I had a '71 500 triple. I bought it in 1972 from a guy I worked with. Only had 400 miles on it and I paid him 650$ for it. It was my very first bike. He warned me to be careful, that to get used to it. Like an idiot, on my way home, I pulled away from a stop sign and twisted it about 3/4 open throttle. The thing came up and scared the crap out of me. I grew to love that bike and took it on several long trips. Always with spare plugs. Sold it 3 years later to my brother-in-law. He resold it after 2 weeks. He said it was too scary. I thought he was being wimpy. Anyway loved that bike.
I almost bought the 500. The seller had put a smaller gear on the rear - the bike had an insane power band. I was on a test drive and laid over in a curve when the power band came on - it was hopping sideways through the turn. Too hot for me. I passed on buying the bike.
Had the 1971 500 (last year of the hi-compression engine). Armouralled the seat, took it out on the highway, cranked it up, it laided me out on the seat, and the further I slid back, the more the throttle opened up. I finally pulled myself up to sitting, stopped it, rubbed gravel on the seat, drove it home, and sat down and shook for about 20 minutes. Loved, and respected that machine. .
had it happen after I cleaned the carbs on my suzuki 550, took off like a rocketship. almost wiped out! PS always blew 3 smoke rings from the exhaust. 3 cyl
Ha ha I had a similar experience with the same 500 model. I grabbed a handful of throttle coming out of an intersection and the brake light is all that kept the bike from coming right out from under me.
In 1973 I rode a 350 at the dealer and it was so fast I blew a stop sign trying to stop. They wouldn't let you test ride the 750 because they had already lost one in a crash. I stuck with my non scary Honda...
Ungodly banshee howl, terrifying speed, gets into the powerband just in time to soil your drawers, corners like a refrigerator…Dear God how I miss those days. I started running around the house looking for my leathers…🏍️
I rode a friend's 750 in the 70s. I went a few miles and came back. Never wanted to ride it again. Very, very quick but the bike is either accellerating or decellerating. It didn't cruise well and seemed like long rides would be exhausting. Had a cowling on it that shook and made lots of noise. His friend had a KZ900 4 stroke. That bike was much better IMO.
@@timfennell1310 That's called lack of "drivability". My son had a Ducati S4RS. I rode it once and it just was not happy going 30 MPH, not matter what gear.
I have a 1972 H2. Had it about 20 years now. I rode them when they were new and first came out. I worked as a high school student in a Kawasaki dealership then. The dealership held 27 land world speed records at Bonnieville. These bikes were a pussycat compared to the Mach III. The Mach III had an extremely narrow powerband that when it came on, if you weren't prepared, you could easily go over backwards or slide off of the slick seats the first models had. They were the Widowmakers! No helmet laws and the Mach III could easily make you dead. The H2 had a lot of torque and the power was linear. They handle like poop compared to todays sportbikes but handled very well in the day. Kawasaki detuned the engine and stretched the frame on the later models. These bikes were and are very easy to control. You could ride 3rd gear wheelies for thousands of feet. Ivan's Performance Parts H2 carb and jet kit with the CNC machined needle turn the engine into a turbine smooth machine. The bucking at low rpm and partial throttle is gone. Put these kits into many H2s. Best thing I have ever done. Wish they were available in the day. Still my favorite street bike to ride for short to medium rides.
I agree 100%. We called the old H-1s "flexible flyers." The swing arm definitely needed strengthening. The first time I rode one I unintentionally wheelied it for about 1/2 a block when the power band hit.
I owned a 73 H1 which I had ported by the late Ron Avery in Daytona and added custom made chambers from Dixie Cycles in Georgia . Ithen had the crank modified by a shop in Boston which may have involved Kevin Cameron ar the t I time. I then drove up to my old hometown in Maryland and met Gary Nixon and bought 3 32 mm MIKUNI CARBS and intake spigot that allowed me to tune the intake lengths using the seat of the pants dyno. This is where I learned the value of hitting the sweet spot in tuning! With appropriate gearing I was able to regularly hit an indicated 140 ( admittedly optimistic ) on top. This was fast enough in 1974 to be the fastest street bike in New Smyrna at the time. After selling it I bought a used 72 H2, bone stock. I was actually shaking when I took the test ride and was I was sold immediately! Though it would only top out a bit above 120 or so the chassis and brakes were not even close to keeping up. Great memories but today's bikes are truly amazing. My 2017 Tuono Factory would have walked ( run ) away from both before getting into 4th gear with chassis and brakes that I never did find the limits of on the street. Now I have settled down at 70 years old and ride a 22 Road King. I will say that the H2 in this piece is truly a beautiful example and Kawasaki was way ahead of it's time with the styling. Again, GREAT MEMORIES, Thank You
A friend of mine had one and it was a 750 model and like you said no button to start it he was kicking it one day and I don’t believe he had engaged compression release anyways the second time he kicked it. It threw him up over the handlebars into the garage door And get hurt, but it was kind of embarrassing for him !! 4:25
@@steveabercrombie9756 Compression release? They certainly didn't have that stock from the factory. They were very reliable starting, more refined ignition system than the H-1s had. I was head mech at a strong Kawasaki dealer in Westchester County, N.Y. and the Kawasakis were generally bullet-proof with a few exceptions. The Z-1s were a delight to ride and service, eventually eclipsing the 2 stroke model street bikes.
Ah 70, you're just a kid , pops is 81 and loving his 2017 ktm rc390. You mentioned Gary Nixon ,and pops did the other night ,as he used to rub elbows with him on the flattracks all over the east coast and eastern 1/3 of the US back in the late 60s till about 72 when he got out. Good stuff , pops speaks highly of him.
I joined the USAF at 20 YO, got stationed in California. I made friends with a coworker, that happened to be stationed in his hometown. He had an H2 and kept it at his Dad's house. He couldn't insure it, as it's reputation made it too costly for enlisted member's paychecks. We were over at his parent's home one sunny day, when he wheeled it out and started it. He talked me into going for a quick ride, and I got on it, circled around the house a couple times, and he said to ride around the neighborhood. As soon as I was out of sight, I romped down on it, and almost yanked my soul out from under me. That is one of the scariest bikes I've ever ridden, and I'm a lifelong rider.
I've had plenty of two strokes during the era. They were just part of life. The one thing that stood out head and shoulders about the H2 was that it didn't just have an arm wrenching power band, it had TORQUE!...Until then, I'd not ridden a two stroke that didn't 'get busy' until 4/5000 + revs ...The H2 had awesome power from the get go..Then the power band kicked in!...Not for the faint hearted...
I worked at a Kawasaki dealer in 1969 north of Seattle, and I got to take the first 500 triple in Washington state out of the shipping box and make it run. The owner of the dealership was the first to ride it and promptly crashed it through the plate glass showroom window doing a wheelie. When the 72 750 came out, my best friend bought one and began to production race it at Seattle International Raceway, while I chased him on a 350 Avenger. In 1974 a different dealership sold me a 400 triple, and I got to give birth to that very special bike. I still have it, un-restored, in perfect condition, with 10K miles. Still runs. Deep wine metallic paint, and no stupid number stampings on the factory exhaust.
Yeap,,i had a 500,2 cycle Kawasaki, that was pretty fast,for a 500,I could knock off 750,Honda, Yamaha, it didn't matter. Sure wish I had it now,didn't realize those things would be worth that kind of money, now.
@@brentonlett3417Ate what ? The widowmakers exhaust ? Iv ridden. both. The rd was light and fun yet kinda quick the rd 400 was even better but the Widowmaker triple 3. 750 was like riding an F5. Tornado naked. Never knowing what it's gonna do and feeling like you are just an after thought of that evil.machine. You dont ride it. It carrys you as a passenger
A friend of mine bought a used 72' H2 in 1973. The same year Massachusetts lowered the drinking age to 18. Unfortunately that combination proved to be lethal for him. RIP Glenn F
The 1969 H-1 500 was “THE Widowmaker”. Drum front brakes. No power until 6000rpm…then...all 60 ponies came in. The 750 was more powerful, but not nearly as dangerous as the ‘69 H-1.
bought a 76 leftover H1 in 77 new,got involved with my future wife....sold bike.....not a good ride with a passenger......many years later,and many bikes also.....bought a 71 H1.....two different bikes 71 is Raw......detuned 76 was more refined....two smokes forever !!!!!!!
100% correct. H1 500 was a death machine. The H2 750 is vastly improved in every aspect. Easy to confuse the two unless you owned both. Me, 1972 HI & a 1974 H2. At least by 1972, the H1 got a single disc up front.
Early H2s can get a bit wriggly but nowhere near as bad as H1-, they were made out of bicycles. Widowmaker? No. Had 2 H1s and 4 H2s, my name is Anthony and I am an addict.
