This totally restored 1972 Kawasaki H1 is a gleaming example of this legendary two-stroke triple ultra-high-performance model. The Kawasaki H1 has an amazing reputation, much of it deserved, as it was truly a fast motorcycle with rapid power delivery that can be ridden devastatingly quickly, as proved by Ginger Malloy in 1970 when his tuned but basically stock H1 placed 2nd in the GP World Championships behind Giacomo Agostini (on his incredibly expensive, sophisticated MV Agusta DOHC triple). Motorcyclist magazine noted the H1 probably had the best power-to-weight ratio “ever produced in a motorcycle meant to sell to anyone who has the money to purchase it.” Kawasaki Heavy Industries was founded in 1896 and produced aircraft and other large machinery in World War II. The Motor and Engine division began exploring motorcycle production in 1949 with a single-cylinder four-stroke of 148cc. The first Kawasaki production motorcycle was built in 1954 under the sub-brand Meihatsu. In 1960, Kawasaki bought Meguro for their experience building larger-capacity motorcycles and built a factory solely for the production of motorcycles. Meguro built a clone of the BSA A10 650cc pushrod vertical twin, which Kawasaki called the W-1, which was the largest Japanese motorcycle imported to America until the Honda CB750 was introduced 8 years later. But, the American market, which was Kawasaki’s largest customer, was increasingly fascinated with speed for its own sake, and the W-1 was no faster than the obsolete BSA it copied. In 1967, Kawasaki began work on a new prototype, the N100, with the brief to create a 500cc motorcycle with 60 HP, capable of turning a 13-second quarter-mile, then was considered the theoretical limit for a motorcycle. In 1969, the Mach III was introduced, which satisfied those requirements, using a 3-cylinder two-stroke engine with 3 Mikuni 28mm carburetors and a CDI ignition system. A second brief was to keep the price reasonable, making an inexpensive, high-performance machine, and that too was achieved. The design was kept simple, with three cylinders in line, a slightly odd 5-speed gearbox with neutral below first gear, and slightly inadequate suspension and brakes, but a decent frame. The H1 was the fastest 500cc motorcycle on the world market, and as the engine was set slightly rear of the center of gravity and the power arrived rather suddenly when the throttle was twisted, they were quickly found to be “wheelie kings”. The shocks had a tendency to leak fluid as well, leading to handling issues unfairly blamed on the frame, which were easily sorted via aftermarket shocks, or rebuilt originals. This 1972 Kawasaki H1 is an awesome motorcycle and needs a new owner who has just the right touch of a hooligan. The electrics have been upgraded, and it’s a runner with full California documents.
