Kawasaki H1 - 500cc triple

[slofox]

Who remembers the original H1? "The Widowmaker" as it was fondly called.......

At one point in time the scuttlebutt was that half of the initial owners in a certain south island town had been killed on them....dunno if it was true or not but there were plenty of stories about flipping them over backwards due to the super spiky powerband.....

Any stories or reminiscences? Would love to hear them.....

Actually had a mate who bought an H1R (racing version) to race in the US of A. He managed to seize the engine at full speed down the straight at one track......he said he gave up racing as he flew through the air but by the time the ambo arrived and he realised he wasn't dead he was reconsidering his decision.......

[skidMark]

Havn't ridden one but had a sit and drooled all over an impeckable one in a shed in a back paddock in the south island.

Obviously cannot tell you where it is, but what a machine, i was offered a ride, but opted to live having heard the rumours.

And my experiance with 2 strokes is too limited, riding a 70hp nsr250 was bloodey scary enough! lol

I prefer riding a zx10r over that..... powerbands are scary, yes im scared of powerbands lol

trying to keep even an nsr250 in the powerband through the tighter twisties was bloodey hard work. :shit:


one hell of a thrill but i prefer living.

[MIXONE]

Yep been there and had the shit scared outta me.They had a light switch type power band that was more than capable of biting you on the arse(or dumping you on your arse).I'd love to own one now!

[Pussy]

I've ridden both the 500 and 750 triples many years ago. They certainly defined the meaning of the word "powerband". It's a shame the alkathene frames and less than effective brakes weren't up to the engine's capability

[Bonez]

A chap flatting with mom and dad had one. I do remember the weekly plug changes and the chap launched himself into a shop front window. Survived to tell the tale. There's a few Kawa triple 2 strokes still around and come out on the annual local toyrun.

[GrayWolf]

Had the H1a in the UK as a lad, seems the difference was we had that (sperate pick up coil) contactless ignition system. I re rode a H1 a while ago and well the memory of its performance when compared to the current bikes is not that fast, however it was a bike that came with a certificate of authenticity from Bendy Toy inc for the frame. (later KH models were about 30-40kph slower and had 'strengthening' to the frames). You could 'feel' the swing arm try to wrap itself round the bike at low gear acceleration and feel the frame 'flex/twist' while riding hard is how I'd describe it. The power was 'knife edge' to the point of unusable unless you left your brain at home. I can only decribe it as, ride a sporting 600 on 2 cylinders and as it hits what would be max power, flick a switch for the other 2 pots. The biggest issue I felt was if you hit the power band while peeling out of a corner, it really is/was brown stuff creating. I fitted a box section swing arm to 'improve things' :laugh: and well the TLS brakes??
They drank petrol like a drunken sailor and ate plugs, the 400 was'nt a lot slower and was a nicer bike to ride. The 750 had a definate power band but actual had a reasonable amount of torque (however I didnt get the chance to ride an early example). They and the Samuri/Avenger 2T's really set the big K as the 'brain out brigade' stroker manufacturer. The collectable for me would be a nice S2 (350)

They have the best sound of any 2T when on full song, that moan is something else.
Love em? Oh yeh, want one?? Hell No!!! (unless a 350/400)

[Morcs]

Madmax has one. last time i knew, he was fitting the motor into a ZXR750 frame...

[SPman]

They and the Samuri/Avenger 2T's really set the big K as the 'brain out brigade' stroker manufacturer. The collectable for me would be a nice S2 (350)

They have the best sound of any 2T when on full song, that moan is something else.
Love em? Oh yeh, want one?? Hell No!!! (unless a 350/400)
The S2's actually did handle (for the day) Still had all the other vices though. I did a wheelie ACROSS the main st in Kaitaia once when I wasnt watching what I was doing and was ham fisted doing a U turn - I still don't quite know how I got out of that......youth does have some things going for it......

Took an Avenger 350SS for a long ride once - they were definitely faster than the 350/3 in a straight line

Here's a 500 for ya....

[MVnut]

I've had Kwaka triples for 36 years and still have 23 of them, plus tons of spares. I still ride them although not as much as I should. The H2 was the 'Widowmaker', not the H1 (14 japanese testriders died in the first two weeks of testing). I find them as exciting as ever. I could relate a few tales but the men in white coats would probably drag me away. (one particular tale would be a definite):rockon:

[roogazza]

I've had Kwaka triples for 36 years and still have 23 of them, plus tons of spares. I still ride them although not as much as I should. The H2 was the 'Widowmaker', not the H1 (14 japanese testriders died in the first two weeks of testing). I find them as exciting as ever. I could relate a few tales but the men in white coats would probably drag me away. (one particular tale would be a definite):rockon:

Cheers MVnut, I have an old shot of me at Levin circuit in about 73 in my album here on KB. My pet, out of the 49 bikes I've had. Gaz

[Coyote]

I've had Kwaka triples for 36 years and still have 23 of them, plus tons of spares. I still ride them although not as much as I should. The H2 was the 'Widowmaker', not the H1 (14 japanese testriders died in the first two weeks of testing). I find them as exciting as ever. I could relate a few tales but the men in white coats would probably drag me away. (one particular tale would be a definite):rockon:
14 deaths?! Really?! Got an article to back this up?

Sounds like an excellent bike. Sure you need 23 of them or would you possibly sell one?

[vifferman]

Who remembers the original H1? "The Widowmaker" as it was fondly called.......

Any stories or reminiscences? Would love to hear them.....
When I was at high school (in the 70s, natch), there was a guy who bought one as his first proper bike. Rumour was he used to drop it at least once a week. Eventually it put him in hospital, and he replaced it with a Z1 (once he recovered, of course).

[GaZBur]

The original HII's had more power, they detuned it (about 1972? correct me if I am wrong) and shifted the motor forward an inch and a half to reduce the death toll! I rode a S3 400 in the 410 production class against about 40 Yamaha 400's. It was a bitch! The photo is from the old Dunedin Wharf Circuit.

EDIT: They were originally known as the Mach III.

[doc]

I've had Kwaka triples for 36 years and still have 23 of them, plus tons of spares.

Yeah, they are pretty hard to sell aye. Never mind one day they will be a classic. Everyone will have forgotten about their vices. Test rode one from Norjo's I think it was then, :shit: scared the living daylights out of me. Bought a Titan instead :love: . Those were the days, got change from a dollar filling a commando. "Ton" down Moorhouse Ave was a challenge :stupid: , not just normal friday night traffic.

