subject: Kawasaki H2 750 - A Classic Motorcycle [print this page] The Kawasaki 750H2 was introduced at a time when environmental concerns generally were becoming more mainstream.
Kawasaki had been beaten by Honda's CB750 in 1968 in the race to produce the world's first true "superbike". This made Kawasaki redouble their efforts to claim a seriously stake to this new breed of motorcycles.
Creating a new class as they did, the 900cc class with the introduction in 1974 of the Z1, Kawasaki had comprehensively gained their revenge on Honda with a new machine that trounced the CB750 in every department.
However, despite introducing the first 900cc machine, the 750cc market was as competitive then as it is now.
In 1974, Kawasaki also introduced another monster; the H2 750.
The styling was very similar to that of the Z1, but this time with three exhausts not four, given that this was a triple cylinder machine.
However, there the similarity of the two machines ended. The H2 was a two stroke, heavy on fuel and tyre wear and gave out quite a bit of smoke from the exhaust.
This was a mean and wrist wrenching bike, and not for the inexperienced.
What made it particularly interesting was the fact that both peak power and peak torque arrived within 300rpm of each other, peak torque arriving first.
This meant that the throttle had to be handled with care as any sudden movement would transform the machine into a raging bull, tearing ones arms off in the process.
This is difficult enough, but you then had to consider the fact that this machine only had a single 295mm disc brake on the front and a 200mm drum on the rear, so hazards had to be anticipated earlier than usual.
Kawasaki introduced a slightly less powerful H2B variant, and yet still their press release for this model emphasised that it was for the "more experienced rider."
The H2 could probably still compete with many bikes today if it were still around, though not with the environmental lobby!
