Most Amazing Kawasaki H1 500 Two Stroke Challenges Hayabusa!

Where else could you see a classic Kawasaki H1 500 Triple battle a Suzuki Hayabusa in a final round? Yes Super Eliminator is home to some pretty intriguing racing. Here Eric Thomas out of Keystone Raceway Park in the right lane battles the always tough Craig Adams out of Ohio on his Hayabusa dragbike. Thomas overcame some real adversity, using wire to fix a broken air shifter to get through the day. It led him to the final!
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[@news603redux]

I went from a Honda CL350 to an H1 500, figuring "it's only 175cc's, how different can it be"? I found out at about 5000 rpm .....

[@secretaryharpsoctas4950]

I went from a Honda CB 350 to a H2 Mach 4 750cc. I found out too!

[@Arianrhod6]

Ha ha…brilliant comment! 😂

[@marccampbellsr1085]

I had the baby brother 400 with " some work " done to it , that would routinely pull 650s and 750s of the same era .... Keeping it running on all three cylinders was a challenge 😊😊😊 !

[@charlesharper7292]

🤣🤣👍

[@duskintheforest584]

Hee hee! Powerband happens! Even in the smaller displacement 250cc, 380, 400cc it would catch you off guard

[@rickblankenship7016]

I had an H1 in college. The smell, the crazy firing sound, the scream of the engine at rpm, the extreme tunnel vision on hard acceleration and oh the squirrely steering at 100 mph!-pure exhilaration!! When you hit the power band you’d better hang on!

[@MHolt-t6y]

Low bars [cafe style] and preload the front fork springs with Kawasaki 90 axle spacers and 20w - 50 oil and at 125 mph the bike felt as if it was on tracks.

[@thomasheer825]

You have remember that the LAST H1 rolled off the assembly line in 1975 and is only 500cc. While the Hayabusa is 1300cc and uses some of the most complex tech available. The H1 is practically 50 years old at the least and employes some rather old school techniques to get the job done. I am impressed that the H1 did as well as it did.

[@MegaRacerDave]

Fast will always be fast though, no matter how old it is. At least that's what I keep telling my old self

[@thomasheer825]

@@MegaRacerDave had an H1 in the late '70s and did some work to it, the issue with it was the frame and suspension was about as rigid as half cooked spaghetti, so riding it fast there was never a dull moment, as it was when not if you were going to get a real interesting OMG moment. Now at 70, will chase the R1150 out to over a ton, but I really enjoy making 250cc bikes approach or make the ton. Anyone can make a one LT bike go over a ton without issues, but not anyone can make a 250 hit the ton. One simply takes throwing money at it and the other requires knowledge and skill, forget wisdom on this move, as only a slightly deranged individual would attempt to get basically a motorized bicycle that fast.

[@hillbilly4christ638]

Imagine if two strokes were still in mass production. They are still made, but not like they used to be. Just think if Honda made an in-line six two stroke. The cb infinity. 1000cc of pure horror.

[@DuhYaThink]

Had a 72’ Yamaha R5-c with a 74’ 350 engine. Port work,head and pipes and that thing ripped. Love the old 2 smokes ✊🏻

[@rubinreiter6351]

My R5 still eats rear rubber eagerly

[@wmden1]

I bought a 72 350, on sale, for $750, new, off the showroom floor. Of course that was before the torque induction reed valves. It was a sweet little bike and never gave me a minute's trouble. I wanted to put the torque induction, cylinders, and carbs on it, but never did. It was fast enough for me, I guess. I wish I had kept it, and still had it.

[@MHolt-t6y]

I bought the last year RD 350 and as you did reed valves carbs and the bike was amazing !

[@anthonyrowland9072]

@@MHolt-t6y Later RD/RZs have a MANIACAL aftermarket because of the Banshee.

[@cleemccarthy1022]

50 years ago. My H2 and I were gonna live forever... Didn't quite work out that way 😮 Beautiful cycle though. Right color and everything. Hope it lasts forever...

[@kentuckybowl-o-sticks]

Oh, 44 years ago for me (in '79; bike was a '74). First or second night I had it, I went off a dark and unfamiliar residential street @ 105 mph (unexpected s-curve), and got slowed down to 80 ripping through some tall sawgrass before I sailed... nearly lengthwise, luckily... into a canal. Snorkeled down the next day and tied a rope around the triple-trees; had enough people on the rope to roll it straight up the vertical lime-rock bank on the front wheel. Didn't get a scratch on it, but had water in EVERY cran and nookie : )

[@gregoryperrine2480]

yea,,i know i had a h2 750 also,,be nice if i still had it. ive had alot of bikes over the years,,but the h2 was the fastest one of all,,,loved it.

[@hughjass1044]

50 years ago, I yearned for an H2. Never did manage to get one until 5 years ago and I very quickly realized neither one of us would likely live through the summer much less forever. So it's now in a new, better home where it will last a helluva lot longer than it ever would've in mine. Me? I was sad to part with it but I knew we were wrong for each other. And I can be happy I had my little fling with my childhood dream bike if only for a short while.

[@cleemccarthy1022]

@@hughjass1044 truer then you'd believe. They say, "death rides a black horse". He doesn't, he rides a Kawasaki H2... 🤥

[@mikimoto99]

I almost bought an H2 when I was 17. Best decision I ever made👍🏻Would have been dead within a year.😢

[@willowwisp6401]

My older brother had a Blue H2 in the late 70’s. I also rode it quite a lot and MAN was it FAST.

[@ERidesOn2]

The blue H2 was a 750 1972.