The "Widowmaker" was the very first motorcycle I ever rode of any kind. I was 17 years old in 1977. Was at a big party when my cousin's future husband shows up on one of these bikes that he just purchased. He said "hop on so I can scare the $hit out of ya". I had a few drinks so, I did. When we got back to the party, he said go ahead take it for a ride....and I did. Not braggin but, I was a natural. Figured out the clutch and gears right away. Went out into traffic on the main roads for a couple miles and headed back. Thats awesome that they are bringing the money they are. Wish I would have bought one back in the day.
I had a 75 Z1B 900 back in 75 ,my friend had a 75 h2 . One night on a HYW ride I took off and got to 120 , then my friend blew by me at hell a lot faster then 120 in split second . Even today don't under estimate the little H2 triple if set up right in todays world . The new H2 Kawasaki is the best beast in today world . LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
In 1983 my uncle gave me the 1975 h2 750 with no paper work so I never had the chance of puting it on the road . First street bike I ever owned so i road it in my yard to learn how to ride it . I did get the chance to drag race a couple guys on the street i lived on ( when my parents weren't home of course ) and let's just say the first 4 years it would slap you in the face of you weren't careful lol . Im 57 now and what i wouldn't do yo take a ride on this iconic MONSTER once again . Thanks for a great video
Aww,the memories, in 74 I had one,I also had no common sense, stock was wild enough,but I had a friend who was a factory tuner for kawasaki road race team,they tried to set up an H2,but the power band didn't work out of the turns,it wouldn't turn,I got slide valve carbs,exhaust,heads,ignition, it was crazy,I raced at the long gone orange county raceway, I left in second gear it went 11.40 at 121,freaking scary,I put rear pegs and shifter,I rode it every day to college,after a Nam visit,it was a street race terror in Tustin California.
In the 1970's I had two H2's. They were a thrill to ride. I toyed with other motorcycles and cars to show them I had speed. I took one of my bikes up to 144 mph on I-75. I was laying down on it as if I was part of the bike so I wouldn't get ripped off the bike by the wind force. I passed an 18-wheeler, and it took me a little off course and I saw that I couldn't steer it back straight, so I let up on the gas slowing down to the 130's mph to regain control. The bike handled great. Just don't push your luck.
My friend crashed one in a race in Hawaii back in about 1972 or so. He lost a leg. The bikes were not defective in any way just the riders of the day didn't know what they were throwing a leg over.
I just put together the motor on my H1. Two over with chambers. Nothing like the sound and power of a triple two stroke. Try keeping the front wheel down in first and second gears. Its a thrill to ride even for this old man.
Bought my H2 750 February 1972 at Cycleland in Port Huron, MI. Rode it home in 26 degree weather. Paid $1500 out the door. Had it for 5 years before selling it for $900. Would have kept it if I knew how much they would appreciate. Didn't purchase a faster bike til I bought a 1992 Yamaha VMax. That one I still have.
I had one when I as a teenager. I didnt think it was dangerous. Like any bike or car, if you ride/drive it like you are playing 'Need for Speed' you wont make it past the 1st couple of corners. You will always smell strongly of 2-stroke oil after a ride. The power comes on smoothly and the engine will happily run well over redline until it eventually blows up.
had 5 of these monsters over the years one was a tube frame with a 4 inch Avon drag tire in 1973, at 7200 rpm it would spin the tire in any gear, THANKS KAWASAKI
I had a '71 500 triple in college that I used to race against my friend and his cafe'd Yamaha RD 400. He just ate my thick smoke every time. I learned that the manual steering dampener was installed to help with steering wobble and learned to use it after a terrifying experience. One day after racing up an onramp to about 90 I let off too fast once and the handle bars started high speed tank to tank slapping. I managed to wrangle it back into control. The same manual steering tightener can also screw you in town though. If you forget to loosen it up after playing on the freeway and go to make a u-turn the bars won't go fast enough and you can go down. Not a great beginner's bike but my brother left it to me so I had to feel it all.
My brother had a Kawasaki 500 (the blue streak) he kept at our home while he went away to college. I was 15 yo and took it out riding with a friend that had his own bike. I remember being at a red light with a slight incline. When starting out, I stalled it twice from not revving it up high enough. On the third attempt, I gave it plenty of throttle and will never forget the front wheel going skyward and a trail of smoke being left behind me LOL. That bike was plenty quick, and then the 750 came out not too long after. I always wanted one, but never got the chance to ride one. You can't replace an experiences like that at a time when it was the quickest machine out there!
I haven't ridden a 750..I have ridden a 500 and a 350..kaw. when I rode the 500. And got back to my friends house..he asked me what I thought...I told him. I think this broke should be outlawed on the street. But his 500 shift pattern was all down. Instead of up.. he said it was designed that way ,because it's easier and faster to tap your foot down ,than to lift it up..( a racing design). I tried to find a 750 years later for sale.. either they weren't for sale,or if they were it needed a lot of work...usually a motor rebuild, because it was run on straight gas and not mixed. Also they were trashed out from lack of maintenance ! Awesome bikes.. sit on the tank when you open the wick,and hold on tight !!!
Had one inn1980. Repainted it Had the pistons knurled. Velocity stacks , cut the seat down so I wouldn’t slip back. Had a set of Chambers on it. An a set of Dunlop’s. That was an extremely quick bike. My friends all had KZ 900 an 1000. They couldn’t stay with it. Loved the bike. Front wheel would come up into 4 th gear.
My buddy had the H1 8:05 and I had a Suzuki GT550 triple. Always wished we had a reed valve like the RD. Piston port motors wake up a little later but they show up ready for work on time!! The H2 is way above these. Just imagine 3 250cc motocross engines tied together. Awesome!!!
I knew a guy who told me that he took one of these on a trip from Kentucky to Kansas and back. He was a big, rawboned former football player and he told me that by the time he got to Kansas he was more sore than at any time in his life from game day hits to pushing blocking sleds in practice. He said that if he had the money he would have bought a plane ticket home and paid someone to trailer the bike home. Of course he also carried a toolkit with cleaning brushes and three spare spark plugs because.... well, if you know, you know.
I know you like 750s, but back in the day it was the H1 500 Mach III that we wanted. It was the original widowmaker, was there for 4 years before the H1 or Z900.
I had one around 1979. Traded my stereo to a friend for it. It was like riding a chainsaw! Once it seized on me at 70mph with a passenger on board. Fortunately, when it dipped my instinct was to grab the clutch, which brought the bike upright. It had a ton of torque! Someone stole it, and when I recovered it, it was totally trashed.
I owned a 75 Suzuki 750 three cylinder water cooled two stroke. Drove it 50,000 miles as a commuter bike in New Jersey 50 miles one way to work Blazing fast !!!
Yeah buddy I grew up with those great bikes too this video brings back those memories. And I don't recall anyone using the widow maker term either but we're living in an age of over dramatized everything from all these modern day cry babies 👶.
I currently own and ride a Yamaha TZR 250R. It's been modded to produce 60hp. The same as an H-1. The difference is the Yamaha handles and stops. The Kawasaki H-1 and H-2 were NOT just another two-stroke. They were very dangerous. They were made in 1969-1975 . My TZR was made in 1991 to GP specs.
Also grew up with these. You rode the two strokes with the anticipation that the POWER was going to hit at a certain pitch And you had better be ready.
My friends and I had each a 350 Kawasaki two stroke back in the early 80's. They were faster than the 550GPZ's through 3 gears. Brutal power bands, these motors should be in snowmobiles still to this day.
I rode a 500 in 1977 . I had a 650xl Yamaha was riding around Broken Bow Lake with an acquaintance. We tried bikes for a few miles . When I got on the throttle it seemed like the old star trek intro when the stars turned to white lines .
When in Southeast Asia I was blessed to spend considerable time with the 350, 500 and the 750. Different roads and situations, but they all scared the SH*T out of me. And I truly loved it.
I bought my first triple, an S2, from a sailor who was in the hospital after dropping the bike on his ankle. It was a great bike and I could start it on the first start just by hand. Since then I have owned an S3, and two H2's. Great bikes.
The cycle never killed anyone... It's an inanimate object... The rider on the other hand.... My H2 ran. I respected the cycle only played when the streets were clear
As a 13 year old in 72 watching guys ride the H2s is what got me interested in motorcycles. Never owned one, but that year I did muster up enough courage to go into the local Kawasaki dealer to grab the Tri-Star (250,500,750) sales brochure. That brochure is currently in pristine like new condition.
I'm 65, so a long time ago. When I was a freshman in college, rode the Susuki 750 "Water Buffalo". (Same concept) Almost sliding off the seat when it hit the power-band in 3rd gear.
@tomcrosby6332 Hi Tom I was just a sprout back in those days 7-8 years old and my cousin Don would ride us around West Mastin Lake rd and Roebuck Dr in 1970-71
Dad bought a widow maker (H1-500) in 1970. I rebuilt it in 1982, and it was my first street bike. I was 17. I still remember the sound, the smell, the feel. I remember how the sound went "supersonic" when it hit the powerband. I sold it for $500 in 1984 so I could buy a new Ninja 900.
