1972 Kawasaki H2 750 Triple Mach IV is a long way of saying widow maker. This is one of the foremost sport bikes made in the 1970s that broke open the floodgates for bonkers motorcycles that went all-in on acceleration and sometimes forgot to add predictable handling to the recipe. Still, for experienced riders, bikes like the H2 are incredibly rewarding to ride, and this one listed here on eBay is a rare, unrestored survivor that remains almost completely original with the exception of the expansion chambers. Bidding is at $12,000 with no reserve.
It’s rare to find a collector bike like this that hasn’t already been snatched up by a dealer or a flipper. This example has been with the seller for 20 years, and he still rides it with some regularity and notes it performs well. The H2’s tendency to overwhelm amateur riders means plenty of them were wrecked and rebuilt over the years, so the honest presentation here is encouraging. The seller notes some paintwork through the years, with the fuel tank, side covers, and fender all redone prior to his ownership. Mileage is indicated as being 13,357.
The H2 Mach IV was the fastest production motorcycle in the world when introduced, producing 74 b.h.p. and 57 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers were good for a 0-60 run of five seconds and a blistering quarter mile pace of 12.3 seconds at 105 miles per hour. Keep in mind, this is 1972 when this bike was “King of the Streets” and making four-wheeled sports cars look like they were standing still. It still looks fast today standing still, and the seller notes he’d rank it a solid eight of ten in terms of appearance, likely helped by the fact he’s kept in indoors in the two decades he’s owned it.
Recent maintenance by the seller includes the following: new tires, fork seals, seat foam, battery, brakes, ignition rectifier and fuel petcock, among other repairs. The seller note he also rebuilt the master cylinder and had the carbs rebuilt, but doesn’t indicate how recent this work was. The bike comes with a clear Florida title, and overall, looks like a no questions example with the right kind of attention to detail – not over the top so as to destroy its originality, but not neglectful, either. It’s not surprising to see the strong bidding here, and I suspect it will go higher still.
These kind of bike should not be owned by anyone
under the age of 35.By then you have some self control.
Nice looking bike.
The Z1-900 was better than the H2 750 by far.
It’s a crazy bike and aptly named ‘widow maker’ because of the sheer HP brought to the rear wheel in any gear.
The three carbs just dumped fuel into the cylinders at a rate unsurpassed by other manufacturers at the time.
Bob
They were ” widow makers” because of all that power in a wispy frame and willowy swing arm. If you weren’t careful when you launched, all that ” flexibility” could send the bike in an unintended direction.
The Z1-900 and the H2 750
apples and oranges
apples to oranges
When these bikes come up we usually get some crazy stories. Let’s hear ‘em…..
Agree on the 900 – owned a few – also owned a few triple two strokes – no comparison to the sound and feel of a twist of the wrist on a two stroke triple !
If you every flew into our DFW airport in Irving – the best tale I could say is we were screaming down the freeways that surround it past mid night way up into our 50’s – an old buddy and me. Man that was a chill ride because of the cool late night weather. We had been to the street races in Plano that night after hanging out at Keller’s Hamburgers on the East side of Dallas – we didn’t run our triples. My old buddy Luke and I put a lot of miles in our bikes just that one night – we were maybe 55 yrs old – most of the miles on the area freeways.
Ah the good ol days of being able fly around on the freeways in the Metroplex.
I had a 1974 750 H2. I bought it when I returned from Germany in 1983. Drove it from the upper peninsula in Michagin to Fort Hood Texas. Took me three days, a lot of nut and bolt tightening and the vibration was awful. But it was a blast to ride.
I’ve lightly considered a really fast vintage bike to ride off into the sunset with. Relax, it would most certainly be a H-D, and the “fast” thing at my age, I could take or leave( I drive a 4 cylinder Jeep, for cryin’ out loud). I think it would be fun to experience the acceleration rush these provide, but when that’s done, they really are poor motorcycles to ride. Like Robert sez, you want a fast dependable ride, get the Z1 in any configuration. This was one of the fastest street bikes you could get from the factory, if that does anything for you. Riding “ring-dings” gets mighty old in any trip over 1/4 mile, trust me.
You drive a 4 cylinder Jeep? Did I miss the story where you cashed in your half ton pick up?
Hi Tony, no still have the squarebody. I’m afraid to sell it, as the Jeep hasn’t really proved itself, except that the clutch is weak. You get what you pay for in Jeeps, I guess.
Did you my post Howard ? We rode and I still ride two stroke’s down the freeway and I’m pushing 70 yrs old – so I don’t trust you haha…..now day’s on a RD400 and DT400 – sold my last two H1’s
two years ago for a hell of a lot more than I paid for them
I did, and I hear ya’. Years ago, folks took smaller 2 strokes on incredible journey’s. You just put up with buzzing mirrors and handgrips and arriving to your girlfriends house smelling like oil. These monsters here were good at 3/4 to full throttle, they ran poorly at low speeds and center cylinder ran hot, and these stuck all the time. It’s one reason why most of these are low mileage. That or the rider was afraid to ride it.
