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Kawasaki H2

Started by Dan Filetti, September 03, 2014, 02:59:36 PM

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Dan Filetti

September 03, 2014, 02:59:36 PM
Live hardy, or go home. 

TexasDave

#1
September 03, 2014, 03:26:17 PM
Kawasaki already makes the fastest production bike for the last 2 or 3 years with the ZX 14R. With this motor they will stay on top. Way faster than this old man plans to go. Would like some FI on the FJ for more midrange power though.  Dave
A pistol is like a parachute, if you need one and don't have one you will never need one again.

Dan Filetti

#2
September 03, 2014, 06:49:01 PM
I love the sound of it.  What a hoot it'd be to ride such a thing...

Dan
Live hardy, or go home. 

Sir Denis Eton-Hogg

#3
September 05, 2014, 09:48:41 AM
I had a ZX14r for a few weeks earlier in the year, it was unbelievably fast, accelerating full throttle in third felt like someone was trying to rip the helmet off your head. Such a one dimensional motorcycle.  Needless to say I sold it... 

Burns

#4
September 06, 2014, 10:54:32 AM
Some may recall the original H2, a 3 cylinder 750cc 2-stroke that was the scariest bike of its era.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.

charleygofast

#5
September 06, 2014, 12:29:50 PM
Quote from: Burns on September 06, 2014, 10:54:32 AM
Some may recall the original H2, a 3 cylinder 750cc 2-stroke that was the scariest bike of its era.
Make that "The greatest scary bike of that era", I owned a 75 in 1977, my first street bike. I was also racing MX then so I was used to scary fast. They Make some great 2 stroke snowmobiles now (150 plus hp) why aren't they putting some of that technology into 2 cycle powered street legal bikes, that would kick ass. Yeehaw! Yeah I know...Emissions...ugh. :dash2:                                                                                                                                                                           Charley.
1984 Yamaha FJ 1100
1981 Yamaha XS 650
1985 Suzuki SP 600F
1979 Yamaha XS 1100                                                                      2015 Kawasaki KLR 650

Burns

#6
September 07, 2014, 12:51:59 PM
Quote from: charleygofast on September 06, 2014, 12:29:50 PM
Quote from: Burns on September 06, 2014, 10:54:32 AM
Some may recall the original H2, a 3 cylinder 750cc 2-stroke that was the scariest bike of its era.
Make that "The greatest scary bike of that era", I owned a 75 in 1977, my first street bike. I was also racing MX then so I was used to scary fast. They Make some great 2 stroke snowmobiles now (150 plus hp) why aren't they putting some of that technology into 2 cycle powered street legal bikes, that would kick ass. Yeehaw! Yeah I know...Emissions...ugh. :dash2:                                                                                                                                                                           Charley.

It was a beast.  Arguably the most attitude of any motorcycle ever made. Still a cult bike with a loyal following.
12 flat e.t. out of the box if the rider had bowling ball sized testicles. Yowie! for sure.   
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.

giantkiller

#7
September 07, 2014, 03:01:59 PM
My brother had one. Bought it after he lost his left leg(when he got run over on his Honda). They have a shift shaft that goes all the way through. So he put a lever on the right side. He put a big bore, expansions and pods. Watched him pullout to pass cars @60mph. Drop a gear and ride a wheelie away into the distance.
86 fj1350r
86 fj1380t turbo drag toy (soon)
87 fj1200 865 miles crashed for parts
89 fj1200 touring 2up
87 fzr1000 crashed
87 fzr750r Human Race teams world endurance champion
93 fzr600 Vance n hines ltd for sale
Custom chopper I built
Mini chopper I built for my daughter just like the big 1

ribbert

#8
September 08, 2014, 06:55:22 AM
Quote from: Burns on September 07, 2014, 12:51:59 PM
Quote from: charleygofast on September 06, 2014, 12:29:50 PM
Quote from: Burns on September 06, 2014, 10:54:32 AM
Some may recall the original H2, a 3 cylinder 750cc 2-stroke that was the scariest bike of its era.
Make that "The greatest scary bike of that era", I owned a 75 in 1977, my first street bike. I was also racing MX then so I was used to scary fast. They Make some great 2 stroke snowmobiles now (150 plus hp) why aren't they putting some of that technology into 2 cycle powered street legal bikes, that would kick ass. Yeehaw! Yeah I know...Emissions...ugh. :dash2:                                                                                                                                                                           Charley.