I had a 1976 Yamaha RD 350 and the cylinder walls were scored the guy under before me ran out of oil. I had him punched out new pistons and that bike ran really good. I mean I mean it was fast. I’m sure not as fast as the Kawasaki‘s there, but that’s always started no more than three kicks, even when it was real cold outside, anyway this is Jim Mungai from kennerdell PA
I grew up on two wheels in the 60's/early 70's and had earned an AMA Expert license in 125cc motocross in Florida as a Jr. in H.S. and was ranked as high as 7th in the state, so I think it's fair to say I knew what I was doing on scooters. I only needed one class to graduate as a Sr. so I left on work program after 1st period. I had a good paying job at Disney World in '74 as a Lead Custodian ($4.85/hr, which was a lot of money in '74). I bought a like new '72 H2, had clip-ons handle bars, expansion chambers and 34mm Mikunis installed before I picked it up and then my motocross engine port man (My Dad the Rocket Engineer who worked at Cape Canaveral) gave it a modest port job. The thing would pull wheelies at 90/100 mph in 3rd gear and would burn rubber with only throttle in first and second gear...i quickly recognized the acceleration loss of traction characteristics as just like my YZ motorcross bike, just on asphalt...it must have been near 100 HP. I raced the then fastest vehicle in my town, a guy with a Kawi Z1 with headers and tune who knew how to ride and absolutely left him at the line and never saw or heard him. He was so embarrassed I never saw him on the road after that. they said in the day it didn't handle good but I could beat modified RD350's with good riders thru the twisties...the frame definitely flexed but if you just rode the flex I thought it cornered fine...as an 18 year old with no fear anyway, haha. Fyi, If you buy one get the blue '72, in '73/'74 Kawi extended the swingarm and rejetted the carbs to make it less wheelie prone and "snappy" to help with insurance rates. Speaking of insurance, I don't remember what I paid for the bike or for insurance but I remember the insurance payments were more than my bike payments. i drove it with no silencers and it was loud as hell...my GF and BF who lived side by side told me they could hear me coming from a couple miles away. I had an absolute blast and the cops hated me...I would never stop and they could never get close enough to get my license...we had a lot of cat and mouse chases but I was highly skilled and had a world class speed vehicle and knew all the roads at least as good as them. Like I said, I had a blast with my H2. I only got off her twice, once a pretty fast low side and the second grabbing too much front brake in the rain on a downhill section of road...both I just kicked out and the levis and gloves protected me.
I bought one when I was 18 back in 1983. I loved it and never got in trouble. The rear swingarm had a piece of thick flat steel bar welded along the bottom when I bought it, so I guess that is why it wasn't a flexi flyer. Later I bought a GSR1100 and then a 1st gen Yamaha R1 with exhaust and rejetted carbs. That had 145 rwhp on the dyno and was an absolute rocket ship.
I had a 1972 H2 750 triple in the early 80's. I rode it for 3 years, and yes, they were absolutely insanely fast and handled horribly in turns, but they were rockets in the straights!
A guy in my town had the first one locally, got used to filling the oil injector tank at break in speeds, then as soon as he started running full throttle the oil mileage went down quickly. He ran the oil tank dry at full throttle and the ends of the pressed together stopped instantly, the center throw made almost one more revolution. The engine cases looked like a hand gernade had gone off inside. Expensive lesson.
Still have mine a 1972 750. It needs a good going through. I rode it years ago and what a blast. But it started doing the death wobble a couple of times after the tire were replaced and I decided it needed to be gone through. The sound is awesome. I bought it back in 92 for $350. Has the tune port headers on it. Needs to be repainted somebody painted it white.
Rode one one time. Went from second to third opened it up rear wheel broke loose front wheel went straight up in the air. That was enough for me. What a screaming piece of machinery. My buddy who owned it got a big kick out of watching me get it back under control. Never forget it
I had one in 1974 and hate it being called a "widowmaker" it was a great bike for wheelies, but myself and nobody I knew died while riding one! If you were frightened riding one, it obviously wasn't for you! Had a Z1 after that, and that was a great bike.
Rode my H2 in NZ 1970-1972 .What a blast .Lost my licence twice ,raced away from fuzz 4 times.Wanganui to Karori Wellington 1 hr 09 mins.Wanganui to Papakura return 1972 was a hoot.Party drunk ,two up wheel stand YIP up and over it went .took the lady to hosp for gutter bumps
I had a 1975 h2 500I shaved the heads 30 th of inch, wesco racing pistons, holn out the cylinders, mikcuni carbs k&n air filters carbs were sink. It used to beat 750s all day. Bought in high school 17. First roadbike. Tell you Stories.
My buddy had a Suzuki that was sort of like this and I got to ride it. His was was a 750 cc 3 cylinder 2 stroke water cooled and I believe it was made in 1977. I think they called it the water buffalo and it was really fast when you got the RPMs into The Sweet spot. I did 130 on it very quickly and it was not even running right and it was still accelerating but I let off. I was not wearing a helmet and had no eye protection, I think I was about 19 years old and I'm 60 years old now. It had three sets of points, one for each cylinder and it sounded like a great big bumblebee. Not much low-end torque but when you got those RPMs up that thing would rip. Around the same time I had a 73 Yamaha rd350 which was a two-stroke two cylinder street bike. That thing was really quick for its size and I almost flipped it hitting second gear once and I was laying down on it. It would slightly raise the front wheel hitting third gear with me laying down on it. I had it bored out with wiseco racing Pistons, but it was fast even when it was just stock.
Had a ‘70 H1, fair amount of work done to it. Powerband hit at 7500, 1/4 mile runs completely on the back tire. Did the same thing everytime and was an absolute blast to ride. Could lay it over to the kickstand peg against the left chamber and brake pedal on the right. They could be made to handle damn well. Roll on the throttle coming out of the turns and watch the front tire leave the pavement while still laid over exiting the turn. Lots of fun. Wish I still had it.
My first ride ever on a bike over 50 ccm was in 1974 at the age of 16. A Kawasaki 500 H1 as Co-Driver. 4 Minutes only, my knees were trembling and the world had changed for ever.
I had the exact same bike in high school and rode it everywhere (year round). It was an amazing ride and I rode it wide open pretty much everywhere I went. It's an act of God I survived (highlighted by the time I seized it at 140). I still miss that guy. It also had a magical, distinctive sound.
The Kawi tri-stars- 750, 500, 350, later the 400. Badass fast bikes- all three. Had a 400 S-3. Bought it used in ‘75 from a school teacher in Pittsburgh for $400.00. Rode that bike for 5 years- through rain, sun, snow, wind, it just ran! Put expansion chambers and velocity stacks on it. Rejetted the carbs, and proceeded to terrorize 750 Hondas and Harleys. Awesome bikes! Wish I had it now. Buddy had the widow maker H-2 500. Amazingly fast!👍🇺🇸❤️
I'm 55 now but an older buddy let me ride his 1975 KH500 when I was 15. I had little fear of it and popped a decent wheelie and wrang ot out up to about 100 or so.
Owned a 500 triple in 1973! Crazy fast, slight lag twisting the throttle! You better have both hands on the handlebars when the power kicked in or it would throw you off! Sold it in 74 and bought a brand new 1000cc Harley Sportster!
We've been running a motorcycle shop in the 80's and 90's. Mostly bigger bikes from all major Japanese and Italian manufacturers.There wasn't many motorcycles I didn't ride. I remember well this Mach IV and also the Water Buffalo from Suzuki, a GT 750 and the GT 650 Ram Air. Good memories.
Traded for an early 70s H1 500, out of a junk yard. It looked pretty good. Got it running, but missing on one cylinder. Found a used pick up ignition coil and installed it. First time I goosed it into the power band, it made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I had ridden a lot of different bikes, some 750, 4 strokes. I had never ridden one that was that fast.
was fortunate to buy and build a72 h2, fast by gast ,pingel, painted it frame and tin plum crazy purple!!awe had to plan to stop, low clubmans ... idled at 35 mph, sounded like three Big Stihls
I had a 72-h2 back in the mid 70s. Mine had a 6 inch over front end and pull-back handle bars. I drove it twice from Pittsburgh P.A. to Clearwater F.L. round trip. I loved that bike. You just had to respect the power it had or it could leave you on the pavement.
My very first motorcycle was a 69 H1 500. I had no idea what I was getting into. Unbelievably fast with no handling and no stopping. Going around corners it felt like it had a hinge in the middle. It scared the living daylights out of me so many times that I finally sold it. The guy who bought it was an inexperienced rider as well and I didn’t even let him ride it home, I delivered the bike to his place just to be sure it got there.