Spannies, too!
Pal of mine took his H1 to Glasgow; had to stop for fuel on the way. It was only a 45 mile trip…
I know where my old KH250 is. I also know that there’s an NS400 in my garage… and it’s totally nuts…
I used to fool around with old Japanese bikes 20 years ago. At that time lots were sitting around. When word got around I had guys bringing them to me. In fact had a guy that ran an auction barn who would often drop them off too.
Once no kidding. I came home and found a 72 H2 laying on it’s side in my driveway. It was in about the same condition. I kept it for awhile and later sold it for $2500. I once bought a 1969 CB750 Sandcast complete bike for $50. Vintage bikes are more exciting and take up less space
If the Grim Reaper rode a motorcycle…. this could be it.
I was disappointed when Meat Loaf used an inline Four to power his “hero motorcycle” on the cover art for his “Bat Out Of Hell” album. One of these was more appropriate.
Item location:
Odessa, Florida
I wonder why they don’t list the location
in every feature?
I don’t know. Jeff rarely does. Ben rarely does, either. Almost everyone else does, though. I know you can find it 1n the advertisment like eBay or Craiglist while it’s active. But later on when it disappears, that information is lost when someone finds an old BF listing unless the author includes it in the write-up.
These Kawasaki triple 2 strokes are scary to even look at now. Scary because I remember just how they screamed like ring wraiths and were flexy as all get out under hard acceleration
I surprised my Harley riding boss when he took my H1 500 for a spin. I told him to hang on when it reached 3000 rpm. He laughed, but came back with big wide eyes! Nothing like the power pulses from a 2 stroke triple on the band!
I had one exactly like this, including the chambers. Scary fast but I loved it. I started dating a girl who didn’t like motorcycles so it sat in my parents’ garage for a few years. After breaking up with her I went and took it out for a ride and I just didn’t have the nerve anymore. What had thrilled me just a few years earlier now just scared the hell out of me. I sold it. I’ll always still want one even though I might never ride it.
I never got to ride one but I remember the scream that the triple two strokes put out when they were riden hard. Unlike the sound of any other bike. I had a docile Honda 450
Same here Jeff. I also owned a “docile by comparison” 450 Honda when the 500 triple came onto the scene.
$995, and with an unforgettable sound like no other. The H1 500 was clearly the game changer – for all that came after.
370zzp. I assume you have a 370z. I’ve had several 370z NISMOs but sold them off over the years and recently bought a 04 350z touring. I wish I still had the Honda 450 just to look at and ride infrequently
Riding one of these should be on everyone’s bucket list. I have owned five Of these two wheel rocket ships. Nothing can compare. Yeah they don’t stop and in a corner hold on, even with the factory steering damper. I bought my first new 500 H1 for $1,400. What a bike.
Fantastic! Earlier poster said it all – the wail on these triples when you open it up cannot be beat!
Am still riding my 74 RD350 (I’m 56 years old). Had a KH400 triple in university – hands down the most fun bike I ever had. Light, quick, and all the right sounds. At dog rings like candy, always a challenge getting it to stay in second gear!
cheers,
BT
Ended:
Jul 05, 2021 , 6:05AM
Winning bid:
US $16,056.00
[ 27 bids ]
I bought a 1974 green 750 triple in 1983 when I came back from Germany. $900 and rode the bike from Levering, Michagin to Fort Hood, Texas. A three day ride, good weather but those bikes vibrated bad. And everyday I would have to tighten a lot off bolts and nuts. I would do it again in a heart beat, they were scary fast and had awful brakes and handling. Trade it in on a 1976 Rally Sport Camaro. Fun times when your young and dumb.
They were scary fast and handled like a bowl of jello. Liked my KZ1000 and 79 CBX better though the X handled about the same. Wish I had the X back
I had a 72 stage 3 by Fast by Gast a friend of mine sold me. I had to have it the bike was legendary in our neck of the woods on and off the track. It ran a best of 5.78 @ 122 mph in the eighth mile. This was in the late 80’s early 90’s there were very few bikes that would run with it. It was a blast to ride. I have 2 more of them one almost completed for the street and another basket case that I will fully restore. Two strokes just get under your skin!
I bought the first H2 in 1972. Mikuni’s and expansion chambers. Grab a handful at 90 MPH in 3rd the front end would come up a couple of feet..LOL.
At idle it sounded like a sewing machine on steroids and a slight twist of the throttle it sounded like a jet. It was the height of the muscle era in the Okanogan. Way too much fun.
Grew up riding triples, learned to ride at 15 on a 70 Mach III. The H-2 came out and bought that one as well. Known to be fast in their day only, A 12 second 1/4 and 126 mph wide open is not much to talk about and at 74 hp for the first year, not really a lot of power. Considering 20 years later the ZX11 was double the hp and 2 seconds faster in the 1/4 and 50 mph faster!! oh yeah, and they handled whereas the H-2 did not. That is why they are notorious and mythical.