Anyone remember the Kawasaki H1 and H2 motorcycle? This motorcycle was introduced by Kawasaki in 1969 as an answer to Honda's CB750 and man what a ride! The H1 was a 500 cc, 2-stroke, inline three cylinder motorcycle that produced sixty horsepower and had a top speed of 120 mph. The H1 only weighed 383 pounds so the low weight and high horsepower, at least for that time, made this motorcycle one heck of a straight line rocket. The biggest drawback was the handling of the motorcycle. With all that power you could really get up a head of steam but when going into a turn the bike was as loose as a wild horse. Made for a very interesting ride. But man could this motorcycle scream. And when the larger H2 came out it was truly a handful of wild motorcycle! The H2 was a 750cc, inline-three cylinder two-stoke with 125 horsepower and a top speed of 125 mph. Because these two motorcycle's were so light in weight and had such a wild powerband, at 6000 rpm the motor REALLY came to life, they were faster than most any motorcycle of the time in a zero to top speed run but due to the weak frame, rearwards weight distribution and the kick you in the ass power step at 6000rpm they became responsible for the now common terms "wheelie" and "tankslapper". I have ridden both of these motorcycle's and loved it! Long before todays superbike riders were doing wheelies the H1 and H2 were the motorcycle to have if you wanted to pull a wheelie or smoke the rear tire. The guy I knew who owned the H2 use to buzz up and down the main and very busy highway in front of my home doing wheelies while standing on the seat! Yeh, he was a bit crazy but it was always very entertaining! The H1 and H2 were produced by Kawasaki for only a few years until in the mid 1970's they were phased out due to pollution regulations. if any of you guys have one of these motorcycles I would love to hear from you and your tales of riding one of the truly mean street bikes of the 1970's.
H1