Kawasaki H2, Now and Then - Jay Leno's Garage
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- Jay drives the 1972 H2 Mach IV and the amazing supercharged supersport Ninja it inspired!
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Kawasaki H2, Now and Then - Jay Leno's Garage
• Kawasaki H2, Now and T...
Jay Leno's Garage
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Jay thanks so much for sharing this video. My dad had a blue 72 H2, and I was able to show him a couple of videos of one while he was in the hospital. He passed away the next day. We didn't get to talk about a lot at the end, but to see the smile on his face from watching that bike again was with its weight in gold. Thanks again :)
Thats a great story to share. Sorry about your dad. Glad you put a smile on him by sharing a video of old motorcycle together. That's nice.
What year was he born or graduated from High School?
Thanx for sharing that heart warming story Rob👏🙏
'every motorcyclist should ride a 2 stroke at least once.'
so true
If the H2 750cc is the two stroke chosen once might be the only chance you get. I owned one of those. It was actually difficult to keep the front wheel on the ground at times. I remember a magazine of the time described this thing as an acceleration beast with a hinge in the middle. It did NOT handle well ! It was VERY tricky to ride.
2T glorious 2T
I ride a 2 stroke atleast once a day
Yeah I love my Aprilia Rs250. Pride and joy
I had a "73" H2 750, it was quick, so I bought expansion chambers (had to take off the center stand for the center pipe to clear) bought aluminum wheels, took off the muffled intake breather, put velocity stacks on it, took off the turn signals, got lower handlebars.
The extra power the expansion chambers gave it so much more I had to get racing springs for the clutch to handle the extra power.
What a trip to ride (in a straight line) truly evil handling around any corner.
It was the craziest thing to ride, had it up to 130 & chickened out.
Stock 0 to 60 - 4 seconds at 423 lbs dry weight, mine was (???) 40 lbs lighter.
"I'm not good enough to make this bike do what it can do but it might be fun to die trying!" What a classic line to close-out the video.
I fell old watching this... My Kawasaki and I were young and we were going to live forever.
Me too. And the chicks were always asking me to take them for rides.😁
@@speed2live yes, but they were extra weight..
The moon was up, The sky was clear and the road glowed white in the moonlight.
That Kawasaki was begging to go to rockets full.
I was going to Vietnam in a couple of months. It was my rocket summer...😕
We reentered the atmosphere to steeply one night and that old 'Saki' ketp me out of Vietnam...🥺
These are beasts. I rode RD and RZ's mostly. Love 2 strokers.
I am so glad Jay is familiar with 2 -strokes,blue smoke and mixing fuel & Oil, most kids i talk to nowadays have no idea what a 2 -stroke is. These old H2's are beasts, and these two examples he has here are absolutely beautiful.
It's oil injected
Still remember the smell of my cousins 2stroke when I was 3 (1974)......nothing compares.
I had an Orange 1972 H1 and it often had the front wheel off the ground. I really had no idea what I was getting into when I bought the bike from a semi family member in 1980. Hard to describe just how radical the three cylinders where, but it was kind of like having a box of Broncos crossed with angry bees. You knew this monster just wanted to break bad and bad it was. The power band was like some kind of Magic trick. Now days I really do regret selling her, but she eventually needed a lot of work and I am now still alive to tell the story of all the wild things I did on this bike.
NEVER stop doing these videos! I'm not much of a Kawi guy, but I was bowing during this video. How quickly we dismissed the two strokes in comparison to the off time straight pipes of a harley. What fools we are. lol. Or I are.
I had an H2 that looked identical to that 1972. It was my favorite bike that I've ever owned. You're right, the myth was worse than the reality. I loved how it rode. I had it bored out a bit, added some K&N's, and put on some expansion chambers with stingers. It was a real screamer. I just found my actual bike the other day. Hoping to get it back someday.
Did you get it back?
Always loved 2-strokes... I modified my '61 Auto Union 1000SP car ( 1000 cc 3-cyl), rebuilt the crankshaft with new improved ball bearings, tuned the ports, added a triple carburator set up from a Saab Monte Carlo and had three separate expansion chambers custom built for this engine. It happily spun up to 10000 RPM and it easily ran ahead of multiple Porsches on the 605 freeway.... Although when pushed hard it would sometimes seize the pistons. It would take a few minutes of cool down and take off again.
Nice knowing Jay! the 1970's H series was probably the most deadly bikes ever made, because of that berserk power band.
In the mid 80's, I had a friend that wan't to buy a Kawasaki H1, the 500 version of the H2. The problem was he did not have his motorcycle endorsement at the time so he asked if I would do a test ride for him.
At the time I had the Suzuki version of the same type in a 550. It was very fun and had a very smooth power band, so I thought I should be well able to control and judge the performance of the bike. I could not have been more wrong, as it nearly killed me.