It was a beast.  Arguably the most attitude of any motorcycle ever made. Still a cult bike with a loyal following.
12 flat e.t. out of the box if the rider had bowling ball sized testicles. Yowie! for sure.   



This subject crosses over to the accident video for me. I had an H2 and put it into the back of a reversing car at 80mph. Walked away with some heat burn under my leathers and a dislocated finger, straight over the top - luck of the draw! It took a tow truck and a guy with a crow bar to separate the car and the bike.

The H2's were indeed a scary beast for many reasons other than just power though. Handling, brakes and that oh so light front end, along with the power, made them a handful, or "widow maker" as they are often called.
Bikes that would easily lift the front wheel were not common back then and always looked spectacular when doing so. They had a small tank and terrible economy and I recall running it out of fuel many times.
The oil pump was stuffed on mine and I ran premix in it.

The scariest thing about having owned one when they were current is, it was over forty years ago!!  I can still "feel" and "hear" that motor today, I can't recall that from any other bikes I had from that era.

Noel
"Tell a wise man something he doesn't know and he'll thank you, tell a fool something he doesn't know and he'll abuse you"

ken65

#9
September 08, 2014, 07:13:31 AM
just to keep in tune with the current topic,   I have a little yammie rd350lc, nice little water cooled 2 stroke....    fairly average then a switch comes on around 6000rpm and the next thing you know is WOW , wtf. well the 1st few times anyway, then you start thinking , i will port it, etc etc wanting it to be even faster , but you never forget the 1st time when you weren't expecting the explosion of  2 stoke power..   needless to say these big old 750  2 strokes must have been better than drugs.. anyway heres my old 2 stroke...


charleygofast

#10
September 08, 2014, 08:21:57 AM
Nice L/C Ken! They dropped our RD line in 78 then brought the L/C back in 85, sure do miss those 2strokes!  I owned a few RDs 75, 77 400, and a Daytona Special.  Also had 2 H2s, and a Suz.GT750. Right now my son is building a 75 RD350 (orange) . oh yeah, those H2s were wheelie machines, very high center of gravity and a steep fork angle. I allways thought another frame was in order... one that handled like a factory KR. oh well those days are past! Carefull out there... keep your                     weight foreward :lol:                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Charley,
1984 Yamaha FJ 1100
1981 Yamaha XS 650
1985 Suzuki SP 600F
1979 Yamaha XS 1100                                                                      2015 Kawasaki KLR 650

Arnie

#11
September 08, 2014, 10:20:21 AM
I had an RD350LC, like yours, but with a nose fairing and aftermarket lowers.  It was probably the "right" mix of weight, and performance for the street.  I sold it shortly after buying my RG500. 
The RG5 had a real lightswitch powerband.  When the exhaust valves closed, the hp doubled!  Almost identical straight line performance to the FJ, but 100kg lighter.  It was docile enough on the road, until you hit the magic at around 7-7500rpm, then you better hang on, At least it handled and stopped :-)
Mine stayed pretty close to stock, but Randy Norian won the Daytona Dyno shootout 2yrs running in the up to 750 class with 145hp at the rear wheel on his modified RG500.
Never had a chance to ride an H2, so really can't compare.

Burns

#12
September 08, 2014, 12:47:04 PM
The RD's and RZ's came track-ready right out of the box while the H's ( 1 and 2) came ready to put you INTO a box.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.

FJ_Hooligan

#13
September 08, 2014, 03:02:26 PM
I recall a bike mag test of the Kawi 2-stroke 750 triple model (I want to say '76, but not sure).  They reported an average fuel mileage of 26mpg!

I'm sure none of it was at legal speeds, though.
DavidR.

ken65

#14
September 08, 2014, 04:01:38 PM
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