Fastest Accelerating Bike? 1975 Kawasaki H2 750
Internal combustion engines usually have an even number of cylinders; lawnmowers and motorcycles are frequently a single, or a bike can be a double too. Fours, in-line sixes, V6s and V8s are the province of cars and trucks. There has been the occasional V10, and V12’s abounded at one-time in high-end, uber-expensive automobiles. Odd numbers? Not so much so though Audi produced a five-cylinder and Saab had a three many years ago. But three cylinders did find its way to motorcycles and that arrangement proved to be a very successful architecture for Kawasaki back in the ’70s. I know that I haven’t seen a member of Kawasaki’s “Triple” Mach series in years so when this 750 CC H2 Mach IV turned up, I thought it worth a look-see. Located in Marietta, South Carolina is this 1975 Kasawki H2 750 and it is available here on eBay for a current bid of $13,500, eighteen bids tendered as of this writing.
The Kawasaki “Triple” was produced between 1968 and 1980 displacing 250, 350, 500, and 750 CCs. I specifically recall a college friend who had a “Mach II” 350 CC variant, bought new in 1972. I rode it once and remember it to be a very, very fast bike, surprisingly so for its modest displacement. The 500 CC was deemed the Mach III with the top dog “Mach IV” at 750 CC. Officially, Kawasaki referred to the ’75 version of the 750 CC as model “H2C”.
The heart of the Triple series is the two-stroke, three-cylinder engine, in this case, a 750 CC unit that generates 74 HP. Fast? You bet, tests of the time measured the quarter-mile ET in under 13 seconds. The service personnel at the Atlanta Motorcycle Works, who performed the last maintenance on this bike, claimed “ It was one of the best running original condition H2’s they have seen”. Pretty high praise indeed! I recall criticism of the time directed at the relatively brief life cycle of a Triple’s engine and thus, the reason that so few have survived. I would ask for some comments on that front as to whether this is a legitimate claim or not. This H2C has experienced about 7K miles of operation in its 45-year existence.
The seller states, “The original paint is in stunning condition with no dents, dings, or fading”. This bike does present itself very well. It is extremely clean and though referenced as having its original paint, it looks a little too good to be original but we’ll go with the seller’s claim. There is no evidence of this Mach IV having been dropped or laid down – the chrome, tank, covers, and engine components are in fantastic condition.
There is no reference to the operational aspect of the gauges, lights, turn signals, etc. but based on this Kawasaki’s condition, it’s safe to assume that they work as intended. Note the seat upholstery, it is perfect!
It was just a matter of time before a Kawasaki Triple turned up, especially considering how ubiquitous they were at one time – these were the performance bargain of the ’70s! What is unexpected is that the subject, when it finally surfaced, would be in such stellar condition – this bike is probably as close to new as you’ll ever find. The price seems a bit rich but it’s unlikely that another, in this condition, will surface, so maybe the price isn’t out of line. What do you think? After all, in 1972, the Mach IV was considered the fastest accelerating production motorcycle in existence; here’s your chance to own a piece of that ’70s experience.
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Comments
I had a ’77 Triumph 750 and a friend had the 350 version of this. He would literally run away from me at a stoplight. At least until the first curve. None of these triples were known for their stopping or cornering ability. And as I recall a bit of a white knuckle ride even going straight. But they were sure fast in a straight line.
Fast is not the word for these bikes,I had H-2 750 17 yrs old not my first bike but man 750 Honda’s stood no chance and by the way$ 1599.00
Most people still have no idea how important this bike was. The comment about stopping and cornering is absolutely not true. I could give you a link to Superbike comparison test in 1973that included the Norton the BSA the Harley-Davidson the Honda Ducati the 73 Z1 Kawasaki and the 72 Mach 4 Kawasaki. The 72 Mach 4 won every category in the test but road course time where was tied in a dead Heat to the tenth of a second on a road course with the Z1 Kawasaki!!! and both Kawasakis way faster on the road course any of the other bikes. I owned a 71 red mach3 and then a blue 72 Mach 4. I know from which I speak. the Kawasaki’s were the fastest accelerating bikes in the world.! End of discussion. In the 72 what’s the fastest of them all. Pistol Pete grasselli stock class 750cc NHRA National Record held for several years. ( I was there at National Trail Raceway outside of Columbus Ohio the day he set the record. I raced against him that day and got beat. They called him Pistol Pete because of his reaction time and in Stock drag racing he who wins the first hundred she twins. Any monkey can look at the tachometer and clutchlessley shift down the rest of the course. It’s over at the top of first gear.) I Street raced the H2 and was never beaten. I group raced on winding roads and was never passed. 1 time on a 13 Mile Stretch I was so far ahead I turned it around facing back toward where they were coming from, put down the kickstand leaned against the bike, and lit a cigarette before the next bike showed up. nobody gained in the turns and when the road pointed straight I shot away from them. I had the only H2 that showed up at the drive-ins to race.
