Kawasaki W650 And Triumph Legend TT - Retro-Activity
Kawasaki W650 And Triumph Legend TT: One Recalls History, The Other Refuses To Be Held Captive By It
By Marc Cook, Photography by Kevin Wing
| Cheers & Jeers |
| KAWASAKI W650 |
| Engine | 8 | Not powerful but plenty full of character |
| Drivetrain | 8 | Fab gearbox and light, sweet clutch |
| Handling | 5 | Going back in time, a bit too literally |
| Braking | 6 | Good enough around town |
| Ride | 5 | You’ll feel every bump, sometimes twice |
| Ergonomics | 7 | In-the-wind riding position; otherwise fine |
| Features | 8 | Centerstand, kickstart, clock, all wonderful |
| Refinement | 6 | More than you’d think, less than you’d hope |
| Value | 8 | A cheap bit of British nostalgia |
| Fun Factor | 8 | In the city, a real relaxing treat |
| Verdict: A cunning retro-cruiser that looks and acts the part of old-crock bike; reliable though. |
Kawasaki W650
| ENGINE |
| Type | air-cooled, vertical twin |
| Valve arrangement | sohc, 8v |
| Bore x stroke | 72.0 x 83.0mm |
| Displacement | 676cc |
| Compression ratio | 8.6:1 |
| Transmission | 5-speed |
| Final drive | chain |
| CHASSIS |
| Weight | 473 lb. (wet) |
| 449 lb. (tank empty) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 gal. |
| Rake/trail | 26.5 deg./4.1 in. (105mm) |
| Wheelbase | 57.1 in. (1450mm) |
| Seat height | 31.5 in. (800mm) |
| SUSPENSION |
| Front | 39mm fork, |
| nonadjustable |
| Rear | dual shocks, adjustable |
| | for spring preload |
| Tire, front | 100/90-19 |
| Bridgestone Acclaim |
| Tire, rear | 130/80-18 |
| Bridgestone Acclaim |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Corrected 1/4-mile* | 14.19 sec. @ 90.40 mph |
| 0–60 mph | 6.04 sec. |
| Top-gear roll-on, |
| 60–80 mph | 9.36 sec. |
| Fuel mileage | |
By Marc Cook
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