[@jimstenlund6017]

Specs are similar to a SV650 but the ‘scariness’ factor is something the H2 had in spades. I rode my dad’s H2 a few times when I was 16/17; my mother’s Hawk 400 auto was a better bike honestly.

[@GreenCanvasInteriorscape]

H1 my first bike, dad was an experienced biker and was quite skeptical but was quite eager to test it out, I survived engine seizures, wheelie accidents and other Malarkey, what fun and here we are 40 years later

[@m135is]

GreenCanvasInteriorscape my first bike also. Green just like in the video. I miss it.

[@raynic1173]

My first was the kawa KH400. Good fun, it was lite and it ripped pretty good. I used to launch it on a regular basis over the railroad tracks like a dirt bike...beat all the small 400 and 450 cc four strokes in the county...later I got an RD350. Boy did that little sucker rip. I could run dead even with my buddies CB750 in the first two gears and he had his tweaked with a jet kit and pipe, the RD was stock..it was great for light to light racing in town 😂.

[@tritop]

H2 my first bike, dad was an experienced biker and said that he would put it in pieces with the Hatchet when I come home, later he was quite eager to test it out. I survived 4 of them (spend all my money), what fun and here we are 45 years later

[@raynic1173]

@@tritop I knew a guy who, punched his H2 out to 1000cc...talk about a mad max rig....

[@edarmstrong9389]

What did you do to cause the seizures? Mine were as reliable as the sun.

[@dukedalington]

I’m a busa guy through and through but that Kawi is the jam son!! So sick and an absolute classic.

[@MHolt-t6y]

Never rode a Busa but rode a Kawasaki 1400 Ninja and well,,, it distorted time and space and I had a Mach III and several other 600 ish crotch rockets .

[@faxRfax]

Had a 73 H1.. was all I could do to hold on to the bars as I went thru the gears.. DirtyFastbike!!

[@calking420]

That and the city blocks were never long enough! I felt like I was always at a stop sign!

[@mraycgz]

John Alarcon that old dick head Jim Bob and his selfish ass anyway.

[@chrisjenkins5846]

Check out Alan millyards 1200 2 stroke h1 ...absolute beast

[@mikecavossa6450]

I too had a 73 two tone lime and dark green h1 500 Mach 3.... It ate 750 Hondas for lunch😂

[@JayneAmos]

My Kawa 500 memories: I bought one from the first shipment of H1 Kwaks to hit the USA in 1969. "Fastest production motorcycle in the world" was its advertising slogan. Indeed, the powerband hit like a sledgehammer at ~6000 rpm. Engine/transmission were great; frame and suspension became a flying, wobbling coffin at about 100 mph; always a hare's breath from a tank slapper. Aftermarket steering damper required for survival... I started the bike in a very dark garage once and the entire center section was covered by wandering, arcing sparks caused by severe voltage leakage from its CDI system. It truly looked like something from a Frankenstein movie. That sparky image flashed instantly to mind the time I filled the gas tank, failed to latch the gas cap, pulled a long wheelie out of the gas station and completely dosed myself with gasoline. Why I didn't become a human torch...my guardian angel worked overtime that day. I once parked my H1 alongside a group of Harleys on the town square. The local "bad boys" were starting up their bikes just as I returned. They each made a great show of manly strength, jumping high in the air and thrusting their kick start levers with great waves of testosterone. Not able to resist, I turned on my ignition switch, reached over the seat and with a quick jab of one hand started the H1. It sat there making triple chain saw noises with blue, 2 cycle smoke wafting amongst the crowd. The Harley boys were mortified by this display of two wheeled blasphemy. Uninvited, I rode with them to the stop sign at the edge of town. When they all attempted to roar away from this Japanese oil burner, I pinned the throttle and quickly left them far, far behind like a swarm of slow mosquitoes being exterminated by a fogger. I nearly fell off the bike laughing at this ultimate ego destruction. Shame on me! Years later I spotted a used, repossessed, '73 H1 sitting in the picture window of a local finance company. It was very clean with low miles but it had been dropped once because the kick starter shaft was sheared off (no electric starter). They said it wouldn't run. I told them I'd give them $250 for it if I could first take it out in the parking lot and try to bump start it. It ran but I could hear some piston slap. Bought it anyway because 2 stroke top ends are easy/cheap to fix and I could split the cases myself to replace the starter shaft. Didn't get around to fixing that top end before taking it to Kansas City International Raceway for a sanctioned drag race event. Won first place in open/stock bike class, rattling pistons and all! The H1 was crude and rude; a barrel of fun for a young man (with a watchful guardian angel). Funny, now as an old man I ride a Gen 3 Suzuki SV650 with upgraded chassis/suspension that's very tame by contemporary motorcycle performance standards. While smooth, stable, and almost "gentlemanly" compared to my old H1's of half a century ago, the SV actually makes more power. The H1 had such an extreme, peaky powerband and suspect chassis that a rider's seat-o-the-pants-meter would never guess the SV to be quicker. I have been so fortunate to have lived through and ridden a large portion of the radical, wonderful evolution of the motorcycle!

[@tedecker3792]

My 71 Mach 3’s in shielded CDI would scramble police radar guns. My friend was a cop and had me rev the bike next to his cop car. The radar gun’s display looked like rapidly changing Chinese characters. Good thing to know!

[@MHolt-t6y]

I owned a 71 Mach !!! bought brand new , cafe bars made the Mach III a different bike and 125 mpg. A Harley is a mans bike.

[@jamesrackow1061]

H1, you don't ride it, you aim it.

[@MoaiHeadEmoji]

I just bought a completely stock one and these comments are making me think I might die

[@blader98j]

​@@MoaiHeadEmojiWell, did you?