I started out of the lot and headed toward the on ramp to the freeway a few blocks away. Everything good so far. I turned onto the on ramp and pulled all the way back on the throttle. Enormously moronic mistake. It started out just like my bike, then boom it hit this crazy power band that exploded with power and it launched like a rocket. It slung me back on the bike and I lost grip with my left hand with only a couple fingers of my right on the handle throttle still wide open. I was just barely able to slowly get back to grip with both hands just as I got to the end of the ramp to ease off the throttle and not smash into a car or the median barrier.
I never understood why you would design something so insane and why they did not get sued into oblivion, but that was one of the most hair raising experiences I ever had. I don't plan to ever get on one again.
Keep these 70;s bike vids coming, love them!!!
I had a 69 500, 72 and 73 H2 and 73 and 74 Z1. I loved them all. I think the 72 H2 was my favorite. My first introduction to Real speed. I road the 73 H2 from Detroit to Phoenix in 1973 And had a great ride.
I had a blue one in the mid 80’s.
Power band wheelies with a passenger
at 70mph no problem !!
I LOVED the triple intake chortle it had.
J’s road test gave me good goosebumps again!!
I had a 70 h1 made me see god way too often, never wrecked it though. What a motorcycle!
I love the old blue one. One of my favourite bikes ever. Out of the big 4 kawasaki has always been my favourite.
Jay your making me cry .......I want my H1 back!
I owned a 1973 H2 750, and it was sometimes a dangerous ride. You could be running 60 mph and crack the throttle, it would stand on the back wheel and you had better be ready for it. You learned to be gentle with the throttle. Lengthening the swing arms helped to calm it down a little. I never found top speed, I didn't have the (ahem) fortitude to go there. It was the quickest /fastest bike I ever owned.
I had the 500 cc triple Kawi back in the day, before they came out with the 750. If a cop lit you up from behind, why you just opened the throttle and laid down a smoke screen and made your escape.
I drove my white 500cc cross country as an 18 year old. They were blazing fast but vibrated like hell. Not good for long distance cruising!
Fastest thing you'll ever see kawasaki mach 3. I had a 73 mach 3 500 it was a wheelie machine.....had to put a stearing dampner on it sure helped. A car turned left in from me at number hit my left ankle shattering it. I'm over 60 now and still bothers me .....I gave motorcycles in 98 after 28 years and 21 motorcycles later. My last bike was a kawasaki Vulcan 750....my first was a g4 Kawasaki. Loved them and still do.
But did the Mach 3 survive? This is the more important issue here
@@imnew2nm324 no
@chris younts Yes loved them.....Had a 73 Yamaha RD350 was a rocket another wheelie machine....the last 2 stroke i bought was a 77 Yamaha RD 400 which got stolen in 81 out of my apartment living room. In 78 I bought a Kawasaki kz650 as my long distance bike and rode it 28k before i sold it 1981 for a GPZ550......never has one problem with it. Always was drawn to Kawasaki ....loved the looks of their bikes.
I had a friend who had a 1972 Kawasaki 750 triple. I just was astonished at the brute horsepower when you spun the engine up to its power band. I had to be a little careful with managing the RPM's because when you revved the engine up high the front end would loft about every time. I thought it was a beast of a motorcycle back then. Kawasaki motorcycles were not built very well back then, but they dominated ANYTHING on the street!
You are absolutely correct! Nothing could touch it. I smoked several Z1s too.😄
My first street bike was a 1975 Kawasaki H1F mach III. I was the second or third owner when I picked it up. I was 17 at the time and up till then I had only ridden the dirt bikes that I'd grown up on. I had an absolute blast on this thing! Wish I still had it.
Me too at that age I was skinny 115lbs? and the tank was near empty all the Time
I owned 72 H2 and sold it after 20000+ miles and I still have dreams about going into the basement of my home and finding it there. Wish I could buy another but when I looked at the prices now!!
Prices have gotten stupid because old men with more dollars than sense are bidding them up. Fads happen. They were quick but most bike shops didn't hang on to dead examples. They can still be had with some looking.
I still have the occasional dream where I discover my hidden barn cache of all the bikes I ever had - or my GS1000EN under a blanket in my parents' garage :-)
@@obfuscated3090 are you always so full of fun?
Bad choice my friend
@@danielfernandes466 each to their own
I had a KZ 900, Triumph 750 Bonny, and a H2 my favorite H2.
Cars get to close on my tail choke engine downshift and pump that throttle, smoke em and be gone, gone, gone...
Love it.
I'm Jay's age and remember riding H1 and H2 Kawasakis 'back in the day'. The early H1s were especially memorable, and could be quite scary!
