From Retro Roadster to Journey Enduro…
Launched in 1999, the Kawasaki W650 was a contemporary throwback to the British twins of the Nineteen Sixties, with basic styling, fashionable electronics, and a bevel-gear-driven OHC parallel-twin engine. The 360-degree crank made a pleasant, muscular sound just like the Triumph Bonnevilles of outdated, whereas a counterbalancer stored the vibrations from numbing the rider’s palms and rump.
“The engine itself is an actual peach. An air-cooled parallel-twin with pushrod-actuated valves, isn’t precisely high-tech, however it performs admirably. It outguns the Moto Guzzi in all places and by no means lets the larger-capacity T100 get away.” –MCN
The retro styling fooled many an onlooker into considering they had been seeing a classic machine on the highway, and the bike was praised as feeling gentle and nimble regardless of its hefty 430-lb curb weight.
“Kawasaki’s W650 offers us the very best of then and now — nostalgia with out the hassles of really having to place up with an outdated bike and its foibles.” –Cruiser
Just lately, we’ve observed a pattern amongst an increasing number of of our readers and featured builders to switch their retro roadsters, manufacturing unit scramblers, and different +400-lb multi-cylinder avenue bikes for pretty severe off-roading. Prime examples embrace Drew Faulkner’s Triumph Scrambler XC racer, Ruben Cotarelo’s Harley XR1200X enduro, and the Hooligan Enduro Sportsters from Rusty Butcher and Good Occasions Racing.
Enter our new buddy Evgenii, proprietor of the “Soiled W650” you see right here:
“I’m not a racer or a stuntman, not a motorbike mechanic or a customizer, I’m not even a blogger, I’m simply an abnormal aerospace engineer contaminated with a motoenthusiasm.“
Evgenii picked up this 1999 Kawasaki W650 in very poor situation and determined to push the platform so far as he may, creating a motorbike with as few limitations as potential — an actual freedom machine:
“There are particular bikes for off-road, for journey, for the observe, for good photos, and so forth and so forth. I’m not saying that it’s dangerous or that I don’t settle for it. However in the future I simply determined to get out of this paradigm and see what occurs if I put good suspension on a basic highway bike.”
This W650 is now operating XLR250R Baja forks with GS650 Dakar springs and a customized fork brace, a 21-inch entrance wheel with customized disc brake setup, 370mm rear shocks (+50mm from inventory), customized engine and headlight guards, and extra.
Extra essential than the bike itself is what Evgenii has finished with it. He’s lined greater than 25,000 km (15,000 miles) on his W650, greater than two-thirds of that mileage off-road. Even with the modifications, Evgenii’s “Kawa Enduro” might not be the perfect selection for going off-road, however Evgenii says the challenges themselves are all a part of the attract:
“I’ve traveled to different international locations, ridden by means of the desert and dunes, climbed the mountains, drowned it within the fords, participated in winter races, kneaded the mud, and in all places it was arduous for me 🙂
However it’s due to these difficulties that I get an actual buzz. I keep in mind each journey I’ve made, as a result of it was finished regardless of the hardships :)”
Amen! Under, we speak to Evgenii for the total story on his W650 enduro / scrambler / journey rig.
Kawasaki W650 Scrambler / Enduro: Builder Interview
• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.
My title is Evgenii and for the final couple of years I’ve been driving a modified W650. I’m not a racer or a stuntman, not a motorbike mechanic or a customizer, I’m not even a blogger, I’m simply an abnormal aerospace engineer contaminated with a motoenthusiasm.
I purchased my first bike seven years in the past, it was a Suzuki Grasstracker Large Boy, which I rode for 3 years. Subsequent was a CB400SS and the gradual understanding that abnormal metropolis driving doesn’t give me a lot pleasure. So, a yr later I moved to a Djebel 250 and commenced to experience off-road, however undergo on the best way to it 🙂
It needs to be famous right here, that with all these bikes I didn’t make any particular enhancements. I modified the handlebars, mirrors, flip indicators and different little issues, however this isn’t customization in any respect.