We had 5 H2s on afternoon shift in maintenance with chambers and every other trick in the book . Sounded like chainsaw massacre on steroids coming to town .
I was a motorcycle messenger in Chicago in the 80's. Rode several bikes. Had a n H2 a friend let me ride for a while. Was a blast. It didn't handle well. But wasn't as bad as the stories.
I had a 71 Norton Commando. 2 friends bought the candy orange 72 H1s at close out price less than $900. I never challenged them because I knew what would happen. The Norton was only the king of the road for a few months. In 69 came the H1 and CB 750. Dang we had fun though. I'm surprised we lived through it. Today I'm about to turn 70 and have owned probably 50 bikes. Never as much fun as the Norton, H1 days. I did test drive a 73 H2 but didn't buy it. Next came 73 Z1. AWESOME.
i test rode one set up for drag racing in the 80's, rode a wheelie through all the gears! Wild ride! It seemed to handle quite well in a straight line drag situation.
That was the fist bike I ever had . 1979, I got it out of the buy-lines newspaper. It was the first bike listed and I was 16 in queens New York I had 350 bucks so I bought it and loved it, put a set of clugmanm on it and a cafe fairing.
I went to work for two Kawasaki dealers between 1967 and then 10 years at another as the H-2s followed up the H-1s. Test rode many of all the years and never had issues with near catastrophes. I recall them pulling sideways if one tried burn-outs, hard to keep straight and would stand up during 2nd gear wfo. They were never a problem with starting or break-downs but had some weird occasions when the main bearings would break their ball cages and a new crankshaft had to be fitted, all under warranty.
I had a 750 3 cylinder. Had an almost uncontrollable "power-band" at just the right RPM. Me and a friend rode it to the gym, both of us good size guys, and I got a ticket for unintentionally popping a wheelie with both of us on it!
I bought a 750 H2 from my buddy in 1977. He had bought it new in 1975 and barely rode it. I think it scared him too much. I was used to riding dirt bikes and I felt right at home on it. The first time I rode it I pulled the front tire 2 feet off the ground hitting 3rd gear and I was sold on it immediately. Damn I miss that bike.
I was there when this bike was current. The danger wasn’t the power, the danger was the skinny frame tubes, skinny, swingarm tubes, skinny, fork, tubes, wire wheels, they missed somehow on the geometry of the rake and trail. This bike just wanted to do Tank slappers especially if you were not a smooth rider. The reason there are not many of these machines left is because they don’t survive crashes with that wide motor… they were also so noisy and not just from the exhaust, hearing those pistons with the wrist pins on center, rattling up and down those air cooled bores that the fins amplified the rattle, and when you start the bike, you hope the wind is blowing the other way so you’re not standing in the cloud of smoke from the unburned two-stroke oil. When riding with friends that had this Machine, you never wanted to ride behind them. Because you would get splattered with oil occasionally, little black spots of oil that you wonder where the hell did this come from. The bike to have what is the CB 750 Honda, for a few dollars more.. with a CB 750, you didn’t have the oil problem, you didn’t have problems starting it, which these were a bitch to start with that capacitor, discharge ignition, that you hope the spark plugs were not oil fouled.. you also have electric start and kickstart on the CB 750 the first year, which had sandcast engine cases.. The CB 750 did not go into the Watusi wiggle in corners, and you didn’t have to replace pistons/rings after a bore job every 15 to 20,000 miles at the most on the Honda, as well as replacing crank seals on the Kawasaki. The best handling Kawasaki’s were the S1 and the S2.. The 1972, 350 cc S2 had a engineering problem. The crankshaft only had four main bearings which caused the primary gear side rod to burn the thrust washers and overheat the connecting rod at the crankshaft. Mine was black from overheating when I checked it. The one they get was the 1973, 350 triple. That has six main bearings. And Those machines would actually go around corners as well as the king of the race track, the RD 350, RD 250.. actually, the RD 250, 1973 and 1974 was faster than the RD 350 on the racetrack. Because the 250 did not have to accelerate that fly wheel disc brake in the front. How do I know this? I wonsix Road racing championships on an RD 250 with a drum brake many times against the Kawasaki 350 and 400 triples, RD 350 and 400s, I actually won the AMA amateur national championship race on a drum break bones stock RD 250 against RD 400s that had to accelerate two discs, one in the front and one in the rear.. those discs are also gyroscopes. They do not like to change direction quickly, which hurt them in corners and they were unsprung weight, which hurt them over bumpy corners , Which compromised there’s suspensions for a fraction of a second longer with each bump, because of the unsprung weight of the disk and hardware. unsprung weight is so critical that Porsche has been using titanium Lugnuts for decades just to see if a few ounces.. I was there, I saw all this two-stroke history at the racetrack stand on the streets in the late 70s and early 80s. The best but not the fastest of the two strokes in those days were the suzuki‘s. The water buffalo 750 triple water cooled machine was known for being able to do 100,000 miles without touching the engine… The letters R D, in the Yamaha motorcycle days, stood for race developed.. I had egg factory Road race machine, Kawasaki H1R.. I ended up with it slightly crashed after the Loudoun race in 1970 or 71. They were pretty evil handlers, even the road race machines from the factory, with sandcast cases, cassette transmission, the cylinder bores were chromed, and it had a dry clutch.. I didn’t want to ride it, so I traded the chassis to Eric Buell- we both were mechanics at the same motorcycle shop in those days.. I put the engine in a Suzuki X6 hustler frame and turned it into a drag racer which turned low nines. Eric ended up putting a motocross single cylinder 500two-stroke engine in the chassis, and I never heard from that bike again… These bikes are collectors items, but they are not something to buy, because they were great, or something from the good old days that is better than everything out there today, that’s not true, the good old days are not the good old days, they are just the old days. These are the good old days, right now..
Steering dampener isn’t stock. Another addition to improve handling was stiffen the swing arm by adding some plates to it .Addition of the double front disk kit was common as well. I used to turn 10.2-10.3’s at Alamo dragway while stationed in the USAF in SanAntonio in the 70’s with mine..
When I was in the Coast Guard in the "70's" a shipmate of mine had one for me to fix. I told him I would fix it but I get to ride it for a couple of days. He agreed and I fixed it. I took it to a park and hit 80 MPH in 2nd gear. Yes they are fast.
Had the pleasure of riding an H2 on Sunday afternoons in 1978. Amazing experience! They will definitely put a smile on your face! They definitely demand respect. Probably not a good idea to consume Bud long-necks and blackberry brandy when riding one either. Don’t ask me why I would say that. 😉👍
I had a '71 500 triple. I bought it in 1972 from a guy I worked with. Only had 400 miles on it and I paid him 650$ for it. It was my very first bike. He warned me to be careful, that to get used to it. Like an idiot, on my way home, I pulled away from a stop sign and twisted it about 3/4 open throttle. The thing came up and scared the crap out of me. I grew to love that bike and took it on several long trips. Always with spare plugs. Sold it 3 years later to my brother-in-law. He resold it after 2 weeks. He said it was too scary. I thought he was being wimpy. Anyway loved that bike.
Congratulations u survived lot of guys in Oz died on that bike.
I almost bought the 500. The seller had put a smaller gear on the rear - the bike had an insane power band. I was on a test drive and laid over in a curve when the power band came on - it was hopping sideways through the turn. Too hot for me. I passed on buying the bike.
Had the 1971 500 (last year of the hi-compression engine). Armouralled the seat, took it out on the highway, cranked it up, it laided me out on the seat, and the further I slid back, the more the throttle opened up. I finally pulled myself up to sitting, stopped it, rubbed gravel on the seat, drove it home, and sat down and shook for about 20 minutes. Loved, and respected that machine. .
had it happen after I cleaned the carbs on my suzuki 550, took off like a rocketship. almost wiped out! PS always blew 3 smoke rings from the exhaust. 3 cyl
DITTO
Yes the Kawi 500 was a screamer!😬
I had the 350 and it was fast
Ha ha I had a similar experience with the same 500 model. I grabbed a handful of throttle coming out of an intersection and the brake light is all that kept the bike from coming right out from under me.
I bought a new H-2 in 1972. Rode it two weeks and traded it in on a Triumph Bonneville. That move most likely saved my life. The H-2 was just insane.
I had the 350 and it was fast
@@NotACratI had a 1973 125 cc and that was way to fast. So, I sold it and bought a new Honda CB 125 and it was a lot slower being a 4 stroke engine 😂
I did the opposite!
I had a Bonneville - sweet bike. I sold it and bought a 750 Norton, another sweet bike.
In 1973 I rode a 350 at the dealer and it was so fast I blew a stop sign trying to stop. They wouldn't let you test ride the 750 because they had already lost one in a crash. I stuck with my non scary Honda...
I wish the two stroke road bikes would come back. I love the simplicity and sound.