[@MoaiHeadEmoji]

@@blader98j no lol

[@edarmstrong9389]

I bought a new one in Japan (1971) when the Kitty Hawk pulled in. The USN brought it back to Lemoore NAS in California. I rode it home to Brevard County and two weeks later rode it back to Lemoore. I loved that bike and never had any trouble with it, it was fast and safe, don't listen to the whiners.@@MoaiHeadEmoji

[@bobrolls3800]

True.

[@johnbarker419]

I owned an H1 for a while. Crazy fun bike, the exhaust not of the two stroke twins and triples still makes my hair stand on end in the best way possible.

[@charliedee9276]

Had an H2 back in the days, earned the "Widowmaker" name for sure.

[@bigdon2241]

the 750 was the widowmaker

[@David-dl6zg]

Yours was the "WindowLicker"

[@alangarner4095]

I am proud to say I had one years ago , loved it but it was not for the faint hearted 👍🏻😎👍🏻

[@KillrMillr7]

My cousin had an H1 500 Kawasaki widowmaker. It would scream even with both of us on it, I was to young to drive yet, that thing was scary fast. Great memories

[@MHolt-t6y]

Widow maker nope ,,, I was 18 years old and bought a brand new Mach III and wide open hrottle was the norm and I am still here.

[@plausibleg.3170]

Ran 2- strokes in the 70's those things with expansion chambers were Widow Makers.

[@rexdrabble4988]

Know as exactly that in NZ. Was going to buy one,wouldnt be typing this if I did

[@lowbuckfabrication]

Actually no ..only early h1 69 and 70 were "widowmakers" all others are just tripples...#knowyourhistory

[@edarmstrong9389]

@@lowbuckfabrication Kawasaki slowed them down when the 900 z-1 came out. Nobody wanted to buy an expensive Z-1 900 when a cheap 500 would blow it off into the weeds.

[@glenncanale9225]

Have a 73 H1 with 80 hp. raced it at Daytona in1976 in amateur class. Still have it and it still is scary fast

[@JETZcorp]

@@lowbuckfabrication Widowmaker is an unofficial title so there are no rules about it. The 69-71 H1s were definitely the most difficult to ride, but you'll have no trouble finding thousands of references to the H2 being called a Widowmaker as well. IMO it's all a bit overblown anyway; the greatest Widowmaker ever is the cheapest R1 on Craigslist at any given time. Handling and brakes mean little when riders don't know how to ride. Triples were widowmakers because they were bought by incompetent lunatics. All the handling and brakes in the world won't save you if you're doing 110 in a 25.

[@movievaudeville]

Most fun bike I ever owned was a '71 350 2-stroke. Not a Kawasaki, a Suzuki, but it was still a blast. The K triples were crazy.

[@WillyEckaslike]

chrome bores if im not mistaken?

[@jerrybeasley1708]

380??

[@WillyEckaslike]

@@jerrybeasley1708 in 1970 suzuki made a 250T called the hustler and they made a 350T called the Rebel in 1971.. both twins..the 380 was a triple that came out in in late 72

[@dalevackar182]

​@@WillyEckaslikeSuzuki had 750 3 cylinder two stroke water cooled back in the 70s that was very fast.

[@WillyEckaslike]

@@dalevackar182 in UK its nickname was a waterbottle

[@leonardhopper857]

So this pops up in my recommendations today... oh my the memories!! Me, I had a 'water buffalo'. 1973, 750J Suzi'. Put a ton of work into that beast. Only thing that could keep up with it, at the time when I retired from that sort of lunacy, was the Z1R's, which had just come out. Never did know just how fast it was, kept twisting off the speedo cable. Best run: Seattle to Spokane, 2hr 17min, including 2 fuel stops. Finally sold the remains 2 years ago to a guy that runs a little bitty inboard hydroplane. It still screams!!

[@addiumuppicus5738]

Had a friend who put those engines in race cars . Ocelot racing in Wisconsin they were formidable and won many races . He built the cars and had a few different powered cars . One of his cars held the record at Watkins Glen in 2 liter for five or six years before it was broke . Last I seen two of his cars ( We were all there ) was at a nostalgia race on the old Fomoso track in Zolfo Springs Fl. Larry ( The original builder ) had a blast as one of his original pit crew was there with two of his old original cars for the race . The new owner showed up qualified and left . . . . To bad Larrie said as his cars could have beaten anything that was there even the Chevron that was racing. Larry explained they'd regularly beat them when they'd raced( but dang that Chevron sounded good ! ) The' crew ' were telling us they'd gone over to the drag strip with one of the cars the night before due to boredom, and were busting big block Novas and other regular drag racers so bad they left before they got beat . Not by another car either , LOL ! ! Larrie had stories about those ' water buffalo ' powered cars too ! ! ! Fast enough to be banned at some tracks . Thanks for the memories as well ! !!!

[@MHolt-t6y]

The Mach III was as fast on the road as the 900 Kawa. The better torque of the big engine gave it the 60 foot better times.

[@RTFLDGR]

I had a 75 RD350 with expansion pipes. damn loud and fast. loved that bike. surprisingly dependable.

[@nomoregears]

I was been 8 years old in summer of 1972. I always asked any bikers for taking me for some ride. And one day I met a H2-Owner, adjusting the ignition I think. And he said "okay". I wear only a t-shirt and my swimming trousers (excuse my english, please, but I'm a German), was bare foot. Our top speed was 160km/h (100mph) in town. I'll never forget that burning and tickling under the soles of my feet and the screaming engine!

[@markwallace5274]

My best friend had one of these growing up crazy how fast those bikes are !! May he RIP miss ya man

[@RKWWWW]

Nothing passes an H1 except a Hearse.

