First Time Riding a “Widowmaker”
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- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- We get to ride one of the most fearsome and iconic two strokes of all-time when we throw a leg over the “Widowmaker” the 1972 Kawasaki H2 750. Enjoy this in-depth look at the Kawasaki H2 750 from 2 Stroke Bike Week at Deals Gap Motorcycle resort right by the dragon. #motorcycle #motorcycles #twostroke
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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
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!
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.
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.
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!
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'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 owned a Kawasaki 750 four for about a week. Scary freaking machine.
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
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.
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.
That Kaw sounds like a monster
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
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 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.
Im 50. Ive had several. 750s and 500s. Sold my last one in early 2006, after my son was born. Fun little bikes.
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 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.
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!
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!
No one is gunna mention that sweet RD 400 !!??
The problem with those bikes was 'Frame flex." There was a factory recall to fix the issue but most were never taken in for the recall.
The frame and swing arm look fairly delicate, a bit like my Suzuki gn 125.
My 82 Kawasaki gpz550 had the same frame flex prob.lots of power exiting turns and the frame would flex. Scary
@@Gasoline4everAt 77, I still have my Suzuki Boulevard VL800 and set up with cobra pipes, windshield, saddlebags and a big leather tour pack that straps to the rear seat. It’s a heavy bike, around 542# dry but it is a wonderful road cruiser, plenty of power for me and will run all day. Power is there when you need it too, a wonderful V-twin motor. I have previously owned 4 Harleys. The Suzuki convinced me as a reliable scooter. This was a great video on an amazing old bike. It’s always best to read the comments as there’s alway some good nuggets of info and experience. I once read that the Kawasaki company’s goal was to just build the fastest, most awesome bike on the street. In 1971, they did that. Did they leave out handling at high speed? I think you know the answer. Cool wild machine!
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.
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 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.
That's one beautiful machine! I would LOVE to ride that!
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
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.
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.
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
I was riding my brother's '73 Z1 one summer an this guy I knew had a '72 H2...he wanted to ride the 900 so we switched..this thing had upgraded carbs an tuned after market pipes..I'm telling yall..it screams ..
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
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.
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.
I wish the two stroke road bikes would come back. I love the simplicity and sound.
The Kawasaki H2C actually had more torque than the 900 Z1 and was lighter. I have a good mate who rode one as a daily rider/only bike back in the late seventies and early eighties. We nicknamed him ' Rattle ' because despite rebuilding the motor, it was always mechanically noisy. It was reliable and whilst no Ducati when it came to the curves, it wasn't the beast that people liked to make it out to be.
Amazing bike, rode it like a boss Jack,
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Had me a triple back in the day, bikes today are very fast but they are tame, that triple was scary fun...
Well I never knew that !! When I saw you click it into gear, I wondered why you were putting it into 2nd! I once borrowed a Kawasaki H1 500 triple from a friend of mine - the truth being that the bike chucked him off while going round a bend; the bike was hardly damaged but my friend came off worse with a broken leg; hence I got to ride it round after a few minor repairs. It too was a "widow-maker" the handling was just dreadful :) thanks for the excellent enthusiastic video!
I drove a Kawasaki 350, single cylinder 2 stroke 'Thumper' Big Horn in 1980.
That was a thrilling All terrain bike. Luckily I was a young man then and I could endure the numbing in my wrists and hands from the handlebar vibration.
That 2 stroke thumper was not for everyone 😁😁
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 worked at the bike shop that sold these and we would make bets on how long the buyer would take to get injured.
I even went to the office one day to tell the owner not to sell a bike to someone I knew. They sold the bike to him anyway and 2 hours later he was at the Hospital with a sever case of road rash.
We at the shop said it did't need a front wheel just a sced for when the front wheel would touch back down on the ground!
Rode one while I was in the military.
Fast... yeah, but I always thought it was quick.
Now, the BSA rocket 3...was the beast. Scared the crap out of me.
