1969 Kawasaki W2TT Commander

Lot details
Registration No: MFX134G
Frame No: WIF-07375
Engine No: WIF-53621
cc: 650
MOT Expiry Date: May 2008

Kawasaki had purchased Meguro during 1960. Like their major Japanese rivals the company recognised the potential of the American market and believed that they had the correct machine in the W1 650cc twin with which to establish themselves. An unashamed copy of the BSA A7 series originally produced by Meguro, the W1 was Japans top selling machine in the sixties securing 10% of the market share. Unfortunately what sells in Japan does not always sell abroad as Kawasaki quickly discovered, the W1 was outperformed by the British twins which were already established in the market and offered nothing new to persuade American buyers to forsake the known qualities of the British machinery for the newcomer form Japan. Kawasaki followed the W1 with the W1SS which featured revised street scrambler styling and an increase in power due to a move to twin carburettors in an attempt to redress the balance. This was followed by a further refinement in 1969 with the introduction of the W2TT Commander featuring a high level exhaust and independently mounted instruments.
Despite being good, well built machines with good performance and attractive styling the W series twins never made the breakthrough in the American market that was expected of them and Kawasaki seem to have lost interest in them, looking forwards to the release of the two stroke twins and triples, which succeeded in establishing their presence. Consequently the twin cylinder four strokes are rare with the W2TT being the rarest. The vendor advises us that only 40 were built and only 8 exist in this country.
This example is described as being mechanically and cosmetically good. It has resided in a private collection for many years and attractively presented in blue and white. A Swansea V5 and an MOT valid until the 16th May 2008 are offered with the motorcycle.