Kawasaki 750H2 Classic Superbike

In Bike magazine of November 1984, Mark Williams wrote of the H2 Kawasaki that 'here is a machine so utterly and completely dedicated to completing the distance from A to B in the fastest possible time such acceleration will satisfy even the most mind wrenched adrenalin addict.  Here was the first mass produced motorcycle aimed squarely at the world's nutters. These things were ferocious 748cc of pure exhilaration.

They'd never made two strokes that big before. In an age still reeling from the potency of the latest quarter litre strokers, one three times the size, in much the same state of tune, was simply although the word wasn't so fashionable at the time, awesome. Originally introduced as the 74bhp 750 H2 Mach IV in 1972, the H2A was, believe it or not, a refinement. The Mach IV was smoky, thirsty, peaky, wheelie-prone and evil handling. The H2, with three horsepower less, more fork trail and a longer wheelbase, was all of the above but merely handled badly. Despite sharing the same basic engine layout, it was everything Suzuki's portly and staid GT750 was not.

Mechanically, the H2 was deceptively simple; three 250cc singles strung across the frame. Three slide type carburettors fed in copious quantities of petrol, whilst three exhausts (one on the left, two on the right) dispensed with the proceeds and made a modest effort to quieten the ensuing racket. Almost as radical was the styling, mean and lean, with a low tank and kickedup 'duck tail' seat, belying the machine's 450lb weight. Everything about the machine was uncompromising. Power came in hard at 4500rpm, giving a demented surge all the way to 7000, when power trailed off abruptly. Vibration was severe at high revs. The seat was comfortable, but the high bars and upright riding position were not.

In this respect appalling fuel consumption, as low as 22mpg, was a blessing stopping to fill up was a relief. All large Japanese bikes of the period had engines which far outstripped their chassis. In the H2's case, the shortfall was extreme. The skinny frame and swing arm flexed appallingly under load. Even the brakes could be felt bending the forks under hard braking. Kawasaki progressively extended the wheelbase between each of the three models, but never got the H2 to handle.

It was another age, another world. Kawasaki's brochure for the Mach IV heralded the triple as having 'only one purpose in life; to give you the most exciting and exhilarating performance demands the razor sharp reactions of an experienced rider. By the time of the H2B of 1974, the world was no place for gas guzzlers such as these.