[MVnut]

14 deaths?! Really?! Got an article to back this up?

Sounds like an excellent bike. Sure you need 23 of them or would you possibly sell one?

No article sorry mate, but my best mate was an industrial spy for want of a better term, so info with pics to back it up. He 'worked' for all four of the Jap manufacturers and they were all aware he was working for everyone, but that was cool as long as he could get spypics of the other 3. And no Kwakas will ever be sold, my 12 year old daughter loves them, I am in the market to buy more however.:woohoo:

[GaZBur]

I've had Kwaka triples for 36 years and still have 23 of them, plus tons of spares. I still ride them although not as much as I should. The H2 was the 'Widowmaker', not the H1 (14 japanese testriders died in the first two weeks of testing). I find them as exciting as ever. I could relate a few tales but the men in white coats would probably drag me away. (one particular tale would be a definite):rockon:

Don't suppose you want someone to help you ride some of them in the Post Classics do ya? Huh, do yah?? :ride:
Maybe a team of old bastards on bastard bikes! They were quick though werent they!

[MVnut]

Don't suppose you want someone to help you ride some of them in the Post Classics do ya? Huh, do yah?? :ride:
Maybe a team of old bastards on bastard bikes! They were quick though werent they!

The thought had crossed my mind, it would be quite a sight. I have 3 very early Z1s as well.

[Kickaha]

The collectable for me would be a nice S2 (350)


Had a S1,S2,S3 rode them unitl they were rooted then threw them away, they were $350-400 bikes at the time and not really worth anything

[98tls]

The thought had crossed my mind, it would be quite a sight. I have 3 very early Z1s as well. Nice,any chance of a pic or 2?

[slofox]

The H2 was the 'Widowmaker', not the H1 (14 japanese testriders died in the first two weeks of testing).

Hats off for the correction, MV........:mobile:

[SPman]

The "Truth", used to have regular headline articles, everytime some young guy on a second hand H1 killed himself - I think it was they, who named it the Widowmaker in NZ!

Eric Bone still has all his original triples and trots them out at regular intervals on road and track. He still wears his original leathers, although, it must be a tight fit these days....

[toycollector10]

Is in Christchurch. We have all (or most) of the Kawa triples in the group. From the 250cc up to the 750cc H2. From the first year to the last year.

In early April 2009 we are hoping to hold a Japanese Motorcycle Show. Will maybe have some of those MACH III's out in the carpark. Burning it up. So you can hear and smell them again. Be there!

[Motoworld Powersports]

Ive got a 500 coming from Japan. Been looking at getting the 750s but man are they big money.

[TLDV8]

I say never let a good story get in the way of the truth. :laugh:

The 1969 H1 simply made some hp very quickly around 6000rpm.
The very first (late 1971) H2's were fairly quick but all H2's including the A,B and C models only rev to 7800rpm in stock trim.
They have good torque and made good enough tourers with mileage being a bit of a pain if pushed. (imho)
Put a set of VM34's on,some good pipes and mild porting and that was something else.
As far as handling it was not that bad but by modern standards they are in dire need of geometry changes,longer rear shocks help and the fork internals can be modified.
My pick for best all rounder would be the S3 400.

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/img020.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/H29.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/11952rb.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/trip.jpg> <img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/engin.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/DSC05906Small.jpg> <img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/DSC05916Small.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/dencotriple.jpg> <img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/H27.jpg>

The big triples were still cheap well into the 1990's with basket cases becoming available.
Even Mount Eden Motorcycles revealed a few bits tucked away.
Those days are gone but there are still a few stories of major lots of parts out there.

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/H2B.jpg>

[GrayWolf]

20+ of them, all ridable??
Hmmmmmmm, now if I ever get the urge for a nice wee 350/400 pre KH version?? ;)

[Ixion]

I had one, back in the day, Mach III, the early TLS model.

I didn't keep it long, I realised that it was a psychpathic homicidal manaic, that spent all night plotting ways to kill me the next day.

It didn't get me, but a couple of years later I found the remains in a wreckers. Guy I sold it to also passed it on quickly. Next owner wasn't so lucky. It killed him dead.

In retrospect, having since had more experience with brutal two strokes and hinged frames, it wasn't really that bad. But to riders coming from steady solid predictable Briddish iron, the handling left a lot to be desired.

The worst trick was a tendency to lose a cylinder (or even two) in a corner, then suddenly regain it. That, combined with the sudden surge of power taking it into the power band , could be very challenging. Mine was the points version, the CDI maybe didn't have that little foible. Softer plugs might have helped also, but then of course it would have seized mid corner (they did that, too) .

Put me off Kockasuckies for life, I've never owned another one.

[nudemetalz]

My old man raced them back in '69 and '70. He told me lots of stories of how scary they were to ride but he still won lots of races of them at Ruapuna


Here's some pics -
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=17914
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=17945

And look below for my signature :)

[GrayWolf]

The original HII's had more power, they detuned it (about 1972? correct me if I am wrong) and shifted the motor forward an inch and a half to reduce the death toll! EDIT: They were originally known as the Mach III.

unfortunately the engine and frame numbers still read H1/2, S1/2/3 even on the later KH models (by KH version they really had been 'tamed') I can remember KH's being sold as H1 Mach 3 etc. Correct me if I'm wrong but sadly the quick models were the TLS brake bikes....... although I seem to remember it was just a few 'changes' to the porting that could soon be 'undone' to regain full power spec on KH's.

[MVnut]

The '72 H1B was still quick, back to points ignition but the first of the discbrake 500s. Will dig out some power graphs over the weekend if I remember. The later H1s were still real nice to ride, unlike (imho) the H2B onwards, just a bit tame. H2s and H2As were HOT, and still are. A guy I know has a shed of engines (meth) that run 13000rpm:scooter:

[Conquiztador]

I had a Royal Enfield Meteor Minior Sport 500. My mate had a Kawa 500. This was in the early 70's.

We were going to a town 30 K south. I was doing 120K (thats about what the RE could do 2 up) and he was disappering up front.

I got to where we were supposed to go and he was not there. So I left my pillon and started to go back to serarch for him.