Rode a 1974 H2 With velocity stacks, jetted, .020 over weisco & expansion pipes.Was my daily rider in 1983.
I paid $500 for it. Also found a parts bike for $250 back in 1983.
Sure wish I was still had them in my possession.
Had a bearing replaced & some crank work on it.
Barnett clutch was a handful & was hard to handle after a half dozen passes at Thompson Dragway in Ohio.Ran a dozen passes.
With my 180# I was running low 13’s. Probably a better ET with a light rider on board.
It was definitely a head turner.
That was 40 years ago.
Should have never sold it.
They are worth a fortune now & extremely rare & collectable
The miles look legit on this one based on the pics.
The first Kawi triple was the 500 Mach III. $995.00 brand new. Amazing bike for the time, very fast- and the sound it made winding up was simply unforgettable.
Yep, that was the bargain of the decade. 60 horsepower from a 500 cc bike was unheard of in ’69, and yes, the sound–oh, the sound!
Will i had a 74 h-2 with danko chambers and 40 over wisco pistons in it. There was a reason the chain had no master link as over 3500 on the tach it got warp drive and wanted to carry the front wheel. Should have never sold it.
I had several friends who rode 350, 500, and 750 triples with chambers, porting work, etc. on the street. I could hear them coming from miles away!
Large air cooled 2 strokes, especially these, exhibit a noise called “fin ringing”. Due to the large surface area of the fins to cool it, a lot of the noise you hear is fin ringing. It’s why some big 2 strokes have rubber pads in the fins.
I still remember sitting in class in high school
after lunch,& hearing the wail of a Mach III winding
it up.
I had a red and white Mach III before my blue Mach IV. I’ve been a lucky man.
The rumour was that the Mach III’s were so quickly slapped together, that if you rolled one off the showroom floor, the tolerances would already call for a rebuild. Didn’t matter though, even worn out they were stupid fast. Brakes and handling reputation was well deserved! Rode an early 500 once in a parking lot, and it was so scary I didn’t bother taking it on the street!
I owned a 70 Mach III. Took very good care of it. Never took it to the strip but beat many cars in stoplight racing. Mine last >42,000 miles. 8 chains, 2 top ends@ 19 and 35,000 mi, 1 bottom end (worn crank)@ 27,000 mi along with a 5th gear. 3 clutches but never left me stranded. Minor suspension upgrades. Oh the memories. Sold it in 1975.
Too much of what you hear said about the H-1s and H2S is based on rumor and anecdotes from people who got the crap scared out of them the first time they twisted the throttle. There’s no shame in being scared by one, especially if you were inexperienced. People who blame that on the motorcycle should be ashamed. Your fate was always in your right wrist. It had a different Power curve gun whatever 4-stroke bike you climbed off of, and it had a lot more power.I keep trying to make the point that there was no bike you could have ridden previously that would prepare you for the radical jump in performance when you climbed on an H1. When it came out it was the fastest by far. I had been riding for 5 years on much less powerful bikes and fortunately, my first ride on an H1 was as a passenger. That ride thrilled me so much that I bought that motorcycle from that guy. But it was obvious to me from the start that there was going to have to be a learning curve if I didn’t want to get killed… because I did want to go fast. And that thing about them being slapped together is just not true. Kawasaki already had a good reputation for assembly quality. Then the next spring came my H2.
