In a world where motorcycles are growing ever more complex, the Kawasaki W800 endures as a bastion of mechanical elegance. It offers little in the way of technical frou-frou, beyond its fuel injection and ABS-equipped disc brakes. And while it hails from Japan, its styling is a stunningly faithful tribute to the halcyon days of British motorcycling.
It’s also highly rideable, thanks to a parallel-twin engine that’s easygoing yet peppy, paired with neutral ergonomics that encourage daily rides. It’s no surprise that both the W800 and its predecessor, the W650, have been darlings of the custom scene for years.
This chic Kawasaki W800 comes from our friend Ma ‘Max’ Yicheng, proprietor of 2LOUD Custom in Taiwan. Max’s mission was to amplify the W800’s British character and add custom flair—without sacrificing its ride quality. He nailed it.
At a glance, 2LOUD’s take on the W800 looks like a simple restomod. But its understated elegance belies how much work went into it. It’s loaded with subtle details that, although they’re easy to miss, add up to make a big difference.
First, Max tore the W800 down to its frame. Then he went over every inch—removing superfluous tabs, smoothing welds, and sculpting each gusset to bear 2LOUD’s signature drilled style. The subframe was trimmed and looped, before the frame, swingarm, and yokes were all finished in silver.
The fork lowers and brake calipers were liberated of their paint and polished, creating a visual link between the silver frame and polished rims. The W800 comes standard with a 19” front wheel and an 18” rear—perfect proportions for a street tracker. So Max left the OEM wheels in place, wrapping them in Dunlop K70 tires.
Up top, Max swapped the fuel tank for a smaller W650 unit. Since the W650 is carbureted, its fuel tank makes no provision for a fuel pump—so the W800’s pump had to be relocated to a custom housing under the seat. It’s hidden by a pair of handmade side covers that trace the same shape as the stock items, but in a more petite package.
The tank itself underwent significant modifications. Max removed the OEM rubber knee pads and shaved off the brackets that they attach to, before smoothing everything off. Stainless steel strips were added to the sides for a little extra pizzazz, with an ornate fuel cap from AFS Custom Bikes finishing things off.
The slim solo seat that sits on the frame sports stylish upholstery in the shop’s signature style. Generous hand-rolled aluminum fenders, supported by graceful stainless steel stays, add more retro flavor to 2LOUD’s W800. Smaller parts like the chain guard and headlight bracket are from 2LOUD’s own catalog of bolt-on parts.
The battery now sits between the lower frame rails, housed in a bespoke box. Numerous handmade brackets adorn the bike, while a 5.75” headlight, polished turn signals, and a Lucas-style taillight handle lighting duties.
The W800 is steered by a set of stainless steel 2LOUD handlebars, fitted with micro switches, a Kustom Tech brake master cylinder, and fresh grips. A Motogadget gauge sits out front; a combination analog/digital unit that shows RPM on its main dial and speed on its LCD panel. It’s held in place by a handmade bracket.
The bike’s finished with a lick of black paint and a stunning handmade stainless steel exhaust system. Max deliberately fabricated the twin headers with sharp lines at the front that soften as the pipes terminate in classic cocktail mufflers.
The list of countries where you can still buy a new Kawasaki W800 is short, and there are murmurs that it’s soon to be discontinued altogether. So if 2LOUD’s W800 has inspired you, you’d better snatch a suitable donor bike—before they’re rarer than hen’s teeth.
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