Kawasaki W650
Bike is located in the West Midlands,
2.5 miles from M6 Junction 9.
This bike belonged to my brother-in-law, who died earlier
this year. I've been asked to sell it on behalf of his family.
I plan to start by offering it to fellow enthusiasts from
groups that my brother-in-law and I were members of. I can
tell you as a fellow enthusiast that I would love to keep the bike for
myself, but I just don't have any room for more! The bike is
priced to sell.
Bike Facts and Figures
Date of first Registration -
21st October, 2002 (52 registration plate)
Acquired by my brother-in-law -
10th November, 2013 (The
purchaser will be the third owner)
Colour -
Silver/Blue
Total Recorded Mileage -
14,334
Last MOT Test -
19th April, 2016 (Bike will be sold with
a full year's MOT)
Mileage since last MOT -
397
Vehicle Tax status -
SORN
Appearance
The bike was purchased from the original owner in 2013. It
was in very good condition, although the laquer on the aluminium
engine-cases and covers was stained in places. My
brother-in-law removed all the laquer and polished the cases. They came
up very well and have been kept in excellent condition. There
is no rust on any of the black-painted components, and the chrome is
bright and unmarked. I can't see any dents anywhere.
The seat is in excellent condition with no tears or splits.
Since my brother-in-law bought the bike, it has never been taken out if
there was rain. It has been out on occasions when the rain
came later, and it has had a few good soakings! But it was
always cleaned, dried and polished as soon as
possible afterwards. It's not that we didn't like
rain. We just didn't like going out if it was actually
raining at the time.
Mechanical
The bikes runs really well. In four years of regular riding
with my brother-in-law, I never saw the bike fail to start first time.
In fact, after the bike had been standing for some
months, it started first kick on the kickstart. The electic
start works perfectly, but I was checking it over and I'm a kicker!
The engine runs well, with no unexpected noises.
The gears are crisp and positive. It's a pleasure
to ride it. All the lights work. The brakes are really good.
Maintenance
My brother-in-law was a patient restorer, with lots of
bikes, and he maintained them all himself. He was a skilled
machinist
with his own lathe, milling-machine and so on. He even made
his own
nuts and bolts. As far as I can tell, though, there are no
home-made
parts on the bike. I mention his machining skills just to
show
the kind of care he took with his bikes. He did all his own servicing.
Battery
The battery on the bike was purchased new in around July, 2016 and has
been properly maintained during the 2016/17 winter layup. My
brother-in-law became ill and died before he could begin
using the bike this year.
Tyres
The tyres fitted are Bridgestone Accolades. They have plenty
of miles left in them.
Originality
The bike is in as-built appearance. The only additions I'm
aware of are - a replacement blue anodised aluminium oil
filler cap, a beeper in the headlamp shell that sounds when
the indicators are going, some hand-made brass rings fitted to the
exhaust tail-pipes, some he-man type chrome and rubber
handlebar grips, an under-the-seat connection rig allowing an Optimate
charger to be plugged into the battery without having to remove bits to
gain access to the terminals and a mounting bracket and wiring for a
Drift HD Ghost camera. (We can't find the camera).
The bike also has two very nice and useful panniers, fitted
properly with brackets. I think the previous owner might have
done the mod which prevents the bike from popping on the over-run.
I say this because this bike doesn't do it, and mine does.
The brass handlebar clock shown in the photos isn't included.
It's mine, now. I'll thrown in a chrome clock if
the purchaser would like it.
I'd love to see this
bike going
to someone who will give it the same care that it's received in the
hands of my brother-in-law. These bikes are 100%
fun. But I don't need to tell you that.