On the identical time, I all the time tried to take care of and restore my bikes on my own, so once I acquired the chance to purchase a W650 in an awfully dangerous situation, I believed — why not, I can restore it, experience, and even when I promote, I’ll nonetheless be within the black. That is how the story started.
I do all of the work with the bike within the storage or at residence on the balcony. Some advanced issues, like CNC, I do by means of associates who work in factories.
• What’s the make, mannequin, and yr of the bike?
Kawasaki W650 1999.
• Why was this bike constructed?
Once I constructed my bike, I used to be guided by a fairly easy philosophy — a motorbike is just not one thing that ought to limit.
Now we have all heard these pompous phrases {that a} bike is freedom, that 4 wheels carry the physique, and two carry the soul or one thing like that. However in observe we’re bounded. There are particular bikes for off-road, for journey, for the observe, for good photos, and so forth and so forth.
I’m not saying that it’s dangerous or that I don’t settle for it. However in the future I simply determined to get out of this paradigm and see what occurs if I put good suspension on a basic highway bike.
• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?
I didn’t have a particular “imaginative and prescient”. I didn’t search to fall into the framework of any model. I used to be simply questioning what would occur.
Sure, as a newcomer in customization, I took inspiration from the aspect. Largely it was classic Yamaha enduro bikes and naturally parallel twin desert sleds.
• What customized work was finished to the bike?
The place to begin for constructing my bike was the alternative of the fork and wheel, which pulled all the pieces else together with it.
Here’s a listing of works that may be referred to as customized:
• Bored out yokes for the XR250 Baja fork with GS650 Dakar springs
• Customized brake system for a big disc and 21″ wheel
• Headlight – modified IPF Tremendous Rally
• Headlight Yoke – customized from Djebel 250
• Rear suspension – 370mm shocks as a substitute of inventory 320mm
• Exhaust – at first it had an Omega Racer, now it’s a Symz Craft
• Engine guard and the third traverse are manufactured with my design
• Aspect stand – selfmade.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Mates name it Enduro Kawa 🙂 I additionally simply name it Kawa. And for Instagram, I selected @soiled.w650.
• Are you able to inform us what it’s prefer to experience?
It’s usually mentioned that if there may be an all-purpose bike, it’s equally dangerous each on and off the highway 🙂
A 200 kg weighing bike with an historic fork and and not using a progressive monoshock is unquestionably not the only option for conquering off-road. Plus, the geometry and ergonomics of the W650 aren’t made for driving within the filth. Alternatively, the filth tires and the closely lifted entrance finish don’t add controllability on the pavement.
That mentioned, I’ve ridden on it for greater than 25 thousand km and solely 2/3 of that on the asphalt. I traveled to different international locations, rode by means of the desert and dunes, climbed the mountains, drowned it within the fords, participated in winter races, kneaded the mud, and in all places it was arduous for me 🙂
However it’s due to these difficulties that I get an actual buzz. I keep in mind each journey I’ve made, as a result of it was finished regardless of the hardships 🙂
• The place are a few of your favourite locations you’ve ridden — any future driving plans or dream rides?
Even not removed from residence, yow will discover a worthy journey for those who simply use bicycles maps 🙂
But when we select probably the most attention-grabbing then it will likely be a visit to Ryn Desert and Large Brother dune and a tour to Kazakhstan, to the second largest canyon after the Grand. The landscapes and areas are loopy. You’ll be able to experience a whole lot of kilometers and never meet a soul.
Additionally, I really like seashores. The setting solar and playing around on bikes on the sand, the sound of the waves, that is pure intercourse. It is going to by no means get boring.
The place would I prefer to experience? In fact, that is the unique Paris-Dakar route 🙂 Nothing caresses my ears a lot because the phrase “bike desert race”.
Comply with the Builder: @soiled.w650
