New (to Me) 2000 Kawasaki W650

[Duelsporter]

Got the low bars installed yesterday (Bikemaster Euro bend). They don't look all that much lower in the pictures, but when you look at the bars side-by-side, you can see how much higher the stock bars were. Had a couple of issues. I ordered shims for the bar clamps, but I didn't realize the clutch and front brake perch were on the 1" diameter portion of the stock bars. I thought all the controls were on the 7/8" diameter portion. So I had to go to the local bicycle shop to buy some more shims for the perches. After getting everything installed, the throttle was sticky -- not readily springing back to the closed position. The problem turned out to be the now extra length of the stock throttle cables. I experimented with the positioning of the cables to make them operate more smoothly. Here's how the bars look on the bike:



The shims for the bar clamps (trimmed to the proper width):



The mirrors (which aren't all that great on the stock bars) now showed my nothing but my arms and shoulders. Used some E-Bay billet mirror extenders which reposition the mirrors up 1" and out 2" or so. Much better view now.



Lastly, I installed new Progrip model 714 grips.



Overall, I'm very happy with the results. About $50.00 for the whole setup - much less $ than the Kawasaki low-bar kit from Europe.

[Barnone]

Duelsporter,
Very nice job on the handlebar install and cable routing. I still have the high bars on my W but could use those mirror extensions. Do you get any blurring with the mirror extensions?

[Duelsporter]

The mirrors do seem to vibrate a tiny bit more than when on the stock bars, but they also did so before I put on the extenders. I think the the 7/8" bars are more the culprit than the extenders. They are nowhere near as stout as the stock Kawasaki bars. The extra vibration is not a big deal, though.

[ORexpat]

Very nice job! Looks good.

[Barnone]

Originally Posted by Duelsporter

The mirrors do seem to vibrate a tiny bit more than when on the stock bars, but they also did so before I put on the extenders. I think the the 7/8" bars are more the culprit than the extenders. They are nowhere near as stout as the stock Kawasaki bars. The extra vibration is not a big deal, though.

Thanks, then I'll try the extenders.

[GoonerYoda]

Originally Posted by Speedo66

Very fine steel wool, preferably stainless, with some WD40 as lubricant. You can get the stainless wool at a boat supply shop.

I found #0000 stainless wool at Home Depot, used a bit of WD40 and it worked great. Should have taken some before and after pictures.

The surface rust was on the springs really, one a few of the larger bolts and on the mirrors.

Again, thanks for the tip!

[Speedo66]

Originally Posted by GoonerYoda

I found #0000 stainless wool at Home Depot, used a bit of WD40 and it worked great. Should have taken some before and after pictures.

The surface rust was on the springs really, one a few of the larger bolts and on the mirrors.

Again, thanks for the tip!

Excellent, glad it worked out for you!

[tonysmallframe]

Any ideas on a good starting price? Looking at this bike locally..

"The bike is in perfect shape, always garage kept and never ridden in the rain . The bike has never been down or crashed etc. Last year I had a full tune up on the bike , carbs , valves , front pads etc. ( I have all the records for these and previous owner info)

All oil changes have been done by myself with wix filters at 1500 miles as I always like clean oil in my bikes. The bike simply runs perfectly.

I lowered the handle bars and put a more slim w 650 kawasaki knee pad on the bike , both huge improvements in my opinion. I also painted the tank black ( did not like the blue and silver ) and took off the tank badges ( did not like their aesthetics) . I have all the original parts ( in perfect condition) as well as some extra oil filters

I have to look for the exact mileage but I believe it is around 22k right now"

[GoonerYoda]

Originally Posted by tonysmallframe

Any ideas on a good starting price? Looking at this bike locally..

"The bike is in perfect shape, always garage kept and never ridden in the rain . The bike has never been down or crashed etc. Last year I had a full tune up on the bike , carbs , valves , front pads etc. ( I have all the records for these and previous owner info)

All oil changes have been done by myself with wix filters at 1500 miles as I always like clean oil in my bikes. The bike simply runs perfectly.

I lowered the handle bars and put a more slim w 650 kawasaki knee pad on the bike , both huge improvements in my opinion. I also painted the tank black ( did not like the blue and silver ) and took off the tank badges ( did not like their aesthetics) . I have all the original parts ( in perfect condition) as well as some extra oil filters

I have to look for the exact mileage but I believe it is around 22k right now"

Hard to tell. It would vary regionally.