Found him 5K from where we had started. It was (from where we were coming) a r/h turn (remember that this was in a country where we rode on r/h side). He had gone straight in to the forest at about 170K. He had tried to brake but there was none...(as the ones who have been on the Kawas will tell U). I organised an ambulance and got him sorted. He had mainly bruises.

After that day I have always wondered what one of those could do with good brakes...

[vfxdog]

I rode a few of these when I was working at Lawton & Boyle in the late 60's. They were the TLS model and all had CDI with surface gap plugs. They could throw a mean spark- used to do interesting things with certain remote-operated garage doors on a number of Wellington streets we rode down- repeatedly.

Hairy as hell on the street but some brave character from Auckland- Phil Richards was his name- roadraced a fairly stock one and pretty much cleaned up, even against proper racebikes. I particularly remember him as he wore white leathers and a white Bell full-face helmet which was quite something in those days of black leathers and manky pudding-basin lids.

Do a search for Dale Wood in Kiwibiker and you'll find a neat shot from 1969 of one of the bikes I used to ride being beachraced at Otaki.

[dangerous]

Who remembers the original H1? "The Widowmaker" as it was fondly called.......

At one point in time the scuttlebutt was that half of the initial owners in a certain south island town had been killed on them....dunno if it was true or not but there were plenty of stories about flipping them over backwards due to the super spiky powerband.....

Im to young to remember them things LOL, Yes that story was in Chch too 1st 7 in the country killed 5 riders and IIRC Aussie banned them... was the Widowmaker the 750 or 500 tho?




Is in Christchurch. We have all (or most) of the Kawa triples in the group. From the 250cc up to the 750cc H2. From the first year to the last year.


heres some...

[slofox]

Yes that story was in Chch too 1st 7 in the country killed 5 riders and IIRC

Yeah - Christchurch was where I was referring to.....that's where I met them for the first time although I didn't ever ride one......

[GrayWolf]

Reading the posts placed here by those who did own and/or ride the beasts is that we now have bikes that are far more powerful and we all have the experience of years of riding such as well as increased roadcraft skills.
If we think back to the stuff we had around then for learners RD's, CB's, S1's and the 'venerable' Hustler and GT250's. The average young turk leapt off one of these onto a 500-3. I went from an RD400 and it still scared me.
The re-visit I did a few years ago, the power isnt that shattering it is just delivered in a very 'raw' manner; its the handling and brakes that sucked. Also please remember what the best tyres were in those days; Avon Speedmaster, Dunlop TT100 etc. I'd hazzard putting modern rubber and designs of tyres on them has a marked improvement on things.

Re riding a Z1000 was an interesting flashback (no I never owned one sadly). Remembering the power and performance for the day, the reports of "this is overkill". In reality the Z1 family motors are quite low powered by todays standards and would be considered 'tourers' at best.

[Madmax]

check this guy out

have a look at his house tour

my kind of dude

http://mojokawasaki.com/

http://mojokawasaki.com/photos/housetour.html

:love:

[MVnut]

[QUOTE=GrayWolf;Also please remember what the best tyres were in those days; Avon Speedmaster, Dunlop TT100 etc. I'd hazzard putting modern rubber and designs of tyres on them has a marked improvement on things.

QUOTE]

The newer tyres are worse, you actually need to be able to get the frames flexing to go real quick and get that extra ground clearance:shit:

[Motu]

The first person in the world to sort the H1 out and ride it with any success was Ginger Molloy - 2nd in the 1970 500GP Championship behind Agostini.He came 7th at Daytona that year on the bike...in a field of 750 bikes and stopping too much for fuel.

I've ridden with Eric Bone on the road,he's no slouch on the purple 750.He races the bike at times - I was looking at his TT100's with the rubber all rolling up like a slick,and asked him how the race compound TT100's were working.....''Nah,these are just my street tyres,it's not worth changing them for one day at the track.'' I've never seen TT100's look like that.

[dangerous]

Gotapost this up.. its KBer Karbonblack from emoto chch... on his Mach III in 1972.

[SPman]

I've ridden with Eric Bone on the road,he's no slouch on the purple 750.He races the bike at times .
This one.........

[ratusratus]

i had a H1a and B and man i loved em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:hug:

[Motu]

This one.........

That's the one,and those are the road TT100's he races on.Eric says a 500 has never tossed him,but the 750 has a few times....Paeroa a few years ago for sure.I thought that was strange considering the powerband of the 500 - he says he knows about the powerband so has no worries....but the 750 will step out at any traction issues,and then it's all over,the classic 2 stroke highside.

[dangerous]

Eric says a 500 has never tossed him,but the 750 has a few times....Paeroa a few years ago for sure.I thought that was strange considering the powerband of the 500 - he says he knows about the powerband so has no worries....but the 750 will step out at any traction issues,and then it's all over,the classic 2 stroke highside.

So what ya saying is the 500 was actually the "widow Maker" as in it was the harder to ride and not the 750?

[Motu]

Eric Bone doesn't find any Kawasaki triple hard to ride - but the 750 catches him out more.

If you ride any bike with a powerband (and there were a lot of them back them,not just the H1) IN the powerband,then you don't have any problems hitting the powerband mid corner....coping with that power is a different matter....

[Ixion]

So what ya saying is the 500 was actually the "widow Maker" as in it was the harder to ride and not the 750?

The 500 was the bike dubbed the "widow maker". I never heard that term applied ot the 750, which came along much later. And, I think, buyers/riders of the 750 were much more circumspect , knowing the reputation of the 500. The 500 caught folk out, it was "only a 500", and people who bought it came either from safe(ish) predictable Briddish 650s, or from Jap 250 two strokes, which were too small to be vicious.No-one had any experience of a bike with the characteristics of the 500 (apart from the race track , maybe)

[dangerous]

If you ride any bike with a powerband (and there were a lot of them back them,not just the H1) IN the powerband,then you don't have any problems hitting the powerband mid corner....coping with that power is a different matter....
I know that well as I race a 250LC and a worked 350LC :woohoo:

[Madmax]

Most H1 frames crack around the left lower front engine mount
(went through three before i found a good one)
putting an 18in front rim and dropping the tripple clamps down
about an 1in helps the handling a bit
but the pipes hit the ground a bit quicker
:wacko:

[toycollector10]

Here's one of my favourite videos.