There are standing arguments about which one (500cc or 750cc) was the official “widowmaker” but both were scary fast but best used only in a straight line. My brother-in-law bought one and scared himself so badly a couple months after he bought it that he never rode it again. I used to ride it a couple times a year just to keep the fluids stirred up. First time I rode it I came out of a stop sign, turned left, accelerated and the bike picked the front end off the ground when it came “on the pipes” at a little over 5k rpms in the middle of the turn. Learned real quick to be respectful but OH MY, in a straight line those things would fly and the noise they made when they got past 5k rpms was a song I’ve never heard repeated (the youtube videos don’t do it justice). You don’t see many around in decent shape and I wonder how many ended up rolled into balls by folks who’s bravery exceeded their skill level.
used to watch street racing in chicago mid 70s clown on his 750 would wheelie back and fourth. he was good! lost it once ground his hands done to the bone. bike was destroyed. being a dip i bought a 250 cheap. never got it to run. maybe while i’m still pecking? old 1974 FXE is all i need.
Actually, Triumph and Yamaha (among others) made triples. Yamaha’s was the XS850, a shaft driven UJM that a ton of folks went touring on until the XS1100 came along. Triumph’s was called the Trident, IIRC.
Yep, Suzuki also made two-stroke triples: 380, 550, and 750.
My personal favorite, the Water Buffalo!
Yep my dad had a 380 first and moved up to the 550. He and his buddies rode out of Dallas to Mexico and back when he had the 380 – they had a sound too….
And BSA version of the Trident was called Rocket III.
I owned a Yamaha XS750F Triple. Certainly nothing like the subject bike, but was great fun, and fast.
Those were not two-strokes…a two-stroke 750 puts out, roughly, the power of a 1500 cc four-stroke engine.
The Suzukis were two-strokes.
I had a 750 triple motor in a wasp sidecar motocross chassis. It was a hell of a lot of fun. One of the problems they had was with the middle cylinder getting really hot.
I test drove a new 750cc in 73. Front end came off the ground at every stop sign and did 60mph down the first city block. Took it back and told the salesmen he was crazy for letting me drive it and it was to dangerous to ride. Went back and bought it two days later. Did 120mph between Denver and Boulder more then once. Rode it for a couple of years.Sold it before I killed myself. Fantastic dangers motorcycle.
These always bring a slew of comments. The reason this particular bike has such low miles, is it probably scared the sxxx out of someone. They really were poor motorcycles. My neighbor bought a new 500, and while it was a thrill ( above 5 grand) it handled poorly, needed better brakes, and after a while, it was the same as an old Detroit diesel, a PITA. Probably the fastest 750 made, but there were faster bikes, as if we needed to go any faster. I think the Suzuki 1000 was the fastest. That, or the CBX, kind of splitting hairs there. They were fun bikes until the center cylinder stuck from running hot. Might want to watch out for that. I wonder where you’d get parts? I doubt Kawasaki would be any help. Have to be the internet. Parts for older Asian bikes are hard to find.
Hmm, comments on the old H-D closed? What’s that all about? geomechs did happen to sneak one in, but if someone bad mouthed a sellers vehicle, and caused the comments to close, that person should be banned from the site. Anyway, I said, it’s comical you have both ends of the motorcycle spectrum on the same page. Can you imagine blasting past the H-D rider shifting into 5th at 100 mph on this? I know, you had to start somewhere. Just amazing the transition.
I missed a Harley? That sucks!
Did you just come here to stir stuff up? The H-2 did scare a lot of people because there was no motorcycle you could have owned before it that would perpare you for what was going to happen when you twist the grip. There was nothing poor about these motorcycles. the H-1 and H-2 are among the most important motorcycles in history. revolutionary not evolutionary. I can point you to a magazine Superbike that pitted the 73 models of BSA, Triumph Norton, Harley-Davidson, Ducati and the new Kawasaki Z-1 900 and they included the 72 Kawasaki 750 H2. The H-2 won every category of testing including being tied for fastest lap with the 73 Kawasaki Z1 around Orange County raceway’s road course. it wasn’t as well-mannered on the road course but every bit as fast in lap time. Of course it had the fastest quarter-mile speed of them all but you might be surprised shortest stopping distance of all of them buy a substantial amount. So in that one test the notion of bad handling and bad breaks gets thrown out the window. Like I say elsewhere here I owned an H1 and H2 and I rode them a lot. Even took the H2 to California and back. I know how good front brake on the H2 is from personal experiences. In a panic stop I once squeezed that brake lever so hard that my right forearm muscles tore and hurt for a week, and yet it didn’t lock up. it made the front howl, but it stopped quick and saved my ass. I didn’t hit anything
You don’t seem to know much about bikes. the Suzuki 1000 was faster in a quarter mile but they didn’t come out until 1978.
