วีดีโอ

Dont know why a lot of people seem to think if you own a 2 stroke you have to ride it like an idiot. I had this H2 for about 7 years and only wheelied it few times. I have had every variation of Kawa Triples over the year, and ride them sensibly.

Yes it was a great little bike, sold it shortly after I made this video and bought a Kawasaki 750 Triple which I had for about 7 years, now sold that one and have a KH 400 which I plan to get on the road this year. Kawa Triples are addictive fun.

Yamaha is a great bike

Bill - yes the 500 was a fun bike to ride, wish I still had it, bt I sold it and bought an H2 which I had for something like 7 years, I have since sold that one as well, and bought a KH 400 - oddly enough that has period allspeeds fitted. In the process of rebuilding it at the moment, but when I get it going I will post up a video of it.

Sounds like you have quite a project there, but I would say stick at it and you will be pleased with the results. I was recommended not to fit any reeds apart from the stock ones, and that is what mine had in it, aparrently any other reeds can cause you a headache in terms of tuning. I more or less got rid of the surging by fitting a larger pilot jet and main jet as well as messing with the needle height, it also need very careful adjustment of the air screw. I more or less tuned it out to a level where it was acceptable, but all large capacity 2 strokes are prone to surging so it is unlikley you will ever get rid of it all together. I no longer have this bike, but it was fun while I did. I replaced it with a Kawasaki KH 400 which I am currently in the process of restoring.

@@bikebloke5570 That's too bad you no longer have it, but it's nice that you have the KH400 instead. I actually have two other bikes besides this one that need work, right now I'm just collecting everything to work on this one. The IT400 is just going to be a dirt bike and nothing more. Since it's never going to see the road I'm actually going to buy two sets of reeds to try out on it, the Boyseen Power reeds and the ones made by VintCo which are just a stock reproduction petal made of fiber instead of metal like the originals. People tend to ask way too much for original NOS parts so I'm avoiding spending an arm and a leg on that. I'm also trying an updated carburetor on it to see if there's an improvement. My other two bikes are my 1980 Honda CX500 which just needs new carbs to run. It was my fathers bike and it's been sitting since 2004 so it's going to need new tires too. But just getting it running is the main focus. Then there's my 1981 YZ465 which I've also needed to work on as well for a while. Now that I FINALLY have to tools to split the engine properly I can get around to that as well. :)

Not had any problems with it as such. The recal was from Triumph to replace the MAP sensor pipe - aparrently they can cause problems, even stop the engine in some cases, it was not a problem as such but a Factory recall. If you are thinking of buying one take one for a test ride first to see if you like - you wont be dissapointed. Have fun !!

i have the same bike for 15 months now (2022 model), never had any engine problem whatsoever. In fact, no problem whatsoever, period.

Only thing I would say is that the frame is physically very small. I am not particularly tall - about 5'9" but it was just too small for me which is why I sold it, I just could not get comfortable on it, but yes it went very well, as well as handling and stopping. KX500 would be interesting. Good luck !

Indeed, after the start of the ride I went right onto the A37 past the Mendip Inn towards Shepton Mallet, a road you would have probably travelled many tiimes in your youth. I then went left onto what is known as the old Frome Road. One of my favourite stretches of road.

Great bike to ride, sold this one and bought an H2. Still keep in touch with the guy that bought it from me. My current project is a KH 400, said by some to be the best of the triples.......tiime will tell. I'll post up a video once I have re comissioned it.

I had this bike for nearly 7 years and made this short video at the request of the buyer just before I sold it. They are a great ride, and the power delivery has to be respected hence the label "widowmaker"

Did that on mine as well, was quite happy cruising at around 60 with plenty in hand. Sold this one a little while ago so no longer have it. Bought myself a Kawasaki KH400 to replace it - I love Kawa Triples.

Thanks for the comments - yes they are great litle bikes. Back in the day I had a couple of air cooled Triples, the T160 ad T150 this bike still has that lovely Triple sound and is a lot quicker than I remember the T160 and T150 were. I am planning on an Evotech Tail tidy and Rad guard, also contemplating an Ermax nose fairing. Soon be time to put it away for the winter months, during that the "goodies" will be fitted. Enjoy your bike 👍

@@bikebloke5570 Trident 🔱 _ Tiger 🐅 recalled for wrong air hose. I just rang my Dealership & said I had to bring it in.Sounds like easy fix & free but inconvenient.All Tridents & Tigers from 2021-2023 models. Booked in 2weeks to do it.

@@ruahinesrider Had mine done a few weeks back by the dealer - a "safety recal" by all accounts. Felt like it ran a little better afterwards, but may be just imagining it.

​@@bikebloke5570 That sounds right breathing better now with better & proper air hose.

