In the 1970's, motorcycles like Honda's rapidly evolving CB line and Yamaha's lauded XS650 helped elevate Japan's two-wheeled arsenal to new levels of performance and practicality. Stylish and affordable, these mechanically advanced machines cut across the landscape like a Samurai sword, striking the heart of America's obsession with mobility and freedom in one stroke, and draining the lifeblood from the British bike industry with another. In less than a generation, Japan's motorcycle industry vaulted from global whipping boy to world power. Great Britain could do little more than watch its beloved Triumph fade away. Back home, America's Harley-Davidson was forced to seek refuge from a bowling ball manufacturer.
With no one to compete against them in the moto market, Japan battled itself for global domination. When Honda thrusted with its CB750, Kawasaki parried with the KZ900. A superbike battle royale ensued, with four Kamikazes leaving few survivors. The '80s were good times for high performance, but the Asian aesthetic left many proud Americans cold. One such maverick was a matinee idol named Ronald Reagan. After saying goodbye to Hollywood, the California cowboy moved to the White House.
One of Ronnie's first moves in the parlor game called Reaganomics involved adjusting import duties on motorcycles, parts and accessories. This kicked value-conscious Japanese bike buyers where they lived, and gave the MoCo room to breathe. In a fire stoked on patriotism and fueled by nostalgia, Harley's fortunes burned bright once more. While Japan shaped the battlefield in other categories—minibikes, MX, sportbikes and ATV's, to name four—Harley clung to its heritage in the Big Twin market with cast-iron knuckles on shovel-sized fists.

Kawasaki W650: born 1999, died 2007
"Lead, follow or get out of the way" seemed to be the marching orders for the bike industry on the cusp of the last millennium, and the Rising Sun's Big Four took their mission seriously. Nipponese sportbikes like the Suzuki GSXR were clear leaders. On the path to Big Twin righteousness, Yamaha's Star fleet mirrored H-D's jackboot footprints in every detail. Even those who chose to get out of the way tasted success, with Honda Gold Wings and Kawasaki JetSkis dominating share in the cruiser and watercraft markets, respectively. In the two-wheeled arena, however, the latter manufacturer seemed incapable of getting a break. If you were one of the poor saps who bought a Kawasaki cruiser, some might say you were out of your Vulcan mind.

The distinctive tunnel for the cam driveshaft on Kawasaki's W650 was a visual and mechanical hallmark for the model
With nowhere to run and even fewer places to hide, in 1999 KHI rolled the dice on the W650, a spitting image of the British motorbikes that captured American hearts in the '50s and '60s. Dressed in livery that would make a High Street haberdasher look twice, Kawi's neoclassical twin beat a resurgent Triumph's resurrected Bonneville to the US market by two years. Unfortunately, when the new-and-improved T100 hit American dealerships in '01, Kawasaki had already pulled the plug on their stunning thumper. The W650 never thrived stateside, but enlightened riders and dedicated fans of the Cockney imposter have always sung its praises.

England, eat your heart out
In its motherland, W650's were reliable daily drivers and eager donors for inspired customizing. One need look no further than the Bratstyle shop to see what we mean. Good old-fashioned chopping and bobbing can turn one of these inconspicuous machines into a cool custom, too. I fell in love with the W650 when I saw one for the first time in 2000, and rue the day I failed to buy it.

"The Bratstyle" is everything budget- and style-minded customizers dream of. This W650 embodies the Japanese aesthetic perfectly

A classic Amercian chopper with the heart of a Japanese scootabout? You bet
If you know someone who rides a W650—your sister-in-law's lesbian lover, perhaps, or maybe some metrosexual at your gym—please give their precious parallel twin the props it deserves. If you meet someone who's selling a W650, make him an offer he can't refuse. In this age of underwhelming V-twins and over-achieving rice rockets, wouldn't it be nice to own a simple, no-frills motorcycle? I don't know what Japan might do next, but if Yamasaki or Hondazuki decides to build another bike like the W650, I'll buy it.
MikeD
erikweste
beezerglide
Rile
Knucklebuster
http://www.knucklebusterinc.com/features/2007/11/2...
http://www.knucklebusterinc.com/features/2007/11/2...
gravelveins
i scour the CL and the bay for that and a SR500 all the time!
gigastatt
leadfootedkid
irishrich317
When H-D was granted protection in '83, REgan rerally didn't do it on behalf of H-D per say, he did it mainly to send a warning to the Japanese auto manufacturers, that they would be next. The tarrif restrictions were a real pee pee slap - the then tarrif was 4.4% on Jap bikes. The ITC took that to 45% the first year, 35% the second year, 20, 15, then 10% the final five years of "protection".
Honda and Kawasaki got around the tarrif on all their bikes ovet 1000cc's by just ramping up production at their US plants on those bikes, because there wasn't any tarrif on powertrains, just imported completed bikes. Only Yamaha and Suzuki were really affected.
H-D really didn't get the releif they needed, and as a matter of fact, asked in the middle of the 3rd year, that the tarrif be lifted for the final two years. H-D did this as a "good will" gesture, because Vaugn Beals wanted to tour the American Japanese motorcycle plants, to see exactly how they inventoried and built motorcycles. It was those tours that resulted in Harley's climb back up the product quality ladder, and reclaim. the heavy bike industry
Konaboy1972
motoguru
YcMatt
svwannabe
specialseventynine
Boylecomm
I love the bevel drive.
A few of my favorites.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3273961819_f8a...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3526/3273959905_29a...
http://www.pipeburn.com/storage/deus-ex-machina-sw...
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/galleries/images...
PushRodMofo
http://www.deus.com.au/#/bikes/motorcycles/customs...
runnerg
guschambers
eliwolf6
davidabl
Deus in Oz can get fresh low-mileage ones from Jpn,
and makes a rigid rear for 'em. Neither is cheap...
Very nice closeups for this article, btw
Irishjon
eightthirtysixcc
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/3831983740_ef3...
I have one in the living room.
RockinRyan
scotttowne
TemeculaTerry
onigoroshi
http://www.redbaron.co.jp/english/index.html
philbey
trichardson21
JoeNots
Abeblinkin
itsingo
..some more pics for w650 Fans:
http://w650project.blogspot.com/
itsingo
..some more pics for w650 Fans:
http://w650project.blogspot.com/
Metalismo
http://mmmcblg.blog104.fc2.com/blog-category-3.htm...
rhomotor
soaz
Jashole
davidabl
impossible that they might appear in the USA as well.
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/10/kawasaki...
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/10/mega-gal...
davidabl
but that the one with most of the juicy pix is still available for free :-)