the old CB400F four cylinder, with the nested 4-into-1 pipe arrangement.
Should be a hit with the vintage Honda crowd.

Japan only, at this time.
2010 Honda CB1100F

[Matthew Harris]

oh gosh ,you could get a triumph and have a real brit bike.

exactly!  and all the custom bits are already available to cafe or whatever!

[REpozer]

It would appear that motorcycle custumers are craving smaller cc bikes .

[ScooterBob]

oh gosh ,you could get a triumph and have a real brit bike.

No one REALLY wants to fuss with a 40-year-old Brit bike (except me - I'm still dumb enough to actually ENJOY it!) ..... the new ones are nice - but with all the "outsourcing" - I don't think they qualify for "real" Brit bike status .... besides - the dang shifter is on the WRONG side - that is reason enough right there to disqualify! 

[Maturin]

Sorry Gentlemen, I can only see a japanese finger exercise. Yet the old W1 was a copy of ancient british stile, the W800 thus is a revenant of this copy. This spoils my party!
When you look at a photo copy of a Van Gogh and compare it to your 5-year-old nephew´s newest drawing - what´s closer to "art"? The nephew´s, of course! Its his idea of painting whereas the copy is no idea at all, not even a shadow on the wall.
Kawasaki should have kept a modern stile, just because it´s their´s.

[singhg5]

Sorry Gentlemen, I can only see a japanese finger exercise. Yet the old W1 was a copy of ancient british stile, the W800 thus is a revenant of this copy. This spoils my party!
When you look at a photo copy of a Van Gogh and compare it to your 5-year-old nephew´s newest drawing - what´s closer to "art"? The nephew´s, of course! Its his idea of painting whereas the copy is no idea at all, not even a shadow on the wall.

Kawasaki should have kept a modern stile, just because it´s their´s.

Guten Tag:

Whose is what ? It is an interesting question with multiple answers depending upon how one looks at it.  But I think the key factor is TIME that defines whose is what.  I will give a few examples.

Is RE an English bike or Indian bike ?  In 1940 and early 1950s when RE was designed and fully made in England, it would have been unthinkable to view RE anything else but as an English bike.  Then in late 1950s, 60s onwards, REs made in India would not have qualified as 'English enough' bikes.  Now in 2010 RE England is history and RE Chennai is reality.  All the modernization of RE is inititated and done in India.

Interestingly, to some only iron-barrel is the real RE - they are 'English'.  But UCE EFI (the ones you and I have) are not the 'real' thing - in other words modern RE is 'Theirs' or 'Someone else's and therefore not English'.

Today's Bonneville is not the same Bonneville as of 1960s.  Does it mean today's Bonneville is less English ?  To qualify as English, is it enough to have corporate office in England and factory in Thailand ?  Doesn't Bonneville have Japanese fuel injector ? If Bonneville is not made in England and does not have all the English parts, then is it English ?

Another example is Food.  Perhaps you are aware that some of the best French pastries are made in Japan.  Some of the best Indian food is prepared in London or New York !  Some of the best Chinese restaurants are outside China !  

I do not have much problem with 'Their Style' vs 'Our style'.  With time, the boundaries of 'theirs' 'ours' start to merge.  Finally a time comes, we don't know whose is it anymore.

I do, however, agree that there is different type of experience or taste satisfaction from one vs. the other - it is just evolution with time.

I say Enjoy ALL of them !

[1 Thump]

I suspect our brethren from accross the pond will see this gorgeous ride before we do and I think we will eventually see it in the US.  Here's the list of the specs, as well as a link to an additional 40 photos at the end of the list:

Engine and Transmission
Engine type: 2 cylinders, 4-stroke, Inline  
Displacement: 773 cc (47.23 cubic inches)
Bore × stroke: 3.03 inch × 3.27 inch (undersquare - longstroke)
Throttle: Cable operated
Valves  
Valve train: SOHC, variable
Valves per cylinder: 4
Fuel and ignition
Sparks per cylinder: 1
Fuel supply system: Fuel injection
Ignition type: Digital CDI
Funnel diameter: 1.34 inch
Compression: 8.4:1
Engine mounting: Transverse
Lubrication system: Wet sump
Gear box: Manual
Clutch: Wet, multiple discs, cable operated  
Starter: Electric
 
Dimensions
Length: 85.8 inch
Width: 31.1 inch
Height: 42.3 inch
Wheel base: 57.7 inch
Trail: 4.3 inch  
Ground clearance: 4.92 inch  
Seat height: 31.1 inch  
Curb weight: 476.2 lbs
(Papa: Not a Lightweight after she's full of fluids but still less than a Hinckley Bonneville.)

Chassis and Suspension  
Frame type: Steel, Double cradle frame
Front Suspension: Cartridge
Suspension travel: 5.12 inch
Fork angle: 27°
Brake: Single Disk, Ø11.81 inch
Tire: 100 / 90 R19  
Rear Suspension: Twin shock, Swingarm
Suspension travel: 4.13 inch
Brake: Drum, Ø6.3 inch
Tire: 130 / 80 R18  

Other
ABS available: No
Fuel capacity: 3.7 gals
Number of riders: 2 persons

http://www.mbike.com/kawasaki/w800/2011

Perhaps I did not look close enough, but how much hp does this engine make ?

[singhg5]

Perhaps I did not look close enough, but how much hp does this engine make ?

@1 Thump:  

I looked at that link too, but like you did not find HP info for W800.  

Japanese Kawasaki website lists specs of its youger cousin W650 - which makes 35kW at 6500 rpm.  Using the formula kW x 1.34 = HP, it comes to 47 HP. 

A European website lists W650 power of 37kW at 7000 rpm, that is 50 HP.

http://www.kawasaki.eu/product.asp?Id=B630DCE884

W800 engine specs are very close to those of W650.  The engine size of W800 is 77 x 83 mm and for W650 is 72 x 83 mm.  Displacement of W800 is 773 cc and of W650 is 675 cc.  Both have 8 valves.  By extrapolation of the above info, I would guess that W800 makes about 55 HP.

There was no mention of W800 on that Japanese or European site.

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=ja&to=en&a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.kawasaki-cp.khi.co.jp%2fenvironment%2fmodel_eco%2fw650%2findex.html

[cyrusb]

oh gosh ,you could get a triumph and have a real brit bike.

If you consider the new Triumph a brit bike. The W800 and the new Bonneville could have been made in the same molding machines. It's simply a "Bonneville Shaped" object.

[Cabo Cruz]

"Perhaps I did not look close enough, but how much hp does this engine make ?"  1 Thump

Br. Thump, we got an excellent subject response from Br. Sing (above).  Although I cannot remember the source, a Brit motorcycle journalist wrote that the the W800 makes 60HP.  I hope this helps!