I'm almost Jay's age and I would kill to have my '72 H2 again.
@@speed2live I would kill to be under-25 again!
Jay and I have similar expressions after riding the H2. He said 'Jesus' and I said 'Oh my God'...LOL! The H2 is the type of bike that brings that feeling of OMG out of you at 1st ride! I love the bike and Jay does too :-)
Love your videos!
I'm yur subscriber
@@logankdavis27 🙏🏿
@@getsugatensho02 thank you
Jay is a riot. He loves this stuff and knows his sh!t. Fun show to enjoy.
For some reason the sound of thes 3-cylinder 2-strokes can't be brought alive like in real in these movies. They sound like chainsaws in movies, but in real they send tingles down your spine.
They do, you're 100% right on that!!!
I have a 1975 Yamaha RD350. Love the sound and power of the two strokes!
I had the next evolution of the 2 strokes, 1976 RD400c. Fastest on the street, except for the Kawasaki 900.
In 1960's had street legal minibike with 2 cylinder 2 stroke Jawa 350cc... miss it...
I'm so jealous. I currently have my first and only bike a Honda twin 250 nighthawk. Ive strung it out to 75mph the Speedo says 85 and it might do it but the gears is the problem not the engine. At 55mph in 5th gear (top gear) it's cruises comfortably, even 60. But over 60mph/65mph it's breaking a sweat. No its just revving way too high at that speed for long distance rides.
I'm keeping the bike because im the 2nd owner and it's so well maintained and it handles very well to its contemporaries. It's also incredible with gas mileage - i mean incredible. But not so nice on the highway.
Im in the market for a bike again. I want something with a bit more power. But I don't want a heavy bike and I don't want a "fast" bike. I just want a simple bike I can work on myself and maintain perfectly. I've always liked modest vehicles that surprise you.. Im thinking of getting a CBR300R (probably new from dealership) but I'm not sure. Of course if I buy a new bike I will have the dealer do any repairs. But there's just so many options.
@@BuzzLOLOL you had a minibike with a twin 350!? How did it fit in the frame.. Is it really a minibike at that point?
I owned one too...and lived to tell the Tale !!!....LOL !!
Brings back memories of my H1. Lousy gas mileage, hinge in the middle, a front brake that was either on or off and not much inbetween...but I loved it. Wish I still had my widowmaker.
I have owned 5 Kawi triples. I bought a new 75 S3 and new H1. Simple. Very little to break. None of them ever gave me trouble. And that sound. F the EPA getting rid of two strokes. Well. I slso owned another two stroke Kawi triple. A 1972 Arctic Cat EXT. You should hear that at high idle.
The hinge was the swing arm. On the 500 you hit the power band and it went slightly to the right of where you aimed it. I suspect the 750 was worse!😆
A complete privilege to be able to watch these videos. Thank you Jay. (and his production team )
Gotta love Jay “It comes down to three words; I am not worthy” Leno
Yamonda Kawazuki he used the conjunction, " I'm not worthy." Three words.
I just knew Jay was going to get a H2 and I bet he got the very first one made.
CycleCruza cycle cruza!!
Too late to get the first one... they came out way back in 1971 and had more power... too much power... detuned for '72 - '74... The first one was prolly totaled out back in 1971...
@@BuzzLOLOL r/wooosh
Did you even watch the video?
:-/
@@RogerBarraud - Jay admits he never rode the original H2... so obviously didn't own the first one out... he doesn't even do a wheelie on it... what they were famous for... he may have the first recreated H2...
I have the old Cycle magazine from when the H2 came out... also had an H2 in that red purple color...
BuzzLOLOL The new one he means, silly.
+1 for vintage two stroke motorcycles!
That 2 stroke sound is so nostalgic for me lol instantly brings me back to the banshee and 150 and 250 dirt bikes I had growing up lol.
In 1971 I bought a Kawasaki Mach I 500 from Vicker's Honda in Sacramento. It was $999.99. Steve Vickers cautioned me to be careful, as people were powershifting the bike and flipping it over. These were under 400 lbs, had 60 instant horsepower, and had a separate tank for the oil injection system. Drum brakes front and rear.
They were Kawasaki's top of the line, as the 750 didn't come out until 1972. Mine was blue like Jay's 750.
Good times! I'm so glad I survived them.
I soooo miss my 72'. Thanks for doing this episode. Most young riders have no idea that there was an H2 before the current iteration.