I too am one of the “one time”, (actually two) time riders that had the crap scared out of me on one of these. They really woke up with aftermarket tuned pipes and some engine mods. Turning was iffy at best, especially if they came on the pipe mid corner. Awesome sound.
Drag raced bikes in early to mid 70’s. Started with a 500 Suzuki Titan, (twin, 2 stroke) and eventually a Honda 750. I don’t really remember the Kawasaki triples being in the winner circle all that often in 1/4 mile. They were crazy quick though!
The Suzuki Titan was my beginner bike. fantastic acceleration, average handling, zero brakes and lucky to survive.
If you’re talking about Street Stock motorcycles the only reason they wouldn’t show up in the Winner’s Circle is if they weren’t there. So I don’t know where you raced. I raced at Erased it National Trail Raceway East of Columbus Ohio.The H2 was clearly quicker than a Honda 750. Read what I wrote above about the legendary Pistol Pete grasselli stock class 750cc NHRA National Record on his blueprinted 72 H2 that held for into 1976. 11.81. I’ve talked to Tony Nicosia about Pete. (Pete died a few years ago) I beat Honda 750 s on my red and white mach III
Jack,
Yes I ran Street Stock. (the now closed Raven Rock Dragstrip in Portsmouth, OH) Maybe the Kaw’s were not popular in my area, so not many strip raced?
I had 2 of the 500 Mach 3…a blue 1971 and an orange 1972 that I bought new. The 72 had the first disc brake that Kawasaki put on the 500’s. I drag raced the 1971 in Fremont, Ca in stock class. Ran against Honda 750’s and never lost a race that I can remember. I put well over 10k on the 72 on the street and never had any problem with it outside of tuneups…Kawasaki was having trouble with their electronic ignition prior to 72 so they went with triple points for that year while they redesigned for 73. The bikes were not good handlers with that famous ‘hinge’ in the frame feeling but ridden with respect they could carve well enough that the acceleration could close the gaps riding with other bikes. I loved them both.
Had a 72 orange one myself. I agree with your comments exactly. A set of chambers made for a peaky ride and the nastiest idle. So much popping and snorting. Bent the internal shift selector shaft popping second great wheelies, but that was on me, not the bike… Loved it.
I forgot about that. I bent that same shaft :)….those 2nd gear wheelies were awesome.
I put a Yoshimura 592 kit into a Honda 550/4 My buddy had a Kawasaki 500 triple. And told me all I’d see was his tail light. He bowed to me after I cleaned his clock. Lol.
My 72 Mach III and I lost an impromptu stop light drag race with a Yoshimura 592 kitted Honda 550….I actually had him for the first 100 feet or so and then he reeled me in and it was over….BUT, I paid less for my Mach new than he did for the stock 550 and if I had put as much money into the Mach as he did his Honda, it would have been a completely different story.
I don’t believe that .the Honda 550 could have a turbo and still lose to a property tuned and ridden H1 . My Brother had a 74 HI and beat a Honda 750 with an 836 kit in a standing start drag .
Never rode a 750 but a 350(?) That had some work I believe to be the fastest bike I have ever driven
My first 2 wheeled drag race was against one of these with my ’75 Z1B 900. It was close, from a 20 mph roll, but the 900 outran it. From a stand still, the 750 might have pulled it off. Very respectable machines.
A friend I served with back in the day bought one of these. He owned it for three weeks and rode it twice. Scared him so bad he traded it on a BMW.
Yep I borrowed a 750 Kawasaki freshman year high school. I was warned by the bike owner to be extra careful but I had to find out for myself exactly how quick. Near the high school I pushed forward on the seat almost sitting on the tank and braced my legs on the foot pegs then while rolling cracked open the throttle in 2nd gear. Sure enough the rear tire smoked and the front wheel raised off the ground as the bike accelerated away. Never again doubted the bike owner or ever rode another one.
I had a twin to this in almost as nice condition for a few months about ten years ago, it sold on eBay for 5k and I was pretty happy at that – found it on the Oregon coast, I figured if I wanted to live to see my children grown and grandkids, if better sell it. It went back east somewhere. In high school in the 70’s I’d had Yamaha 2 strokes, R5, RD 350, RD400 etc, definite wheelie machines. The problem for me with the H2’s was the “death wobble” at speed more than the wheelies. There was a stabilizer of sorts – you can see it in the first pic just forward of the bottom of the gas tank, so that wobble must’ve been a known Kawi problem. They were also known for ‘spitting off’ a rider that was unsuspecting of what would happen when you wicked the throttle hard in first gear!!
