WOW!! I was reading Cycle and Cycle World magazines (in the USA) regularly back in the 1960s--1980s and NEVER saw any allusions to this Kawasaki Square-4. All I recall seeing was their 500cc square four, rotary-valve, GP racer. Only two carbs? Did it have reed valves? I recall seeing photos of the proposed in-line 4-cylinder Yamaha 750 with its fuel-injection system from the Tokyo Motor Show, but totally no inkling of this Kawasaki. GOOD JOB, Motorcycle Cafe!!!
I think Kwaka at least addressed Ariel`s old issue of not being able to keep the rear two cylinders cool , which did eventually killed the the Squaffer .As you correctly pointed out, Kawasaki gave their square four liquid cooling . That in itself would have been among the earlier manufacturers to use this concept of keeping your motor happy .
Tell Allan Millyard ive found his next project.Would have been a weapon no doubt about that,i have seen pics of it before in books on the history of of Kawasaki.Your pics look great,hadnt seen those ones youve got.Thanks for sharing,love the Aussie humour.
@@mikedrillz2866 thanks buddy. I just wish I could have found out more & made the video longer. No point trying to milk it like other channels do. 3min is all I could come up with.
Thanks for this. Wasn't previously aware of this bike. I am, however, familiar with the Ariel Square Four. Early models suffered from the two rear cylinders overheating. This was later remedied, plus an increase in capacity made it a better machine. It was an incredibly smooth running and quiet engine. I'm now wondering if Kawasaki looked at the Ariel, to aid them with their deaign.
Never heard of that, l learn something new everyday, thank you 👍. Apparently, the z1 got its bad reputation from a tester who's bike had a loose front wheel. Have you ever heard anything about the gpx 750
I saw a kawasaki square four in Okinawa Japan in 1986 but it was a 400cc engine, even though I race motocross under the shops sponsorship he would not let me ride that bike, was faster than anything on the track but was a street bike, The time I was there it never sold and I never saw another one like it
@@motorcyclecafe back in the early 80's things were wide open, we saw stuff that would never come to the states, Had a friend of mine bought a Honda CR125 for $1200 didn't even know it was a works bike and complained about how bad the suspension was once we figured out that it had been set up for a rider about 110 pounds running wide open and not for a GI at 185 and riding slow. the local shop helped him set it up and he started placing better in the races
It was the Middle Eastern Oil Crisis, in 1973, that started killing off the development of gas guzzling, large capacity, high performance 2 stroke bikes. My old Suzuki GT550A could only manage 9 miles per imperial (true) gallon in town riding and 18 miles per imperial gallon cruising at 45 - 50 MPH on the open road. By comparison, my considerably lighter (in weight) 1979 CZ 350-472 Deluxe could manage 67 miles per imperial gallon cruising at 65 - 70 MPH plus could take corners like it was on rails. It was also far more reliable than my GT550A.
Yamaha had a 750cc injected 2-stroke that they presented as a concept bike at the Tokyo Motor show back in the day. It didn't go into production either
I would have loved this bike to have got into production, but I fear it's run may have been very short due to the oil crisis of '74. I wonder if Alan Millyard could be persuaded to build one though........
What might have been... Yes, it would have likely been the most powerful bike of the day. Methinks that they scrapped it so as to not steal thunder from the Z1, which was their prestige image-maker long in development by 1972.
Yes, I'm old enough to remember that, along with Yamaha's equivalent, the GL750. In fact a friend had money waiting for the Yamaha if it ever made it into a showroom anywhere near London. The Kawasaki might have been ultra powerful (by the stds of the day) but to my teenage eye that engine looked awful, like something out of the 1930's. It lacked showroom sex appeal - an essential element that the H1 and H2 had in spades, and none of the people I knew were that interested in it. It was a bike for the age group I am now. Had they engineered it like the RG500 Suzuki that might have been different but not as it was. The Yamaha would have sold, the Kawasaki would have flopped. My opinion of course but that's how I remember it being discussed when these pictures of these bikes made it into the press.
@@stuartholding6067 shhh, I haven't covered the Yamaha yet 😉 I'm not sure the Yamaha would have been that good. It was quite a while after that before Yamaha made a good BiG bike. But like you thats just my opinion. Cheers.
