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.


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' 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)

[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)

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)

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, scared the living daylights out of me. Bought a Titan instead . Those were the days, got change from a dollar filling a commando. "Ton" down Moorhouse Ave was a challenge , 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.