I had a ‘72 just like the one Jay is riding. Of course, I got it used (I actually traded my stereo system which had a Rabco ST-4 turntable, which was another singular, legendarily flawed contraption like the H2). Mine was stock, like This one, albeit 5 years old at the time. First off, it was as evil handling as people say. On off ramps, it developed a weave that was really disconcerting. The front brake was *awful*. But, by god, did it have a top-end rush. So what was the perfect application of this stoplight rocket? Turn it into a touring bike! I shed all my possessions, strapped what else I oned on the back, fitted a handlebar mount fairing and set off across the country. It had all the things you wanted in a touring bike: carrying capacity, no vibration whatsoever, an oh-so-comfortable seat described by a friend as being a “thinly-disguised two-by-four”, great gas mileage (23mpg!) and a thirst for two-stroke oil. I put 2000 mile on it in six days. I can still feel it. It was my fourth bike in four years and my first Kawasaki. 33 years later I bought my second Kawasaki, a 2009 650 Ninja which has about the same horsepower and weight. I’m still riding it almost ten years later. This is my 11th motorcycle. About the H2, It was a privilege to own a legend and, now, I have fond memories or what I was capable of (both right and wrong) when I was a young man. Seeing Jay ride the H2 and getting to hear it, brought back memories and I really appreciate that.
@@bunkie2100 Great story! I loved my '72 H2 SO much. I had it for fifteen years.
I envy Jays collection.But he is an amazing rider and driver.Watched him on a track one day, he came within 3 seconds of the track record, casually and with a smile on his face. Jay could race if he wanted to.
Thanks Jay! I had a blue 72 H2 ..it was nuts! So,I put a 850 kit in it ,bigger carbs,with denco chambers---stock I never lost a race,,but with this setup,no one would even race me!! I gotta say ,going that fast ,I wish I had some brakes! My next bike was a Z1 900,woo-hoo
I had the polar opposite, a Hodaka Ace 90 trail bike. 90 cc, two stroke, had to premix the gas and oil. Bright red frame and a polished chrome tank. Big 9.5 bhp. Damn but I loved that little bike!
I salute Kawasaki for this,I had a 500 triple and it was a Lot of Fun...let the Good Tymes Roll !!!
I put these together brand new at a dealership. Those were great times and I’m still here to talk about it. Needed Z1 900 springs in the clutch though as you could accelerate right thru the clutch. That was the fix recommended by Kawasaki.
Always ran Klotz oil to keep them from smoking and fowling plugs.
I had a 500 Mach 3 when I was 19 and traded it in for a 900 Z1B back in 1975. Greatest bikes and nothing could touch them in the day.
I met Jay Leno in the Harrah's (Reno, NV) coffee shop way back in the early 80's. He was just starting to get big. I didn't recognize him but my friend said "hey, there's Jay Leno!!"). We were just 3 guys up in Tahoe to do some gambling and eat good food. First thing out of his mouth when we shook his hand was "where are the girls??). classic Jay Leno.
I like bikes that try their damnedest to kill me !
YESSSS !!! MY EXACT SENTIMENTS !!
It's not fast enough unless you're almost scared to open it right up, and wind it out !!!
I love when Jay gets on the throttle and starts screaming. That always cracks me up!
Jay...You are My HERO, I'm 65 years old running the Suzuki B-KIng which was 185 stock HP out the door, the naked version of the BUSA, I put on another 12 HP, and has smoked every HD out there, They don't know the raw power and endless powerband it has.But to the kawasaki, I rode the 750 triple back in the day, also I had a 73 Snortin Norton 750 Commando, which chopped after the Movie Easy Rider, that changed everthing about the riding culture.I have also owned 10 other Kawasaki's so I'm a true Team Green Fan!! As i knew what Kawasaki, design, build,power, They blew everyone out with true passion. Jay I watched You every night after 20 plus years of Johhny an dYour show Jay Leno's garage is top dog, with all motor heads. The H2R...WOW nuff said...Thanks for all the excitement You still give all of US!!! Tim Perry AZ.
You didn't need to put any hp into the B King to smoke every HD.
A friend has the old 500 H1 triple, which is a now a track racer. I bought the new H2. Pretty much for all the same reasons Jay did, its a remarkable piece of engineering. It's already mental fast from when you pick it up, with a pipe and tune it will have you believing in a new God, MotoGP level horsepower... but without all the super advanced electronics, tyres, gravel traps, air fences and stuff to make it safe :P
LOVE the older 2-strokes! Even a 'lowly' 2-stroke HONDA MB5 is a BLAST to ride!
Those were good!
I always wanted to ride one of the Kawasaki triples, H1 or H2, but never had the chance. I eventually got the 1976 KZ 900, lots of fun.
My first Kawasaki street machine was a firecracker red 1981 GPZ 550. Sweet little ride with a distinctive high rpm exhaust tone. Forerunner to the Ninja name plate. Small but powerful let the good times roll 🏁.
Loved my Kawasaki triples. Had many 500's, all the years and had the 250,350 and 750. My favourite bikes ever.
Dammit Jay. You never even hit the powerband!
