W1-650
Kawasaki had hoped to capture the American market with the W1-650 but unfortunately this was not to be. The W1 was based on the MEGURO K series 500 twins, which was already a copy of the more famous BSA A7 twins.The American public in 1966, was not really ready for a mere copy of something they already had, they wanted something different. That difference would eventually prove to be the Z1 but not until many years later. The W1 was powerful enough, producing 50BHP with a claimed top speed of 115 mph but it was quite heavy at 398 pounds and it could not really compete with the British bikes of the time.
1965/1966 W1-650
STARTING FRAME NUMBER: W1-00001
The original W1 was available in the usual Candy Red or Blue with chrome panels on each side of the tank although I have seen a Japanese model finished in black. It was a 624 cc (74x72.6) four-stroke 360 degree parallel twin with overhead valves and a one piece pressed assembly crankshaft with roller and ball bearings, using a dry sump system with the oil being housed in the right hand panel. The W1used a single 31mm carburettor and the gearbox was a four speed separate unit, very British! A twin leading front drum brake was used with a single drum unit at the rear. The instruments were a one-piece affair placed on top of the headlamp shell like the 250 Samurai. The indicator flashers were an optional extra.
This model was sold up until 1968 with only a handful coming to the UK.
1968/1969 W1SS
This was basically the same model as the W1 but was fitted with two 28mm carburettors and shorter stubby exhausts. It was a sort of sportier model with a shorter front and rear fender and a tuck and roll seat. The rear fender stay now incorporated a small grab handle. Power was up by a claimed 3 BHP to 53 BHP but the overall gearing was changed to reduce top speed. Another colour option was added, pastel blue. This model was still being sold in some countries as late as 1971.
1968/1969/1970 W2SS
It all gets a bit confusing here because the W2SS ran along side the W1SS as a current model. The major differences between them were that the W2 had separate instruments and no longer had the chrome panels on the fuel tank. Instead it looked like the 1969 A1 and A7 models. Because of this, the headlamp was changed as was the headlamp brackets. The front wheel was increased in size by one inch to 19 inches. The bike was now given a new name, the 'COMMANDER'. Colour options were Candy Black, Blue or Red.
1969 W2TT
Previously the street scrambler range had been given the code SS but the Commander was given TT. It had the hallmark high rise crossover exhaust system of the scramblers but Kawasaki marketed the W2TT as a touring version of the W2SS! Colour options were Candy Red, Blue or Pastel Blue. The 650 continued to be sold in Japan until 1975 as the 650RS
1972 W1S-A
Now fitted with instruments similar to the S2-350. The last model being the W3. By now it had received a disc brake front end and Z1 type instruments. The Z750-B1 twin of 1975 eventually replaced it.