It's all perfect and in tune with the era. Jimi Hendrix was ramping up as was the Vietnam war. The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and if you were a bit like me it would have been Bob Dylan, The Animals and Quicksilver Messenger Service. Marijuana and acid were out of the box. Man had recently landed on the moon. People were tuning in and dropping out. Hippies. Communes. What else was going on? It was a great time to be young. And this video sums it all up. No helmet. No one's going to tell me what to do! Get a haircut!! I'm gone!!


<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/buga91RLVHg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/buga91RLVHg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[Madmax]

did anyone notice this

http://www.mojokawasaki.com/photos/s1r.html

[MaxB]

On my student OE in the UK a so called mate gave me a go on his Kwak 750. I rode the length of Richardson Road in Newcastle at an obscene speed with the front barely in contact with the seal all the way. I was just hanging on. What a buzz. Fair to say it made an impression.

[k1w160]

Ah - the triple with the ripple...I had a '72 H1B which had been fairly well abused before I got it, and as it was during the days of carless days, it wasn't exactly practical, but it certainly was fun.

I remember planning a Christmas trip from Christchurch to Wanaka and back, but I couldn't be sure that there were enoungh petrol stations that were within 60 miles of each other, so that got canned due to the 17mpg the bike was getting. It wasn't long after that I traded it in on a T500, which did all I wanted it to and was outstandingly reliable.

One of my good friends has a factory '70 H1R (same model and Ginger Molloy used), which is having the frame painted, and this will be back on the track this season. I've ridden this bike at Pukekohe and it's brilliant with a powerband that starts at 5000 and runs out at 9,500rpm, and it handles well.

I have to agree with others, they seemed a lot meaner when they were compaired to contempory bikes of the time, and I find myself remembering my ol' H1B through rose tinted glasses and tend to forget the dodgy electrics, jumping out of gear, hand numbing vibration and challenging handling. Ah - the good old days eh.

[Forest]

Just saw this on trademe: (Auction 179804468 (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-179804468.htm))


Kawasaki H2A 1973

Buy Now price: $10,000

Style: Classic & vintage
Make: Kawasaki
Model: H2A
Engine size: 750cc
Kilometres: 30,000km
Year: 1973

widow maker,12000mls,recond top end,expansion chambers,,,repainted panels,fresh import,needs certifying,appreciating classic early model highly collectable

[Forest]

More photos from auction listing:

[dangerous]

Just saw this on trademe:

yeah thats been up for a while now... crazy shit money if you ask me, not a lot origional about it so Im buggered if I know why hes asking so mush, its not even regoed, vined etc?

[Coyote]

yeah thats been up for a while now... crazy shit money if you ask me, not a lot origional about it so Im buggered if I know why hes asking so mush, its not even regoed, vined etc?
Like so many others on trademe, they're waiting on someone with more money than knowledge to finally snap it up. Same force that's made the 250 market become so inflated.

What would it really be worth anyway?

[karbonblack]

Gotapost this up.. its KBer Karbonblack from emoto chch... on his Mach III in 1972.

I also bought a Mach III 30 years later, a wrote a little story that was published in BRM that you might find interesting given the thread.

http://www.greenisland.co.nz/brm1.jpg
http://www.greenisland.co.nz/brm2.jpg

To be honest, I have kinda got over the Nostalgia thing, I think it is something you do in your fourties, now that I am in my fifties I am more interested in riding the Aprilia RSV4 I have on order!

[Forest]

I also bought a Mach III 30 years later, a wrote a little story that was published in BRM that you might find interesting given the thread.

http://www.greenisland.co.nz/brm1.jpg
http://www.greenisland.co.nz/brm2.jpg

To be honest, I have kinda got over the Nostalgia thing, I think it is something you do in your fourties, now that I am in my fifties I am more interested in riding the Aprilia RSV4 I have on order!

I really enjoyed reading your article. Thanks for posting it here. :niceone:

[merv]

Yeah great article karbonblack. The orange B with disc brake they were cool.

[toycollector10]

Hi Peter,

I was a second year student at Nayland College and your name rings a bell. I remember the line-up of Jappers outside the college in the years 69-72. Stingers, T20's, a Titan, but mostly small singles.

My mate Grahame had a Suzuki 90 or something and he dropped it into the creek up at Marsden Valley where he wrote it off and broke some ribs and an arm. His old man then bought him a Titan? Go figure?

Grant Sheen owned the first Kawasaki Mach III in Nelson. Did he really wheel-stand it through the first intersecton down from the Chez Elco one night? Whatever happened to him? I heard he was a photographer somewhere. I hope that he made good. Madness really, but that was what the bike brought out in the rider. I think he used to run with the Wilkinson boys and maybe Colin Neighbours? I bought a crapped out BSA A10 off Colin for $198. It's funny how I remember these things.

I was a bit of a git with a step through 50cc Suzuki at the time. The shame. Now running a '69 CB750 and a '73 Z1 Jaffa.

PM me if you think you might like to ride with the Classic Japanese Motorcycle Group down here in Christchurch. We're a pre 1980 bike group. We also have a show scheduled for April 4th and 5th so you might like to show your Mach III.

[Big Dave]

You know how Steven Wright says 'I wrote a Children's book - but not on purpose' ?

I did my first serious wheelie on a H1. On Granville Railway bridge.

[dangerous]

I also bought a Mach III 30 years later, a wrote a little story that was published in BRM that you might find interesting given the thread.

http://www.greenisland.co.nz/brm1.jpg
http://www.greenisland.co.nz/brm2.jpg

To be honest, I have kinda got over the Nostalgia thing, I think it is something you do in your fourties, now that I am in my fifties I am more interested in riding the Aprilia RSV4 I have on order!

I liked that almost brought a tear to the eye :scooter:

I remember as a kid a mate of my old mans that lived in the big house under the huge Gum tree on Yaldhurst rd (oppisit the race course) had a brand new H1 mounted on his lounge wall, I shit you not Harry Holt was his name.

[karbonblack]

Hi Peter,

I was a second year student at Nayland College and your name rings a bell. I remember the line-up of Jappers outside the college in the years 69-72. Stingers, T20's, a Titan, but mostly small singles.

My mate Grahame had a Suzuki 90 or something and he dropped it into the creek up at Marsden Valley where he wrote it off and broke some ribs and an arm. His old man then bought him a Titan? Go figure?

