This nameplate first appeared for the 2011 model year as a modern continuation of the long-running W family, which traces its roots to Kawasaki’s classic vertical-twin motorcycles of the 1960s. The early version was introduced as the successor to the W650, carrying forward the same retro-inspired spirit but with greater displacement and a stronger emphasis on authentic old-school styling. Kawasaki’s own history material describes that first W800 run as lasting through a final-edition model in 2016, after which production ended.
The nameplate later returned for the 2019 model year, beginning a second production period. In this revived form, it re-established the W800 as the core “classic” model in the lineup, alongside related variants such as the W800 STREET and W800 CAFE. The modern version kept the series’ hallmark visual identity: air-cooled vertical-twin character, bevel-gear cam drive, chrome-accented traditional bodywork, round instrumentation, and a deliberately vintage roadster look aimed at riders who value heritage over outright performance.
As a result, the model is best understood as a discontinued-and-revived nameplate rather than a single uninterrupted run. Its significance lies in bridging Kawasaki’s postwar big-bike heritage with a contemporary factory-built retro motorcycle, and it remains part of the brand’s classic lineup today.