My latest consideration

For my second bike to run alongside my Superduke. This week has been the turn of my boyhood fantasy. I owned a few triples in the 80's but never the H2c and so I have a few to go look at this week. This one was the nearest to me but also the most overpriced. Was immaculate though and 100% original. Respect to the shop - they let me start it up inside and within a few minutes the whole place was full of blue 2stroke haze. Bit of a little end rattle but nothing too bad. Forgot how much high pitch ring you get from those big air-cooled fins, it's noisy, not just the exhaust note.

Good find mate.
How much do they want for it?
I remember thrashing these things around the back streets and in the day they were mad to ride - ahhh the good ol days

Well, this last H2c model was the best handling of all the triples with a lengthened swing arm and revised front geometry. But really the myths about the handling have all been a bit exaggerated over the years I think. I suspect that fitting a pair of modern rear shocks and some modern tyres would really transform the way these bikes ride.

Anyway, I wouldn't be going out trying to ride fast corners on something like this like I used to, that's what the SD would be for.

Going to see another one on Monday, exactly like this but three grand cheaper.

Needs chambers and green metal flake paint

Not exactly a relaxing ride though...
Had a 750 water buffalo and rz350lc for many years so I get it but don't think I would be going back there now, prefer 4 strokes...

If I went up this particular memory lane I would look for the Suzuki kettle which I think was also a 750 (GT750) but with 4 pots instead of three. With a decent set of expansion chambers I think it was the sweetest sounding of the road going two strokes because it was all exhaust and little engine noise. Add in some clip-ons, rearsets and a decent paint job and you can make a stylish entry to any hedgerow growing on the outside of a bend near you.

Nostalgia is a funny thing though, every time I actually ride a bike of that vintage the vibration, shite brakes and general all round crapness of function are what I notice and I always end up feeling they are better left as happy memories than returned to the garage. Each to their own though so happy hunting

Yep, a mate recently bought a restored 750 K2 coz he used to own one in the 70's.
He swears they used to go, stop and turn a lot better back then.....

GT380s 550s and 750s were all triples too. Warble,warble, was the noise they made. The smaller ones were water cooled and had this thing called, "Ram Air" which was basically a bit of sheet metal folded over the top of the cylinderso direct the airflow better, hi-tec times ha ha.

If I go back to a mid seventies stroker it's for the noise, smell and shiny metal to polish not for excellent road handling. Nothing to shine on my SD.

A coupla years ago I put a two stroke back into a stall and screamed it around local blasts. I was so excited I forgot how screamie they are. I told my wife that its a different type of motor, it's a two stroke. She said, semi under her breath," I've been calling you that for years". A two pump chump on three pump junk.

I almost bought a 500 kawa triple a few years ago, but the seller refused to let it go. Still want one, some day.....

I resurrected a bunch of these, both 500's and 750's. I bought every wrecked one I could find and there were many. New riders usually didn't make it a week without getting chewed up and spit off. Many got scared and couldn't get back aboard. They truly were evil handling and often landed off wheelie crossed up tossing the rider in a high side. I have my memories and no desire or nostalgia to own one again. After all I spent decades fixing up other peoples cast off junk so I can now endulge myself with the best.

I'd a 500 in the mid 70s. I loved it but I was living in Richmond VA, not sure I went round any corners on it but I didn't crash it! I put a bigger rear sprocket on it to make it even more wheelie prone.( I was 20 at the time and obviously indestructible ). I do remember running out of fuel a few times and having to push it to the nearest gas station.

This was me in the early eighties, fag in me gob, relaxing on my 400 S3. I loved that bike!

I have no illusions about what the H2 is as a motorcycle. It's what it is. But I always wanted one and am in the position to aquire one so I might. Let's see.

Here's another picture in colour. I resprayed it like this, purple was THE colour to be!! Before, in the above black and white picture it was kind of metallic brown with a red stripe and black lettering.

I'd love to have one in my garage

Gorgeous! Good luck on Monday!

Norbo's got a nice one

http://rdlccrazy.proboards.com/thread/2 ... 750-120bhp

Good choice for investment as well as pleasure , never had a kwak triple , always a Yamaha man

Just put me lc and TDR back on the road , nowt but trouble , lol


Mike

Blimey that's a tricky one! I'd go for the 500

H2...

Fondly remember hearing a modified one for about 15 minutes before it showed up. Open race chambers
Was a h2 in a white h1 chassis, z1 front end, wider 18" front wheel, Tracy glass seat/tank in green, and the motor "lightened" ... Was quite a sight and sound

Tracy seat for those that don't know...

My preference would be for a good nick original over a restored model, patina and the rest of that crap.
Failing that its a Kwaka, even though you love purple (really?) it has to be green and like you say not quite so common. as the H2.
Tracy Kawasaki's were definitely an acquired taste.

H1