Grant Sheen owned the first Kawasaki Mach III in Nelson. Did he really wheel-stand it through the first intersecton down from the Chez Elco one night? Whatever happened to him? I heard he was a photographer somewhere. I hope that he made good. Madness really, but that was what the bike brought out in the rider. I think he used to run with the Wilkinson boys and maybe Colin Neighbours? I bought a crapped out BSA A10 off Colin for $198. It's funny how I remember these things.

I was a bit of a git with a step through 50cc Suzuki at the time. The shame. Now running a '69 CB750 and a '73 Z1 Jaffa.

PM me if you think you might like to ride with the Classic Japanese Motorcycle Group down here in Christchurch. We're a pre 1980 bike group. We also have a show scheduled for April 4th and 5th so you might like to show your Mach III.


Hmmm, I hate to admit this but I lost my license for doing a wheelstand through the lights just down the street from Chez Elco on my Mach III so it must have been a regular event! Other bikes I had when I was a Nayland were a 125cc Suzuki Wolf (just like a Stinger - mine was blue) and a Yamaha R5 (mine was orange and white). I would love to ride with your group but these days the oldest bike in my collection is a 1982 MH900R.

I like your taste in bikes, I replaced my first Mach III with a Red CB750 K0.

[merv]

I did my first serious wheelie on a H1. On Granville Railway bridge.

That wasn't when the bridge was lying on a train was it?

[pete376403]

On my 20th birthday I paid a $100 deposit on a (private sale) blue Mach III.
Had been modified for racing - it raced at Gracefield and Porirua (anyone else remember the round the shopping centre circuit?) IIRC the class was "sports production" - had alloy rims, AM4 brake linings, ports had been cleaned up and non essential weight removed. Possibly the rear shocks had been replaced with Girlings, which were considered top stuff back then. Went like stink.
Then the owner buggered off to Australia and I never saw it, or my $100 again.
And thats as close as I ever came to owning a Kawi triple

[SPman]

That's the one,and those are the road TT100's he races on.Eric says a 500 has never tossed him,but the 750 has a few times....Paeroa a few years ago for sure.
Where he was first race bin of the day......I was at the road across by the start line and we heard this scraping noise from the back straight on the first lap. We all turned around, in time to see Eric and bike go sliding past the end of the road, thinking, "wtf - how the hell did he do that?".......:laugh:

[Motu]

There was a kerfuffle at the start and their tyres went cold.I was down watching them go up and over the hill with my brother...I saw Eric go through mid pack flat on the pegs at a hell of a pace....shee it,you are pushing it I thought.On the restart he didn't come around.By the time I got to his pit a couple of races later,the bike was there....but not Eric,he spent the rest of the day in the pub.

[dangerous]

haha, this thread is funny with all the old codgers reminising... I wana be like that one day :2thumbsup

[Kickaha]

haha, this thread is funny with all the old codgers reminising... I wana be like that one day :2thumbsup

Anyone who has been subject to your drunken ramblings on the subject of the CX500 would say you already are

[TLDV8]

haha, this thread is funny with all the old codgers reminising... I wana be like that one day :2thumbsup

I still remember very clearly the day i test rode my H2B from Mollers.
On departure on the epic first voyage the bike which was parked by the curb pointing toward the traffic was placed into first gear,Hmmm,something wrong with the gearbox with a no go,the gear lever was then raised into second and appropriate (lots :laugh:) of revolutions were applied to suit the gear.
Things became quite exciting very quickly as i attempted to stay on and steer into traffic.
Anyone who has ridden any H2 will know why.

When everyone rode RD's or Hustlers there was only one choice for a first road bike,at least first gear was down. :whistle:

<img src= http://www.vf750fd.com/blurbs/brochures/kawasaki/250/S1.jpg>

[toycollector10]

haha, this thread is funny with all the old codgers reminising... I wana be like that one day :2thumbsup

I always say that "If you live as long as me, sonny, you'll be real lucky".

There's plenty that've died young on motorsickles, that's for sure.

[dangerous]

at least first gear was down. :whistle:
are you saying the Kawa box was all up?



There's plenty that've died young on motorsickles, that's for sure. Yip and in the 25yrs 200,000+ km's I have been riding Ive done pleanty of dumb shit and been lucky to have got away with it... and this is why I try so hard with new riders here, no fun dieing young, some listen and now ride bloody well and some just get all pissed at my grumpy old comments... they will be the ones that learn the hard way.

[pete376403]

are you saying the Kawa box was all up?.

Yes - think of it in drag racing context and it makes sense - at least it wasn't like some of the other Kawasaki gear change patterns of the day - the infamous "rotary shift" lift the lever for 5th, raise it one more time and you;re back into first.

[dangerous]

the infamous "rotary shift" lift the lever for 5th, raise it one more time and you;re back into first.
fark that shit... man I gota get me a spin on one of these puppys aye, in the man time ill prep my 350Lc for Sundays racing, bigest stroker I have ridden is a NSR400 but being honda it was very easy to ride.

[toycollector10]

"no fun dieing young, some listen and now ride bloody well and some just get all pissed at my grumpy old comments... they will be the ones that learn the hard way".

The only thing that separates me and just about every other old prick on this forum who is still alive is Luck. Capital L. And all the poor bastards who have bought it, well that was just maybe due to having been Unlucky.

However, having seen over the years how some idiots ride and push their Luck by not being aware or thinking about what they are doing or letting adrenaline take over.........

Then there's the poor Prick who just got Unlucky because gramps decided to pull a U-turn without looking in his rear vision mirror and had his jaded brain in neutral...

So it's pretty much a lottery out there on the road. Just try and stack the cards in your favour is all I can say.

[dangerous]

The only thing that separates me and just about every other old prick on this forum who is still alive is Luck

.So it's pretty much a lottery out there on the road.

Ahh ya see are from the "tempory new Zealander" eara
I disagree... its what you make it, expect gramps to be doing a U turn and slow, expect debri/cow around the next corner and always have an escape route planed if it does turn shit... and then hope a little luck is in your favour.

