Practice – Euro4 motorcycle standards condemn the Kawasaki W800 – Used KAWASAKI

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Euro4 motorcycle standards condemn the Kawasaki W800

Practice - Euro4 motorcycle standards condemn the Kawasaki W800 - Used KAWASAKI

Euro4 standards, imposed on new motorcycles since the start of the year and compulsory on all new models from January 1, 2017, are causing another victim: the venerable Kawasaki W800. To mark the end of its production, the Greens are launching a limited series called W800 "Final Edition", recognizable by

Euro4 standards, imposed on new motorcycles since the beginning of the year and compulsory on all new models from January 1, 2017, are causing a new victim: the venerable. To mark the end of its production, the Greens are launching a limited series called W800 "Final Edition", recognizable by its brown and orange dress..

Kawasaki draws a line on its "W" range

With this scrapping of the W800, the whole “W” line died out exactly 50 years after the launch of the originator of the genre: the 1966 W1. Symbol of the simple and classic “à la Japanese ", this marked a decisive step in the history of Kawasaki, helping the manufacturer to invest the American market very fond of this type of motorcycles in the 60s / 70s. 

Quite placid in character with its vertical 650 cc twin-cylinder developing 50 valiant horsepower, the W1 became W650 in 1998.

Three years later, Kawasaki gave it a final overhaul by bringing its displacement to 773cc in passing: it is the motorcycle, endearing despite braking and dynamic behavior "old-fashioned" (understand exceeded by current standards!)

All the more so since during this time, the little Bonneville – – has completely put itself on the page while retaining its charm and its original lines. Difficult in these conditions for the Green to continue its – discreet – career…

The obligation to respect Euro4 standards completes the distinguished Japanese, one of the few motorcycles to use a magnificent and precise distribution driven by conical gear. Despite the current strength of the "neo-retro-vintage-branchouille" segment, the Greens prefer to withdraw it from the catalog rather than make the mandatory modifications, such as switching to liquid cooling to improve the performance of the vertical twin and reduce its emissions pollutants.

"Unfortunately, this great line must now be extinguished because the current W800 will not meet future European regulations," says Kawasaki.

Enough to relaunch the debates on the arrival of an unprecedented 4-cylinder retro motorcycle, which has never ceased to fuel fantasies since the presentation of the at the 2012 Milan Motor Show, followed by an equally striking at the last Tokyo Motor Show…

“It’s never easy to say goodbye to an old friend, especially one as iconic as the W800. Paying homage to the W series with the Final Edition is therefore an ideal way to end the story of a long and successful line of machines ", concludes with a touch of emotion Mr. Morihiro Ikoma, Director of Product Planning of Kawasaki Motors Europe. Bye, bye, the W800 !

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