[@MHolt-t6y]

One of my best friends has a H@ and died when he was dirt bike riding on a 250 Maico and started it up gave it the gas and the motor started and ran backwards and went off a cliff. RIP dear friend.

[@purple748]

I love it when they lean both ways during the burnout to get the WHOLE tire warm! ...someone wasn’t paying attention in science class... :-0 Huge props for keeping the Mach III as original looking as possible! I love to see these guys keeping old two-stroke, giant killers running.. ‘Not a big fan of the spaceship bodywork most guys are putting on them though. ‘Still think Dave Schultz’ bike was/is the GOAT.

[@eatsblades]

more heat takes longer to dissipate instaed of cooling immediately with delays... or thats the thinking anyway

[@MHolt-t6y]

It is a good looking bike !

[@CSXT8250]

Kaws (H1 and Z1) were some some baaaad bikes back in their day

[@broadpath]

I had an orange ‘71 H1 that I traded a VW bug for. One day I was flying down a long straight road (Airport Way, Manteca, CA) with no helmet, no goggle or glasses, head turned a bit to the side to let the tears roll off. I started to feel a wobble, I looked down and saw my speedometer was pegged at 140 mph. I don’t know if it was accurate, but the yellow line on the road was moving like a snake. The whole bike was wobbling. Fortunately 17 year old me knew better than to apply brakes so I slowly let off the throttle and coasted to a stop. I don’t know how I survived my youth.

[@firsttitlegaming3156]

Yeah I did stupidities on a 95 rgv 250 first Purchase flat tack down the highway I don't know what speed I was doing but it I popped my head up from beyond the fairing it would've ripped off 😂

[@graay]

The Orange H1 500cc Kawasaki was 1972. Blue was the 1971 colour

[@edarmstrong9389]

Good thing you had a solid reliable performer under you or you might not be here. I've had a couple and both were the best of that time period, people who knock them don't know what they are talking about.

[@bmwtravel1100]

I recall riding a 1972 H1, it was scary fast, I thought it had a hydraulic steering damper on it, maybe I just wish it did

[@MHolt-t6y]

H1 did not do 140. I owned a 71 and spent lots of time a 9,00 rpm which was 125 mph on the speedometer.

[@upsidedowndog1256]

Man, that was close! Two strokes sound fantastic, but so do the Hayabusas. Losing by that little hurts, I have lost a few that way.

[@cycledrag]

You sure know your racing!

[@upsidedowndog1256]

@@cycledrag I wanted to be an F1 racer at 3 years old. At 20 I realized I was 15 years too late to even start oval racing. Drag racing worked for a while until the closest strip reduced bikes from 1000' to 1/8 mile. I make 1/8 mile launches on the way to work so no reason to drive 1.5 hours away anymore!

[@cycledrag]

very cool! @@upsidedowndog1256

[@JimBoBJames-no5db]

Yeh the Hayabusa guy would have been enraged 😂😂😂🤣 getting beat by a 50 year old 2 stroke dayumn who would ever believe it. And how could he ever live it down.😂😂😂🤣

[@marissaawesome2422]

I can smell it though the screen...Love race fuel and rubber..1 of the best motorcycles ever made!!!! Widow Maker getting it in

[@IAmMisterSipho]

Those trip Kawas were lethal back in the good old days.

[@lastinline000]

I had a 72 H1 at 16 then later a 75 that had a built engine by a dirt bike shop extreme porting triple chrome chambers geared to red line in 5th in the quarter tore up the H2's and 900 Z1 I weighed 120lb and the front end wouldn't come down till 3rd with my face over the gauges surprised to be here today then onto 1170 Z1's another story great times at a young age

[@davidmacphee3549]

I had the same bike, same weight, 120 lbs. I put really high gearing in it and that didn't slow it down at all

[@MHolt-t6y]

Are you Tony Nicosea?

[@craighoffman6876]

Bracket racing rewards consistency and it is hard to be consistent, especially on an ancient highly modded 500cc piston port two stroke triple - mad props. It is a little hard to make out the results in the video but it looks like the Busa is an 8 second bike while the 500 ran a 10.2 at 126. That is moving along for both machines for their type. That is a very fast 'Busa and a very fast 500. So much badass riding displayed in both lanes of this video - well done! Oh, and if Satan rides, he is on a fully "restomoded" H2 750. A friend has one and his bike is pure evil. It's not just the amount of the power, modern bikes have far more, it is the nature of the power - it comes on sudden and hard. I fully understand why so many people wadded those bikes up back then 😆

[@pl7868]

yup looked like 10.2 -126 to me to , good run on what looks like street tires , i have a 750 raced it for about ten years then gsxr 1100 when they came out still have the 750 but it's almost 900 from boring fun bikes , have a 125 can-am motocross six speed from the late 70's tops out about 60 i guess but soon as you twist the throttle you change a gear 1/4 turn throttle lol the 750 is the same , hit the throttle hit another gear ,

[@bartbullock7817]

What made them dangerous, the frame flexed under power,it could be a handful at low speeds,at high speeds..(the widow maker).

[@craighoffman6876]

@@bartbullock7817 I believe they also had craptastic plastic swingarm bushings, which was common back then. Used to put brass ones in place of the plastic on bikes I owned.

[@bartbullock7817]

@@craighoffman6876 Yeah I got the silicone impregnated bushings, Cost a little more, Worth every penny

[@bartbullock7817]

@craighoffman6876 Yeah they used to come with fish oil in the forks too, P j 1 fixed that

[@lawrencefeldman462]

Had four two stroke Kawasaki's H1 -71 H1- 73, H2 - 74 H1- 75.. Ended my Two stroke fantasy and bought a 1973 Z1 in 76 used from Dentist who never rode it because of work and family. Was a great ride . But the Two Stroke where the best thing going. Chain Saw on two wheels. Love them.