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 remember when the 500 came out. HOLY SHIST. Scary 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 bought a 1974 S1-250 in 1977 and it was my first street bike. I got my license with that bike and rode it everywhere until I traded it in on a brand new 1978 Suzuki GS100E with the skunk tank. I wish I still have both of those bikes.
I drove a 500 triple in Travis ny I was 10 years old getting off a mini bike to this and I was going 115 miles per hour it was a 69 with 2000 dollars into the motor it was the experience of my life lol❤ that speed machine
Nice video. I agree the reality is not as bad as legend would have you believe, but they are still a rapid and exiting ride. Was out on mine yesterday when we got a rare, dry day here in sunny England😂
Legend gets more extreme every time someone does a video of these, I just say to folks who come up to me when I am out on say my 75 H1 and say "Oh...I remember those, they wheelie at 100 mph" and the like.
"No they don't, never did, its 60 crank BHP and 400 pounds FFS"
They seem disapointed (had A1/A7/H1e/H2A/Z1B back in the 70's and the H1c-f bikes especially with Koni's / decent tyres / engine shim and fork oil change, just basic stuff would actually handle as well as most things did back then with a light touch and a bit of sense.
Downside was they all went like hell on freezing cold frosty mornings (we used to ride 365 back then and use them as commuters as normally would be our only bike).
Yamaha RD350 and RD400 were beasts too!!
I've owned six different RD's over the years. I owned a 1977 RD400D from 2001, when I bought it from the original owner, until June of last year. They're such great little bikes. In the mid-80s, I owned a Canadian 1981 RD350LC. That thing was a wild beast.
A buddy of mine set 5 NHRA records with a custom framed 750. He built the frame himself and ported the motor and shaved all the cooling fins off the motor, he said it was unnecessary weight as they weren’t needed on a drag bike. He was a small guy and the bike weighed 400 lbs with him on it. Must have been a rush riding that thing!
A friend of mine had a 500 H1 back in high school. It would bring the front wheel off the ground as you gave it throttle above 4,000 rpm.
I used to run a 750 triple on the dragstrip. It was awesome on 1/8 mile tracks, 1/4 mile tracks the Four strokes had the advantage.
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.
The stock exhaust was factory tuned. Sounded excellent with velocity stacks on the carbs.
i owned a 1975 purple 750 with 80 overs and black stingers , it was a wheelie machine ,burned bean oil smelled like jet fuel that was from 79-81, then suzuki came out with the 1100s .
Kawasaki built some bad ass bikes. My friend was riding a late 70’s early 80’s Kawasaki 1,000 he cracked the throttle and said I think the clutch is slipping. But it spun the tires while moving already
I had an H2 750 in 1984. It was hotrodded by a snowmobile mechanic. Flycut pistons and ported cylinders, bigger carbs and bassani expansion chamber exhausts. It was fast. I drag raced a new V65 Magna in 1984 when he was bragging about how fast his new bike was. He lost. Badly. That bike was scary fast. never even knew it was nicknamed the widowmaker. Ha.
Takes me back to the days of non-stick tires and brakes that didn't work in the wet.
Was my first bike. Bought used in 76, for 1,200$. Went to work on it right away. Clip-ons, chambers, ported & polished heads,etc. I found the swing arm was the worst, though.
in the power band of this bike it feels like it's trying to peel you off of it...tremendous torque
My neighbor had one after he graduated in 75 and he rode that forever. I left in 83 and he still had it, I came home in 84 on leave and he moved he let me ride it but I drove it very gingerly.
I had one...LOVED IT!!! The torque was amazing...i would stop just to reaccelerate...it was one of four in an article called evil,wicked,mean, and nasty. ...along with the 441 victor, the vincent blackshdow, and the fourth one escapes my memory...
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.
I grew up on Kawasaki Triples and rode them for decades, but most any modern 600cc sportbike will thoroughly thrash a stock one. Even my old bone stock 1994 VFR 750 would leave one in the dust, unless of course you unleashed a good engine builder/tuner on it {think Paul Gast etc.). In that case all bets are off.
My buddy Brian and I were riding these back when they were new. We didn't call them "widowmakers."