Love the old 2 strokes.. I had a Kawasaki KR-1 250 back in 1990, followed by a Suzuki RGV 250P, loved the power bands!
Kawasaki has always been the hp king. The new H2 proves their point.
Fastest bike between two gas stations
@Daryl Lonigan :( shame take a jerry can or have a mate spot u with one
Playing with the throttle it got 25 mpg ... but it you were easy it was 40 mph
Its supercharged for god sake ,what were you expecting....
@@SamKhan-lk5pf I'll keep riding my 100 miles to the gallon 125cc Honda Super Cub.
I will be rich in saving in 5 years.
Stay Frosty.
Really your worried about gas mileage on a 200hp street bike 🤦🏼♂️ you totally miss the point of the whole bike!
But might be fun die trying. This is why Jay is awesome. Real enthusiast and age defying. 19:34
More like really stupid and tempting fate.
@@johntechwriter Aren't we the killjoy. Do you even ride motorcycles?
"...it just blew off eveything on the street..."
"three words, I am not worthy"
Oh, Jay
+FasterThanSoup "I'm not worthy"
+misutatomasu ...is what he should have said Thomas-san
When Kawasaki H2 drew out, I was a senior high school student.
I wanted it but I couldn't buy it. Anyway, I feel very nostalgic. Thank you.
Spring 1970, Pittsfield Mass, and I was afoot, my Honda 175 a long ways away in New Mexico. I was suddenly swung around at the sound: a Honda CB750 and a refrigerator white Kawasaki H-1 mach III turned a corner and both riders nailed it. Two bikes I had only read about. What a sound each one made! Couple of years later, I bought an H1 (500) - same color scheme as the blue 750 except in orange. Gotta hand it to Mr. Leno. He's 3 years older than me and my 1999 Bandit 1200 gets me a little dizzy from the acceleration G's. Can't imagine not blacking out on that new H-2.
I remember one of the magazines said the Kawasaki triples "sounded like a jar full of angry bumblebees..."
I haven't watched much of this show, but I was struck by the fact that Leno invited a Kawasaki expert in, to presumably lend some expertise, then Leno proceeded to do almost all the talking.
Would have been interesting to hear what the Kawasaki chap had to say
Leno loves to hear his own voice
@@keiths-teeth ya i was thinking the same thing.
And talking so rapidly too, perhaps Jay was just really excited but yeah, it was pretty much a monologue on this episode
I got my hands on an H2 back in 84. I had it for two days before my father discovered it, he gave me the choice, either get rid of the bike, or get thrown out of the family.
Jay...don't get an early H2. Get an early H1 Mach III (69/70) instead....OR get both! When it first came out, Kawi's 69 H1 triple was the FIRST superbike -- at least in Japan and streets of Tokyo when/where I was a teenager growing up there. FUN! And then 6 months later came the CB750.... which dethroned it as we all know. But indeed...when the H2 came out in 72 we all thought Kawasaki had gone insane...and us young riders all gave it a healthy level of respect! Hard to tame it was...and probably still is. Best, highest perf engines of the day(s), have always been Kawasaki though. (i.e., A1, A7, H1, H2, Z1, Z1300, GPz900R Ninja, etc.) Nice episode as usual!! Love that H2 Ninja, but I'm no longer suicidal. :-)
Im looking for a tripple. But i cant decide between H2 and H1 Mach 3. I prefer the look of the 500 Mach 3, old instruments, drumbrakes and the slender line.
The 750 H2 looks more massiv and modern but and more power and its more popular on the market.
Freimopp777 - buy one that isn't running and restore it. It's the most fun you'll ever have
Sebastian Albert
nah I already restored a bike 2 years ago and i dont know if i want to do it again.
I guess the kawasaki is also more pretentious to restore.
I only dont know if i want a 750 H2 or a 500 Mach 3.
Rodger Burkley The Suzuki 500 ,2 stroke twin is generally recognized as the worlds first superbike.
when i was in high school my friend had one of these and i raced him with my 69 super bee 383 magnum, he left me in a cloud of smoke and he won the race. it was fast bike.
My dad had a 1972 Kawasaki 350ss triple and I thought that bike was a rocket ship when I was a kid. Kawasaki always built fast bikes & they always will! Jay, when you buy a old Kawi triple, please do a video about it! I will always love those old Kawasaki triples. More fun than a barrel of monkeys!
D J Tanner the 350 triple is what I started riding on. I embarrassed more Porsches Ferraris and Corvettes growing up in Atlanta riding two-stroke triples with my friends.
my buddies had H1 500s and we had an acquaintance with an H2 750 in Stone Mountian which still runs today.
72 350S2 Triple is what I rode in High School. Neat bike. Gotta hold on tight when you rev it right.