[@michaelhart6212]

No wonder the H1 won, that Busa was WAY too slow to react!

[@MHolt-t6y]

Dial in time.

[@graay]

I went from a 250 triple Kawasaki to a 1972 H1B 500cc. Initially I thought "damn, it's no faster" until I realised the middle cylinder was not firing because the spark plug had oiled up - then after cleaning it, the test ride was like VROOM! Facts about H1's - the original 1969 was the original widow-maker with riders all over the world flipping the bike & killing themselves, it would wheel-stand in all the low gears. Kawasaki gradually detuned the H1 over the next few years but the pick of the crop was the '72 Orange H1 because it still had most of the power of the original but had a single disk brake on the front. Most of them had a clutch slip problem but made it more manageable when it hit the power band, paradoxically we would put auto transmission oil in the crankcase to combat that. The frame had a major amount of flex! Once a group of us hired out the local race track. My brother who had a RD250 wanted to try the H1. He threw it into a corner the frame flexed and flexed back, throwing him off - I was not happy - he had broken part of the crank-case! Most H1B's had a steering damper installed - I never had any tank slapping while owning it. My rear tail light would blow it's lamp a lot; usually while in transit, which would often mean being pulled up by police and ticketed, that along with speeding fines that became expensive at 17-18 years old. The fuel economy was pathetic, when we used to go for rides with our group I would regularly run short of fuel and have to hit up my mate with the Honda to remove his tank and pour enough into my tank to get me to the nearest fuel stop. In it's day it would blow off anything except the H2 750 but eventually met it's match when the larger 4 strokes came out - I realised this when at a later hire of the local track a Suzuki GS1000S left me on the back straight in it's wake. It was one of the most fun bikes I ever owned but not long after the above event I bought a GS1000s!

[@Mike383HK]

I had a 69 H1 bridgeport that was incredibly fast. Clocked at129 on the LIE. Sold to a California racer that set a record at 11.9 for a 500 cc bike. It was a freak. You couldn't keep the front wheel down. Sick bike. Rode it all year round in NY.

[@jonnymathew5362]

You must be mike salenias

[@Mike383HK]

@@jonnymathew5362 Nope!!

[@speedfreak8200]

Bless your heart dreamer, a quick Google search debunks your claims

[@Mike383HK]

It happened in the 70's. You wouldn't be old enough to know. People were talking about my riding for thirty years. You must be forgettable so you try to trash everyone else. records come and go but stupid is forever.@@speedfreak8200

[@davidmacphee3549]

I don't know 'bout that. I had one. I was light at the time. @@speedfreak8200

[@debi5292]

Many ears ago We mounted the engine from a Kawasaki 500 triple on a go cart frame for a friend. We knew wheelie bars would be a must before it ever was ridden. Absolutely crazy fast in that cart. Last I knew no one had been killed driving it. Would not have surprise me if it had.

[@georgecooke9010]

HOLY SHIT! NO WHEELIE BAR, HOW'D I MISS THAT? YOU SIR ARE AN AWSOME RACER AND HAVE A NEW FAN FROM LANCASTER, PA.

[@imtheonevanhalen1557]

Yeah, me too....note he started in 2nd gear frying the clutch

[@rickmanley767]

At least the swingarm was extended

[@georgecooke9010]

YEA, THE LONGER 74 UP H2 SWINGARMS FIT RIGHT ON ALL THE 500 TRIPLE FRAMES. I RAN A 69 WITH AN H2 ENGINE AND 74 UP H2 SWINGARM, NO BAR. I STILL HAVE A 74 H2 THATS BEEN SITTING SINCE 81.@@rickmanley767

[@katiefridell1815]

I was the resident h2 expert back in the day loved to see you ride the h2 I had a couple of 500s than bought a h2 that needed a new trans so I rebuilt it, the crankshafts seal on the bottom in the cases and lose compression when shot so I put in a new crank and trans than polished the rods and put in wiesco pistons and expansion chambers jetted carbs, anyway I remember the way it sounded at a steady 40 in 3rd it would sound like it had a huge cam in it and buck as it cruised, 1st gear unusable, 2nd would acceleration wheelie and so would 3rd and 4th would just hang the front end a bit on and up over a 100, don't know how I lived through those days but had a lot of fun whooping my buddy on his z 1 and then later on his 1000 wow, memories!

[@leonardoaruca1]

Thanks for the video but next time could you zoom into the board please lol

[@danielvanhorn911]

Remember the first time on a green monster like that, 1974 or so, breathtaking, you know.

[@addiumuppicus5738]

LOL ! I remember just when you started thinking ' This is pretty quick ' that power band hit ya . . . . . . .EGADDS ! ! ! !

[@Bobby-fj8mk]

Impressive. What was the time and speed of both bikes? Was it a 1/4 mile?

[@shortanoar]

Seen the barrels turned around on these,carbs out front ,straight shooting exhausts out the back at the drags as a kid don't know if it made them quicker but it looked cool

[@Bear2man858]

If that wasn’t enough they made a 750 called the Widowmaker. The power band was crazy.

[@kennethnorrington5491]

I ran an H1 back in the early 80's. My best race was when I nailed a KZ900 in the 1/4 mile.

[@cycledrag]

That's always a good feeling!

[@kennethnorrington5491]

@@cycledrag I left on him and held him off till the finish line. It gave me bragging rites everywhere I went in town.

[@cycledrag]

@@kennethnorrington5491 bet! Thanks for the feedback. Please subscribe and get some friends to do the same.

