Very early production (Serial #00396) 1966 Kawasaki W1 650 from a Wisconsin motorcycle museum in mint condition. Professional nut & bolt restoration using only NOS parts and judged as being in #1 condition by Vintage Motorcycle Certification Service. 100% correct, no modifications, and in factory brand-new condition. Starts on the first kick and cruises beautifully at 60-65 mph (will top out at 105). Absolutely no issues, everything works properly, and ridden a total of 9 miles since completion. After being acquired from the museum, it was completely gone through by noted vintage bike expert Bob Bancroft (Bancroft Vintage Motorworks), is now 100% ready both for display & riding, and is a sure trophy winner at bike shows. Easily the nicest W1 650 in existence.
These bikes are copies of BSA's pre-unit 650 and were initially licensed by BSA in the early '60s to be built by Japan's Megura Motorcycle Company. When Kawasaki bought Megura in the mid '60s, it opened the door as Kawasaki's entry into the U.S. market with a big twin to go head-to-head against Triumph, BSA, & Harley Davidson's Sportster. It was the only big twin-cylinder sporting motorcycle from Japan in the 1960s, is considered Japan's first superbike, and was produced only between 1966-68. It was also Kawasaki's biggest motorcycle and only four-stroke. As usual with the Japanese, it has many improvements over the BSA version; namely it does not leak oil, starts easily, has better carburetion, better electrics, and better fit & finish. This is a very early example of a collector Japanese bike, is in investment grade condition, and is one of the few remaining in the world. See additional pictures and our other interesting inventory at www.sportscargallery.com.
