How does a trailer compare with a pillion & panniers? If the W was physically larger I think I'dwant to keep it. Aside from disliking selling bikes at anytime, it's nice to ride,as long as you're happy to just poke along. Want to go fast, a lot? Buy something else. As a solo bike I agree with whomever it was (can't find the post) that suggested the gearing could go +1 at the countershaft. And the rear springs are too light.
Extra weight?, 70 - 100 kg average I guess, plus added drag, two extra wheels & bearings etc., wind drag? I worked out roughly that 'Kenny' was carrying/towing around 400kg, fuel consumption dropped to 18kpl, Biggest issue I've had is lack of grunt [650cc], thought about dropping a 750 kit on & doing a bit more engine work to bump up power,:eek1 & clutch issues, which I'm still sorting out [hopefully], multi-plate clutch in engine oil doesn't help!! Cheers Baza
The oem rear was gone in about 5300km on mine. I had trouble finding the oem tyre in oz, so I put something different on. Can't recall what it is, pretty sure it's a different Dunlop. It's only done a few hundred km so far. Are oem tyres designed to wear out super quick? Like starter cartridges in printers.
Wheelbase is 1465 mm (57.6 ") The rear tire is 130 X 18 and there is quite a bit of choice. Most seem to go for the BT45's or the Avon's
No, they're not designed to wear out quick.... but you won't usually find a really 'good' tyre OEM. My front OEM dunlop on the V-Strom lasted about 19000km and the rear lasted just over 23000km (I bought the bike when it had about 18000km on it). Dad hasn't got a lot of k's racked up on the w800 yet, so we'll just have to see how long those dunlop loops last
Wheelbase on the XS650 is 1435mm [56.5"], which makes the W800 longer by 30mm!, yet I saw one in Goulburn today & it looked shorter to me, at least from front of the tank to the rear of the seat looks shorter! :huh Have to have a look at a new Trumpy Scrambler for some comparisons as well, I know Ferals5 reckons heavier rear shocks & seat could do with some work too? Cheers Baza
The W800 is tiny. That is what I like about the bike. Not the right bike if your 6' or so. I just use a sheepskin and that works fine for me. Plenty of after market seats as well For rear shocks, There are aftermarket shocks, even cheap piggy back ones on Ebay for $120. From reports they seem to work better than stock ones.
It's not tiny. It's the size of a similar moto from that era. Modern bikes might have have grown in size as cars have, but it doesn't make the W "tiny". A Mash is tiny, a VanVan is tiny. Not a W.
Almost agree with you Dan. The little girl is not much bigger than a 250. I also have to agree with BravoFox, it's around the same size as Bonnie from the 60's. How does it compare with a Commando? Remember the first time you saw 750/4 - they were huge! We got used to it. I recall riding a 750 Tenere and being turned off because of it's bulk. A few years later the 900 Tiger didn't seem so big but any 4 valve GS was over sized. Seems that that's the normal, acceptable size of any large 'all road' bike. Which then means that, relative to what's on the market, the W is tiny. The bit I disagree with is that is it's not the right bike for those slightly larger than normal. I reckon it's a great thing to ride. Mine could be set up a lot better, ie nothing has been done from stock, if it was just for me, especially as I no longer 'need' to ride at 120+. There's the rub, as far as I'm concerned. Finally, for the present any way, compare the W to the Bonnie. Is my recollection correct that the basic Bonnie is around 20kg heavier, if that falls within the definition of making the W 'tiny'. It's all relative, isn't it?
Look out for potholes ya mad bugger If you swing past my place on your next trip on that, there's a coupla hours work for you Ride on bro
A W (650, not any diff from 800 dimension-wise) and a T120 side by side on the pic below.. Not bad huh ? http://postimg.org/image/x94jtzeej/