[@motaltockery5191]

​@@kennethnorrington5491 Blew a fast Norton 750 Commando off easy on mine when he smoked it up while I'd just feathered the clutch on the back wheel for 60 feet, quite by accident by the way, I'm not that good a rider, but then had a Harley stay on my rear wheel two-up right up to 160 KPH which kind of gave me a new insight into Harley's and guys who know them... (It was the Harley-guy's humble smirk at the end which made me smile too)...

[@v.e.7236]

Love it! I took home a '79 KZ900 back in '79. Some joker pulled up on our group doing some racing on the back streets of San Diego (suburbs) and challenged "anyone w/ the balls to take on the fastest production bike on the market" to race. We told him only for pinks. He hesitated, but then agreed. I was riding a Yamaha RD400 w/ a special head, dual coils and a Basani pipe and blew him away so badly, I was back at the start line before he could turn around. He came back sniveling about a false start and tried to leave, but we blocked him in and he left in tears. Half an hour later he shows up w/ cops in tow, so we told the cops what happened. They took about 2 or 3 minutes to talk it over and then told this guy to enjoy his walk home. We all just fell out laughing. What a blast!

[@markkus1134]

I owned an RD’ 400 bought from original owner who raced it had a brand new tank in the box with it rebuilt the motor with TZ bearings one of the best bikes next to my RZ350

[@chartea2089]

Mark Kus I had one too it was the fastest bike i ever rode and I had them all

[@davidestrello243]

One of the cycle magazines back in 1970 issued a challenge to any bike manufacture that would be willing to send a bike to compete in several tests. Only test I was interested in was the standing start 1/4 mile times. Bikes were supposed to be factory stock some were not even so the H 1 took them all. Went straight to the Kawasaki shop & traded in my Honda 350.

[@JeffW77]

I think that was Cycle Magazine. Bikes were Honda 750, Kawasaki Mach III, BSA Rocket 3, Triumph Trident, Norton 750 Commando and Harley-Davidson Sportster. The Sportster was found to have non-stock enlarged ports and was disqualified from the speed tests. The article is online. Jess Thomas (if memory serves) was co-author. I had that magazine back in the day. I miss all my bike mags now.

[@txrick4879]

Had a h1 in the 80s man loved that bike but after spinning a bearing in the crank for the second time went 4 stroke Honda 750 .

[@chriscampion9906]

In the seventies my first bike was a s2 350 triple ...great ride I'd go anywhere on that even off road ..next h1 500 nice step up right after had opportunity for h2 triple for almost free .could not resist figured how fast could it be ...drove it home first real easy ..red light on two laNE hwy.cranked it through 1 an second third soon as it hit power band front wheels up same with fourth an fifth ...they were not nick named the widow maker for nothing ...awesome bike for weight to power

[@pwilson6439]

I had a 73 S2. Lots of fun...

[@mooglemy3813]

There were 3 smoke shops in the Charleston SC area, they being K, S & Y in 1972. The Kawi shop had lots of dead soldiers in the yard, those being H1s, blown up dropped, hit something ot got whacked.. I was and am a Honda die hard dude. But have to say Kawi smokers were always out front. Even a Norton couldn't match a Kawi H1. The Nortons wouldn't stay in tune like the rest of the Brit bikes even though they were as fast or faster. But I don't miss the Brit stuff nor the smokers. A Suzy smoker though had to be the most relisble 2 stroke made. For what that's worth. And that's from an old wrenches point of view!

[@CFRoach]

Hear the scream, see the smoke, you've just been passed by a two stroke!

[@joegoncalves2496]

My first street bike in the 80s was a tuned RD400...it would easily smoke my buddy's 600 Hurricane in a drag race! Good old days!

[@eronacalloway9159]

My brother had a Blue H-2 750 in the late 70’s that myself at 17 Years old would ride on occasion and I tell you.....It Was FAST.

[@pauloconnor7951]

I own a pristine blue H2 now. A total occasion to ride. LOve the torque; power , sound. It's like being in love with a gorgeous woman. you can date; day after day after day !.

[@hudsonhawk0016]

I had a Honda 750 years ago and my friend had an H2. That H2 was sick, but it handled like a tricycle. Lol

[@benten5556]

you are really old yo have a Honda. 750 years ago

[@hudsonhawk0016]

@@benten5556 🤣 Lol, see the difference between you and me is I was racing a 86 VFR 750 at speeds your little keyboard brain couldn't comprehend. I'm 62 now and could probably spank your punk ass around the track tomorrow.

[@Glenrsi]

Kawasaki 500 triples were my favourite bikes ever, i had 7 of them over the years.

[@robharris9656]

when I was 17 I had a 69' H1. I remember getting pulled over by a cop after leaving a green light. He said I wasnt speeding but he said he never saw anyone go from 0-45mph (speedlimit) so fast lol Scary bike though. had my GF on the back and got into a high speed vibration on the front end and thought we were going to eat it.

[@muhammadsteinberg]

Two stroke 500 triples are no joke. In 1986-87 I raced stretched triple w/bar with my stock wheel base, no bar gsxr1100 (1135 kit) with 1/4 mile gearing in an 1/8. I beat him but barely. He launched so hard that he cut a groove in the pavement.

[@user-pv8rd9ld8z]

love the sound 2stroke Kwak!!!

[@MrKenwaughp]

Had a mach 3 500 in the early 70s was the maddest crazy bike ive ever owned had 130 mph indicated with a pillion on the back in about half a mile would weelie in most gears 20mpg if your lucky plugs oiling up and miss firing put it into a field after a few drinks but fixed it up with new forks, just nothing like it now and couldn't afford the prices they go for now.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Yep, in 1971 it was the quickest transportation available for $1135.37 including tax, title and license plate.