We just called them fun.
I used to have a Kawasaki 750 triple and one day I wrote it to work (around 1987) I used to work in a power electric power plant. And I got off at midnight one night and one of the silencers had come off of the expansion chambers, and when I started the bike…. my boss was walking by JUMPED…. he thought one of the safeties had blown off of the boilers in the plant. Used to pull your arms off when you hit the power band… horrible in turns though
I bought a mint H1 500 in 1979 for 500 dollars. The guy I bought it from ( Caledonia NY ) was up grading to a Susuki 750. Absolutely loved this bike! I rode it from Avon NY to Mertle Beach SC and back when I was 19. You'll be lucky to find one now for 20,000
Mine had drum brakes and earned me a well earned careless driving award!
If you could believe this, I had a 500 trip was my first bike ever on the way home at night. I dropped two gears and dumped the clutch and had to sit on the tank to get it back down on the ground. It’s definitely a wild ride, although I killed a lot of mosquitoes with that thing, had it for about two years and traded it Kawasaki 1000 LTD first year that 1000 did not have the pick up that my 500 had I could imagine the 750 the reason it was called the Waker
Same experience with the armour-alled seat! 😂👍
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!!!
You know when you hit the Power band on this. I remember. It was a pure thrill.
Love the sound
Had a 1973. Crazy bike. Put clubman’s on it to keep the front wheel down lol. Wish I still had it. Traded it in for a 1978 z1R.
The H1 had the power band, the H2 was surprisingly torquey. Nice sounding pipes ❤
Got to love the two strockers I drag raced several of them in the 70s real quick on the quarter mile
Bought a 1972 H2 from Eddies Vintage Motorcycles in NH..It was one of the very first 1500 full power bikes imported into the USA.. after this shipment i believe they were toned down for the USA market...
I then imported it into the UK...
50 years motorbike running like no tomorrow. Beast
IMHO, the handling depends on what you're used to. I was used to a Z-1, (1170 cc) which was heavier than the H-2 triple. The H-2 had shorter forks, it was lower and lighter. Brakes were the same. Thanks for the post. Beautiful scooter,
Had a '75 H1 and after taking an H2 for a test run once, found that the 750 had more low end grunt but my 500 seemed just as quick. A few years later I bot a Yamaha RZ500 and after a short time realized that I'd had enough ring-ding-ding and tryed a Suzuki GS1150. Much better all round bike and 4 stroke ever since for me thanks.
You could probably clean up the exhaust ports and the expansion chamber on the exhaust. It would make it quicker and faster. 2 strokes are known for that back then.
I met some Dutch Army Officers and they were familiar with these and took their bikes into Germany on the autobahn.
Back then a buddy had one. We called it the WingDing
I had one, scared the bejesus out of me and i loved it. Sold it 3 years later to save my life
My 73 H1D needed at least 90 seconds to warm up from a cold start before I could ride away.
Leaving my girlfriends parents house in a nice quiet neighborhood, I'd push it down the street away from her house before I kicked it over. It had Bill Wirges expansion chambers on it so it was LOUD.
Uncrated a few for the local dealer back '73. We synced the carbs using finish nails and eyeballs, then cranked and checked at a former airfield close to town.
The TZ,RD,H1&2'S . Brain fart on what Suzuki had. The Kenny Roberts 250 kicked everyone's ass on the track !! True story
I had a 750. Absolutely insane.
Powerband as wide as my pinkie.
I worked for a guy who has 4 of them and 1 is fully built it's one of the scariest things you'll ever ride even more than his 74 kz900 turbo
I was stationed on Okinawa From 1971 to 1974,I bought the first H2 that came to the Island, it was Red. Scary bike compared to the Honda I traded in. Had it for a year and was stolen, never found.
I don't particularly recall these being referred to as Widowmakers, and they're certainly not the most famous 2-strokes of all time. Of this family of 2-strokes, I'd say the 500cc triple is more well known. Infamous would be a reasonably apt description.
A friend had one back in the mid-late 70's, the triple, bad ass bike!!!