​@@bikebloke5570Wished you kept the T160 & T150 I love the old Tridents mate got one had it for 25yrs.

You are right, but as the bike is like - old, I dont tend to ride them that hard.

@@bikebloke5570 Lugging 2-strokes is a death sentence. You will see.

@@OogleTheGreat All I can say is that I have had a lot of 2 strokes over the years - I ride them pretty much any other bike, and never had any problems with them. Yes 2 strokes do like to "sing" it's true but you dont have to thrash them all the time.

Yes yes The Sound! The sound !!!

Great minds think alike ! Quick question - does your 400 surge a lot on the overun? Almost got rid of it on mine but not quite. May be something I have to live with unless you have any suggestions.

@@bikebloke5570 I'm not sure what you mean by 'surge on the overrun', but I don't have any surges unless I gas it. It does chug and jerk a bit on deceleration at certain conditions though.

It is not a smooth easy street ride compared to my kz1100

@@tthunderdan Dont think they will ever be a smooth easy ride ! But they are great fun, they seem to like being given loads of gas.

@@bikebloke5570 they are cool bikes. I have mine geared to cruise at about 70 mph comfortably. Not much at the very bottom though. They aren't as fast as I remember them to be back in the 70's. But neither am I.

Larry - did not wind it up at all in the video, in fact I dont ride it that hard, mainly because like me it is pretty old !!

Yep very sedate.

Well it does seem a tad damp out.🎉

Curtis - a good question. Some people say that the DT175 is the best of the bunch. Personally I just wanted a big 2 stoke single and always fancied a DT 400 so I bought myself this one. The 400's have a reputation for "surging" and can be hard to tune out. If you have the option of trying a 250 and a 400 I would say give each a test ride and choose what you like best. My 400 is great to ride and have not regretted buying it. Good luck.

Trouble with porting is that yes you can get a lot more power, but you can end up with an engine that is very peaky / has a narrow power band. The DT400 as it is, is pretty docile and very tractable as it is which makes it a lot of fun to ride. Can remember back in my youth a mate of mine used to do motocross, those bikes were highly tuned and put out massive amounts of power, but you really had to know what you were doing to be able to ride it. Too old for that sort of stuff these days, I just want an easy life 😀

@@bikebloke5570 yeeahh i guess that bikes can have too much power. And also bikes with a load of torque are really the best.

Thanks for the positive comments - no plans to get rid of this bike anytime soon.

3 months ago i took the opportunity and bought a DT 175 MX from 1979!! It is really fun to ride again a DT. Take care and all the best.

Yes, it goes pretty well for a 40+ years old 2 stroke.

My H1 500 Mach IIIwas capable of 50 mpg, but the way I rode it back in the 70's, (in Montana, no speed limit then) 20mpg was closer to the norm. Two strokes can put out tons of power, but that requires a lot of gasoline.

The biggest difference is the low down torque. The H2 is a lot more torquey - you can almost ride it like a 4 stroke, the KH just does not have that bottom end. The KH is also a lot smoother than the H2. Each have their own merrits. I would be quite content to have another KH500, or even 400 which is supposed to be the best of the lot. Having said all that the H2 is a lot of fun to ride.

@@bikebloke5570Just done this ride with you again. Cider at the end huh... Love hearing those fins resonating. £829 to buy one new when I was at that age but did not... I always adored the 350 S2 in red. Just noticed your Spring on the H2B. Gonna have a squizz. Have you watched the French bloke on the blue H2? Monsieur!

That was the weather gods !!

No - definatley an H2.

Hi there - the bike was a Hitchcocks 612 conversion, used to go really well. I sold it a few months after I made the video so no longer have it.

Dont you mean KH 400?

@@bikebloke5570 no sir, a Kz. I live in the States.

Thanks - I dont have the bike any longer, it was physically to small. Did sound nice though !!

@@bikebloke5570 hi yes I live in Cannards grave, I'm sure I followed you when you were on your H2 as mandy and I commented that they aren't a common sight around here, I myself own a KH 500 and now ride these roads 😁

@@stevelester9015 Steve - I often ride up through Pilton to the junction at Cannards grave then out towards Frome so you may have seen me around, if you ever spot me dont hesitate to flag me down for a chat. Seeing any Kawa Triple on the road is a rare sight around here! Keep the good times rollin...........

@@bikebloke5570 will do, if ever you ride up the lane in Cannards that comes out between the two pubs, I own the first and only place only place on the right (the yard with the lorries in it) if the doors are open please call in 👍

@@stevelester9015 Steve - rode past your place yesterday, no signs of anyone around. I seemed to attract a lot of attention from blokes in the pub though ! Catch you sometime.

@@bikebloke5570 I was at home up the road from the barn (between the two pubs 😂) I've been playing with the kh250 to get it back on the road 😁

And they LOOKED great !