+DJT -1969
I had a Kawasaki 350ss triple. That was called "crazy bike".
Yes, that was really crazy. But not only crazy.
If you drive a Kawasaki 350ss triple, you will feel fantastic feeling.
You can drive for a several hours without a destination. Your dad was right.
My Dad too had the Kaw 350 triple WOW smoky but stupid fast.😳Tons of affordable fun,took me on plenty of Sunday afternoon rides.Mom only rode with him once on it she said too much get up & go for her.Told us 2(Evel Knevels)just be back in time for supper.😁🍝🇯🇵
350 triple Kawasaki is the S2...
jay the first motorcycle i drove was a 1968 norton commando i was around 13 years old. i also drove a two stroke kawasaki 400.i drove about every motorcycle that was every built back in the70s and80s .my brother was a mechanic that fix all types of motorcycles and still fix them today in 2019 thanyou so much for the video i loved it.
What Jay !! No Wheelie? Back in the day (73-74) I couldn't keep mine on the ground ! Well, Guess were getting old now ! Your still awesome !
17:59 LOL !!!
Jeff Kelly Too fast for Jay confirmed
Jeff Kelly Not as good as the quote from 16:00 - "Jesus! My God!"... Hard to hear, but it's there...
Jeff Kelly at 17:14 he said the bike comes down to three words--i am not worthy lol
Ryu Jin You missed the contraction 'I'm.' In that case, he's right.
I don't think I've ever heard Jay scream before...
is it my computer or is the sound WAY Echoey
mattmopar440 i got the same thing to
mattmopar440 I was wondering that myself, seems to be the way they mic'd Jay, or an editing error.
Sounds like the guests mic was picking up jays voice.
Echoing like crazy on mine too
mattmopar440 i think they have the mic on Leno and the other dude picking up the same audio together
Always loved my Kawis. Had an Orange H-1 500, more than one of the mighty KZ 900's and a 1,000. Then I was lucky enough to have one of the first years Ninja 900's, the Red and Grey one, was that an 83' maybe? Even had a KZ440 when I was broke and in school as my only transportation, that was after the Ninja so I always felt like a real nerd on the 440 but it was cheap and walking was the alternative. I have slowed down in my old age and just putt along on a Harley now.
Thanks for the memories. I always enjoy your videos.
That bike was called the widow maker when I was a kid. Even the 500cc version was wickedly fast.
Jay, your videos are the best gearhead shows in the world, IMVVHO. Top Gear (in spite of the Clarkson debacle) is wonderful as well, but nothing brings the joy of ownership of either a car or a trike or a motorcycle more forward than you and your videos. You give to us average joe's a peek into all the things many of us may never get the opportunity to experience, such as this case with the Kawasaki Ninja H2. You are humble with your presentations, and show to us as being a genuinely good, honest guy. You bring to us the opportunity to see the unseen, to hear the unheard. For that, I think.... no, believe, that you deserve the highest of praise. Thank you Jay. My Yamaha FZ8 may be nothing compared to the H2, but your enthusiasm for just the experience of riding, the experience and feeling of something new, tried but untested by someone we can relate to bring to me a feeling of fantastic joy to be able to be on two wheels, and own something that billions don't have the opportunity to have: Time to enjoy what we love to do the most, which is enjoying our passions. Thank you, Jay Leno.
The H2 did wheelies by just cracking the throttle open. The power came on suddenly often throwing the rider off the back. Ouch! Jay didn't get the revs up enough to get on the power band.That is why he did not pee himself.
I rode an H2 in high school, I bought it after riding an RD400.... it was night and day. I was at a carnival and a guy on an H2 was waiting impatiently for traffic so he could leave and revving his engine and inadvertently dropped the clutch and planted his front tire in the trunk lid of the car in front of him and caved it in simultaneously dropping his passenger off the back...... I had to chuckle a bit.
May back in the day but not today with bikes with more than 200hp, times change.
I had 500cc H1 I bought new for $999 for 10 years wish I still had it.
A friend had the H2 that was stolen before I could ride it.
I STILL LOVE THAT 2 STROKE SOUND.
I'M ABOUT YOUR AGE AND STILL RIDE.
My husband left me with 2 cherry models of the classic Kz. It’s fabulous to learn about them . Thank you Jay.
The old and the new... Just a great video Jay & staff, thank you!
The trick with the H2 was to be pointed in the direction of the nearest TRAUMA CENTER!
I bought a Gold 1973 H2 in 1975, it was Just an awesome bike. For me it was the Rocket of it's time. I regret selling it. Once I raced my buddy he had a 1969 Hemi Road Runner I dropped the clutch at 7000 rpm and the front end started hopping and the back end was Fish Tailing , what a ride. You have a beautiful collection there Jay.
All these triple 70's Kawasaki's have the same great sound from the 250 to the 750 amazing.
