1968 Kawasaki 650 W1

Registration – ABW 824F

Chassis No. – W1F-05395

M.O.T. – Exempt

Odometer – 13,098

This very rare 1968 Kawasaki 650-W1 SS is a twin-carb version of the brand’s landmark large-capacity motorcycle. Kawasaki even honoured the original W1 with a W650 retro homage in 1999; here is a great opportunity to acquire the real thing. Remarkably, ‘ABW824F’ has had just one owner from new! It’s described as a really nice example and the vendor confidently states “you will not find a better one in this condition”. It comes with the original service manuals and documents too, further boosting the originality. The vendor reports it was completely restored around four years ago, and has been really well cherished and dry-stored. Overall, as the images make clear, it is described as being in ‘excellent’ condition throughout, making this a tantalising opportunity to acquire a rare early Kawasaki in show-stopping condition.

The Kawasaki W series was a very early range of motorcycles from this famous Japanese brand. The original Kawasaki W1 had the largest engine displacement of any Japanese motorcycle at the time, a claim to fame that helped the brand make its mark. Indeed, the Society of Automotive Engineers in Japan even included the 1966 Kawasaki 650-W1 as one of its 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology. The original W1 boasted 50bhp, with a 1968 twin-carb upgrade pushing power up to 53bhp. A W2 version followed in 1968, and there was a final W3 version before production ended in 1974, with the motorcycle’s place in history cemented.

In summary:

• Just one owner from new
• Retro black with original decals
• Original service manuals and documents included