Two Stroke Nationals

[@lords8n]

Around 1980 my older brother, a KZ900 owner himself, used to tell me tales of this incredible beast known as the H2 750. In 1984 I found one for sale for $450, bought it, and drove it home. The swingarm was extended 2", it had expansion chambers, and downward handlebars. It was a very angry bike and was only happy when it was accelerating. My fondest memory was being at a red light of a road leading out of town. An XS1000 pulled up next to me, looked over, and I could see him smirk and laugh as he revved his engine and shook the ground around me. I just turned to face forward and waited for the light to turn green. I absolutely left him with his jaw on the ground as I kept the front wheel just off the ground through four of the five gears. As I reached about the 130pmh mark I felt the rumble of that big four stroke and them watched him fly by me as if I were standing still. He stopped at the next gas station and flagged me down. We are friends to this day! The end of my H2 is a sad story. I finally decided to do a frame-off rebuild of the bike. So at a friends house we went to work; him rebuilding his KZ1000R (Z1R), and me rebuilding my H2 750. Every part and every screw was meticulously cleaned and repainted if need be. New parts were added if need be. Both our parents were mechanics for Eastern Airlines so we had access to lost of stuff to assist in our rebuilds. I had the entire bike put back together except for the wheels. All that was left was to put them on and adjust the chain and brakes. I left to go on vacation with my family for the weekend. While I was gone my friend's room mate came over and completed my bike while my friend completed his and decided to go out for a ride. The guy on my bike, Kenny, was a very capable rider but had a suspended license and certainly didn't have my permission to do what he did. A police car pulled in behind the two of them. Carry on his Z1R pulled over, but Kenny on my H2750 decided he would run. He tried to make a very sharp turn onto a dirt road and that was the last time my bike was seen alive. Beside being arrested Kenny was fine, but my bike was literally in pieces. One of the saddest days of my life.

[@Toxic2T]

Hope Kenny paid for every last dime for his terrible f*ck up.

[@williamland1]

Greatest sound in motorcycles

[@Dan45955]

I've owned a KH400, 2 H1 500's, and 5 H2 750's. I still have a 1970 H1 and a 1975 H2 that has never been started.

[@vicbittertoo]

wanna sell it :):):)

[@thunderbolt5354]

@@vicbittertoo You aint got the Money Bub !

[@mikecavossa6450]

I bought a 73 h1 500 Mach 3, from greyboy Kawasaki in 1975 Candy lime green... It's favorite snack was 750 Hondas...😅

[@Scott-q8b]

Ok I had a H2750 way back in the day ? Bought it brand new out of the bike shop display window that baby would fly low 110,115,120 every where I went !! I chased dinosaurs down with it back in the day !!! Thanks for the rembers

[@josephpacchetti5997]

I started riding in 68, my sixth motorcycle was a Kawasaki H1-B and I was 14 years old, some may not believe this, but I swear on my Daughter and Grandson, my friends all said I would be dead in a week, but here I am, killing It at 65. 👊😎

[@michaelhegyan7464]

Great bike, like you..I'm 65. I grew up dirt rider, now have a couple of Harley's...your bike..what was it..the widow maker..

[@treeguyable]

My first bike, in 72, was a 71 R5 350 Yamaha. ( still have it) Got an 06 R1 at 66 now. Things have changed!

[@brucegrunewald8423]

@@michaelhegyan7464 The H2 was the real "Widowmaker". My friends older brother had one and it was unbelievable for the era. He sold it after parking it for a long time and the new owner hit a bridge abutment on I-75. Yeah, that didn't end well.

[@michaelhegyan7464]

@brucegrunewald8423 my sister's boyfriend, back in 73', had the Kaw 650, limegreen, I was 15, he took on the back..still remember, hit about 110..in a 45 ..all I remember..' I hope I don't fall off..'

[@kwhite145]

In 1973 I bought a 71 H-1 completely restored it ran 120 MPH at Bridgehampton under the bridge miss that bike I need one!

[@schmole]

Two strokes in 7 seconds....I'm in!!

[@carlwill5009]

Oh my God, so many memories, I had Yamaha 2 stroke. DT250 360 RD350 Rm 125 Kx 125 I was a mechanic. I used to work on all my friends motorcycles in Panama And I did flattrack Yamaha 360.