If Jay Leno actually rode the H2 right, and hit the power band he would Love it. Two Stroke Bikes require RPMS and testicular fortitude.
Riding the H2 right means stepping 1 foot into the grave.
Sir absolutely...I had a 72 orange H1B and a 73 purple H2 750 and the power really didn't kick in until about 6,000 rpms.. Jay just didn't have the balls to find that out.As a side note one of the best things about them was the tranny.. neutral was all the way down no one down and four up which made it great for racing cause you never had to worry about hitting that fake neutral. My H1B had a lot of work done to it but I left the H2 stock it was fast enough.
It's not that fast by modern standards
The H2 triple has a crappy fork and frame and soft brakes .
@@ChefofWar33 indeed, i also found he was a little too carefull with it, heck maybe an insurance thing, because those bikes are almost as expensive as a new one.
@@dednside5229 But ridiculous HP and top speed. Goes like 240+ and has about 310hp
Thanks Jay for sharing with all of us all these great machines. I love this show :).
Too cool for school Jay ,I had the KH250 tririple here in the UK in the 70s,man it was blast, wish I still had her :(
I entered the Air Force in early 1971 to avoid the Army draft. I visited a Kawasaki dealer in the spring of 1972. A friend had an H2, he let me ride it, and I wanted one. I remember sanding on the showroom floor and discovering the $1500 sales price was half a years salary as my E-2 pay in the Air Force. Standing next to that blue H2 was as close to owning an H2 as I ever got. Went to Viet Nam in Oct 73 and that was that. Thanks Mr. Leno for sharing your 1972 H2. You made an old man happy this evening.
‘this is going to get parked next to F1’
I wanna say that once in my life.
Sai Krishna yeah, me too
Lol one time while reviewing a Bugatti he said “I have my type 57A right over there...” and he cracked a joke about it. If you don’t know, it’s one of if not the most expensive car in the world
I'd like to see - and have one - in a modern sportbike frame with water cooing and expansion chambers. I've always been a Yamaha 2-stroke fanatic, but there's something about the sound of the Kaw triples that sounded great. Even with stock pipes they sounded decent, but awesome with chambers.
ME TOO !!! My first bike was a '73 Yamaha RD 250. Loved it!
Had a "retired" racebike 72 H2 in 78/79 while living on North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii. And worked in Waikiki as a restaurant cook. The Hawaii Freeway H-2 was a totally unpatroled 'Autobahn' back then! This allowing for any damn speed you wanted to go! That Fussy Kawasaki 750 with a frame made from hardened spaghetti noodles, even with a Ceriani front forks and Koni's out back it was a real life Mr.Toad's Wild Ride experience lol! And at a 130?mph clip for miles on end it was a ride you would not ever forget!!! Fear and adrenaline were intoxicating! Especially when mixed with Blue Smoke😄!!!
Remember these well, Suzuki had the gt water buffalo, fast as hell, deathtrap for handling, hi speed wobble, felt like it was going to tip over in corners , I remember putting knots 2 stroke oil gave u more color, lol, also remember kawee radio commercials, mark 1 and 2, Ossa, Montessa, Maico, Sachs, Hodaka, Husqvarna, trophy trail, brain is starting to recall lol ,thanks Jay for a quick trip down a fantastic memory lane,
The old H2 750 was one crazy bike to ride,
so I put Bill Wirges expansion chambers on it, much lighter than the (?) 30lb stock pipes.
I had to remove the center stand because the middle pipe went directly under the motor (now it's even lighter).
I had to use racing clutch springs because the clutch could no longer hold the motor.
Removed the (choked down) intake hoses (& replaced with 3 screened velocity stacks).
Bought aluminum wheels, lower bars, removed the turn signals, & held on for one helluva ride.
Originally the dry weight was 422,
& stock it did 0 to 60 in 4 seconds.
45 in 1st ... 70 in 2nd ... 90 in 3rd ... 110 in 4th,
& (I chickened out) to only go 130 in 5th (according to the speedo).
The biggest deal was launching it (slipping the clutch in first gear was the only way)
but (see above) 1st gear would only take you to 45 mph
(that means) the very second you brought your left foot up,
you should have already shifted into 2nd gear.
So while launching, my only thought was shift into 2nd,
bring your foot up on the foot peg now ...
shift to 2nd, shift to 2nd.
2nd gear brought the next issue (either) leaning forward enough to hold the front end down,
or back off the throttle (I loved & hated that part).
I flat shifted 3rd (& while the front wheel would come up) my next thought was watch the rpm.
4th as easy, just keep it pointed in the right direction & stay low.
5th was, hang on & hope the front wheel doesn't wobble (I never lost it, but that put the fear of God in me) that thing was as evil & treacherous as trying ride that (hinged in the middle) feeling of trying to go through any mild turn.