Ungodly banshee howl, terrifying speed, gets into the powerband just in time to soil your drawers, corners like a refrigerator…Dear God how I miss those days. I started running around the house looking for my leathers…🏍️
@db5757 picks up the front end just in time to hit the brakes and roll the corner 😮😮
My dad bought a used one. I had a Yamaha. He said " It's running bad. Would you try it out? I said sure!" Scared me half to death! The torque!
I rode a friend's 750 in the 70s. I went a few miles and came back. Never wanted to ride it again. Very, very quick but the bike is either accellerating or decellerating. It didn't cruise well and seemed like long rides would be exhausting. Had a cowling on it that shook and made lots of noise. His friend had a KZ900 4 stroke. That bike was much better IMO.
Bikes like this weren’t designed to carve canyons
@@timfennell1310 That's called lack of "drivability". My son had a Ducati S4RS. I rode it once and it just was not happy going 30 MPH, not matter what gear.
Im 50. Ive had several. 750s and 500s. Sold my last one in early 2006, after my son was born. Fun little bikes.
I have a 1972 H2. Had it about 20 years now. I rode them when they were new and first came out. I worked as a high school student in a Kawasaki dealership then. The dealership held 27 land world speed records at Bonnieville. These bikes were a pussycat compared to the Mach III. The Mach III had an extremely narrow powerband that when it came on, if you weren't prepared, you could easily go over backwards or slide off of the slick seats the first models had. They were the Widowmakers! No helmet laws and the Mach III could easily make you dead. The H2 had a lot of torque and the power was linear. They handle like poop compared to todays sportbikes but handled very well in the day. Kawasaki detuned the engine and stretched the frame on the later models. These bikes were and are very easy to control. You could ride 3rd gear wheelies for thousands of feet. Ivan's Performance Parts H2 carb and jet kit with the CNC machined needle turn the engine into a turbine smooth machine. The bucking at low rpm and partial throttle is gone. Put these kits into many H2s. Best thing I have ever done. Wish they were available in the day. Still my favorite street bike to ride for short to medium rides.
Thanks for the Report
I agree 100%. We called the old H-1s "flexible flyers." The swing arm definitely needed strengthening. The first time I rode one I unintentionally wheelied it for about 1/2 a block when the power band hit.
I owned a 73 H1 which I had ported by the late Ron Avery in Daytona and added custom made chambers from Dixie Cycles in Georgia . Ithen had the crank modified by a shop in Boston which may have involved Kevin Cameron ar the t I time. I then drove up to my old hometown in Maryland and met Gary Nixon and bought 3 32 mm MIKUNI CARBS and intake spigot that allowed me to tune the intake lengths using the seat of the pants dyno. This is where I learned the value of hitting the sweet spot in tuning! With appropriate gearing I was able to regularly hit an indicated 140 ( admittedly optimistic ) on top. This was fast enough in 1974 to be the fastest street bike in New Smyrna at the time. After selling it I bought a used 72 H2, bone stock. I was actually shaking when I took the test ride and was I was sold immediately! Though it would only top out a bit above 120 or so the chassis and brakes were not even close to keeping up. Great memories but today's bikes are truly amazing. My 2017 Tuono Factory would have walked ( run ) away from both before getting into 4th gear with chassis and brakes that I never did find the limits of on the street. Now I have settled down at 70 years old and ride a 22 Road King. I will say that the H2 in this piece is truly a beautiful example and Kawasaki was way ahead of it's time with the styling. Again, GREAT MEMORIES, Thank You
A friend of mine had one and it was a 750 model and like you said no button to start it he was kicking it one day and I don’t believe he had engaged compression release anyways the second time he kicked it. It threw him up over the handlebars into the garage door And get hurt, but it was kind of embarrassing for him !! 4:25
Great story 👍
@@steveabercrombie9756 Compression release? They certainly didn't have that stock from the factory. They were very reliable starting, more refined ignition system than the H-1s had. I was head mech at a strong Kawasaki dealer in Westchester County, N.Y. and the Kawasakis were generally bullet-proof with a few exceptions. The Z-1s were a delight to ride and service, eventually eclipsing the 2 stroke model street bikes.
@@steveabercrombie9756 100% BULLSHIT!!!!!
Ah 70, you're just a kid , pops is 81 and loving his 2017 ktm rc390.
You mentioned Gary Nixon ,and pops did the other night ,as he used to rub elbows with him on the flattracks all over the east coast and eastern 1/3 of the US back in the late 60s till about 72 when he got out.
Good stuff , pops speaks highly of him.
I joined the USAF at 20 YO, got stationed in California. I made friends with a coworker, that happened to be stationed in his hometown. He had an H2 and kept it at his Dad's house. He couldn't insure it, as it's reputation made it too costly for enlisted member's paychecks. We were over at his parent's home one sunny day, when he wheeled it out and started it. He talked me into going for a quick ride, and I got on it, circled around the house a couple times, and he said to ride around the neighborhood. As soon as I was out of sight, I romped down on it, and almost yanked my soul out from under me. That is one of the scariest bikes I've ever ridden, and I'm a lifelong rider.
I've had plenty of two strokes during the era. They were just part of life. The one thing that stood out head and shoulders about the H2 was that it didn't just have an arm wrenching power band, it had TORQUE!...Until then, I'd not ridden a two stroke that didn't 'get busy' until 4/5000 + revs ...The H2 had awesome power from the get go..Then the power band kicked in!...Not for the faint hearted...
I worked at a Kawasaki dealer in 1969 north of Seattle, and I got to take the first 500 triple in Washington state out of the shipping box and make it run. The owner of the dealership was the first to ride it and promptly crashed it through the plate glass showroom window doing a wheelie. When the 72 750 came out, my best friend bought one and began to production race it at Seattle International Raceway, while I chased him on a 350 Avenger. In 1974 a different dealership sold me a 400 triple, and I got to give birth to that very special bike. I still have it, un-restored, in perfect condition, with 10K miles. Still runs. Deep wine metallic paint, and no stupid number stampings on the factory exhaust.
The RD 350 ate them up.
Yeap,,i had a 500,2 cycle Kawasaki, that was pretty fast,for a 500,I could knock off 750,Honda, Yamaha, it didn't matter. Sure wish I had it now,didn't realize those things would be worth that kind of money, now.
@@brentonlett3417Ate what ? The widowmakers exhaust ? Iv ridden. both. The rd was light and fun yet kinda quick the rd 400 was even better but the Widowmaker triple 3. 750 was like riding an F5. Tornado naked. Never knowing what it's gonna do and feeling like you are just an after thought of that evil.machine. You dont ride it. It carrys you as a passenger
Had a 350 and used to piss of my friends with their Honda 750's@brentonlett3417
Wow, that wheelie would have gone viral instantly in today's world! I hope the GM was ok after, but he must've been awfully embarrassed!
A friend of mine bought a used 72' H2 in 1973. The same year Massachusetts lowered the drinking age to 18. Unfortunately that combination proved to be lethal for him. RIP Glenn F
I had a 72 750 and took it to my uncle's speed shop who did some engine work on it to make it even stronger and faster. I'm lucky to be alive
The 1969 H-1 500 was “THE Widowmaker”. Drum front brakes. No power until 6000rpm…then...all 60 ponies came in. The 750 was more powerful, but not nearly as dangerous as the ‘69 H-1.
True
bought a 76 leftover H1 in 77 new,got involved with my future wife....sold bike.....not a good ride with a passenger......many years later,and many bikes also.....bought a 71 H1.....two different bikes 71 is Raw......detuned 76 was more refined....two smokes forever !!!!!!!
100% correct. H1 500 was a death machine. The H2 750 is vastly improved in every aspect. Easy to confuse the two unless you owned both. Me, 1972 HI & a 1974 H2. At least by 1972, the H1 got a single disc up front.
Early H2s can get a bit wriggly but nowhere near as bad as H1-, they were made out of bicycles.
Widowmaker? No.
Had 2 H1s and 4 H2s, my name is Anthony and I am an addict.
I had a 72 750. It was pretty fast for 1975.
The "Widowmaker" was the very first motorcycle I ever rode of any kind. I was 17 years old in 1977. Was at a big party when my cousin's future husband shows up on one of these bikes that he just purchased. He said "hop on so I can scare the $hit out of ya". I had a few drinks so, I did. When we got back to the party, he said go ahead take it for a ride....and I did. Not braggin but, I was a natural. Figured out the clutch and gears right away. Went out into traffic on the main roads for a couple miles and headed back. Thats awesome that they are bringing the money they are. Wish I would have bought one back in the day.
I had a 75 Z1B 900 back in 75 ,my friend had a 75 h2 . One night on a HYW ride I took off and got to 120 , then my friend blew by me at hell a lot faster then 120 in split second . Even today don't under estimate the little H2 triple if set up right in todays world . The new H2 Kawasaki is the best beast in today world . LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
H2 130+ with the right gearing and still have trouble with front end lift on bottom end!!
