Before Triumph brought the Bonneville back in the early 2000s, your best bet for a “Modern Classic” Bonnie actually came from Japan. Kawasaki’s W650 was a retro standard inspired by their W1, itself a copy of the BSA A7. The W650 was only exported to the US for two years, but during that time it was the best option for someone who wanted modern reliability with classic British styling. This example takes the styling one step further by actually utilizing the tank from an old Kawi W1.
The 676cc engine pumped out 50 horsepower, which was enough to move the 429 pound bike out of its own way, but not very quickly. If you ignore the badge on the tank, this bike actually looks more like the original Bonneville (especially when you look at the exhaust pipes) than the remade Bonnie did. Once Triumph brought back their classic, Kawi decided to ignore the American market. The resulting short sales period combined with retro good looks and excellent reliability have turned this bike into a bit of a cult classic. Want to learn more? Check out Motorcyclist, which did a great comparison between the W650 and the Bonneville back in 2003.
Per the seller, this example has a healthy 50,000 miles on the odometer. It’s equipped with a pedestrian slicer and an old tank from a late 60s W1S, which I think is a fantastic touch. If you agree, find this W650 for sale in Gainesville, Florida for $4,500 here on Craigslist.
This bike-uriousity brought to you by Rob B!