Those dieing on bikes like the H1's and GSXR's of to day need to show their bikes more resepct, its not the bikes fault it went into a tank slap and wouldnt stop, nor is it the fault of loose shingle on the road... its the riders fault and with a little/lot of resepct for the bike and experance it is avoidable not by luck but by avoiding the situation.
Just to top it off and only a long time rider will understand, 6th sence is a farking good thing to tame... dont get me wrong the best of and most experanced can be cought out and end up pushing daisies. :scooter:

[Forest]

There's another H1 on trademe. Have copied listing here so it will be archived.

Auction: 182118605 (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-182118605.htm).



Starting bid: $6,500 No reserve
Style: Classic & vintage
Make: Kawasaki
Model: h1.F
Engine size: 500cc
Kilometres: 58,888km
Year: 1974

Kawasaki H1F triple in good condition. exellent paint work.rego on hold... Dont miss out on the opportunity to own a very collectable Classic. Views are most welcome.

[Shaun]

Very first road bike I ever road. Got on one in Patea when I was 10 years old, the owner held the bike for me, ( As I could not touch the road) STILL CANNOT. I had only ever once ridden a scooter before riding this bike on the street around Patea

Thanks to Ron Roach the local Police man, for just Kicking my arse when he stopped me! DOH

[CJ750]

While I went to MTI in the late 70's a lot of people were falling off their 2 stroke kwakas. A guy by the name of Greg Aldridge(I think thats right) had one that was hotter than a very hot thing with carbs that could suck seagulls out of the sky and 3 expansion chambers. He used to ride the fuckin wheels off of it. I think that they used to kill people that didnt treat them right. When Greg hopped on his, he was the boss and the bike knew it. I wonder if he is still alive............................................. ........

[Madmax]

the H1s had a left or right hand option for the gear change
and all up or all down

[Lord Derosso]

I remember having a mate with a H2 750 and I had the original GS750. circa 1980 I also remember the smoke and the smell. ( quite pleasant actually ). Another mate had a Sukie GT500 or 550 triple? which was quite a dag to ride. I see the odd examples of these been sold and they bring back so many memories , it is really so long ago? I had a chat to a guy on a waterbus GT750 a few months back and funny enough a taxi driver just yesterrday was telling me that when he was 19 he brought a waterbus brand new for $1950 in the early 70's. Its great to meet the older riders whom have given up bikes due to various reasons but still can tell stories about their riding days and the bikes they had.

[Lord Derosso]

Seemed a worthwhile thread dying B4 its time.

[CHOPPA]

I had a tour around the kawasaki head office today and there was one there looking like brand new!

[BMWST?]

some time before 1972 i was walking to school and an uneartly sound came from behind me......as he drew level it came onto the power band and with an even more uneartly sound and smoke he was gone....at that moment i was determined to have a motorcycle...(was one of the original tls flat pipe 500,s)

[niero]

So... RD350 time, some think its japanese way to put Hiroshima right, probably did too, knowing how many americans it killed! Therefore the name.. Rapid Death... I have NEVER seen one that is still in a good shape.

[dangerous]

So... RD350 time, some think its japanese way to put Hiroshima right, probably did too, knowing how many americans it killed! Therefore the name.. Rapid Death... I have NEVER seen one that is still in a good shape.

say what?
Rd350 and Rapid Death... news to me and I race a Rd350 :doh:

[Bren]

There is an old H1 on trademe at the moment in a rather decrepit state. If only I had the money. Would be a fantastic project!!!!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-187785100.htm

[Forest]

There was a beautiful h1.f that sold for $6,200 the other week.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-184489915.htm

[toycollector10]

Just get the Autoglim out and give 'er a polish up. Or maybe, not.

With the Pacific Peso at about .55 USD she's going to be pricey to restore.

:no:

[doc]

funny enough a taxi driver just yesterrday was telling me that when he was 19 he brought a waterbus brand new for $1950 in the early 70's. .

I bought the first new one in the Sth Island in 72. Traded a 70 Commando, that was on it's second bottom end ofter 10,k miles. The moment I turned up at the barrracks in Addington with it I was ostrecised (sp) but the wimen loved it . Lost my licence less than a year later, loved wheelstanding it 2 up in traffic at New Brighton on sat mornings , cos that were the only place that had sat shopping then. Skidmark and carver are not a new phenonomon. :weep: You must first be young and stupid before you can become old and foolish

[cloudsurfer]

Hi, I have had the massive pleasure of owning at least one of each model (except the 72 white S1 250) over the years and I love everything about them. I have toured europe from the UK on many occassions and never once been left at the side of the road by a breakdown. It would have been cheaper to fly though! The S2 350 was my favourite but the 400 S3 is probably the best balanced, if that's what you want from a triple. Yes they feel slower today but the yowl, powerband and sheer mechanical clatter still raises the hairs on my neck. I have had over 30 triples and still yearn for another. The H2's are too expensive but the 500's are just within reach so maybe one day....
In my twisted opinion, the blue 72 H2, red 72 S2 and the white 72 250 are the best looking Jap bikes ever produced. If anyone has the opportunity to ride one, take it and bask in the old days of cheap fuel, crap suspension, rubber frames, bmx tyres, non existant wet braking but addictive straight line performance.
Cheers all
PS I'm not a learner driver!!!

[Blatman]

So... RD350 time, some think its japanese way to put Hiroshima right, probably did too, knowing how many americans it killed! Therefore the name.. Rapid Death... I have NEVER seen one that is still in a good shape.

The R5 was the one to beat :clap:

[LBD]

Who remembers the original H1? "The Widowmaker" as it was fondly called.......

......

The "Widow maker" title is a bit of a fallicy, most of the riders who did not survive were still to young to be married...

I remember the bike well and had a few good blasts on an orange version belonging to a friend from Waikuku.

One incident on East belt Rangiora, with a young foule from amberly astride the beast....during lunch...at high school, said foule rode past the school in third, throttle wide open, leaving a trail of smoke as he screamed past the by, one hand holding the throttle wide open, and one holding his helmet on... helmet straps flapping in the breeze, tears streaming from his eyes... cost him 6 of the best from Mackey and 6 weeks suspension.

They dont make them like that any more.

[dangerous]

... cost him 6 of the best from Mackey and 6 weeks suspension.
have the welts gone down yet?

[LBD]

have the welts gone down yet?

The deviate he was, he probably pays to get a fresh set of whelts inflicted weekly:spanking:....but lets not go there....

:slap:

[pete376403]

The "Widow maker" title is a bit of a fallicy, most of the riders who did not survive were still to young to be married...