@@motorcyclecafe Indeed it was a long time, and by the time the RD500 came out 15yrs later the bike world had moved on. The GL was - conceptually anyway - an easy exercise: if two was good then four has to be better. Double up the 350 and there you go. When people heard about it, but before they saw any images, they (me and friends anyway) had visions of a large engined, road going RD05. A kind of early 70's two stroke version of what Honda did later on with the CBX. Not to be of course on (as I understand it anyway) the back of California pollution regs, but there was a large rest of the world out there that took some time to catch up on emissions.
Nice try! 😂😂 A Square Four from '72? The bike that you photoshopped is composed of so many parts from bikes of more recent times! For instance Kawasaki Z 650 B , Z1R, mid seventies Kawasaki two-strokes, Z 750 B... ...two poor moped carbs for 4 cylinders? The crankcase looks too small to house two crank shafts. The engine part obove the left footrest looks like the output side of a shaft driven bike. By the by, I had two Kawasaki H1 and one H2, they were perfectly good motorcycles if one maintained them properly.
@@carlnapp4412 NOT ONE photo is photoshopped. My info says it did not have two cranks but some kind of strange y shaped connecting rod for each side for two pistons to be connected to a single crank pin.
All bikes are widowmakers when you don't know the right treatment. Extremely cool bike though. Too bad there's never a test review written about its true specs.
@@hcjdv59 its very hard to find specs on any prototype. I guess because things change until they come off the production line. Same as the Yamaha and Suzuki on the channel.
This engine was poorly born. Little room for transfer conduits, different inlet lengths. Only one carburetor for 2 cylinders. Lack of space for exhaust pipes. Long engine block preventing the swinging arm from being extended. Red zone at 7500 rpm so a peaceful tractor. Aerodynamically it is not any less wide, think of the driver's knees!
LOL! I remember well the 2 and 3 cyl 2 strokes in the late 60s and the 70s! They were awesome to ride but also dangerous if you did not know what you were doing.. Especially the 750. the smaller ones were a bit more manageable. BUT if they had come with a 4 cyl? That would have been just sick! I guess I would have lacked a few more friends then. Good it never came into production....but what a rush that must have been!!! 😆😆
Reading specialized magazines and books since 1982 i didn't know this bike !!! Thank you so much for that vid !
You should,, started reading magazines 10 years earlier to know!
@@Alexie3333 10 years earlier i was 5 👶
@@JCF69700-- you can't start to early with propper lecture!
It would have been nice to see that in their line-up.
WOW!! I was reading Cycle and Cycle World magazines (in the USA) regularly back in the 1960s--1980s and NEVER saw any allusions to this Kawasaki Square-4. All I recall seeing was their 500cc square four, rotary-valve, GP racer. Only two carbs? Did it have reed valves? I recall seeing photos of the proposed in-line 4-cylinder Yamaha 750 with its fuel-injection system from the Tokyo Motor Show, but totally no inkling of this Kawasaki. GOOD JOB, Motorcycle Cafe!!!
Great Video! I Love Learning About Motorcycle History! Live Narration & No Crappy Music Just Made It That Much Better. Thank You. (Like #58)
@@thewatcher5271 thanks buddy. I never use crappy music 😉
If Kawa brought this out and Yamaha also produced their concept 750 4 cylinder 2 stroke, it would have been the showdown of the century.
@@glentonkendrick yes I reckon it would have been
I think Kwaka at least addressed Ariel`s old issue of not being able to keep the rear two cylinders cool , which did eventually killed the the Squaffer .As you correctly pointed out, Kawasaki gave their square four liquid cooling . That in itself would have been among the earlier manufacturers to use this concept of keeping your motor happy .
Although I was around back then this is the first time I've ever heard of this bike. Really interesting design. Thanks for the education. Great video.
Thanks mate.
Over to you, Mr Millyard!
Maybe rather have Allen's S1 550. 4.
Know your limits, and put time in to learn the machine. That in increases your chance of survival.
Never knew about this one. 1 loved my Z1000. Cheers for posting
Tell Allan Millyard ive found his next project.Would have been a weapon no doubt about that,i have seen pics of it before in books on the history of of Kawasaki.Your pics look great,hadnt seen those ones youve got.Thanks for sharing,love the Aussie humour.
@@mikedrillz2866 thanks buddy. I just wish I could have found out more & made the video longer. No point trying to milk it like other channels do. 3min is all I could come up with.