[@flee4357]

I had the blue 500 1971. Some punks tried to run me off the road through a fence them driving one of the ford Ltd s. I got on the center line and was hitting 140 mph like one other commentator here said his would go. The front wheel was barely touching the ground. Made it home sitting in the house on a 12 mile run ....including turn off s and slow downs for town in 7 and a half minutes. Was an awesome bike. When I was 14 or 15 I had a 90 Kawasaki couldn't get it going. A guy on a white I believe 69 or 70 500 Kawasaki fixed my 90 then gave me a ride. Crazy fast. I was hooked had to have one. Cant believe I survived my youth. Never had a speed wobble on it. Sure did on a Kawasaki 250 samurai...hit the pavement at 88 mph. Still got the scars.

[@cassiebenefield9383]

140 mph on a H1 500 no way - Kaw racer at Bonnieville was close to that speed on highly mod 500 h1 , factory supported . Proud owner of a 1971 H1A

[@MHolt-t6y]

Doesn't do 140, sorry big guy.

[@jackcook4772]

My brother bought one new in 1973. They don't call them the window maker for nothing. Not for the faint of heart....

[@charliedee9276]

Widowmaker, not window. I also had a 73, a 750. Thing was brutally scary. I loved it!

[@milojanis4901]

What most people don't know is the very first 2 model years of the Mach III, 1969 & 1970, were quicker than the 1971 and later H1s. I agree with the poster who said try a 750. Its MIGHTY hard to beat a built 750 Kawasaki triple. They came out nearly 50 years ago, and they stopped making them 45 years ago. But back in the mid 70s, guys I know personally ran high 9s in the 1/4 mile@140+ mph. This is a fact. It's also a fact they did this using 45+ year old technology. My point: NEVER underestimate a 3 cylinder 2 stroke, especially if it has a 750cc or larger motor and a rider who knows what he's doing. I'd wager a built 750 Kaw using today's technology would produce close to 200hp, and weigh in close to 400lbs. Yup-A 1hp to 2lb weight ratio!!!

[@donaldshannon3764]

The H1 was my last bike .. it was a used who knows what year. This was in 1982 and it had been a few years since I had ridden anything ... I rolled off in first gear keeping it straight up and down and at about 3000 rpm I rolled the throttle WFO ... nice pull I thought as it accelerated .... AND THEN ... it came on the pipe ... OMG. Glad I was having on, The front got very light and when I snicked it into second the madness happened. WOW ... for 500 cc it was amazing!, The stories are (mostly) true and I only wonder what an H2 would be like.

[@everready19373]

I rode my friends H2 once when I was visiting him in Alabama. He rode his Triumph Bonneville. We decided to go out and hit a few bars. That bike scared me to death. I prayed to God to just get me home that night. That bike was a BEAST.

[@lonniebeal6032]

I had a Yamaha 74' 500 DOHC and my friend had a 69' 500 Triple. One day I asked if I could ride it, no problem he says, so as I'm riding I'm like, this thing isn't that fast, then while I'm at full throttle for bit it starts jerking and sputtering, and it took off. Apparently one of his plugs was fouled and I cleared it. Man that was a fast bike.

[@davidsnow2420]

Snap! Crackle! Pop! SCCCRRRREEEEAAAAAMMMMM! that was nice

[@incognito5986]

My brothers 1975 H1 ran 11 seconds in the 1/4 -STOCK. Scary bike, but fun.

[@kj9219]

Ha Ha Good times. Had a 350 triple way back 70-somethin'.. Kaw. did the 350,500, and god help us the animal 750. A buddy talked me into riding bitch one day and we got on the freeway..3rd. gear, still in a wheelie, I'm getting tired of hanging on..brutal quick. I was riding a KZ 900 at the time which was no slouch either. Last few years I'm on a concours 1400 (GXs' fat sister) and it's a missile with handlebars. Been up to 140 4-5 times..'Saki rules.

[@pwilson6439]

I had a 73 S2 350. Very fast bike.

[@user-uh2kx7tz4k]

I owned 2 of the 500 had put the expansion chambers on both of them bad bikes to see one out there still race in brought back memories thank you

[@electrician248]

I have been riding motorcycles for over 50 years and I rode two bikes that were nothing but brutal and a bit scary. One was this Kawasaki 500 triple, and the Maico dirt bike. I would venture to say that those motorcycles were for experienced riders only!

[@spacecat7247]

Maico 490? Buddy has one. I keep trying to buy it. He won't sell it yet. Miss my 83 cr 480.

[@TrashPanda71]

Rode a Maico 250 at 15 and it scared the shit out of me but I didn't back down. Then at 17 rode the 390.. I eased it back and got off lol

[@electrician248]

Back when I was young the Maico motorcycle reigned supreme with us dirt bike riders. Nothing could touch it. If you owned a Maico, you were somebody!! @@TrashPanda71

[@rutniktrainer]

I helped a guy build a go kart with a 750 triple back when I was in BOCES in the late 70s. I almost wheelied it into the garage door of the machine shop. Lol

[@Frank-sk7xb]

Never underestimate a chainsaw motor! Had an h1 750 kaw that ran 11s stock and an rd350 that spit 12.90.

[@wayback75]

Luv those old Kaw's

[@timothyprice9064]

The last two strokes street bikes were bikes I got a chance to Ride while stationed in Germany in the mid-80s. The power to weight was all of a sudden and crazy. Keeping the front wheel down could raise your heart rate.

[@user-yz7oi4hi7e]

A friend and i had a h-1 for 2wks. We sold it because we knew one of us was going to die. We were in our mid twenties. It was a very good decision. It was insanely fast!

