YT's World: Bill Wirges - His business & passion for Kawasaki triples, world record streamliner

[@ivopeleh4273]

Had a very first set of four-into-one Bill built for 1978 Z1R. My S&S Kawasaki dealer from Crystal City ordered two sets, one for himself and one for me. Still have them on the bike, but my son-in-law is enjoying them now. The bike is to stiff for me now, I am enjoying 2002 Valkyrie these days.

[@MotoOCD]

Awesome oral history!

[@thomasha.1679]

What a great man!

[@thejunkman]

Great video!

[@RickyJr46]

What a legendary figure in the world of Kawasaki triples. This is solid gold. A buddy successfully roadraced a blue '72 H2 750 in AFM events at Sears Point, he was plate #818. If I recall, he ran Bill Wirges' pipes. That bike was very trick: Erv Kanemoto crankshaft, Goodyear racing slicks on Akront alloy rims, dual Harry Hunt plasma-sprayed aluminum brake discs with Grimeca calipers, Fox Shox, and a wide, low-rise tubular handlebar. At the time of his passing in 2018 he still owned it, but its whereabouts now are unknown. Google search "Mike Kauzlarich AFM" to find some photos of Kauz and his trusty #818. The head-on shot, in B&W, is by famed racing photog Mush Emmons. Let The Good Times Roll!

[@farmjohnny]

As a kid I worked at Wirges Distributing in 72-73. It was next to Dick Wirges Kawasaki shop in Las Vegas. As I recall, we handled most of the shipments west of the Mississippi back then. I remember many a day spent packing and shipping lots of those triple pipes. I also got to see the streamliner when it was on it's way to the flats. Good times, cool folks. Great to see Bill looking so well!

[@littleviking18]

My dad worked for Fred Wacker at Ammco tools way back in the day and Fred fixed my brother and l up with chambers fork braces skid plates foot pegs and rotery valves for are Kawasaki f7-175 all good stuff any teenage boy would liked to have. Thanks Bill for your generosity 44 years after the fact, dont have those bikes anymore but starting to pick them up again f7-175 f5-350. Still love those old kawasakis

[@nelsonhoogerhyde4173]

HAD A SET OF BILL'S 500 TRIPLE PIPES ON MY H2 750 TRIPLE, 72, AND THEY WERE SO PEAKEY, BUT NOT DESIGNED FOR THAT ENGINE.. AWESOME HIT WHEN THEY WENT ON THEIR RPM BAND BEST MOTORCYCLE I HAVE EVER HAD .. IMO

[@markclark7178]

Worlds fastest Kawasaki triples !

[@yamrz500]

H2 Kawasaki Tony Nicosia is trying to contact Bill Wirges can you contact Tony and let him know how to contact Bill!?

[@ytsworld7777]

Sorry to say Bill passed away a few years ago, a big loss to Kawasaki triples community.