I also had an RD400. I figured that was the end of my 2 stroke days because the only place to go after that was one of these Kawasakis. Opted for the XS750 instead.
I was wrong. I had a DT400, single cylinder 2 stroke enduro bike. A bike that was mostly happy only at WOT.
Lots of fun to kick start.
They tried to keep them as light as possible. Skinny forks so the middle cyl. wouldn’t overheat. Not enough frame bracing made them wobble
Widowmaker but also dubbed Flying Coffin. Incredible accelerating power but impossible to handle in the smoothest curves. When power bikes were young this issues were one of the more frequent growth diseases.
Fastest accelerating? 13 seconds? Really? I bought a brand new 1966 Triumph 650 Bonneville and it ran high 12s. I bought a brand new 73 Kawasaki 900 and it ran high 11s. My 84 900 Ninja ran low 11s and my Harley Classic ran 15s!! LMAO
I think the title of the article was based on the statement within the article that the H2 was considered the fastest accelerating bike in ’72, so your ’73 900 would be excluded from the comparison. If you had a stock ’66 Bonneville that ran high 12s, it was the world’s fastest Bonnie. A friend of mine who had a Bonneville bought a 750 Kaw; it scared the crap out of him. I rode both of them, and there was no comparison.
All of the bikes were my ‘pit bikes’ at St. Thomas Dragway. When I bought the Bonny it ran mid 13s. One of my regular racers was an English bike guru and he did a job on the carbs, good for over half a second.
Dave you should have put that Bonnie in a Triumph museum or something when you were done with it. Cycle World tested a 1966 Bonnie new and the best 1/4 they could manage was 14.2 seconds at 88 mph. 0-60 in 5.7 and a top speed of 109. All MUCH slower than the Mach IV or the Mach III and only .3 of a second faster to 0-60 than a 1966 Suzuki 250 X6 Hustler. This from the road test of a 1972 H2:
The 1972 Kawasaki H2 sales brochure read, “We’ve just pulled a fast one on the competition. Named the Kawasaki 750 cc Mach IV. Of all the world’s production models, it’s the fastest thing on two wheels. Faster than any Suzuki. Faster than any Triumph. Faster than any BSA, and Honda, any anything.”
The H2 was designed for one thing and one thing only: speed. Noise, pollution, fuel consumption, even handling were all afterthoughts.
Unlike the disc- and reed-valve two-stroke designs then coming on to the market, Kawasaki stuck to a piston-port design for simplicity and compactness. Three Mikuni 32 mm carburetors provided the mixture, and Kawasaki’s new Capacitor Discharge Ignition lit the fire.
It was a basic set up, but it worked. The Mach IV put out and eye watering 74 bhp (its closest rival, the Triumph Trident, could muster only 58 hp) but weighed just 8 kilos more than the H1. The result was arm-wrenching acceleration and a blistering 126 mph top speed. The industry, the press and the riders of the day hadn’t experienced anything quite like it.
no, you did NOT run high 11’s on a new z1. I actively drag raced my H-2 in 72 and 73 and the H-2’s were faster than the Z-1s. I raced against “Pistol Pete” Grassilli at National trail raceway near Columbus Oh and I was there when he set the NHRA street stock 750 class record at 11.81 on his beautifully blueprinted H-2 which stood I think until 1977. He trailered that bike and it never saw the street. We were at the gate when they opened the track. He had told the officials he was going for the record an they were ready so they went straight to track while the air temp was in the low high 50s, took it off the trailer in the staging lane, pushed it to the water strip and Pete smoked the rear tire real good, shut it off again, pushed it to the fist staging beam, fired it up again, staged, and went with the engine as stone-cold as the could get it. 2 strokes make max power when cold. He then put it in a tent cooled it off again with dry ice and something they sprayed on the heads for 2 hours, then went back out when the racing started and backed up the morning run setting the record that stood for several years and of course ended up winning stock eliminator. I only broke 12 flat once on the bike that I rode to the track and I only did that because Pete taught this young hippy how to launch the bike and told me what rear tire pressure he was running. I took advantage of a cold fall morning and ran 11.98. Also, I was around when the Z-1s arrived. Never saw them break 12.3. On a day when Pete was off winning some major event, I managed to win the class then beat a z-1 in the eliminator round on my way to my only stock eliminator trophy. (I rode the bike to the track and had to Bungie it to the seat going home. lol)
Here is the cycle magazine superbike 73 comparison test that included both the 72 H-2 and the 72 Z-1.