@@motorcyclecafe It is very well done sir.
Oh to be able to change the spark plugs without removing the tank. 👍
Thanks for this. Wasn't previously aware of this bike. I am, however, familiar with the Ariel Square Four. Early models suffered from the two rear cylinders overheating. This was later remedied, plus an increase in capacity made it a better machine. It was an incredibly smooth running and quiet engine. I'm now wondering if Kawasaki looked at the Ariel, to aid them with their deaign.
@@jakemurphy9536 no doubt they did look at the Ariel.
Never heard of that, l learn something new everyday, thank you 👍. Apparently, the z1 got its bad reputation from a tester who's bike had a loose front wheel. Have you ever heard anything about the gpx 750
@@jeremyharris5102 yer mate my brother had a GPX until a couple months ago. Nice bike and small too size of a 250 pretty much!
I saw a kawasaki square four in Okinawa Japan in 1986 but it was a 400cc engine, even though I race motocross under the shops sponsorship he would not let me ride that bike, was faster than anything on the track but was a street bike, The time I was there it never sold and I never saw another one like it
@@raleighpacheco6243 thats something i have never heard of
@@motorcyclecafe back in the early 80's things were wide open, we saw stuff that would never come to the states, Had a friend of mine bought a Honda CR125 for $1200 didn't even know it was a works bike and complained about how bad the suspension was once we figured out that it had been set up for a rider about 110 pounds running wide open and not for a GI at 185 and riding slow. the local shop helped him set it up and he started placing better in the races
It was the Middle Eastern Oil Crisis, in 1973, that started killing off the development of gas guzzling, large capacity, high performance 2 stroke bikes. My old Suzuki GT550A could only manage 9 miles per imperial (true) gallon in town riding and 18 miles per imperial gallon cruising at 45 - 50 MPH on the open road. By comparison, my considerably lighter (in weight) 1979 CZ 350-472 Deluxe could manage 67 miles per imperial gallon cruising at 65 - 70 MPH plus could take corners like it was on rails. It was also far more reliable than my GT550A.
@@CZ350tuner yes, some of those older 2 strokes were a tad thirsty 😉
I had 2 GT550's the mpg wasn't particularly bad for the time approximately 40mpg , I don't know how you only got 9mpg though .
9 miles per gallon is way to much. even like a 400 cid v8. even a not perfect running 380 gets 30 miles and a proper 750 47 miles.
Yamaha had a 750cc injected 2-stroke that they presented as a concept bike at the Tokyo Motor show back in the day. It didn't go into production either
@@caseymcgrath4258 yep thats the subject of the channels latest video.
There's pics of a Yamaha in line 4 cyl 2 stroke from the same period on the net as well.
@@43RC777 working on that bike now
I had the S2 350 triple. I'm looking for another to replace the one I sold many years ago.
I would have loved this bike to have got into production, but I fear it's run may have been very short due to the oil crisis of '74. I wonder if Alan Millyard could be persuaded to build one though........
You seem to find some Really interesting material. Excellent.
@@toddhazzard1562 yer thanks mate. Wish I could have found out a bit more but there was bugger all info out there!
What might have been...
Yes, it would have likely been the most powerful bike of the day.
Methinks that they scrapped it so as to not steal thunder from the Z1, which was their prestige image-maker long in development by 1972.
@@oldschoolmotorsickle yer maybe, who knows.
if it had been me... strap three kr250s together...
yeah. square six :)
*tasked with changing seals, throws bike away*
it's going to be complicated to place the rotary distributors....
Apparently it had way more poke than a z1, worse handling than an h2 and cracking heads/overheating problems.
I believe one of these bikes in in kawasakis own museum
@@paulsmith-oy3bu no doubt probably the only one
Great video Digger
@@chrispulham4779 thanks mate!
Yes, I'm old enough to remember that, along with Yamaha's equivalent, the GL750. In fact a friend had money waiting for the Yamaha if it ever made it into a showroom anywhere near London. The Kawasaki might have been ultra powerful (by the stds of the day) but to my teenage eye that engine looked awful, like something out of the 1930's. It lacked showroom sex appeal - an essential element that the H1 and H2 had in spades, and none of the people I knew were that interested in it. It was a bike for the age group I am now. Had they engineered it like the RG500 Suzuki that might have been different but not as it was. The Yamaha would have sold, the Kawasaki would have flopped. My opinion of course but that's how I remember it being discussed when these pictures of these bikes made it into the press.
