Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/141048
Your1973 Kawasaki No mailer what your riding style, Kawasaki has a moto rcycle for you. Every one of them is a different bike from last year. Some look the same. On the outside . But the engineering that Kawasaki used to come out ahead in the '71 and '72 racing seasons improved the inside of this year's line. King Of The Superbikes That engineering also built a brand new machine ... the Kawasaki Z - t 900 - the first four stroke Kawasak i. It's the machine the cyc le magazines call " the king of the superbikes". The Z- 1's double overhead cam , three cylinder 903cc powe rplant develops 82 horses and speeds up to 130 mph (with excellen t braking to match). And even at that speed it handles like a dream - a d ire ct result of Kawasaki' s experience in improving stability throug h road racing . The Speedy H2 The street version of the 750cc H2R racer Team Kawasaki uses - the Kawasaki H2 750 - outpe rforms every other big bike made (acco rdi ng to tests reported in the December '72 issue of Cycle Magazine). THE 1973 KAWASAKI LINE. This is where it all comes together. Afte r four successful years of Improvements through rac ing , the 1973 Kawasakis are some machines. Pictured with Team Kawasaki riders and fr iends are a few of Kawasaki 's most popular two-stroke motorcycles. Road Racer Cliff Carr is riding the H2 750, first cousin to Its two- stroke triple cy linder 748cc engine will push to about 125 mph. And the H2 can do the quarter mile in 12 seconds flat (Tony Nic osia set a new world drag record for stock motorcycles on an H2 last year). The First Superbike Has Come A Long Way Kawasaki's first superbike was the 500cc H l . This year iI' s back .. . having been proved and improved in three years of racing . This bike has done the quar ter in 12.4 seconds and hit 124 mph. And , it' s got all the handling characte ristic s of its big brother the H2. The 500 is safe, smooth, comfortable, even on the longe st tou rs. S-2-Good, AII-'Round Machine Kawasaki 's S-2 350 is a good all -around road motor cycle for people who don't need the superpower of the superbikes. Not that iI's any sleepe r. The S-2's 346c c develops 44 horse powe r and can top 100 mph. And it has all the rideability of many big bikes - including quick response, smoothness,and exce ptional corne ring ability. Economical Street Bike 0_i The pop ula r Kawasa ki ScL _2-5_ s an eco nomi cal street bike weighing in at just 330 pound s - easy to handl e, stable, great on the straight away or climbi ng a hill. And it's a great performer. Its two-stroke motor can push it to almost 100 mph. Fast Beginner's Bike Kawasaki 's G-3 90 is a great bike for beginners. his racing bike. U.S. Motocross Champion Brad Lackey Is shown on Kawasaki 's quick enduro, the F-7 175. Motocrosser Jim Weinert takes a turn on the versatile S-2 350 street bike .