Didn’t anyone do the obvious thing, put the engine in a decent frame?
I can believe that; lots of potential in tweaking those old carbs!
They were NOT the stock carbs and just last year I gave the original carbs plus the ‘trick’ spark plug wire ends to a buddy who is restoring a 67 Bonny. And here’s another story. In 1970 the son of Rocky’s Harley showed up with a 500 triple. He was running 14.40s so he came over to me and said, ‘Dave, you know how to do this will you take it down’? I had never driven a two stroke so I launched at 8 grand. It went right on the license plate and I knew if I lifted I would be a-holes and elbows, not a good look for the Race Director. It finally settled down at the top of third gear and I ran a low 13. He asked me what I launched at and I told him NINE grand!! He was still on the back wheel when he took out our Christmas Tree with FIVE yellows back then!! LMAO
Good bikes all of them – I owned a 250 – 350 – and yes they made a 400 and the 500 for the longest and that’s where I stopped. Sold it running those Danco champers about 2 yrs ago. A bike to respect it’s abilities like many that came after it….like those CBX’s..
In the spring of ’74, I went to Proffer’s Motorcycles in Flint, Michigan, to buy a 750 triple. The salesman said that it was $1995, or he had a ’73 Z1 that had 4000 miles on it for the same price. I had heard stories of guys on triples, that had to change their underwear after every ride, so I took the Z1. Best decision that I ever made! Fast, reliable, comfortable, and a great cruiser. The dumbest thing I ever did, was sell it!!!
Was it orange like mine? I agree with your description of the Z1.
Yep, it was orange with brown striping. Mine was one of the early production models. It had the automatic chain oiler on it, before Kawasaki started using the dense lube chain. It worked good, but the rear wheel always needed cleaning. When I sold it, it had about 40,000 mi, but I never had to replace the chain or any of the sprockets. I did learn early on, not to get too stupid with the throttle in first & second gear!
The Z1 was a much improved bike. I think that was the only color for the 1st year. Roommate had a ’75, was a fun bike, so much more civilized than the “ring-dings”. I get a kick out of people that ” rode it once and were so scared, never rode it again”,, types. Come on, motorcycles aren’t for wusses, especially ones that do 12 seconds in the 1/4. Moderation with fast bikes is the key. Got a straight line? Mash on it for the rush, but stopping and turning are more important. Peoples common sense seems to go out the window when riding these. Professional rider grade, not for beginners or wimps. Bet you wish you had that bike today, hey Chuck? $15-$20g’s!!
https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0118-312560/1973-kawasaki-z1-900/
Hi Howard. As we get older, I know I’ve got a bunch of “I wish I hadn’t done that”, or “hind sight is 20-20” moments! I purchased a ’65, 305 Super Hawk in ’66 for $550, a lot of money for a 16 year old cutting lawn back then. In the spring of ’67, I rebuilt it, installing a Webco 350 kit, which upped the displacement to 350 cc’s, a hot drag strip camshaft, high performance valve springs, a Barnett clutch assembly, did a port and polish job on the head, crossed switch 2nd & 3rd gears, which made the transmission more evenly spaced, dropped a couple of teeth on the output shaft sprocket, removed the starter, and installed a magnetic reed relay on the starter circuit, and wired it into the ignition circuit. I could then just hit the starter button, which killed the ignition while applying pressure to the shift pedal. It would change gears without having to use the clutch, which saved a lot of time in the quarter mile. I also had a Honda tuned racing exhaust system. My best time was 12.34 seconds at 108 MPH. Very respectable for 1967, and just 21 cu in! That engine would rev to 14,000 RPM, and I never had a reliability problem with it at all! I also had a lot of fun cruising Woodward Ave with it, and surprised a lot of hot cars at the time! (;-) The only outstanding thing about the bike was that it had a white metal flake seat. Sadly, I sold that bike, and like a lot of guys today, I wished that I still had it! (:-( The Super Hawk had about the same performance as the Z1, but the Z1 was a lot better bike, I didn’t have to work on it constantly
I test rode a Kawasaki Z1 and was glad to get off of it in one piece. Riding the Z1 in a straight line was fine, but accelerating out of a right turn it began steer with the rear wheel. Reflecting upon the situation a day or two later, I suspected the trailing arm or frame was too weak to hold the rear wheel in alignment under such torque. A test ride of a Suzuki 750 some years later was a revelation, good smooth power, great handling and excellent brakes. I should have bought that zuki. Currently my ride needs some repair, a Norton 850 Interstate.