@@stuartholding6067 shhh, I haven't covered the Yamaha yet 😉 I'm not sure the Yamaha would have been that good. It was quite a while after that before Yamaha made a good BiG bike. But like you thats just my opinion. Cheers.
@@motorcyclecafe Indeed it was a long time, and by the time the RD500 came out 15yrs later the bike world had moved on. The GL was - conceptually anyway - an easy exercise: if two was good then four has to be better. Double up the 350 and there you go. When people heard about it, but before they saw any images, they (me and friends anyway) had visions of a large engined, road going RD05. A kind of early 70's two stroke version of what Honda did later on with the CBX. Not to be of course on (as I understand it anyway) the back of California pollution regs, but there was a large rest of the world out there that took some time to catch up on emissions.
Ye the Yamaha would ha ve sold thousands georgous lookin
It WOULDN'T have been a widowmaker, cuz it would have killed all the widows as well.
Hmmmm... 4 cylinder 2-stroke liquid-cooled 750. Can you say TZ ?
@@wwb7091 I think the TZ was an in-line 4cyl
Yamaha did concider a road going version of the TZ 750. A prototype with fuel injection was made and was presented at an exibition.
Nice try! 😂😂
A Square Four from '72? The bike that you photoshopped is composed of so many parts from bikes of more recent times!
For instance Kawasaki Z 650 B , Z1R, mid seventies Kawasaki two-strokes, Z 750 B...
...two poor moped carbs for 4 cylinders? The crankcase looks too small to house two crank shafts.
The engine part obove the left footrest looks like the output side of a shaft driven bike.
By the by, I had two Kawasaki H1 and one H2, they were perfectly good motorcycles if one maintained them properly.
@@carlnapp4412 NOT ONE photo is photoshopped. My info says it did not have two cranks but some kind of strange y shaped connecting rod for each side for two pistons to be connected to a single crank pin.
Ye gl 750 inline four
Yamaha TZ750.
Thirstiest too. But who cares about that.
@@ianaristotlethompson4186 no doubt
The KR750 motor would have been so much better
All bikes are widowmakers when you don't know the right treatment. Extremely cool bike though. Too bad there's never a test review written about its true specs.
@@hcjdv59 its very hard to find specs on any prototype. I guess because things change until they come off the production line. Same as the Yamaha and Suzuki on the channel.
They should have made it 😢
@@MyZxcvb12 oh well
This engine was poorly born. Little room for transfer conduits, different inlet lengths. Only one carburetor for 2 cylinders. Lack of space for exhaust pipes. Long engine block preventing the swinging arm from being extended. Red zone at 7500 rpm so a peaceful tractor.
Aerodynamically it is not any less wide, think of the driver's knees!
Nice bike, but those square four engines are ugly, I like the H2 much better.
I smell a rat.
@@markpavletich747 best lay a couple baits. No rats on this channel.
Can't take the accent. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard. Goodday mate.
Do you actually think your accent would be any different to me or anyone else from around the world.
@@motorcyclecafe Don’t even engage idiots like that, because they’re not worth your time. Greetings from the USA…. Mate! 👍🏻
@@mikeyerke3920 thanks buddy, appreciate you taking the time to give me some backup !
@@motorcyclecafe The US and Australia are great friends, so why not?!? Much love and respect! You’ve earned my subscription as well!
@@mikeyerke3920 thanks and yes we are!
LOL! I remember well the 2 and 3 cyl 2 strokes in the late 60s and the 70s! They were awesome to ride but also dangerous if you did not know what you were doing.. Especially the 750. the smaller ones were a bit more manageable. BUT if they had come with a 4 cyl? That would have been just sick! I guess I would have lacked a few more friends then. Good it never came into production....but what a rush that must have been!!! 😆😆
@@Barnabasanon the 3 cyl were quite fast indeed but actually the 500 H1 was the one to watch ( Theres a video on the channel on this very subject )
@@motorcyclecafe I found the 500 actually more fun than the 750! The damn 750 tried to throw me off as soon as I passed 4000 rpm on the clock! 😆😆
That would have been the Widowmaker. They have the capacity nowadays to bring it back.
@@toddhazzard1562 widowmaker allright. I tried my hardest to find out the power output too!