$3500-$4kish IMO...maybe $4200. The fact that the owner painted the tank is the reason for my valuation. Did he rattle can the shit, or did he get it professionally done, and I'm not talking MAACO paint job either. A replacement tank isn't cheap. However, you have an opportunity to keep it black or repaint it knowing that it wasn't YOU who changed the original paint scheme of the tank.

WIX filters are generally not recommended.

[Blakebird]

Originally Posted by GoonerYoda

Hard to tell. It would vary regionally.

$3500-$4kish IMO...maybe $4200. The fact that the owner painted the tank is the reason for my valuation. Did he rattle can the shit, or did he get it professionally done, and I'm not talking MAACO paint job either. A replacement tank isn't cheap. However, you have an opportunity to keep it black or repaint it knowing that it wasn't YOU who changed the original paint scheme of the tank.

WIX filters are generally not recommended.

I think the paint job, professionally done or not - takes away significant value. I'd be closer to the $3200-$3500 range.
If it was repainted two-tone with pin striping and done nicely... different story.
To get the bike back to having the nice two-tone paint, you'll spend several hundred dollars.

The mileage isn't high, but 22k is not cream puff territory either. If I were looking, I'd wait for one like mine to come along

[GoonerYoda]

There's a $500 California tax on motorcycles....because California is gonna Cali.

[pjensen641]

Well folks, wish me luck. Heading to OK tomorrow to pick this up.

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/mcd/3435763979.html

Negotiated down to 3K flat. Bike was dropped on the left side. Must have been walking pace. I have more detailed photos that show light scratches in the stator cover, an abraded turn signal lens, mirror and some scratching on the left pipe. Looked pretty minimal. Ssid there is also a blemish in the top of the tank, guessing from a tank bag. 39K miles. Most unfortunately is the lack of knowledge of the original owner. However, when the cheapest I have seen them go for recently is $3800, I think it is a fair price. Wont sting much to modify it a bit and ride it knowing it will never be a pristine example. I was planning to put lower bars and bar-end mirrors on anyway.

Anyone have ideas on reasonable exhaust replacement? I like the dual pea shooter look. All I can find so far are Emgos at about $100/side, but no way to retain the crossover. Everything else is a full system from $800 on up. Anyone else not running a crossover pipe? Any noticeable performance decrease?

If anyone knows a reason to pass this one up....speak now or forever hold your peace

[Duelsporter]

Bike looks pretty good in the pictures - $3K seems very fair. I don't know of any W650-specific exhaust systems here in the US -- though there may be some of which I am not aware. There are several systems available in Japan and Europe. The best sounding one I have heard (on YouTube) is made by a Japanese company called Posh-Faith.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K60L5zjw3xo

[greer]

Good luck and drive safe, be sure and get back to us about the bike. I must have clicked on that ad a dozen times.

Sarah

Originally Posted by pjensen641

Well folks, wish me luck. Heading to OK tomorrow to pick this up.

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/mcd/3435763979.html

Negotiated down to 3K flat. Bike was dropped on the left side. Must have been walking pace. I have more detailed photos that show light scratches in the stator cover, an abraded turn signal lens, mirror and some scratching on the left pipe. Looked pretty minimal. Ssid there is also a blemish in the top of the tank, guessing from a tank bag. 39K miles. Most unfortunately is the lack of knowledge of the original owner. However, when the cheapest I have seen them go for recently is $3800, I think it is a fair price. Wont sting much to modify it a bit and ride it knowing it will never be a pristine example. I was planning to put lower bars and bar-end mirrors on anyway.

Anyone have ideas on reasonable exhaust replacement? I like the dual pea shooter look. All I can find so far are Emgos at about $100/side, but no way to retain the crossover. Everything else is a full system from $800 on up. Anyone else not running a crossover pipe? Any noticeable performance decrease?

If anyone knows a reason to pass this one up....speak now or forever hold your peace

[Barnone]

bjenson641,
Don't see how you can go wrong at that price plus as you say you can modify it to your heart's content and not feel guilty.

A good place to ask your exhaust questions is the W650 Yahoo group. The files there contain just about everything you can do to a W650.

Keep us supplied with photos of your new to you W.


I get a kick out of mine every time I ride it.