CLASSICS
WORDS AND PHOTOS:
Rhys Jones
Left: Model launch 1969
of three-cylinder two-strokes that carved
out an almost unchallenged niche for raw-
boned, fire breathing road and race bikes.
KAWASAKI
TRIPLES
I
n the 120 years since the first motorcycle
was brought to New Zealand, the late
1960s and 70s will likely be remembered
as the most innovative and significant of all.
It is the period when industry dominance
was shifting from Europe to Japan. The
British had almost abandoned the small
bike market, leaving the Japanese firmly
in control… but the big bike market was a
different matter. Triumph, Norton, and BSA
all had big bikes with enviable reputations.
In 1969, however, the Japanese fired a potent
opening shot, serving as a warning to the
revered big British twins. This was of course
Honda’s, four-cylinder CB750. It took only
three years for Kawasaki to catch up with its
1973 900 Z1. It was bigger, by 167cc, faster,
and became known as ‘The King’. The game
was on.
But at the same time something else
occurred, which seemed not to reflect
what was happening with the big four-
stroke machinery. Kawasaki launched the
two-stroke 500 H1 in 1968. First of a family
In 1970 Ginger Molloy, riding an H1R, split
the two MV Agustas of Giacomo Agostini
and Angelo Bergamonti to take second
place in the 500cc World Championship. It
would be another five years before Agostini
switched to Yamaha and became the first
500 World Champion riding a two-stroke.
Although two-strokes dominated racing
from that point on, clouds were beginning
to gather over their future as a road-going
motorcycle.
The Kawasaki H1, or Mach 111 as it was also
called, was clearly built for the performance
stakes, especially focusing on acceleration.
The standing quarter-mile of 12.95secs with
a terminal speed of 163.2km/h compares
favourably with the Suzuki T500 which
clocked the quarter-mile at 14.2secs with a
terminal speed of 140.8km/h. The Kawasaki
recorded a top speed of 176km/h, although
some sources claim 193km/h. The Suzuki hit
166.4km/h.
H1R race bike engine detail