[@ericsbuell]

Thanks again CycleDrag from Glasgow Scotland. Back in the mid-seventies most of us ran two strokes. I loved my RD250B, GT380, GT550, GT750, H2750. The H2 I had was fine not scary. I suspect the scary stories came from worn out suspension bad tyres at wrong pressures and poor riding. A single cylinder two stroke has only three fundamental moving parts. Compare that with the crazy thrashing at the top end of a four stroke and you can't beat two bangs every 360. I would also like to remind other readers that the first commercial two-stroke engine involving cylinder compression is attributed to Scottish engineer Dugald Clerk who patented his design in 1881. Watching this made me feel I was nineteen again instead of sixty-four. I'm going RACING, thanks., 👍🏍

[@terryshipley7190]

My favorite 2 stroke is a Honda CR 500r, so much that I have a built one in my quad, she’s a Beast

[@fknbastages]

Once the young girl puts her heart into what she's doing, she'll be the one to beat. Two strokes are so quick. What fun to ride. I love the "tickle" they give you.

[@nickhall5959]

Looks very nervous on the launch

[@a8f235]

You just said all men have no heart. Prove it to me and I will believe you.

[@bunsonhoneydew9099]

Fast By Gast! I remember when Paul Gast was renting space in an industrial park in Grand Island NY, grinding heads for bikes running at the local drag strip in Lancaster NY. He got real successful and last I remember has the biggest house on the island.

[@hekterr6677]

I had a blue 1972 h2 750..it turned 10.2’s on street tires riding to and from Alamo dragway while stationed in the usaf in the mid 70’s in SanAntonio..k181 dunlops and Denco pipes…my first time slip said”learn to stage”

[@formula1maximal917]

I did classic races on a Kawa 250-3 cillinder and a Suzuki T500-2 cillinder that was fun!

[@andrewmarshall360]

One of the most terrifying bikes I have ever ridden was a Kawasaki 750 triple . One of my friends bounced off the wall at Daytona . Ama pro

[@ErwinWernerTeichmann]

Super cool Jack! Love those videos. I had two Suzuki, one 550 1975 and a 750 1976... I have some very good memories. Thanks for asking.

[@pb68slab18]

I remember Kawi H1 & H2 and an occasional Suzuki GT-750 "Water Buffalo", drag bikes at Atco Raceway. Sounded like popcorn machines with 3-1 pipes!

[@sumannain6919]

Greatest sound of motor vehicle

[@125southernnh2]

Takes a brave and confident soul to give all the beans a 2-stroke monster like that and hang the eff on.

[@Gil334]

Thanks Jack. From this 62 year old, Bay Area 2 stroke fan. R.I.P. Baylands Raceway.👍

[@troyparfitt8451]

I had an RZ500 it was nuts and very thirsty. Nice to hear Layla at the end of the video.

[@bereal929sb]

Haha-ha.. Chandlers still pulled it together. Absolutely beautiful bike

[@geothefisher]

I drag raced H2's for several years back in the 80's. Nothing sounds or smells like a 2 stroke!!!

[@kwhite145]

Nothing like the smell of Klotz 2 Stroke oil!

[@davidgeorge000]

Shut it so we can hear the bikes!

[@gnmnkst492]

I have restored a 75 H1 and in process of restoring a 73 H1! Love em!!

[@marybaker5419]

Love the old 2 strokes had loads back in the day,brings back so many memories awesome

[@GlennGale-g5e]

Had a 75 HI 500 with pipes and the motor set to 69 OEM specs I it ran a best 101 on OEM rear tire. I live in the Grand Rapids and been to Martin many times. !!! AAAaaaa the good old days .. I should have keep the old toy. had it for 16 yeras . :)

[@johnmtowne5794]

Live these bikes

[@more.power.]

Two stroke heaven. I think jesus rode a HI 500cc when he was a a teenager. Cheers

[@salisburysteve3104]

Shout out to my first Tomos A3. Look how far we have come 🥲

[@senatorjosephmccarthy2720]

Brigstone was the first company to run reed valves in production bikes, in their 350. About 1966.

[@daffyduck9901]

Smoke em if you got em. Favorite 2-stroke has got to be 76 Bultaco 360 Astro. It was my Uncle John's I used to sneak it out of the barn when I was 15 and smoke all the high school kids on their street bikes. 👍

[@joeboggio3920]

I purchased my first 750 in 1973. In 1977 purchased a KZ1000 LTD and sold the H2 to a friend and he wrecked in within a month. I bought the H2 back and built a go kart around it. Bill Wirges built the pipes for it. Ran it at Byron drag way several times, best ET was 10.48 @ 125

[@dalekehrer2421]

I still have my 76 KH400 Kaw triple. Bought in 78. Love it.