I could have shaved 2 mm off the intake side of the piston skirts, bought bigger carbs, bought low loss chain & sprockets, improved that nasty swing arm, & more, but I decided "that's it"!!!
Crazy, fun, scary, & thrilling all rolled into one insane ride.
Ditto on the Wirges chambers. Seems Denco was the popular choice(maybe because they were chromed?). I trashed the air box and put on K&N's. I also added cast wheels-but I can't recall the make, maybe Lesters, but I'm not sure. The wheel kit included a rear disc brake set-up. Those phosphate and oil coated chambers began to rust out almost immediately, so I had them chromed, and added a Dunstall 1/2 fairing, but that was just vanity. Good memories but wish I'd kept the original pipes. You could take a pretty nice vacation for what those original pipes are worth nowadays.
@@onethumbpicker Is it possible to ditch the oil injection system, and just mix the oil into the gas manually?
@@BEEBEE159 Yes, but an automatic oiler was so easy to deal with.
that is a gr8 bike , my first 2-stroke was a Yamaha RD 350 ,THAT was a sick little bike , that got me hooked on 2-strokes 4 life (everyone said it sounded like a chainsaw on steroids )perfect comparison !that was a blast to drive EVERY DAY !
RD250 here back in the day..modded, ported ect.. used to race harleys with that thing....sudden powerband on those as well.
I owned a Mach III back in the early 70’s. I graduated from high school in 1972. It was wicked fast. I loved riding it through our small town at high RPMs so it would howl off the building walls. Unfortunately it had a drum front brake like Jay mentioned. It wouldn’t stop for anything as I once found out. I took the bike out to a newly paved stretch of road and whacked the throttle open until my courage ran out. What a thrill. When I came up to the stop sign I blew right through it because the drum brake couldn’t stop the bike. Jay is right. Only guys riding a Nortons wanted to race me.
I had a Mach III from 1970 to 1972. I sold it after I got stationed overseas. Still wish I has mine.
Very cool, Jay! Insane HP for track use, much less greasy street riding on that amazing H2. Nice blue Mach IV. In the 70's, the cafe style Kawi 2T triples with expansion chambers literally terrorized the public, even other motorcyclists. We called the H2 the Flexy Flier up at Alice's in Nor Cal. It wanted to thrill you, then kill you. I rode and raced RD400s and I sure the miss the great, simple bikes. Thanks for the tip on the K. Cameron H2 write-up - he increases the intelligence of the reader.
I once had Kawasaki 500 cc two stroke triple , .. and a RD 350 Yamaha... Great Video.!!
Jay, look into a Yamaha RD-400. The handling is there!
It's smaller, but the handling is simply amazing!
I was able to coast, in gear, hands off the handlebars,
for well over a quarter mile. No "Kawasaki headshake" was
detected.
Oh, "compression ratio," You're talking about "Static"
compression ratio. Expansion chambers change the WHOLE
theory! As do decent reed valves.
Let me know if you want some clarification.
steve
Jay is so ( genuinely..not just "briefed" ...knowledgable, just spectacularly wonderful to listen to.
thank you for this segment. the 350 was my weapon of choice in 1977.I think it was the s2.drum brakes and leaky carbs. absolutely awesome to ride.
the S2 was my favorite! Mine was a 1972 - same stying as the H2. You will probably remember the KH400 that replaced it around 1975 I think or maybe 74.
Jay,
You gave me a ride back in time. Yes, I had the exact same bike you rode. Even the same color. Some guy was selling one locally and I just figured I'd take it for a ride and not buy it. Just wanted to test ride it. Two days later I called him and he still had it. I bought it. I had a lot of fun on that bike. My buddies, with their Triumphs would leave me at the light since the H2 had no bottom end, as you know. A few seconds later I flew by them like a rocket. AND, they always yelled at me because the H2 left oil spots on their face shields. i thought they were just poking fun at me until one day they pulled over and cleaned off their face shields. Yelling at me at the time, I looked at what they were doing and saw the oil spots. Oh My ! I sold the H2 and bought my 1972 Triumph (high frame) Bonneville. Yet another bike I wish I still had.
Thanks for the ride
Barry
Both bikes are awesome but I'd rather be riding the vintage H2. Great video.
Hah! Jay’s 72 has an aftermarket steering damper. I put one of those on my 72 Mach IV when I got into a high speed oscillation at 100 mph. I got a tire recall notice shortly after that, saying to not exceed 80 mph until they replaced the tires.
What a great bike! I wish I still had mine.
My neighbor had one when I lived in revere mass. We moved when I was 5 so this was 1979. I’ll never forget just staring at that bike. Still to this day, motorcycles just do it for me.