outside, the H2 was clearly de-
signed to be the more mannerly
machine of the two. Milder port
timing resulted in a much wider
powerband. The peak horsepow-
er rating (74 bhp) was reached
with the three pistons slinging
it at 6800 rpm. But what piqued
Friedman's interest was lugging
the bike along at 2000 rpm. The
owner's manual warned against
such misuse of a snappy two-
stroke, as such shenanigans
would lead to fouled plugs. But
the Kawasaki behaved well in
the lower range, and the staffer
couldn't resist plodding along.
Indeed, the bike did ultimately oil
soil one of its plugs. No problem!
"It runs fine on two cylinders."
Lest ye think that this H2 was
too much Bruce Wayne and not
enough Batman, the staffers did
note that "the H2's easy perfor-
mance will often put you a great
deal further from the speed limit
than you realize without check-
ing the speedo. Whacking the
throttle on hard in first or second
will bring the front wheel up."
The Kawasaki's 430 pounds
made it feel like a lightweight
machine and helped it earn good
grades for its handling charac-
teristics. The Kawasaki did "a
superb job of road holding on
the twisting roads. It will take
an incredibly precise line. Just
pick out an apex and point it. The
steering geometry and weight
distribution are spot on."
The suspension soaked up
the bumps well, and the cushy
seat absorbed any residual road
ripple. Yes, there was once a
day when a manufacturer didn't
expect a rider to have to begin
the hunt for a better saddle for
their new bike before they even
left the dealership. And while
we are once again pining for the
way we were, let's mention a
well-placed centerstand, a chain
oiler, a small compartment under
the rear fender for carrying a few
items, and a real tool kit.
"The Kawasaki 750, then, is
a very pleasant, manageable
machine that, because of its in
-
credible performance, has been
burdened with the wrong image,"
Friedman wrote, adding that, "if
I had to ride across the country
and back, I would choose the
Kawasaki without hesitation."
Sporty, fast, comfortable—but
wait! There's more! It was even a
good investment. Smart cyclists
who purchased the H2 new in
1972 for $1386 and have kept
them will be happy to know that
such machines were fetching
$50,000 at this winter's Mecum
Auction in Las Vegas. Granted,
an investment of $80 in one
1972 Berkshire Hathaway stock
is worth $788,000 today, but we
all know numbers can lie. Given
a choice, Warren Buffett would
trade anything for a ride on the
fast yet friendly Kawasaki H2. As
Babs would say, "It's the laughter
we will remember."
CN
VOLUME ISSUE APRIL , P143
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Not only could the H2 go fast, but it could also handle the corners.