[@charlesbates6178]

My buddy bought an H1 in 1971. I bought an H2 in 1972. Maxed it out on a desert highway & speed wobbled at top end. Good times.

[@stevenphilpott1493]

one of my friends out of high school got a kaw. 400 triple and it scared the shit out of him so he let me ride it a lot! even being a smaller version of the 500 it still ripped! i remember once passing 5 cars all at once w/ him on the back at about 90 and he later told me he thought we were gonna die! oh to be 19 again!

[@user-wr7dq3xt6p]

Bought a new 1975 H1 500 & kept it for quite a while. Remember being on expressway in the late 90's & nailing the throttle just a little before my exit ramp. When I got off, I caught a traffic light right after the exit. Another motorcyclist caught up to tell me my bike was smoking. Had to explain 2 strokes are supposed to do that 😅

[@granddad-mv5ef]

I saw the H1 on the thumbnail and decided to watch. I doubt Eric Thomas was even born the last time I made a pass at Keystone, my home track long ago. And even crazier, now I live about 70 miles from SGMP.

[@Mark-mm1ke]

Back in the '60's, my buddy came by with one he borrowed and said hop on, go for a ride. No helmut of course. We ran up the street at a 100mp. I thought I was going to die. Never been scared like that before. Never again will I do that!

[@60viking]

I bought that in 1969 for $999.00 out the door. When it wasn't broke it was a rocket.

[@glenncanale9225]

Had a 1970 H1 pd. about $900.00 then a 1973 for $1200.00. Best buys in town for a new very very fast bike.

[@hdctx]

I had a high school friend whi had one of these back in the seventies. Scary fast.

[@chrisgreenwood271]

Holy crap, the power to weight on the H1

[@greybone777]

I won't forget back in the 70s when my friend came barreling into my alley and dropped his 500 on the gravel. He pulled off his helmet and was white as a sheet. He told me to get rid of the bike however I could. He never rode it again.

[@bobr7380]

Loved my H1. Almost killed me so I bought a H2. Miss those days.

[@MHolt-t6y]

The Mach III in any for is a bad ass bike, I owned a brand new 71 back in the day.

[@weimaraner2]

Love the H1 2 stroke but why did the Busa leave the line so late.

[@waynesmith2287]

The timing lights on both lanes are separate. You are racing the clock not the guy next to you. If you play back the video you will see one green light on then two as the suzuki launches.

[@stuartscott8357]

I've always thought those 2 strokes sounded like a really angry beehive.

[@AmuzingInteresting]

60 horsepower stock. Love the sound.

[@BC-ni3sk]

I had a Yamaha 350 two stroke, 1972 model and when it ran right it didn't blow your hair back it ripped it off!!!! The only bikes I feared were the Kawasaki triples, Mach 1,2 and 3.

[@edmonddebourbon8543]

I had a H1 built by a Kawasaki snowmobile drag track mechanic it had the block shaved from the bottom to lower the ports and had a power band from 7000 to about 10000 it was super fast

[@fjohnson9749]

Same, mine would start to turn on at 72 and flip the switch at 75 - about the same off rpm - around 10.5. Absolute blast of a bike, completely predictable, did the same thing every time.

[@wellshutchins6885]

'68 CL350 to new '72 CB500-4... my second favorite bike

[@jamesmatheson5115]

My flat mate had a Widowmaker back in 1974, he came off it at 90mph because of tank slap, he only had a denim jacket on, he was messed up for about 2 months.

[@arneminderman3770]

Love 2 stroke

[@robertedwards7695]

And the win brings the huge crowd to there feet 😂.

[@michaeldillon9080]

That Kaw sounds so sick

[@generationalgearhead6664]

If ANYONE thought that Haya had even a ghost of a chance, you shouldn't ride a motorcycle. Those H1's have been humbling EVERYTHING since 1975! They used to called 'Hemi Cuda Humblers'.

[@charleswdavis210]

I had a "danger ride," from he__. That 500cc 3cyl Kaw had point on the tachometer (2000rpm) and if you were there at that mark and blipped the throttle just a bit (I mean just little bitty bit) that sucker went to sideways like a drift turn, left hand turn , rear tire spinning, slinging gravel like "Charlie Daniels " a ton of dust in the air!!! And me holding on for dear life with the front wheel slowly lifting up (like 5 or 6 inches off the dirt road) in a lefty turn whizzing along at least 60mph, well you know I had never done or seen that done. Long story,but TRUE. I had the stain to prove it!!!

[@ricklipp4029]

“Let the good times roll”

[@scrateshooter]

Old school Kawasaki. Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

[@RobertNixAlternativeArtist]

What the hell-the Hayabusa launched at what looks like a 2 full seconds after the H1 took off.

[@charliedee9276]

It's a time delay based on your dial in. If the Busa had a dial in that was 1 second quicker the H1 would leave 1 second sooner. The idea is if both hit their dial in right on the numbers they both cross the finish line at the same time.

[@4legsgood]

What on Earth are you talking about?! 🤣

[@johnbolt665]

Wow, I had one of these back when I was really stupid and rode it regularly in the red and really I should have died on it!

[@pwilson6439]

Your guardian angel was watching over you...me too !!

[@superjody56]

I never had a Kawasaki triple. I did have a Suzuki triple that was quite fast and several Yamahas. I loved those two strokes.

[@robertpeers3742]

Back in'70 an H1 was about half the price of the great Honda 750.Had an H1 for a couple of years and lived to remember it.

[@cr500_conversions]

👏 Two Strokes forever!🎶❤️🤌✌️💨💨🤙