In 1983 my uncle gave me the 1975 h2 750 with no paper work so I never had the chance of puting it on the road . First street bike I ever owned so i road it in my yard to learn how to ride it . I did get the chance to drag race a couple guys on the street i lived on ( when my parents weren't home of course ) and let's just say the first 4 years it would slap you in the face of you weren't careful lol . Im 57 now and what i wouldn't do yo take a ride on this iconic MONSTER once again . Thanks for a great video
Aww,the memories, in 74 I had one,I also had no common sense, stock was wild enough,but I had a friend who was a factory tuner for kawasaki road race team,they tried to set up an H2,but the power band didn't work out of the turns,it wouldn't turn,I got slide valve carbs,exhaust,heads,ignition, it was crazy,I raced at the long gone orange county raceway, I left in second gear it went 11.40 at 121,freaking scary,I put rear pegs and shifter,I rode it every day to college,after a Nam visit,it was a street race terror in Tustin California.
Thanks for your service and so glad you made it home!
In the 1970's I had two H2's. They were a thrill to ride. I toyed with other motorcycles and cars to show them I had speed. I took one of my bikes up to 144 mph on I-75. I was laying down on it as if I was part of the bike so I wouldn't get ripped off the bike by the wind force. I passed an 18-wheeler, and it took me a little off course and I saw that I couldn't steer it back straight, so I let up on the gas slowing down to the 130's mph to regain control. The bike handled great. Just don't push your luck.
My friend crashed one in a race in Hawaii back in about 1972 or so. He lost a leg. The bikes were not defective in any way just the riders of the day didn't know what they were throwing a leg over.
I just put together the motor on my H1. Two over with chambers. Nothing like the sound and power of a triple two stroke. Try keeping the front wheel down in first and second gears. Its a thrill to ride even for this old man.
Bought my H2 750 February 1972 at Cycleland in Port Huron, MI. Rode it home in 26 degree weather. Paid $1500 out the door. Had it for 5 years before selling it for $900. Would have kept it if I knew how much they would appreciate. Didn't purchase a faster bike til I bought a 1992 Yamaha VMax. That one I still have.
I had one when I as a teenager. I didnt think it was dangerous. Like any bike or car, if you ride/drive it like you are playing 'Need for Speed' you wont make it past the 1st couple of corners. You will always smell strongly of 2-stroke oil after a ride. The power comes on smoothly and the engine will happily run well over redline until it eventually blows up.
I owned a Kawasaki 750 four for about a week. Scary freaking machine.
Czompletely different animal.
had 5 of these monsters over the years one was a tube frame with a 4 inch Avon drag tire in 1973, at 7200 rpm it would spin the tire in any gear, THANKS KAWASAKI
I had a '71 500 triple in college that I used to race against my friend and his cafe'd Yamaha RD 400. He just ate my thick smoke every time. I learned that the manual steering dampener was installed to help with steering wobble and learned to use it after a terrifying experience. One day after racing up an onramp to about 90 I let off too fast once and the handle bars started high speed tank to tank slapping. I managed to wrangle it back into control. The same manual steering tightener can also screw you in town though. If you forget to loosen it up after playing on the freeway and go to make a u-turn the bars won't go fast enough and you can go down. Not a great beginner's bike but my brother left it to me so I had to feel it all.
My brother had a Kawasaki 500 (the blue streak) he kept at our home while he went away to college. I was 15 yo and took it out riding with a friend that had his own bike. I remember being at a red light with a slight incline. When starting out, I stalled it twice from not revving it up high enough. On the third attempt, I gave it plenty of throttle and will never forget the front wheel going skyward and a trail of smoke being left behind me LOL. That bike was plenty quick, and then the 750 came out not too long after. I always wanted one, but never got the chance to ride one. You can't replace an experiences like that at a time when it was the quickest machine out there!
I haven't ridden a 750..I have ridden a 500 and a 350..kaw. when I rode the 500. And got back to my friends house..he asked me what I thought...I told him. I think this broke should be outlawed on the street. But his 500 shift pattern was all down. Instead of up.. he said it was designed that way ,because it's easier and faster to tap your foot down ,than to lift it up..( a racing design). I tried to find a 750 years later for sale.. either they weren't for sale,or if they were it needed a lot of work...usually a motor rebuild, because it was run on straight gas and not mixed. Also they were trashed out from lack of maintenance ! Awesome bikes.. sit on the tank when you open the wick,and hold on tight !!!
Had one inn1980. Repainted it
Had the pistons knurled.
Velocity stacks , cut the seat down so I wouldn’t slip back. Had a set of Chambers on it. An a set of Dunlop’s. That was an extremely quick bike. My friends all had KZ 900 an 1000. They couldn’t stay with it. Loved the bike. Front wheel would come up into 4 th gear.
My buddy had the H1 8:05 and I had a Suzuki GT550 triple. Always wished we had a reed valve like the RD. Piston port motors wake up a little later but they show up ready for work on time!! The H2 is way above these. Just imagine 3 250cc motocross engines tied together. Awesome!!!
I knew a guy who told me that he took one of these on a trip from Kentucky to Kansas and back. He was a big, rawboned former football player and he told me that by the time he got to Kansas he was more sore than at any time in his life from game day hits to pushing blocking sleds in practice. He said that if he had the money he would have bought a plane ticket home and paid someone to trailer the bike home. Of course he also carried a toolkit with cleaning brushes and three spare spark plugs because.... well, if you know, you know.
I know you like 750s, but back in the day it was the H1 500 Mach III that we wanted. It was the original widowmaker, was there for 4 years before the H1 or Z900.
That's one beautiful machine! I would LOVE to ride that!
I had one around 1979. Traded my stereo to a friend for it. It was like riding a chainsaw! Once it seized on me at 70mph with a passenger on board. Fortunately, when it dipped my instinct was to grab the clutch, which brought the bike upright. It had a ton of torque! Someone stole it, and when I recovered it, it was totally trashed.
I owned a 75 Suzuki 750 three cylinder water cooled two stroke.
Drove it 50,000 miles as a commuter bike in New Jersey 50 miles one way to work
Blazing fast !!!
Grew up with these and we never thought of them as a "widow maker" they were just another 2stroke.
Yeah buddy I grew up with those great bikes too this video brings back those memories. And I don't recall anyone using the widow maker term either but we're living in an age of over dramatized everything from all these modern day cry babies 👶.
I currently own and ride a Yamaha TZR 250R. It's been modded to produce 60hp. The same as an H-1. The difference is the Yamaha handles and stops. The Kawasaki H-1 and H-2 were NOT just another two-stroke. They were very dangerous. They were made in 1969-1975 . My TZR was made in 1991 to GP specs.
Also grew up with these. You rode the two strokes with the anticipation that the POWER was going to hit at a certain pitch
And you had better be ready.
My friends and I had each a 350 Kawasaki two stroke back in the early 80's. They were faster than the 550GPZ's through 3 gears.
Brutal power bands, these motors should be in snowmobiles still to this day.
I rode a 500 in 1977 . I had a 650xl Yamaha was riding around Broken Bow Lake with an acquaintance. We tried bikes for a few miles . When I got on the throttle it seemed like the old star trek intro when the stars turned to white lines .
When in Southeast Asia I was blessed to spend considerable time with the 350, 500 and the 750. Different roads and situations, but they all scared the SH*T out of me. And I truly loved it.
I like the little RD in the background. They were such good little bikes.
I bought my first triple, an S2, from a sailor who was in the hospital after dropping the bike on his ankle. It was a great bike and I could start it on the first start just by hand. Since then I have owned an S3, and two H2's. Great bikes.
Next to my Kawasaki ZL 900 Eliminator this is my next favorite bike. I'll have one some day hopefully.
Its fun watching younger guys riding what we/ I grew up riding. Lol.
I went from the 750 to the Z1 when it came out.
In 1977 I purchased one from older brother. Road it from Russiaville Indiana to NAS Cecil Field Navy air base in two days!!!! What an adventure!!!
The cycle never killed anyone... It's an inanimate object... The rider on the other hand.... My H2 ran. I respected the cycle only played when the streets were clear
As a 13 year old in 72 watching guys ride the H2s is what got me interested in motorcycles. Never owned one, but that year I did muster up enough courage to go into the local Kawasaki dealer to grab the Tri-Star (250,500,750) sales brochure. That brochure is currently in pristine like new condition.
That Kaw sounds like a monster
as a teenager, i had a 400 and that thing was nuts, i never rode the 750 but i would dearly love one, you can't beat the 2 strokes !!
Rode one for 3 years and have rode all my life and I never had handling trouble and it was a flat out beast!! Never lost a ¼ mile!
