[junglepeanut]

I believe there is a few individuals on this board who are fans of this motorcycle i.e. i remember hearing H2 mentioned.
Is it or is it not the bike that a few people were talking about being a joy to ride. If so please let me know because I know of one for sale, (not near me so I could not ride it to find out), that I can afford.
Thanks Guys.

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[nedragr]

Ah!! The H2! Brings back memories. In high school, use to trade my 70 Charger for a kids H2 for the day. They are a hoot to ride, in a straight line. Don't think they where much for cornering prowness. Will ask question today at the shop to see where it's downfalls are.

Let up for a second, and that's where you finish!!</p>

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

I used to hate Kaw 750 triples. They were the first bike to kick my '69 CB750's butt! I ran about even, maybe a little better than the 500 triples, but I was no match for the 750 triple. Then the dang Kaw 900 came out and really kicked my ass! Made me mad.

Not just a barbarian, a great barbarian!</p>

 

[Guest]

Speaking of Kaw triples we have four of them in my shop right now. A original 69 Mach III two 72 750 Mach IVs and a 73 S2 350. The two 72s have Purple Haze 130 hp kits in them. These bikes belong to customers. Back in the day I bought a 72 750 new when I was 19 and proceded to wreck havoc in our small town. Then one day in 74 a new guy came to town with a Yoshimura built Z1 and kicked my butt. I couldnt take that laying down so I imediately yanked my Mach IV down and put a Denco King Cobra 120hp kit in it with 130hp super Cobra level porting. I went hunting and found that Yoshi Z1 guy and wasted his ass. I then proceded to tear hell off the cross at the strip. I left the bike stock appearing and could ride it 50 miles to the strip and run low 11s and high 10s right off the street. This was in 1974 and I was MASTER OF THE WORLD at the time. The 750 gave me the most fun and memories than any bike I have ever owned or will ever own.

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[Kawracer]

The bike on the right is the quickest stock bore H-2 that runs on gas in the U.S.A......probably the world. It doesn't have a turbo or nitrous. It went [email protected] last October at the IDBA World Finals.

Speed is a question of money......How fast do you want to go???</p>

 

[OutsiderZX12R]

Very nice, I don't own an H2 yet, but own one of each of the other triples from 250 to 500. My dad's modified 350 S2 was the bad ass of the town until he ran into an H2 and a Z1. Not bad though for 350cc. I am in the planning stages of building my H1. I want to find an H2 engine to put in it. It is good to see threads like this pop up. I love two-stroke Kawasaki triples. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT="">

Hello, My name is OutsiderZX12R, and I am a ZX-12R.org addict.</p>

 

[nedragr]

Just got back from the bike shop, solved the industries problems, talked about the old AJS, Matchless, Triumph, Norton days. It all got started because of the H2 question??? Bob said very solid motor, only produced about 7 to 8 more horse than the 500 but had more midrange. Biggest thing to look for, what he called Kevin Cameron's brior patch of weak links. After sitting for a while, the cranks will rust, bearings will pit, and seals will dry out. Have to take a close look at it's history. I know if I could find one that's been riden daily, I'd probably have one in the stable.

Let up for a second, and that's where you finish!!</p>

 

[IWasBlitz]

They're great bikes, I had a buddy that had a really clean 500 and 750.

However, they didn't call them widowmakers for nothing.

Lotsa backbone twist and shake.

I still love the bikes today. My friends 500 was ever so slightly faster than the 750, for whatever reason, they were both stock.

"Here, hold my trophy while I kiss your girlfriend."</p>

 

[Guest]

I was turning 12.30s and 40s all day long on my 750 when it was box stock off the show room floor and I weighed about 175lbs back then. I was never beaten by any other stock bike in the area including Z1s. I still have my fathers 73 Z1 all original except for a pipe 12K miles. I dont know if you guys remember Tony Nicosia but he turned a 11.93 on a 750 that was supposed to be stock. He was a very small guy maybe 125lbs .

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[Guest]

Ah yes I had a blue H2 way back then, brillant bike from what I remember. The handling was not brilliant, but not as bad as the stories either. I only crashed mine twice.
Wished I still had mine, they are getting quite collectable.
Good ones here go for upwards of $10k New Zealand. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT="">

Kiwi.



Luck is a loser's excuse for a winner's position!</p>

 

[Ted Edwards]

Ahh Yes!


