Author Topic: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800  (Read 908 times)

Offline Greybeard

  • Jack of all trades; master of none.
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Feb 2011
  • Posts: 9838
  • Karma: 49
Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« on: 27.01. 2023 09:26 »
.
Greybeard (Neil)
2023 Gold Star
Supporter of THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN'S RIDE https://www.gentlemansride.com

Warwickshire UK


A Distinguished Gentleman Riding his 1955 Plunger Golden Flash

Offline Catz

  • A's Good Friend
  • ***
  • Join Date: Dec 2022
  • Posts: 156
  • Karma: 0
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #1 on: 27.01. 2023 11:23 »
This from a couple of years ago in the MCN.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/meguro-k3/
Crewe, Cheshire, England 1960 A10

Online BagONails

  • Valued Contributor
  • ****
  • Join Date: May 2021
  • Posts: 291
  • Karma: 4
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #2 on: 27.01. 2023 11:34 »
"a licensed copy of the BSA A7 albeit better made"

Hmmmm its like signing your own death warrant in a way...
Ian
59 GF A10
67 Spitfire under resto
2013 kwaka W800 Desert Sled (ex write off)

Nil Desperandum

Online muskrat

  • Global Moderator
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • **
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 10776
  • Karma: 130
  • Lithgow NSW Oz
    • Shoalhaven Classic Motorcycle Club Inc
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #3 on: 27.01. 2023 18:15 »
G'day GB.
I remember back in the late 80's going to a swap meet and seeing a alloy twin port head. Thinking it was an A7 head I nearly bought it. Wasn't till the vendor asked if I had any Meguro parts I'd part with that I realized it wasn't A7!
Cheers
'51 A7 plunger, '57 A7SS racer now a A10CR, '78 XT500, '83 CB1100F, 88 HD FXST, 2000 CBR929RR ex Honda Australia Superbike .
Australia
Muskys Plunger A7

Online Rex

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Apr 2017
  • Posts: 1563
  • Karma: 7
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #4 on: 27.01. 2023 19:23 »
"a licensed copy of the BSA A7 albeit better made"

Hmmmm its like signing your own death warrant in a way...

They would've copied it anyway. Reverse Engineering (as it's now politely referred as) was the stock in trade of the Far East and the USSR back then.
Then again, good as those Kawa's were supposed to be, the survival rate seems far lower than the trusty A series BSAs.

AMC's importation of Suzuki's in the 1960s seemed a far worse death warrant.

Offline BSA_54A10

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 2544
  • Karma: 37
    • BSA National
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #5 on: 28.01. 2023 04:39 »
Reverse engineering is std practice in EVERY INDUSTRY
Just about every country does it, including BSA
The BSA 6 spring clutch came out just after the AMC 5 spring clutch and is definately copied from it with just enough differences not to envoke a patient violation.
And reverse engineering is not the golden goose that many would think as all it tells you is the shape, dimensions & materials .
manufacture under lisence gives you the manufacturing proceedure which is far more valuable
Bike Beesa
Trevor

Online Kickaha

  • Valued Contributor
  • ****
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 277
  • Karma: 6
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #6 on: 28.01. 2023 19:11 »
I've posted this before, it's the later (post Meguro) W1 head gasket over laid on a BSA a10 cast iron head
1956 BSA Gold Flash
New Zealand

Offline Greybeard

  • Jack of all trades; master of none.
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Feb 2011
  • Posts: 9838
  • Karma: 49
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #7 on: 28.01. 2023 23:07 »
I've posted this before, it's the later (post Meguro) W1 head gasket over laid on a BSA a10 cast iron head
Did you buy that gasket thinking it was for an A10?
Greybeard (Neil)
2023 Gold Star
Supporter of THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN'S RIDE https://www.gentlemansride.com

Warwickshire UK


A Distinguished Gentleman Riding his 1955 Plunger Golden Flash

Online Kickaha

  • Valued Contributor
  • ****
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 277
  • Karma: 6
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #8 on: 29.01. 2023 18:09 »
I've posted this before, it's the later (post Meguro) W1 head gasket over laid on a BSA a10 cast iron head
Did you buy that gasket thinking it was for an A10?

No I bought it after hearing a rumour that someone had used a twin carb W1 head on a BSA and was curious to see if it was doable, buying a gasket was cheaper than buying a head
1956 BSA Gold Flash
New Zealand

Offline Greybeard

  • Jack of all trades; master of none.
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Feb 2011
  • Posts: 9838
  • Karma: 49
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #9 on: 29.01. 2023 19:38 »
I bought it after hearing a rumour that someone had used a twin carb W1 head on a BSA and was curious to see if it was doable, buying a gasket was cheaper than buying a head
Did you think it was possible?
Greybeard (Neil)
2023 Gold Star
Supporter of THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN'S RIDE https://www.gentlemansride.com

Warwickshire UK


A Distinguished Gentleman Riding his 1955 Plunger Golden Flash

Online BagONails

  • Valued Contributor
  • ****
  • Join Date: May 2021
  • Posts: 291
  • Karma: 4
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #10 on: 29.01. 2023 22:35 »
Interesting idea, the head might actually bolt on but the W650/800 has a bevel shaft driven OHC with bucket and shim adjustment! I guess you could try making a belt drive arrangement off the BSA timing gear with a few mods  *eek*
Ian
59 GF A10
67 Spitfire under resto
2013 kwaka W800 Desert Sled (ex write off)

Nil Desperandum

Online Rex

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Apr 2017
  • Posts: 1563
  • Karma: 7
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #11 on: 30.01. 2023 08:36 »
I think he was referring to the earlier W1 head rather than the recent W650/800.

Online Kickaha

  • Valued Contributor
  • ****
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 277
  • Karma: 6
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #12 on: 30.01. 2023 18:04 »
Did you think it was possible?

I think it'd be a relatively easy conversion, whether there's any benefit to it is another thing altogether

I think he was referring to the earlier W1 head rather than the recent W650/800.

I was
1956 BSA Gold Flash
New Zealand

Offline rustydusty

  • Moving Up
  • **
  • Join Date: Feb 2023
  • Posts: 31
  • Karma: 0
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #13 on: 21.02. 2023 19:26 »
Back in the late 70s I had a Kawasaki W1 and an A10 BSA. I bought the W1 cheap because I liked the fact that it was a copy of my A10. The Kaw shook like a “paint mixer” while idling, and the footpeg buzz would put your feet asleep at highway speeds. The forks and brakes were crap. The A10 was a better bike on every level!
Kent Island MD A10 (60 SR) Chopper

Online Rex

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Apr 2017
  • Posts: 1563
  • Karma: 7
Re: Ancestor of the Kawasaki W800
« Reply #14 on: 21.02. 2023 21:31 »
You're not supposed to say that! Everyone knows our A series couldn't make it to the end of the road without breaking down and the japanese saved us from our own motorcycle design failures..