I'm 65, so a long time ago. When I was a freshman in college, rode the Susuki 750 "Water Buffalo". (Same concept) Almost sliding off the seat when it hit the power-band in 3rd gear.
ive been driving mine from 95 every year ,engines never been apart and bike has never let me down
My cousin owned one of these monsters, I still remember the smell and the sound running down the streets of Huntsville Alabama. Good times
I think my Z-1 (1170) was worked over at Koshhat's Kawasaki in Huntsville. Does that name ring a bell? Tom
@tomcrosby6332 Hi Tom
I was just a sprout back in those days 7-8 years old and my cousin Don would ride us around West Mastin Lake rd and Roebuck Dr in 1970-71
My cuzzo had one in Huntsville early 80s I think guile h. Was this one black with race handlebars?
Dad bought a widow maker (H1-500) in 1970. I rebuilt it in 1982, and it was my first street bike. I was 17. I still remember the sound, the smell, the feel. I remember how the sound went "supersonic" when it hit the powerband. I sold it for $500 in 1984 so I could buy a new Ninja 900.
I had a 1976 Yamaha RD 350 and the cylinder walls were scored the guy under before me ran out of oil. I had him punched out new pistons and that bike ran really good. I mean I mean it was fast. I’m sure not as fast as the Kawasaki‘s there, but that’s always started no more than three kicks, even when it was real cold outside, anyway this is Jim Mungai from kennerdell PA
Had both a 72 H2 and an rd400 Daytona...both fun bikes .
I grew up on two wheels in the 60's/early 70's and had earned an AMA Expert license in 125cc motocross in Florida as a Jr. in H.S. and was ranked as high as 7th in the state, so I think it's fair to say I knew what I was doing on scooters. I only needed one class to graduate as a Sr. so I left on work program after 1st period. I had a good paying job at Disney World in '74 as a Lead Custodian ($4.85/hr, which was a lot of money in '74). I bought a like new '72 H2, had clip-ons handle bars, expansion chambers and 34mm Mikunis installed before I picked it up and then my motocross engine port man (My Dad the Rocket Engineer who worked at Cape Canaveral) gave it a modest port job. The thing would pull wheelies at 90/100 mph in 3rd gear and would burn rubber with only throttle in first and second gear...i quickly recognized the acceleration loss of traction characteristics as just like my YZ motorcross bike, just on asphalt...it must have been near 100 HP. I raced the then fastest vehicle in my town, a guy with a Kawi Z1 with headers and tune who knew how to ride and absolutely left him at the line and never saw or heard him. He was so embarrassed I never saw him on the road after that. they said in the day it didn't handle good but I could beat modified RD350's with good riders thru the twisties...the frame definitely flexed but if you just rode the flex I thought it cornered fine...as an 18 year old with no fear anyway, haha. Fyi, If you buy one get the blue '72, in '73/'74 Kawi extended the swingarm and rejetted the carbs to make it less wheelie prone and "snappy" to help with insurance rates. Speaking of insurance, I don't remember what I paid for the bike or for insurance but I remember the insurance payments were more than my bike payments. i drove it with no silencers and it was loud as hell...my GF and BF who lived side by side told me they could hear me coming from a couple miles away. I had an absolute blast and the cops hated me...I would never stop and they could never get close enough to get my license...we had a lot of cat and mouse chases but I was highly skilled and had a world class speed vehicle and knew all the roads at least as good as them. Like I said, I had a blast with my H2. I only got off her twice, once a pretty fast low side and the second grabbing too much front brake in the rain on a downhill section of road...both I just kicked out and the levis and gloves protected me.
The "Widowmaker" was my first bike. My only regret was selling it to buy a 750 Honda. Quite a difference in bikes but I lived to ride on!
I bought one when I was 18 back in 1983. I loved it and never got in trouble. The rear swingarm had a piece of thick flat steel bar welded along the bottom when I bought it, so I guess that is why it wasn't a flexi flyer. Later I bought a GSR1100 and then a 1st gen Yamaha R1 with exhaust and rejetted carbs. That had 145 rwhp on the dyno and was an absolute rocket ship.
I had a 1972 H2 750 triple in the early 80's. I rode it for 3 years, and yes, they were absolutely insanely fast and handled horribly in turns, but they were rockets in the straights!
A guy in my town had the first one locally, got used to filling the oil injector tank at break in speeds, then as soon as he started running full throttle the oil mileage went down quickly. He ran the oil tank dry at full throttle and the ends of the pressed together stopped instantly, the center throw made almost one more revolution. The engine cases looked like a hand gernade had gone off inside. Expensive lesson.
Loved the gearbox with neutral below 1st added second front brake, half race fairing, Denco clutch and Denco expansion chamber exhaust amazing sound.
Still have mine a 1972 750. It needs a good going through. I rode it years ago and what a blast. But it started doing the death wobble a couple of times after the tire were replaced and I decided it needed to be gone through. The sound is awesome. I bought it back in 92 for $350. Has the tune port headers on it. Needs to be repainted somebody painted it white.
Rode one one time. Went from second to third opened it up rear wheel broke loose front wheel went straight up in the air. That was enough for me. What a screaming piece of machinery. My buddy who owned it got a big kick out of watching me get it back under control. Never forget it
Yep! I loved it. I rode them with both frames. I sat on the tank to keep the front wheel down on the launch. WooWee!
I had one in 1974 and hate it being called a "widowmaker" it was a great bike for wheelies, but myself and nobody I knew died while riding one! If you were frightened riding one, it obviously wasn't for you! Had a Z1 after that, and that was a great bike.
I had a '75 S1, which was the 250cc "baby" of the family. Great little bike! Yep, one down and four up.
Rode my H2 in NZ 1970-1972 .What a blast .Lost my licence twice ,raced away from fuzz 4 times.Wanganui to Karori Wellington 1 hr 09 mins.Wanganui to Papakura return 1972 was a hoot.Party drunk ,two up wheel stand YIP up and over it went .took the lady to hosp for gutter bumps
"Gutter bumps" lol. Love it.
I had a 1975 h2 500I shaved the heads 30 th of inch, wesco racing pistons, holn out the cylinders, mikcuni carbs k&n air filters carbs were sink. It used to beat 750s all day. Bought in high school 17. First roadbike. Tell you Stories.
My buddy had a Suzuki that was sort of like this and I got to ride it. His was was a 750 cc 3 cylinder 2 stroke water cooled and I believe it was made in 1977. I think they called it the water buffalo and it was really fast when you got the RPMs into The Sweet spot. I did 130 on it very quickly and it was not even running right and it was still accelerating but I let off. I was not wearing a helmet and had no eye protection, I think I was about 19 years old and I'm 60 years old now. It had three sets of points, one for each cylinder and it sounded like a great big bumblebee. Not much low-end torque but when you got those RPMs up that thing would rip.
Around the same time I had a 73 Yamaha rd350 which was a two-stroke two cylinder street bike. That thing was really quick for its size and I almost flipped it hitting second gear once and I was laying down on it. It would slightly raise the front wheel hitting third gear with me laying down on it. I had it bored out with wiseco racing Pistons, but it was fast even when it was just stock.
Had a ‘70 H1, fair amount of work done to it. Powerband hit at 7500, 1/4 mile runs completely on the back tire. Did the same thing everytime and was an absolute blast to ride. Could lay it over to the kickstand peg against the left chamber and brake pedal on the right. They could be made to handle damn well. Roll on the throttle coming out of the turns and watch the front tire leave the pavement while still laid over exiting the turn. Lots of fun. Wish I still had it.
Sounds great, looks great.I can't believe he got that lucky with the engine off eBay.👍👏👏👏
My first ride ever on a bike over 50 ccm was in 1974 at the age of 16. A Kawasaki 500 H1 as Co-Driver. 4 Minutes only, my knees were trembling and the world had changed for ever.
I had the exact same bike in high school and rode it everywhere (year round). It was an amazing ride and I rode it wide open pretty much everywhere I went. It's an act of God I survived (highlighted by the time I seized it at 140). I still miss that guy. It also had a magical, distinctive sound.
The Kawi tri-stars- 750, 500, 350, later the 400. Badass fast bikes- all three. Had a 400 S-3. Bought it used in ‘75 from a school teacher in Pittsburgh for $400.00. Rode that bike for 5 years- through rain, sun, snow, wind, it just ran! Put expansion chambers and velocity stacks on it. Rejetted the carbs, and proceeded to terrorize 750 Hondas and Harleys. Awesome bikes! Wish I had it now. Buddy had the widow maker H-2 500. Amazingly fast!👍🇺🇸❤️
I'm 55 now but an older buddy let me ride his 1975 KH500 when I was 15. I had little fear of it and popped a decent wheelie and wrang ot out up to about 100 or so.
