Very early production (Serial #01689) 1967 Kawasaki W1 650 from a now-deceased California motorcycle dealer in mint condition. Not a restoration, but a well maintained bike with a cosmetic restore. 100% correct, no modifications, and in factory brand-new condition. The handlebars are 1" higher than stock and the original bars are included. It was featured in Clement Salvatore's Rider Magazine article (January 1990), and the AMA Museum has requested that it be placed on display in Westerville, Ohio (request letter included). This bike was kept in the California shop window as a display, is a 1966 model first sold & titled in 1967, and has a total of 7,854 miles on it. 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 0.4 miles since completion with a new tachometer/speedometer installed. Prior to purchase, it was treated to a $996 service in San Pedro, California including new Dunlop tires, new chain & sprockets, carb rebuild, complete tune, etc.. After being acquired from the California owner, it was completely gone through by noted vintage bike expert Bob Bancroft (Bancroft Vintage Motorworks in Kinsman, Ohio) and also had the original Candy Red paint resprayed, a professional detail, new tach & speedometer fitted, and is now 100% ready both for display & riding. It is a sure trophy winner at bike shows and along with my Candy Blue W1, one of the nicest W1 650s 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 for Kawasaki to enter the U.S. market with a big twin to go head-to-head against Triumph, BSA, & the Harley 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.