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[Ted Edwards]

OOPs!
I had a couple of H2's one reasonably stock, the other had the 121 BHP denco kit fitted! Barking mad doesn't even come close!
Denco did a triple triple with 3x H2 motors in the one chassis, each producing 141 BHP. It was fast until they tried using dope!! Cylinder heads everywhere!!
Trying to keep up with Russ Collins and his triple engined Honda.(If memory serves me well, I think his Honda ended up as a coffee table)!!
It was the bike that I truly cut my teeth with, needless to say I binned it with alarming regularity! LOLOL
Regards
Ted

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[junglepeanut]

Thanks Everyone.
I think I will make an offer tommorow based on just how much fun this bike sounds.

</p>

 

[Ted Edwards]

Junglepeanut,
Hope you get it! You'll not regret it!
Really is a nice bike, just remember that it was the 12 of the seventies! but it comes complete with rubber frame and bicyle standard brakes!! LOLOL
If it is a H2A or B then I would get shares with some gas company! Having said that, I enjoyed both of mine and I would still have another one any time! fact, I might do that when I get over next year!
Regards
Ted

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[sleepr]

All this triple and 2 stroke talk has got me worked up. Recall seeing a few years ago in Cycle Canada where a guy mounted an H2 in a early to mid 90's ZX7 frame. Said it ran like a scalded cat and handled too!

When Life Throws You A Curve Head For The Apex And Lean!!!!</p>

 

[OutsiderZX12R]

I would like to read that. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT="">

Hello, My name is OutsiderZX12R, and I am a ZX-12R.org addict.</p>

 

[Ted Edwards]

Me too!
Regards
Ted

</p>

 

[Guest]

I bought a brand new 1972 (first year) model left-over for $1200 from Champion Cycle on Western and Addison Streets in Chicago. Talk about bang for the buck. I was a school teacher at the time and used to commute to Oak Park weather permitting. Always a fun trip.

These bikes were lightweight for the time. The 3 cylinder exhaust note was unique and it also had a big intake howl as well. The vibrations were unique too. Unlike my '69 500 which had a drum front brake you could fade with a fast trip around the block, the H2 would stop. The handling was uninspiring, but who went around corners fast in those days anyway? I installed a steering damper, .......the only bike I've ever had a damper on. As I recall, Kawasaki had a bracket on the bike you could mount a damper to.

When you rode two up and rolled on the throttle in first gear, the front end would slowly rise off the pavement as the power came on. This was amazing at the time. Can you say high center of gravity? I had flat bars on mine.......very progressive in an era before the sportbike.

I once took mine up to 120 mph "indicated", got skeered, and never went that fast again for many years. I think the power peak was about 7000 rpm, but that was before even the cycle mags had dyno reports. I have no idea how much rwhp the bike made or how fast it would actually go.

I raced mine at Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove Wi, but never did very well. The bike was very intimidating and would wheelie at the slightest provocation out of the hole. I was very inconsistant (unlike the big fours I raced) and I think low 13's was the best I ever did. I wish I could remember the mph because that would give a clue as to the horsepower. The bike just begged for wheelie bars. I did destroy a clutch trying to learn how to ride the beast on holeshots. That was the only clutch that ever broke up in pieces on any bike I've owned. Funny thing, I once saw a 750 triple rolling down Elston Ave in Chicago with wheelie bars, no doubt raised up for clearance. Quite a sight.

It was a fun bike. The four stroke guys used to laugh at us 2 stoke guys because of the sound and the smoke, but you can't help but wonder what would have happened if the Japanese had developed a liquid cooled 4 cylinder 2 stroke sportbike. One fast smokin' ring-ding!

I had the blue triple for a year and then bought a new '74 Z1 and believe me, it did everything better.

Best wishes
Dave



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[Guest]

One time a guy came to our small town in Texas looking for a race for money. He was about 35 had a 70 Hemi Cuda with Cal. tags on it. When I got wind of this I went and found him and set it up. We met out at our quarter mile spot which me and a freind had carefully measured out and marked 1320 feet with a paint cans. This was with my 750 when I had my Denco kit in it. Well, he shows up with fat slicks and open headers and popping small wheelies! I thought oh shit! What have I done! My buds put up $250.00 bucks which was a real $250.00 bucks in 1974. Anyway we line up and keep in mind I was good for high tens in the quarter. Anyway we launch and he stays right next to me! Iam shocked! I go to second hes right there to third to fourth then to fifth and I pull him a couple of links on the big end. Iam thrilled and releaved. I take the money and he dont want know more and I was glad of it. I was a 20 year old punk at the time.

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[nedragr]

To bad old fast bikes didn't appreciate like the old fast cars! What would you say that Cuda's worth today? $50,000
H2 Kawi $3000 for a cherry one.

Let up for a second, and that's where you finish!!</p>