Kawasaki

Top Five All Time Favorite Production bikes. Third of Five. 1969/70 Kawasaki H1 2 stroke.

You just know I’d have to get a 2 stroke in here.  It’s my first passion after all.  But this one was really tough for me.  Ordinarily it’d be a snap.  Just put up a picture of a TZ750 and call it a day.  But while the TZ was technically a “production” bike it was hardly common much less street legal.   I could go with an RZ500 but it’s a non-US bike.  RZ350?  Maybe.. I do love them but they’re hardly “iconic” so no.  I’m also a huge fan of the Yamaha RD350 and 400 series bikes but they’re not very inspiring when completely stock so in fairness I have to scratch them.  Then there’s the entire Suzuki T and GT lineup which is quite impressive and brilliantly engineered but no one bike grabs me.

That leaves the Kawasaki triples which could win as a category but in fairness I should pick just one.  I personally own and much prefer the late model H1 500’s to the H2 750’s.  And my ideal bike is an H2 engine in an H1 chassis (I’m actually building one). But again that’s not “production”.  So which way to turn?  It’s very close. While I’m very tempted to go with the gorgeous purple 75 H2 (it is a stunner) I have to go with the first in the series that set the tone.  The 1969 / 1970 first generation Kawasaki H1.  Just a stunner of a motorcycle for it’s day and indeed,ANY day.

Reader Ride. One Hell Of a Nice KZ400 Cafe Racer.

Jeff from Billet Proof Customs sends in some pics of this trick Build. Lots of great touches.  Do yourself a favor and go check out the rest of his build over on his website.  The attention to detail is outstanding!

Jeff Writes in:

Hey man,
Cool blog, cool pics. I am an automotive artist as well as a custom bike
builder, please feel free to check out my Kawi kz400 Cafe Racer on my
website. www.billetproofcustoms.com


Thanks man,
Jeff

Thanks You Jeff! Really great ride!

Reader Ride! Kawasaki Zephyr 550. One of my Favorites!

 I’ve always had a soft spot for the Kawasaki Zephyr line of bikes. A very refined version of the original Z and KZ line.

Zach Brandt writes in:

Hi, been a fan of your page for the last couple of months. Thought I’d send in a few pics of my Zephyr 550 project bike. Started out as a homely old craigslist find that I learned to ride on. Project originally intended to just be a fork rebuild and new chain then tuned out to what you see here. I had a lot fun picking everything out, but I could have never anticipated the amount of admiration this little thing gets. Keep up the good work on your page!

Thanks Zach!

The before Pic!

Reader Ride. Georgous Kawasaki Z1 Restoration.

Mike sends in these beautiful restoration shots of his well traveled Z1.
He Writes:


Hi,
Thought I’d send pics of my old baby for your blog …

Brought the bike over with me from the UK. Finally decided to do a complete restore thinking it’d cost about $3k … $10k+ later … couldn’t ride it because she was so very pretty.
Sold it after 500 miles but will forever cherish the personal challenge. Screws were self cleaned and re-plated or re-chromed like stock. All parts powder coated. Engine black coat was baked on in my kitchen oven (yes, I was single!). Basically went through what we all go through when it comes to our toys.
Cheers
Michael

Fantastic Work!  Don’t know how you could let a beauty like that go.  Thanks Much!

Reader Submittal. Outstanding Kawasaki H2 Restomod / Rescue

Joe Byrd sends in this fantastic :save: of a classic Kawasaki!  Having been down this road a few times with Kawasaki Triples myself I can attest to what a fantastic job this is.

Joe Writes:

Steve
After you posted pix of my H1A and my CR500R, you said to let you know about the next one.

My H2 750 Triple
You can see the before and after;
I purchased the “bike-in-a-box” early last fall with the intent of rebuilding it over the winter.  The build got off to a late start but by June I had it running.

I call it a rebuild and not a restoration because I just wanted a nice looking, nice running H2 to ride, I did not want a bike too nice to ride. I think it has worked out as planned.

Every part needed something. I did all the work myself with the exception  of the powder coating, some machine work (requiring special machines) and applying the paint base coat and clear coat. The painter wanted nothing to do with the decals.

I only bought new parts when I did not have the part or when I could not rebuild the existing part in a satisfactory manner.

I made a lot  parts I did not have or could not get, having access to a machine shop is a great thing.

I seemed like everything that should have taken a minute, took an hour and everything that should have taken an hour, took a week.

I replaced every bearing and seal.  I installed a rebuilt crank  and new pistons in new bores.  It got a new clutch and I had enough transmission parts to build one with minimal wear. And as always, H2 transmissions require careful  shimming.
       
I have ridden it about 600 miles so far, I have fixed a few nits and niggles. It took a while but now I have the jetting spot on. And it is running  like a strong H2 with no issues.

The first week I had it running, I rode it to a large cruiser extravaganza and entered the 750  in the bike show. Though there were quite a number of metric customs, the H2 won first place in the Asian category!