[@ukusagent]

Had a few 2 strokes, Started Racing on a KX 125, a Husqvarna CR 500, On the road, RD-400, RD 350 LC, Suzuki GT-750

[@10vike]

I owned a 1972 Kawasaki 400 2 stroke and a Kawasaki 750 2 stroke.

[@brucegrunewald8423]

I had at least 5 2 stroke dirt bikes, a Suzuki 500 twin and a Suzuki 550 triple. The 550 could whip a CB750 hands down, but the 500 was a better handling bike. I love the relative simplicity of a 2 stroke engine, and with Suzuki's oil injection direct to the bearings you didn't get much smoke.

[@demotors070161]

First bike was a 50cc 2 speed Miyapet. Then an old Sachs with a 80cc yamaha engine. 175 Bridgestone, 250cc 67 Bultaco Metralla, 70 Suzuki T2 250 twin, Yamaha R5C. 76 Yamaha RD400, 73 Yamaha AT3 125 single. All ring-a-dings!

[@mikestroud9969]

One of my first bikes i bought. Many years ago. Kawasaki KZ400. 😅😅✌️✌️. Road it everywhere 😊😊

[@Freimopp777]

Kawasaki 400 S3 ( KH 400) was the two stroke

[@mikestroud9969]

@@Freimopp777 yes I think so. Many years ago. Early 80s 😂😅

[@skippmclovan1135]

The thing was ALWAYS keeping the front wheel down ..even on the factory street version ..it was a problem right out of the shipping crate! But FUN..and lil' bit SCARY !

[@jamiejmasters4818]

I owned a LS 100 Yamaha, a 79 Daytona Special RD 400, an 82 RD 350 LC, a 83 RZ 350, and a 1990 RZ 350 [The last RZ made]. I still miss my old two strokes, nothing like them.

[@MM_in_Havasu]

Had my '74 H2 750 triple from age 19 in 1977 to age 60, am 66 now, recently sold/traded to my best bud in CO in 2017, so it's still in the "family", so to speak. Too many mods to list over the years I had that bike, and it made me $$$ back in the day at street races in mexico! Still have my turbocharged Honda CBX if I have the need for speed........but the old triple is amazing in its simplicity with 7 moving parts in the engine and it ran heads up with the CBX when that bike was normally aspirated! Love the smell of burning castor oil in the morning, smells like......victory!!

[@AtoZwithEricB]

I still have my Yamaha RD250. Love 2strokes!

[@irieman442]

Back in the day one of my friends bought a twin engined 750 triple dragbike and put lots of nitrous on it. Scott Khaley was a legend in the drag bike circles back in the day. I think it was a Paul Gast creation. Why do I love 2 strokes so much? Hard to say but they are awesome!

[@jeffshepherd6208]

I had a 1975 750 Suzuki 2 stroke cool bikes

[@daronquinones8583]

Enjoyed owning an RD 400D 77 in Red when I was 15 a year after 500 H1 Mach III and tricked it out.

[@thinkingimpaired5663]

I love the sound of expansion chambers on 2 stroke bikes. Loved my RD400 that I ported, had Bassani pipes and clip ons.

[@vicbittertoo]

I had a 78? rd400 high ported and out to I think 440ish?, home made big chambers, fckn flew !!!

[@thinkingimpaired5663]

@vicbittertoo I can't remember displacement. I think it was just the next size up piston. I believe the pistons were Wiseco. One thing I did like was the pattern of the discs that my buddy put on the brake rotors front and rear.

[@vicbittertoo]

@@thinkingimpaired5663 yeah, not sure either, I know I test rode an early kwaka gpz 1000 and thought it was a slug compared to the old RD :):):), cool bikes, wish I still had it :/:/:/

[@thinkingimpaired5663]

@vicbittertoo I remember a GPZ550 with some pipe, it was a slug too. I think it was only be on the pipe at 7000 or it felt like a 100cc bike. Had to raise the float levels on that one to improve fuel mixture. That was one bike that needed larger displacement. At the time I used to work on 1000cc chp bikes. The 1000 were bike sturdy top and bottom. I don't remember if I ever wrenched on a GPZ1000 just my Z1000 many years later. I used to really love my Kawasakis.

