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Kawasaki Triples, any fans here?

There was a great writeup on the Z1 as I recall many years ago in one of the cycle magazines of the time (I forget which one) where in the editor of the magazine was taking a Kawasaki Z1 900 for a ride after "Pops" Yashimura had done some tweaking on the new Z1. The editor was getting the feel of the bike on one of the California freeways when he noticed a souped up Corvette coming up the rear. The 'vette pulled along side and revved up his engine indicating he wanted to engage the Z1. So the editor nodded and the two of them were off. The two were running neck and neck for a bit and then the editor decided it was time to grab a little more throttle and pulled away from the 'vette. The 'vette went pedal to the medal but could not gain on the Z1 and new it wasn't a contest.

When the editor finally slowed down with plenty of throttle left the 'vette pulled up alongside again and that is when he noticed the "Yoshimura" signature on the bike. He nodded in approval and they both went on their way.

I tell this from my memory of almost 40 years ago when I was still in high school but would love to find the original article. Anybody else remember reading this story as well?
 
BmWr75 said:
I had a 1973 350 two-stroke 3 cylinder.
Click to expand...
....those lightening-fast 3-cylinder Kawasaki bikes of that era were two-stroke, and that was the main ingredient that made them dig....they had large displacement engines, and were in actuality, street-legal two-stroke dirt bikes with pavement tires....yes, let the acceleration now begin....a friend of mine had a 500, and that thing would accelerate like a Corvette....you could recognize their sound at night, high-pitched....they fouled a lot of plugs.....
 
Some day I hope to score a triple. I would love to have the 750 H2 but certainly would settle for the H1. When they first came out I was mesmerized by them and still am even now. I remember taking my brother's 500 triple to Phoenix while he was at work. I was still in high school and a friend of mine had just picked up a Honda 750 and wanted to go to the swap meet in Phoenix and so hopped on my brother's bike and off we went.

I figured he was gonna kill me when I got back but all he said was "did you have fun?" and that was it. He eventually got rid of his Kawasaki's and went with a brand new Suzuki "water buffalo". Still plenty quick but a lot tamer and more reliable.

What I wouldn't give to have either of his 500's from that time.

Congrats on your acquisition. Should be a fun project for you. Be sure to take plenty of pics as you go and post them when you can.
 
Right on! If I was you, I'd want to get a look at the bottom end ASAP to find out where you stand.
 
Nice bike, now I see why you want to spend your b'day working on it. :D When I was around 14 or 15, I hung around a guy with a little Kaw 75, since I had a Honda 125, & there weren't that many people to ride with. His older brother had a Kaw 400, musta been a mid to late 70s model, that just flew. Every once in awhile, he'd ride a wheelie for about a block or 2 (depending if he hit the curve right, LOL), cause he knew us younger guys loved it. :smoke:
 
Those little motors are insane.

Here's a video of an H2-engine drag bike... FIVE POINT SEVENTEEN at 125mph in the eighth mile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIG4kXxv1sU

The handy-dandy eight-to-quarter mile converter says that bike should run about 8.05 in the quarter. Most Hayabusas that run that fast, are turbocharged, or have a whole snoot-full of nitrous. And this H2 was normally aspirated... no spray or hair dryers...

Regards,
Gordon.
 
Last edited:
GordonW said:
Those little motors are insane.

Here's a video of an H2-engine drag bike... FIVE POINT SEVENTEEN at 125mph in the eighth mile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIG4kXxv1sU

The handy-dandy eight-to-quarter mile converter says that bike should run about 8.05 in the quarter. Most Hayabusas that run that fast, are turbocharged, or have a whole snoot-full of nitrous. And this H2 was normally aspirated... no spray or hair dryers...

Regards,
Gordon.
Click to expand...
Stupid question: Do guys put turbos on 2-strokes? I don't think I've seen it done.
 
Passed on the H series 2 strokers, went straight to the Z1. Breathtaking top end and a stable, dependable ride that I held onto for many years.
 
My first job was at a Honda, Kawasaki motorcycle shop in 73, I worked
in the service department as a shop helper and mechanic trainee.
I remember those H1 and H2 two strokes in the shop waiting for tune ups
or servicing all the time, they were very popular in the San Fernando Valley
back then.
Occasional Guys would come in with brand new expansion chamber exhaust
systems and want the service dept. to install and jet the carbs.
Those two stroke triples are the most rat nasty evil sounding things I ever
heard with open chambers and no silencers.
Heard lots of crazy stories about them and out of all the bikes I rode when I
worked in motorcycle shops I never did get to ride a Kawasaki triple rocket.
 
I had a KH400 in the early '80s with a worked 750 in it (bigger carbs, chambers, high compression, ported head, reed kit, ignition, ect.). It was built by a mechanic at the local Honda dealer then left to sit behind a friends house where it seized up from sitting. I rebuilt it and learned what scary fast was. Nothing sounds like a worked triple at 10,000 rpm :D
 
A little update in case any of you were following; Dis-assembly was complete a couple weeks ago, everything went relatively smooth, labeled everything and took close to 200 photos:http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v78/JRD77VET/Triples/ringo 73 H1/. I have a guy in town, (that knows these motors like the back of his hands) lined up to do the re-build. The frame will be blasted and powder-coated next month. I have to build up the "bike fund" a little bit before I'll be able to afford having the tins painted.

Meanwhile, I've been doing a lot of small stuff, like refurbing the meters and cluster, getting some of the chrome bits re-chromed, and searching, (in vain, so far), for a decent seat pan. Most of the ones I've found are rusted around the outer edge, and the few good one I've seen, bring big money. Fork ears are also hard to find (left one bent) as they were one-off for that year. I'm really pleased at the amount of NOS parts to be had and have already ordered a few things, mostly cables, grommets, fasteners and a rubber strap for the oil tank. Carb re-build is next, ordered after-market kits for them, pics to follow.
 
Use to drag race a 750. Man that thing was unbelievable off the line. Soooo light. I'm talking about the two stroke.
 
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