This Gorgeous Retro-Styled Kawasaki Bike Perfectly Blends Approachability and Performance

Tapping more than six decades of history, the mid-size throwback offers a lot more power than the nameplate it honors.

Rear section of a black and silver Kawasaki 800 motorcycle against a blue background.

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By Steve Mazzucchi

Published February 10, 2026

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Updated February 10, 2026

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Sixty-one years ago, Kawasaki rolled out the W1, whose 500cc vertical-twin engine was the largest of any bike made in Japan.

Based heavily on the BSA A7, the motorcycle tapped into the wide appeal of British twins, a big reason for its nearly decade-long original production run.

White and black classic-style motorcycle with chrome exhaust and round headlight on a white background. — From the round headlight to the chrome-plated fenders, the W800 is festooned with retro hallmarks.

Times have changed a lot since then: engines have grown much bigger and, as the top-selling moto brand in the US last year, Kawasaki has nothing left to prove.

Even still, the proud heritage of the W1 lives on in the W230 and the W800, which combines classic good looks, easy approachability and a lot more grunt than you might expect.

Past meets present

Right off the bat, the W800’s retro aesthetics pretty much speak for themselves.

With its round headlight, indicators and gas cap; teardrop tank; chrome-plated fenders; pea shooter pipes and a one-piece stepped seat, the bike boasts all the throwback touches one could want.

Person wearing a white helmet and black leather jacket riding a silver and black classic-style motorcycle on a road. — The assist & slipper clutch and front and rear ABS take the stress out of stop-and-go urban riding.

Beyond the styling, however, the W800 stands out as an approachable, classically styled bike with more oomph than many of its ilk.

The source is a 773cc air-cooled vertical twin engine making 51 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and peak torque of 46.5 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm.

Person wearing a black leather jacket and white helmet riding a classic white and chrome motorcycle on a road. — Little two-lane country roads, rumbling along at 50 mph, are the blissful sweet spot for this sort of bike.

That’s more than enough zip to rip through city traffic, lean into two-lane twisties and even tackle the occasional highway.

(As someone who has many times round-tripped NYC and DC on an 865cc Triumph Bonneville T-100, I can confirm such a feat is possible, if not exactly cushy.)

Making any ride easier are a number of traits that would have been unheard of in 1965.

Person wearing a white helmet and black leather jacket riding a silver motorcycle across a stone bridge. — The bike’s combo of size and power is perfect for nimble maneuvering around town.

These include an assist & slipper clutch for easier shifting, a 41m telescopic fork (5.1 inches of travel) and adjustable twin rear shocks (4.2 inches of travel).

Brakes-wise, the W800 offers a single 320mm disc with 2-piston calipers up front and a single 270mm disc with 2-piston calipers in the rear, both of which feature ABS.

Person wearing a white helmet and black leather jacket sitting on a silver and black classic motorcycle by the water with a ferry boat in the background. — The reasonable seat height makes it easy for most riders to firmly get a foot or two down.

Thanks to a seat height of 31.1 inches and a curb weight just under 500 pounds, the bike is not too tall an order for newer and smaller riders.

For me, the 2026 edition loses points in just one area, which is the single color scheme available: Pearl Crystal White.

But hey, you can always paint a tank.

Availability and pricing

The 2026 Kawasaki W800 ABS is available now, starting at $10,699.

2026 Kawasaki W800 ABS

$10,699 at Kawasaki

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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