By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Retro Classic vs Naked Bike
Kawasaki W800 Cafe (MY2019) vs Triumph Street Cup (MY2017)
Kawasaki W800 Cafe vs Triumph Street Cup: two kinds of bike, and who each one is for.
You'll hear the Kawasaki W800 Cafe's twin settle into a low thrum at cruising speed, and it's content to keep the pace unhurried. The Triumph Street Cup's motor tugs from barely off idle.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the W800 Cafe if…
Keeping running costs low
Clearly ahead: W800 Cafe
The W800 Cafe costs clearly less to keep on the road. You'll notice it at every service.
The Street Cup has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
A touch ahead: Street Cup
Once the road starts to bend, the Street Cup noses ahead. The reason: harder acceleration and a sportier chassis. Your own skill counts for more than a gap this size.
Which one's the smarter buy
Different classes, different trade-offs
The W800 Cafe and Street Cup do different jobs, so neither is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
W800 Cafe
An old-school thump comes up from the W800 Cafe's air-cooled engine, and it stays smooth while the bike lopes along a Texas Hill Country back road. Near the redline, it's out of breath. Its clubman bars sit low, but the reach doesn't stretch you thin.
Street Cup
The Street Cup's clutch lever comes in with almost no effort in traffic, and each shift clicks home with a crisp mechanical snick. Any throttle opening in city traffic draws smooth pull from the engine. There's no top-end rush to chase. Its pull lives down in the low revs.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Street Cup makes more peak power: 54 hp (40 kW) vs 48 hp (35 kW).
- The Street Cup makes more peak torque: 59 lb-ft (80 Nm) vs 46 lb-ft (63 Nm).
- The Street Cup has the larger engine: 900 cc vs 773 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong job for both
Long days aren't what these two do best. Plan shorter legs and plenty of stops.
These two run dead level on commuting and a first bike. Sit on both in the showroom and trust what your body says.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
W800 Cafe
What owners say
Strengths
- Authentic retro styling and high build quality
- Comfortable ergonomics for a cafe racer
- Smooth, characterful engine
Trade-offs
- Limited performance and power
Street Cup
What owners say
Strengths
- Classic café racer looks with modern quality
- Relaxed, accessible torque delivery
- Good perceived value on the used market
- Light, controllable clutch and gearbox
Trade-offs
- Engine lacks sporting excitement
- Budget brake components lack feel
- Cramped riding position for taller riders
- Minimal wind protection
Known problems to check before you buy
W800 Cafe
- Improperly tightened exhaust pipe nuts (safety recall 21V-819) Recall 21V819000 Exhaust pipe nuts may not have been torqued correctly, potentially causing a collar to detach and become a road hazard. Recall involved replacing gaskets and collars.
- Horn harness failure (safety recall 22V-122) Recall 22V122000 Engine vibration can damage the horn harness, causing horn failure. A recall replaced the horn assembly, bracket, and harness with an improved damper.
Street Cup
- Hazard light wiring harness recall Recall 17V426000 The wiring harness for the hazard lights can pull loose from its connector, causing loss of hazard warning lights and reduced visibility. Triumph recall 17V426 (NHTSA) affected 635 units, with a free supplemental harness repair.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 7-year-old W800 Cafe with a 7-year-old Street Cup.
- W800 Cafe
- about $5,500
- Street Cup
- about $7,100
At seven years old, the Kawasaki W800 Cafe sits around $5,500 while the Triumph Street Cup runs about $7,100. That's a $1,600 gap in the W800 Cafe's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Gearbox
- 5-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Telescopic
- Front tire
- 100/90-18
Where the spec sheets split
| W800 Cafe | Street Cup | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) | 30.7 in (780 mm) |
| Wet weight | 492 lb (223 kg) | 496 lb (225 kg) |
| W800 Cafe | Street Cup | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 773 cc | 900 cc |
| Cooling | Air-cooled | Liquid-cooled |
| Power | 48 hp (35 kW) | 54 hp (40 kW) |
| Peak power at | 6,100 rpm | 5,900 rpm |
| Torque | 46 lb-ft (63 Nm) | 59 lb-ft (80 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 4,700 rpm | 3,230 rpm |
| W800 Cafe | Street Cup | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 US gal (15 L) | 3.2 US gal (12 L) |
| W800 Cafe | Street Cup | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 320 mm | 310 mm |
| Rear tire | 130/80-18 | 150/70-17 |
| Wheelbase | 57.7 in (1465 mm) | 56.5 in (1435 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| W800 Cafe | Street Cup | |
|---|---|---|
| Traction Control | Not offered | Standard |
| USB Charging Port | Not offered | Standard |
| LED Headlight | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
