Kawasaki H1 Mach III - The OG Widowmaker 

I grew up on H1's. I got my license on my 14th birthday, wheelied away on a blue 1971 model with drag bars and chrome J&R Power Pipes, and never looked back! I had spent the previous couple of years on a 100cc dirt bike, and then pole vaulted straight to the top! My Dad was older and already retired, and bought it for me to ride to school and back, so he could sleep in and go fishing and stuff. He didn't know a thing about motorcycles, and I convinced him it was a "scooter". LOL!. The law held that I was supposed to be restricted to 10 HP until I turned 16, but I decided that 70 HP would be okay if they couldn't catch me 😎. Over the next 20 years or so, I also had a white 1969 model, a red 1970 model, a peacock gray 1970 model, a green 1973 model, a red 1975 model, and a rootbeer 1975 model, all of which I bought myself, with money from mowing yards and working various and full and part time jobs until I got old enough to start a legitimate career. I also owned several Yamaha RD 350's, which were not quite as fast, but were lighter and a bit more "refined" than Triples, and with better brakes and superior handling in the real world situations. And they were plenty exciting enough, especially in the hands of a capable tuner with a die grinder. One of the sweetest hot rod bikes I ever rode was a friend's perfectly built and tuned 1974 RD350, in the gorgeous purple metalflake with white stripes and lettering paint scheme. I even bought one just like it, and spent a small fortune trying to replicate its wonderful and unique power characteristics, but never quite got there. The 1975 rootbeer H1 eventually got a stage 3 engine, compliments of a friend who was a very competent builder/tuner/racer of world record-holding Kawasaki Triple drag bikes, and it was truly an unholy beast. It was what we called a "sleeper" back in the day, meaning it remained street legal and looked as stock as possible, so you could lure unsuspecting suckers into a race and take their money. And oh my! When it came on those black FBG Pro pipes, you had better be hanging on. A few months after I sold it, a fellow nearly died on it when he looped it over backwards in 3rd gear. Apparently he had convinced the next owner - who was much more of a "collector" than he was an experienced or capable rider - that he had ridden lots of Triples, and talked his way into riding it up the street and back. I was told the first thing to hit the ground was the instrument cluster, immediately followed by the headlight and front fender, and that it just got worse from there. The rider left in an ambulance, and the bike went to the motorcycle grave yard. Unfortunately lots of Triples ended up like this, often in the hands of unprepared riders. They didn't call them widowmakers for nothing! I preferred to call them "sprocket rockets" myself. 😄 Sometimes in the early 1990's I moved on to 4-strokes, and am now on bike number 45 or so, but I still miss the old 2-strokes, and I sure do wish I had hung on to a few of them. $$$

I had one H1 in 1971, still have the receipt, just over ONE THOUSAND RAND in South Africa. Everything that was said here is TRUE! Had a few close shaves myself. A deadly machine. Thanks for bringing back those great memories. The ladies loved the speed.

63 year's old and my all-time favourite bike's were 70s Kawasaki triples.

I had a 1973 H1 in that great green color, new off the show room, it was a fantastic machine

Thanks for reminding me of how fabulous the H1‘s were and are. Every morning when I head into the kitchen to get breakfast I am greeted by My H1a which is parked in my lounge. She’s fully functional and faithfully reminds me of better days when being young and alive was everything 🌟

In 1971 I bought an H1 that cost less than a Honda 350 twin and was twice as fast. Marginal brakes and suspension to be sure, but when the light turned green no one could catch you.

I still remember when I picked up my either 550 Suzuki or 750 water buffalo, at Selby motors in Redwood City CA. A person picked up his new H1. Me and my friend watched him fire it up. The cross Street was El Camino Real. He took off and ran right int to the divider between north and south El Camino. Will never forget that.

I miss my 1970 H1

Well now this is a interesting video and a very interesting motorcycle. I owned the 1972 500 triple H1 Kawasaki and then I bought a 75-900cc Z1 Kawasaki. They were both awesome machines and I enjoyed both of them immensely. At that time I didn't care how they handle. I just wanted to go fast.

Stunning Machine👍✌👌

Cool looking bike.

2:40 I am watching the rest of the video and you have done a wonderful job so far! Love it!

Had a 72 and it was perfect, reliable, and fast. Never had any issues with the corners or brakes. Not sure how the reputation came about.

3:26 HEY! No dyno results! Damn .... I hope you can dig up valid ones. We want to know. I like how you indicate how close the torque and horsepower come close together at max revs. That explains a lot about how the old bikes really feel to ride. While ACCIDENTLY "Pinky touching your Baby finger on the HOT stove top while flying eggs. WHOOOH!

I had a 500 Triple in 1970 in high school and for my age I had very high motorcycle riding skill I started out when I was 14 by the time I got to be 18 I was pretty good I think the title Widowmaker is overused they use the same title on high-performance sports cars people that lose it and get hurt or get killed on motorcycles or cars don't have the skill level to match the performance they haven't acquired that and they refused to take lessons or learn

Both Cycle World and Cycle Guide magazines liked it quite a bit at the time. It looked like nothing else at the time, and I think they asked an American auto stylist to come up with the look of it , Ceriani style thin forks, ss tight fitting fenders,slim gas tank , 2-1 muffler placing, popular in racing at the time

Did you say, "Kawasaki invented the two Stroke Engine"? I would be proud, I am obviously a fan of those exciting triples.

Sorry for my overwhelming enthusiasm for the quality and accuracy and beauty of this video. I get carried away like my old bike used to do away with me.. One last burning question if it's not too personal. I'm Canadian. (Toronto). I paid $1349 CDN in 1971 for an ORANGE "72. $1.75 an hour. Sheesh! 17, May I please ask what country are you working from? Your voice is good, man.

Look at the auction yards today, full of smashed up motorcycles. Today’s motorcycles handle so well but there are still so many hopeless owners.

The Japanese are built different!🤘❤

You know, so far I didn’t hear one single comment , what made the 500 so dangerous

Had an H2; wild! Great in a straight line. Horrible on the corners, vibrated, did not stop well, and balance was not good.

😅

Stop calling this fantastic H1 the widow maker. If one is a total Moran, you don’t belong on this bike. I’m 76 years old and my 72 500 is my favorite, compared to my 75 900 Kawasaki.