A bike men rode, a fearsome reputation both for it performance and its ability to dump riders on its backside. Here was a bike that along with the Mach 2 started a long tradition of Kawasaki performance bikes.
Engine: Air-cooled, two-stroke, transverse three-cylinder,
Engine capacity: 748 cc (45.65 cubic inches)
Bore x Stroke: 71 x 63 mm
Compression Ratio: 7.3:1
Induction: 3x 30 mm Mikuni carbs
Starting and ignition: Kick start battery and coil
Max Power: 74 hp (55 kW) @ 6800 rpm
Max Torque: 7.9 kg-m @ 6500 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed, chain drive.
Frame: Double tubular steel cradle
Front: Suspension: Telescopic hydraulic forks
Rear Suspension: Dual shocks, Swing arm
Brakes: Single disc (front) Drum brake (rear)
Dry-Weight 205 kg (423 pounds)
Fuel Capacity: 17 liters (4.49 gallons)
The H-2 was comparison tested by Cycle magazine in 1973 against the Ducati 750, the Honda CB750, the Harley-Davidson Sportster 1000, the Kawasaki Z1, the Triumph Trident 750, and the Norton Commando 750. The competition consisted of acceleration, braking distance, and road race course lap-times. Each test was run several times including 10 attempts at a fastest road course time. The H2 was the fastest accelerating machine, posting the fastest 1/4 mile run on a drag strip. Experts were surprised at the other results. Despite an uncomfortable feel and slight front wheel hop under hard braking and not giving the sensation of stopping particularly fast it had the shortest stopping distance and highest braking G load of all the bikes. On the road course, despite what had been heard and written about its ill handling, frame flexing and the supposed tendency to speed wobble exiting high speed turns, it was tied for the fastest lap time with the Kawasaki Z-1 to the tenth of a second. Overall the Kawasaki H-2 750 had the lowest ET, second-highest quarter-mile speed, the fastest lap time, the strongest braking force, the highest torque and horsepower readings on the dynamometer, the highest power-to-weight ratio, the lowest price and scored by points for performance was by far the least expensive per unit displacement[1]
In 1975 Cycle World tested the H2 Mach IV's quarter mile at 13.06 seconds 99.55 mph (160.21 km/h), with a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.3 seconds, 0 to 100 mph time of 13.2 seconds, and a top speed of 110 mph (180 km/h).[2]
(1) Cycle Magazine 1973, Superbikes 1973
(2) Cycle World Test: Kawasaki Mach IV H2 750; Evil, Wicked, Mean and Nasty", Cycle World, Newport Beach, California: Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., pp. 44–49, March 1975, ISSN 0011-4286
A picture of an H2 at the Kobi Kawasaki Museam Japan