[@vicbittertoo]

@@thinkingimpaired5663 nice !!!, yeah, think the gpz1000 I rode was the first of the fuel injected ones, 84 model ?, anyway, it was slow compared to the rd, and Z1s were awesome, well done :)

[@frosthoe]

Stop! Arggg, my 74 H2 with bad seals is crying as I watch this...Oh wait, that's me! Great job showing all the bikes and riders. Thanks as always! You still need a bit less caffeine, but i need a bit more so its kinda a trade off lol. Best wishes. P.s Starting on a 04 Kx250 for an asphalt supermoto build Great over the winter shut in project. Yee Haawws!

[@oldtimer1946]

Yes I had a Yamaha ds7 250, Rd 350 and the RZ 500

[@cormscanlen169]

I'm form Rsa love the H2 had the pleasure of riding one for 3years nothing like that will love to get my hands on one ❤❤❤❤❤

[@PeterSmith-or3pq]

All time 1976 kx250 1/2 Mile motor . . Lights were on😊

[@ZedHead1968]

Back in 1984 I had an RD350lc with a Stan Stevens 375cc motor in it, I spent 2 years on the back wheel, great memories, since then it's Zeds all the way or Kz's to you chaps across the pond, never stop riding and be safe.

[@briankeller2284]

I had a 75 Kawasaki 500 triple with Bassani pipes . Love the sound and the smell . Back in 79 we ran Unioncarbide blue injection oil.

[@goldenwheeledbanshee9160]

I had a purple 1973 kawasaki 750 just like 1, u was in front of on intro 💜 i remember when Bailey went down, shes cute and tough.

[@txrick4879]

Had a H1 man I loved it spun a bearing in the crank and fixed it and kept it running finally it happens again a few years later parket it . Wish I had kept it for another time .

[@rideshareog]

Those 70's 3 cylinders punk your Busa

[@MS-nk4xb]

- A fan! 👍

[@bryansimmons9110]

I have owned two H1's, a 1970 and a 1972. I had a Samurai , a Yamaha YR1, and many 2 stroke dirt bikes. Never owned an H2... Someday before I check out, I will get an H2. Always loved the sound and smell of Benzol Castrol bean oil and a set of Denco pipes.

[@techs1smh13]

Add couple Oz's to you're lawn mower smells great.

[@Hendrixrides]

We had a kawasaki 750 500 and a Suzuki 380..good times..made it through alive...

[@bereal929sb]

What a dreamy event to participate in. I've got a huge passion for these beast. Nothing much funner than H2 hole shots. Ohhh I feel it!

[@michaelhegyan7464]

I had a Bultaco Sherpa, back in 73', the expansion chamber, sounded like a chain saw..drove the neighbors..nuts..!!

[@teterouge1472]

Arrived at Cadwell park in 1975 and Dad said "smell that son, Castrol R..".... 🙂

[@daronquinones8583]

Would enjoy seeing you cover some of the Bagger Racing (Mission)

[@willt9172]

That was some great racing, good stuff!

[@superb63amg94]

I absolutely love 2 stroke bikes. I used to own a Canam 125cc dirt bike, and it kicked ass. Also, I have ridden Suzukis, Hondas, and Yamahas two strokes. The most terrifying was the Yamaha RD 400. That bike wanted to kill me everytime I rode it.🤣

[@brianbiro9094]

2STROKES RULE MAN 🥰😜👊👍✌️🦅🇺🇸🦼

[@JMKGarage]

I would love to get me a vintage 2-stroke street bike someday!

[@williambarry8015]

I hope you get one. They are way cool. They got the beauty and simplicity of the old British bikes but modern levels of power

[@roberttalarsky4238]

Brother in arms had One ROCKET'S, got a Court Marshall out of it

[@benmanning4340]

These are the real kawasaki h2's 👍

[@simondusil9614]

I love people who are enthusiastic about motorcycles and this style in general, it's wonderful to watch, greetings from Europe 🙂❤

[@wisecampmotorcycles8258]

Awesome video! I had a Suzuki GT 750 triple in the late 80's, was fun in a straight line 😅 🇦🇺 Love two strokes forever !

[@anthonyparris1888]

Just bought 1974 Kawasaki 90cc all original no rust 2000 miles

[@copisetic1104]

That wonderful smell is klotz caster bean oil. Top end power is the best with piston port or rotary valve.