Vibration If you think a H D vibrates just ride one of these
How about the Yamaha RD 350 triple, fastest 350 you will ever ride.
The RD350 was a twin, not a triple.
The guy who described these bikes as ” widow makers” was absolutely correct, I had 2 mates killed off them in the 80’s ,the power is lethal once she hits the power band ,but hey you will never get anything like that nowadays, snap it up i would but unfortunately im in Ireland!! Good luck classic bike fans stay safe
Having owned an H-1 in 1971 and then a H2 that I rode in 72 and 73 that I both I Street raced and drag races I can tell you that it’s absolutely horse hockey. I don’t believe you and I don’t believe you know what you’re talking about. If you rode one and it’s scared you blame your lack of talent, not the motorcycle. The only close calls I ever had were my fault and I’m man enough to admit it. Not blame the most Revolutionary motorcycles in history.
Never rode the 750 but had a buddy with the 500 and I think Bassani pipes. Coming from a 2-stroke dirt bike world I was comfortable with the nature of a 2-stroke “coming on the pipe” but was not prepared for the 500 lifting the front wheel at 45 mph and carrying it about a 100 yards! Not a great handler but what a straight-line rocket!
When you twisted the throttle you had to lean forward. The starting posture in drag racing was crotch between the seat and the gas tank and Chin practically on the tachometer with your feet trailing out behind you balancing the bike on your tiptoes. Pull the revs up to about 6000, and nail the throttle at the same time you flip your finger off the ball end of the clutch lever. Your race is over in 60 feet because the rest of it is merely shifting gears oh, without the clutch I should mention
the 3 cylinder 2-stroke configuration was dreamed up in 1941 by DKW- During the 1950´s, DKW fielded a winning Formula One racing team, with the 350 cc 3-cylinder being the star, albeit unreliable due to, for the times poor engine oil quality. This machine, when running right ran rings around the big BMW´s, Matchless or MV Agustas from Italy.
my bro had 2 of these I had 1 he also had a 350 with allot of work and cafe’d out they were all wicked ,the 750’s handled like s@#t ,but dam ,we put a knobby on one ,we could have got work digging ditches !
I have the same bike, same color with a matching sidecar my father left me. I rode in the side car since I was 3.
Since the activity has picked up again on this one:
https://www.facebook.com/Qualityworks.JAPAN/videos/1324957897570905
How much is this H2 750 triple selling for ?
I still have my H2-F 1975-750cc Burgandy triple. It has about 9000 miles on it. I am very proud of it. The white tag on the frame says It was made in Japan. I remember the last time I rode it. It was on I-80 in Iowa. I went under a road above and that road had a speed sign that showed you your speed on the Interstate. My helmet was being pulled back and my cheeks felt like they were at my ears, but the sign on the bridge above said 142. I will never forget that day
The Mach IV was very fast. I had a Honda 750/4, and was touring along with a guy and his gal who were 2 up on a Mach IV. When overtaking, the Kawa was faster 2up than my Honda was with me solo.
I only ever rode a Mach 3 500 just the once, and it was quick enough.
But the Cycle World test recorded the Norton Dunstall 810 as running 11.90 standing quarter, faster than the 11.95 of a Mach IV.
1976, 72 h2, put Kawi 250 motoX chambers and Carbs. Alittle porting, chamber adjustments, and thottle linkage reconfigurations. On a POCO hardtail frame w/50 deg. rake,the back rim cost the most and chaining it was a bitch, we used a radial from any manufacturer that had a speed rating that was close. Adjusted tire pressure for just the correct amount of spin at launch. You got a drag bike Low 11’s, sometimes worse sometimes better. And the motor for free from the wife/girlfriend of the rider it killed. THE WIDOW MAKER not just a title, a fact.