Got to love the two strockers I drag raced several of them in the 70s real quick on the quarter mile
Owned a 500 triple in 1973! Crazy fast, slight lag twisting the throttle! You better have both hands on the handlebars when the power kicked in or it would throw you off! Sold it in 74 and bought a brand new 1000cc Harley Sportster!
We've been running a motorcycle shop in the 80's and 90's. Mostly bigger bikes from all major Japanese and Italian manufacturers.There wasn't many motorcycles I didn't ride. I remember well this Mach IV and also the Water Buffalo from Suzuki, a GT 750 and the GT 650 Ram Air. Good memories.
Traded for an early 70s H1 500, out of a junk yard. It looked pretty good. Got it running, but missing on one cylinder. Found a used pick up ignition coil and installed it. First time I goosed it into the power band, it made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I had ridden a lot of different bikes, some 750, 4 strokes. I had never ridden one that was that fast.
I have ridden both an H2 and S2. Both 72's and that's what the H2 sounded like. Hope to hear them run again!!
I had a '71 Kawasaki G4TR 100 trail bike. It had a dual range 5 speed tranny (10 gears, total). Its shift pattern was also "5 up".
was fortunate to buy and build a72 h2, fast by gast ,pingel, painted it frame and tin plum crazy purple!!awe had to plan to stop, low clubmans ... idled at 35 mph, sounded like three Big Stihls
I had a 72-h2 back in the mid 70s. Mine had a 6 inch over front end and pull-back handle bars. I drove it twice from Pittsburgh P.A. to Clearwater F.L. round trip. I loved that bike. You just had to respect the power it had or it could leave you on the pavement.
My very first motorcycle was a 69 H1 500. I had no idea what I was getting into. Unbelievably fast with no handling and no stopping. Going around corners it felt like it had a hinge in the middle. It scared the living daylights out of me so many times that I finally sold it. The guy who bought it was an inexperienced rider as well and I didn’t even let him ride it home, I delivered the bike to his place just to be sure it got there.
We had 5 H2s on afternoon shift in maintenance with chambers and every other trick in the book . Sounded like chainsaw massacre on steroids coming to town .
I was a motorcycle messenger in Chicago in the 80's. Rode several bikes. Had a n H2 a friend let me ride for a while. Was a blast. It didn't handle well. But wasn't as bad as the stories.
I had a 71 Norton Commando. 2 friends bought the candy orange 72 H1s at close out price less than $900. I never challenged them because I knew what would happen. The Norton was only the king of the road for a few months. In 69 came the H1 and CB 750. Dang we had fun though. I'm surprised we lived through it. Today I'm about to turn 70 and have owned probably 50 bikes. Never as much fun as the Norton, H1 days. I did test drive a 73 H2 but didn't buy it. Next came 73 Z1. AWESOME.
i test rode one set up for drag racing in the 80's, rode a wheelie through all the gears! Wild ride! It seemed to handle quite well in a straight line drag situation.
That was the fist bike I ever had . 1979, I got it out of the buy-lines newspaper. It was the first bike listed and I was 16 in queens New York I had 350 bucks so I bought it and loved it, put a set of clugmanm on it and a cafe fairing.
Those H-2s were badass. I had a 1979 KZ 1000 it too was a hand full!
I went to work for two Kawasaki dealers between 1967 and then 10 years at another as the H-2s followed up the H-1s. Test rode many of all the years and never had issues with near catastrophes. I recall them pulling sideways if one tried burn-outs, hard to keep straight and would stand up during 2nd gear wfo. They were never a problem with starting or break-downs but had some weird occasions when the main bearings would break their ball cages and a new crankshaft had to be fitted, all under warranty.
I had a 750 3 cylinder. Had an almost uncontrollable "power-band" at just the right RPM. Me and a friend rode it to the gym, both of us good size guys, and I got a ticket for unintentionally popping a wheelie with both of us on it!
I bought a 750 H2 from my buddy in 1977. He had bought it new in 1975 and barely rode it. I think it scared him too much. I was used to riding dirt bikes and I felt right at home on it. The first time I rode it I pulled the front tire 2 feet off the ground hitting 3rd gear and I was sold on it immediately. Damn I miss that bike.
I bought a 1971 MACH III 500 when I was 16 years old back in 1980. STUPID fast when the power band kicked in. A buddy of mine still owns that bike.
Amazing bike, rode it like a boss Jack,
I was there when this bike was current. The danger wasn’t the power, the danger was the skinny frame tubes, skinny, swingarm tubes, skinny, fork, tubes, wire wheels, they missed somehow on the geometry of the rake and trail. This bike just wanted to do Tank slappers especially if you were not a smooth rider. The reason there are not many of these machines left is because they don’t survive crashes with that wide motor…
they were also so noisy and not just from the exhaust, hearing those pistons with the wrist pins on center, rattling up and down those air cooled bores that the fins amplified the rattle, and when you start the bike, you hope the wind is blowing the other way so you’re not standing in the cloud of smoke from the unburned two-stroke oil. When riding with friends that had this Machine, you never wanted to ride behind them. Because you would get splattered with oil occasionally, little black spots of oil that you wonder where the hell did this come from. The bike to have what is the CB 750 Honda, for a few dollars more.. with a CB 750, you didn’t have the oil problem, you didn’t have problems starting it, which these were a bitch to start with that capacitor, discharge ignition, that you hope the spark plugs were not oil fouled.. you also have electric start and kickstart on the CB 750 the first year, which had sandcast engine cases.. The CB 750 did not go into the Watusi wiggle in corners, and you didn’t have to replace pistons/rings after a bore job every 15 to 20,000 miles at the most on the Honda, as well as replacing crank seals on the Kawasaki.
The best handling Kawasaki’s were the S1 and the S2.. The 1972, 350 cc S2 had a engineering problem. The crankshaft only had four main bearings which caused the primary gear side rod to burn the thrust washers and overheat the connecting rod at the crankshaft. Mine was black from overheating when I checked it. The one they get was the 1973, 350 triple. That has six main bearings. And Those machines would actually go around corners as well as the king of the race track, the RD 350, RD 250.. actually, the RD 250, 1973 and 1974 was faster than the RD 350 on the racetrack. Because the 250 did not have to accelerate that fly wheel disc brake in the front. How do I know this? I wonsix Road racing championships on an RD 250 with a drum brake many times against the Kawasaki 350 and 400 triples, RD 350 and 400s, I actually won the AMA amateur national championship race on a drum break bones stock RD 250 against RD 400s that had to accelerate two discs, one in the front and one in the rear.. those discs are also gyroscopes. They do not like to change direction quickly, which hurt them in corners and they were unsprung weight, which hurt them over bumpy corners , Which compromised there’s suspensions for a fraction of a second longer with each bump, because of the unsprung weight of the disk and hardware. unsprung weight is so critical that Porsche has been using titanium Lugnuts for decades just to see if a few ounces..
I was there, I saw all this two-stroke history at the racetrack stand on the streets in the late 70s and early 80s. The best but not the fastest of the two strokes in those days were the suzuki‘s. The water buffalo 750 triple water cooled machine was known for being able to do 100,000 miles without touching the engine…
The letters R D, in the Yamaha motorcycle days, stood for race developed..
I had egg factory Road race machine, Kawasaki H1R.. I ended up with it slightly crashed after the Loudoun race in 1970 or 71. They were pretty evil handlers, even the road race machines from the factory, with sandcast cases, cassette transmission, the cylinder bores were chromed, and it had a dry clutch..
I didn’t want to ride it, so I traded the chassis to Eric Buell- we both were mechanics at the same motorcycle shop in those days.. I put the engine in a Suzuki X6 hustler frame and turned it into a drag racer which turned low nines. Eric ended up putting a motocross single cylinder 500two-stroke engine in the chassis, and I never heard from that bike again…
These bikes are collectors items, but they are not something to buy, because they were great, or something from the good old days that is better than everything out there today, that’s not true, the good old days are not the good old days, they are just the old days. These are the good old days, right now..
Steering dampener isn’t stock. Another addition to improve handling was stiffen the swing arm by adding some plates to it .Addition of the double front disk kit was common as well. I used to turn 10.2-10.3’s at Alamo dragway while stationed in the USAF in SanAntonio in the 70’s with mine..
Stock on my H1
Had a 72 Kawasaki 750 2 stroke. Scary fast bike. I remember it being hard to kick over.
When I was in the Coast Guard in the "70's" a shipmate of mine had one for me to fix. I told him I would fix it but I get to ride it for a couple of days. He agreed and I fixed it. I took it to a park and hit 80 MPH in 2nd gear. Yes they are fast.
I rode a 500 when I was a teen it was the first street bike I rode it's top end scared the hell out me
Had the pleasure of riding an H2 on Sunday afternoons in 1978. Amazing experience! They will definitely put a smile on your face! They definitely demand respect. Probably not a good idea to consume Bud long-necks and blackberry brandy when riding one either. Don’t ask me why I would say that. 😉👍