In 1969, while crosstown rivals at Honda were unveiling the world-changing CB750 and ushering in the era of 4-stroke superbikes, the big brains at Kawasaki were doubling down on 2-stroke power with the H1 Mach III. Powered by a stout 500cc 2-stroke triple, the Mach III was incredibly fast in a straight line but was unpredictable and difficult to control due to the fact that frame, braking and suspension technology lagged far behind contemporary engine technology. Despite its flaws, and the fact that it grievously injured many unsuspecting riders, the Mach III was a huge success for Kawasaki. Buoyed by the Mach III’s success, and spurred on by riders’ demands for even more power, Kawasaki engineers soon returned to their slide rules and developed a motorcycle even more powerful, and more bonkers, than the Mach III—the Mach IV H2. Unleashed on the motorcycling public in 1971, the H2 was an upgrade in nearly every way from its smaller 500cc stablemate. Powered by a firebreathing 750cc, air-cooled, 2-stroke triple—a clean sheet design, not a punched-out 500—the Mach IV was faster, more powerful, and had loads more torque. In stock trim, the engine made a claimed 74 HP and could run a 12-second quarter mile right off the showroom floor. The bike also handled better than its predecessor as braking, suspension and frame technologies had advanced far enough that the Mach IV didn’t try to fold itself in half or pitch its rider into ditches when cornering. It was still a challenging, often dangerous bike to ride, but now it was more like a powerful and willful thoroughbred than a wild-eyed, unbroken, untrustworthy stallion. The bike featured here, a 1972 model, has undergone a thorough restoration. Painted in stunning blue livery with white, black and blue stripes, it looks like it just rolled off the assembly line. It features the powerful air-cooled, 750cc, 2-stroke triple mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Every piece of this bike has been polished, replated, repainted or rebuilt, and it’s ready for display or the open road. T137 1972 Kawasaki H2