I remember the bike well and had a few good blasts on an orange version belonging to a friend from Waikuku.

By the time they got to the orange one they were getting tamed, almost civilised. They even had brakes.
The first white ones were the real nasties, then the blues. Skinny flexy forks, 8" drum brakes, whippy frames - but what a motor!!

[Madmax]

the white ones were a beast
you had to put the brakes on at least a block away from where
you wanted to stop!
Parts are getting harder to get now, so i make most of my own
gearbox parts.
You can use yamaha TZR rods on H1s (.5mm shorter)
just make new big end pins, the labrynth seals for the crank are
scarce as hens teeth but got round that too!
:wacko:

[gammaguy]

when i was a kid at high school in Porirua:Playnice:we had a girl in our class killed when a pillion on the back of a Kawasaki H1 500.very sad thing,she was thrown into a brick wall if i remember rightly.

Back in those days counselling was unheard of,so was the whole school going into mourning for three days.

All we got was a special assembly of the class by the headmaster and told in no uncertain terms how"bloody dangerous"motorcycles were,and how we should all keep away from them.

Bout six months later,i left school,got a job and bought my first bike.....:rolleyes:

[taff1954]

I (briefly) owned a H2 in the UK in the late 70's - I was pretty much talked into buying it by its' original owner, my CB 500 having just died. Being just 5' 4" and 9 stone wringing wet (then, not now :whistle:) I had issues handling it from the word go. We parted company - literally - on a wet Welsh Sunday morning heading south over the Rhigos (any ex pat Taffs remember the road?), got into a double ess, and gave the throttle a bit of a twist on the exit. Like Mixone said, the power comes on like you've thrown a light switch. The damn thing lit up and I ended up sitting in the grass on the verge with the bike pinwheeling in the middle of the road. One thing I always remember about the H2 was the frame feeling about as rigid as wet spaghetti - definitely not confidence inspiring stuff.

[LBD]

By the time they got to the orange one they were getting tamed, almost civilised. They even had brakes.
The first white ones were the real nasties, then the blues. Skinny flexy forks, 8" drum brakes, whippy frames - but what a motor!!


If the orange one was the tame one....Farrrrrr.....

[kiwifruit]

still have 23 of them

TWENTY THREE!!? Bloody hell man. Can i come round some time? I'll wear a bib.
I've got ONE, in my lounge. A blue 71, unrestored but tidy. Planning on riding it once a month or so to keep it moving. Bought it mainly as a piece of modern art. Could probably do with a carb service... it doesn't like idling much, will do that in spring.

<img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/mh3pg.jpg">

<img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/in4o4p.jpg">

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dSObU00yp0c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
:love:


tons of spares

Any mirrors? :)

EDIT: and a rear hub? :)

[Owl]

I've got ONE, in my lounge.

A nice smoke-free home?:killingme

[jaffaonajappa]

A nice smoke-free home?:killingme

Bwahahaha. Man, my missus would Kill Me if I tried that.

[cheshirecat]

Had a poster of the black one in my bedroom. Was going to ride one but saw (or wouyld have seen if he hadn't smoked us all out in blue two stroke fog) the owner nearly come off when the power came on (was it 5,162 rpm) exiting a wet roundabout. Totally un pc/green machine.

[slofox]

Bwahahaha. Man, my missus would Kill Me if I tried that.

Which is why I don't have a missus...:devil2:

[Edbear]

I wanted the green one!

[kiwifruit]

I wanted the green one!

The green one came out a few years later, with less power, a stiffer frame, better forks, a disk brake and a few styling changes. My Dad sold his green H1D in 1979 when i was conceived, Mum sold her RD350.

<img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/2uyk28y.jpg">

<img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/dvsmya.jpg">

[dangerous]

TWENTY THREE!!? Bloody hell man. Can i come round some time?
Any mirrors? :) at a guess bout 46 I'd say... and ya proberly going to need a air NZ ticket to the states to get a look in

[Grumph]

I raced a blue drum braked one against Nudemetal's dad back in the day. Primary reason for going Mach 3 was how close I was coming to a heart attack starting the Manx I'd been racing....push starts back then.
Duckhams 20/50 in the forks and 3/8in spacers under the rear springs helped a lot as did clubmans bars to get as much weight up forrard as possible.
When they autopsy me to find just what killed me they'll find fingerprints on my ribs from where my then girlfriend grabbed when I stood it up on the Moorhouse Ave overbridge....
Used to test brake lining materials by going to the Sign of The Kiwi in my lunch breaks - if I still had brakes at the bottom of the hill those linings would do a 1/2 hour proddy race.
Only bike I've ever had that gave better fuel mileage on the track than the road - 8mpg around town, about 12mpg on the track...
Reinforced the clutch and was able to run a best of 12.4 in the quarter.

[Edbear]

The 70's were a great time! I had the T500 Suzuki, various mates had a number of different 2-strokes. I loved the Kwaka triples, even the 250, loved the RD350, the Waterbus... Sigh...

[cold comfort]

I (briefly) owned a H2 in the UK in the late 70's - I was pretty much talked into buying it by its' original owner, my CB 500 having just died. Being just 5' 4" and 9 stone wringing wet (then, not now :whistle:) I had issues handling it from the word go. We parted company - literally - on a wet Welsh Sunday morning heading south over the Rhigos (any ex pat Taffs remember the road?), got into a double ess, and gave the throttle a bit of a twist on the exit. Like Mixone said, the power comes on like you've thrown a light switch. The damn thing lit up and I ended up sitting in the grass on the verge with the bike pinwheeling in the middle of the road. One thing I always remember about the H2 was the frame feeling about as rigid as wet spaghetti - definitely not confidence inspiring stuff.

HaHa- managed to stay on mine but it was a short love affair!

[Bender]

I worked at Laurie Summers spares dept in the early '70s. There was a bent frame hanging in the roof.

I was told it came from the first H2 750 to arrive in the country. One of the sales people, who shall remain nameless (he is a well know racer) took off down Mt Eden Rd at high speed with the side stand down.

When he tried to take the left hand bend at the bottom, the bike went straight ahead into a concrete block garage. The rider was smashed up badly, the bike written off.

Gratuituous Eric Bone pic

240602

[nudemetalz]

My old man used to love his one apparently, ..more than my mum so the legend goes......

