By the mid 1960s, Japanese manufacturers were breaking free of the small displacement scooter successes and establishing their reputation in more sporty, larger displacement machinery. Catering to the American buyer and the global hooligan market, their first offering was the H1 of 1969, a 500cc two stroke with 60bhp in less than 400 lbs. The triple quickly became known as the Widowmaker with explosive power delivery in a woefully inadequate frame and marginal brakes. What fun! So, this needed development. Obviously more ccs and more power were the logical step.
Introduced in 1971, the H2 smashed the top hooligan awards with 750cc of 2-stroke mayhem. The Widowmaker baton had been passed and phrases like “Zero to death in three seconds’ adorned the pages of the motorcycle press. If you could keep the front wheel down, it would cover the ¼ mile in just 12 seconds.
The second year, 1972 Kawasaki H2 on offer here was recently liberated from long-term collection. Meticulously restored in its original Pearl Candytone Blue, the bike was just re-commissioned for the sale. The bike is in as excellent condition mechanically as it is cosmetically. The bike starts easily and rides exceptionally well with an engine that feels taut. It shifts perfectly through all gears with a very nice clutch action. Brakes, suspension and all electrical work as they should. There is no joking in the Widowmaker nickname, the bike has oodles of 2-stroke power with a comical power curve. An absolute blast!
Engine Number H2E24481
Frame Number H2F24272
Location: Ventura, California
