LOT 191
1974 Kawasaki H2 Frame no. H2F39721 Engine no. H2E39951
Sold for US$12,650 inc. premium
Lot 191
1974 Kawasaki H2 Frame no. H2F39721 Engine no. H2E39951
Collectors' Motorcycles at the Barber Museum|5 October 2019, 12:00 CDT|Birmingham, Barber Motorsports Museum
1974 Kawasaki H2
Frame no. H2F39721
Engine no. H2E39951
Frame no. H2F39721
Engine no. H2E39951
With the motorcycle evolving quickly in the 1960s, Kawasaki tried to beat everyone else by creating a real stop light drag race winner.
Their first try at this formula was the 1969 H1 Mach III. It was an under-400 pound, 60-horsepower, two-stroke, 500cc three-cylinder model that achieved its intended purpose, but not without some serious baggage. Gas mileage was horrible. Under acceleration, the H1 trailed a plume of oil smoke; the brakes could hardly handle the speed and handling was very approximative. Kawasaki had to think about the next step.
It arrived in 1971, in the form of the 750cc H2. Kawasaki made sure that the American press got the message with a U.S. launch on the Queen Mary, and then anchored in Long Beach harbor. Not only was the H2 more anti-social than its smaller brethren when it came to noise and pollution, but it added another 14 horsepower to the equation. Nicknames like 'The Widowmaker', were employed and phrases like, 'Zero to death in three seconds', were coined. The bike's ability to run the quarter mile in the low 12-second range put Kawasaki at the top of the straight line, street racer heap until they introduced their original Z-1.
The owner of the H2 presented here claims that the engine has been rebuilt and restoration done in 2010. Only 6 miles have been presumably done since engine rebuilt. In participated in the Dania Beach VMS in 2019 an took 3rd place for the Best Kawasaki.
Their first try at this formula was the 1969 H1 Mach III. It was an under-400 pound, 60-horsepower, two-stroke, 500cc three-cylinder model that achieved its intended purpose, but not without some serious baggage. Gas mileage was horrible. Under acceleration, the H1 trailed a plume of oil smoke; the brakes could hardly handle the speed and handling was very approximative. Kawasaki had to think about the next step.
It arrived in 1971, in the form of the 750cc H2. Kawasaki made sure that the American press got the message with a U.S. launch on the Queen Mary, and then anchored in Long Beach harbor. Not only was the H2 more anti-social than its smaller brethren when it came to noise and pollution, but it added another 14 horsepower to the equation. Nicknames like 'The Widowmaker', were employed and phrases like, 'Zero to death in three seconds', were coined. The bike's ability to run the quarter mile in the low 12-second range put Kawasaki at the top of the straight line, street racer heap until they introduced their original Z-1.
The owner of the H2 presented here claims that the engine has been rebuilt and restoration done in 2010. Only 6 miles have been presumably done since engine rebuilt. In participated in the Dania Beach VMS in 2019 an took 3rd place for the Best Kawasaki.
Footnotes
As with all Lots in the Sale, this Lot is sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.
Saleroom notices
The title will be in transit.
Additional information
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