[Kickaha]

Saw a bike pull out of a sideroad this morning on the way to work, not to long afterward it passed me on the inside as the traffic slowed down coming into Belfast, bit dark but was picking it was a mid 70s two stroke

Caught up to it at the lights at Johns road and it was H1, drum front brake model
Nice commuter bike :lol:

[kiwifruit]

Caught up to it at the lights at Johns road and it was H1, drum front brake model
Nice commuter bike :lol:

Good excuse to ride it every day, I'm envious!

[Grumph]

[QUOTE=Kickaha;1130085695]Saw a bike pull out of a sideroad this morning on the way to work, not to long afterward it passed me on the inside as the traffic slowed down coming into Belfast, bit dark but was picking it was a mid 70s two stroke

Caught up to it at the lights at Johns road and it was H1, drum front brake model
Nice commuter bike :lol:[/QUOTE

Pulling in to refuel already was he ?
Even in 1972 they were an expensive commuter bike to run

[Kickaha]

Pulling in to refuel already was he ?
Even in 1972 they were an expensive commuter bike to run

The S2 we had would do 15mpg if we hammered it

[roogazza]

Levin circuit hairpin 1973, I think ? Loved my H2.

240742

[scumdog]

The S2 we had would do 15mpg if we hammered it

A guy at the works down here had a girlfriend in Ch-ch, his early Monday morning fang back down here had him doing 16mpg.

My old sidevalve V8 truck I was driving at the time got the same!

(And my present 7-litre truck get MORE mpg)

[cheshirecat]

I must admit despite all the cons of those 70's bikes, when you got out and did the 'ton' you really knew about it and remembered the event for eternity, wobbly knees and all. makes me somewhat circumspect running wild on todays machinery.

[slofox]

...makes me somewhat circumspect running wild on todays machinery.

I know what you mean...160 on a modern bike is here and gone before you realise you are even accelerating...(...course IIIIIIIIIII never do that...:innocent:)

[Stylo]

Who remembers the original H1? "The Widowmaker" as it was fondly called.......

At one point in time the scuttlebutt was that half of the initial owners in a certain south island town had been killed on them....dunno if it was true or not but there were plenty of stories about flipping them over backwards due to the super spiky powerband.....

Any stories or reminiscences? Would love to hear them.....

Actually had a mate who bought an H1R (racing version) to race in the US of A. He managed to seize the engine at full speed down the straight at one track......he said he gave up racing as he flew through the air but by the time the ambo arrived and he realised he wasn't dead he was reconsidering his decision.......

I was only a boy but remember the # 1 playing on the radio as I drooled over the H1 in the showroom, George Harrison - My sweet lord , awesome .....:lol:

[merv]

Levin circuit hairpin 1973, I think ? Loved my H2.

240742

Nice pic Gaz.

[wingnutt]

remember the mach 111 well, I never road one, (probably was good thing at the time) I had a fairly leisurely yds5 yamaha at the time.

the kawi 500 quickly gained a reputation for being deadly in the wrong hands, and they where raced standard, nothing could get near them.

there was a story, how true I dont know, that the 500 was the reason for the law, restricting the cc rating a learner could ride. apparently, as the story went, an 18 year old got his hands on one as his first ride, and he lasted only a few hours.

[dangerous]

remember the mach 111 well, I never road one, (probably was good thing at the time) I had a fairly leisurely yds5 yamaha at the time.

the kawi 500 quickly gained a reputation for being deadly in the wrong hands, and they where raced standard, nothing could get near them.

there was a story, how true I dont know, that the 500 was the reason for the law, restricting the cc rating a learner could ride. apparently, as the story went, an 18 year old got his hands on one as his first ride, and he lasted only a few hours.
what I heard was the 1st 9 in the country killed 7 off... might have been a Aussie roumer tho? alas the "widow maker"

[MIXONE]

I saw one where the front forks were 100 yards down the road from the rest of the bike.Rider was definately dead.

[Bandit Rider]

Had an H1B - the orange tank 500. Great machine in their day. But a long way from a modern bike, and not in a good way.

On the road, 4 stroke, fuel injection, a frame that handles, and tyres that stick are magic. Replacing spark plugs weekly is not a good thing.

Had a nice piece of gravel road where I regularly wound up the Mach III in a short section to an interesting speed - realised this may not be a good idea when I noticed the hang glider guys on the hill had started watching me. A hand glider in the day way the one thing with a worse reputation than the Mach III.

[GrayWolf]

the kawi 500 quickly gained a reputation for being deadly in the wrong hands, and they where raced standard, nothing could get near them.
there was a story, how true I dont know, that the 500 was the reason for the law, restricting the cc rating a learner could ride. apparently, as the story went, an 18 year old got his hands on one as his first ride, and he lasted only a few hours.

Probably not true, the 250 restriction came into force in the UK before then. I think it was basicaly due to the power of the 250's being 'almost' as fast as a Brit 650. 350's upwards WERE/ARE as fast. Later in the early 1980's the UK dropped the learner legal size to 125cc, due to 2 bikes, the Suzuki X7 and then the RD250LC which was the 1st 'genuine 100mph' 250 available en masse. The Govt then introduced a 12bhp power restriction on 125's because Yamaha 'advertised' the LC125 which was capable of about 90mph.........
I'd guess you'll find the true story is a similar one here too.

[tanken2]

I hand two Mach IVs then needing a cheap bike bought an old Mach 3 as a commuter . blue tank model with drum brakes :shit:. longest ownership of any bike I had , seized the crank and spent countless hours trying to waterproof that damn distributer. It had the power of a 175 at low throttle then at a certain point you got the lot aaargh. mastered the handling ??? and compensated for the things on the wheels that passed for brakes. Pushed the damn thing home from Howick to Bucklands Beach then another night from Pakuranga. I loved it I hated it but I would ride it now if I could . Did a lot of miles on the old girl sadly missed the widow maker felt sorry for me I guess.

[tanken2]

I've ridden both the 500 and 750 triples many years ago. They certainly defined the meaning of the word "powerband". It's a shame the alkathene frames and less than effective brakes weren't up to the engine's capability

love them , miss them , had drum brake Mach 3 for years and two Mach 4s and still alive to tell the tale. loved them to bits . mach 3 had power of 175 until you hit powerband then all hell broke loose . Electrics had waterproofing of a sponge lol.