[@MarkSmith-jp1hb]

Awesome once again Jack. I built one with Jim Toner and Tommy Smith using a 1990 ZX750H2 frame and a H2 triple Paul Gast engine. Sold it in Virginia, wish I could find it today. I can send a pic to see if you’ve seen it at one of the many events you’ve covered!

[@michaeldunn6373]

Started with a Yamaha YAS1C 125 twin, then to an RD350 then finished with a built Kawasaki H2 750, this was back in the ‘70s, the H2 was scary fast, the guy I bought it from had 10 second time slips from what was at the time Indianapolis Raceway Park.

[@MarkMiller-dn7gl]

I REMEMBER HAVING 5 OF MY H2 BIKES IN MY LIVING ROOM AND 4 WATERBUFFALOS GT 750 I ALSO HAD A 60 GALLON TANK FULL OF PARONAS AND SKUNK NO 1 IN THE CLOSET😅😅

[@markfacha2988]

Had 2 H2s..Socal..raced 2 city blocks..100bucks.or 20 bucks a gear..never lost..

[@BentTrails28]

Back in the late 80s and early 90s I had an H1 and H2 bike. On Saturday nights we would take the H 1 engine out and take the H2 engine an put it in the H1 bike. It wouldn’t take very long and we would race the guys that had the 750 GXRs , 900 Kawasaki‘s and stuff like that and they would wonder how a 500 could beat them. Lol It was fun. Most didn’t really know what to look for to know the difference between the 500 and the 750. Street racing back in the day. 🤙🏼

[@dogpaw775]

That Bailey D. is made of the right stuff.

[@thusharathennakoon8783]

Great video ❤❤

[@GlenMiller-p4r]

1975 kh400 s3 Had it in high school Should have never sold it

[@johnnystone205]

let the good times roll...2T spirit forever!😎

[@robertkaler2152]

I owned a 72 H2 triple. Had a lot of fun. Scary fast nickname the widow maker. The frame would flex under you. Smoked alot of Honda's and a few Kenny Robert's Yamaha's. Loved it.

[@MrSmegfish]

Luv those Sax a Kackis

[@georgelaflamme8300]

Nothing like a popcorn machine

[@Chaplain161]

The first bike I bought in 1988 was a 1973 H2 750. I still own it and have another 73 and a 74.

[@Pearl_on_all_4s]

Everyone here is older than me by the way, Bailey Derek is my Aunt Bailey

[@andykerr3803]

Yup, my first bike was a little rotary valve Kawasaki, also had a 350 rotary valve with an old tune pipe of Yvon Duhamel. Things were simpler way back then 👍

[@FrankFH]

I had a '75 Suzuki GT550 that I used to bracket race. Bone stock except for taking the baffles out of the pipes and consistently ran 9.00-9.05 in the 1,000ft. I got protested many times for winning the money rounds over bikes with twice the displacement and wheelie bars. I currently have a '74 GT 750 waiting for a restoration.

[@williambarry8015]

That is a cool class of motorsports. Its got the beauty and simplicity of lightweight old school drag bikes but its got the speed of the new school space age ultra high tech drag bikes.

[@bereal929sb]

I bet you'd be hooked if you had a little time to play on one of these H2's. There's really nothing like it... hard to explain in short

[@philprice5712]

back in the seventies Suzuki made a 400cc 2stroke MX bike with exhaust and intake port timing the same (symmetrical). result- engine could run either way so 5 forward speeds or 5 reverse speeds. just on weird factor alone that engine gets my nod.

[@nickhall5959]

Mate had a DT250 that would sometimes start backwards

[@andrewmarshall360]

In stock form with a decent tire I would think 10

[@andrewmarshall360]

First water Buffalo I rode scared me a little also

[@AndreUchoaUSA]

Loved it!

[@RobertSkelton-BigUps]

Hi Jack, What have You Heard About Angie Smith, Who Was Injured At NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Drag Race At The Midwest Nationals?😱😥

[@georgecooke9010]

STILL GOT A BROWN 74 H2 W/ 34S AND DENCOS IN THE SHED. 13K MILES!

[@rjfussell]

In Orange Co.1973 I was beating everything on the street,including 4 wheels,a good friend was a tuner for the Kawasaki road race team,they did a lot of r&d with the h2,but the beast was not meant for turns,I had the whole top end ,lowered 2 inches ,4 inch longer on the swingarm,11.70,I was a lot crazier then!

[@Lloyd-mo]

my first bike was a suzuki 50cc 2 stroke. 1966. i was 14. had a 360yz in the 70s.