The TWO STROKE every collector WANTS is SKYROCKETING! 

I worked at Mecum Pontiac-Buick, Marengo, IL in 1974 and bought Eddie Mecum Jr.’s 1973 blue Kawasaki 350. A friend owned a Copper colored Kawasaki 750. One night I got a flat rear tire on my bike and he let me ride his 750 home. He said “what ever you do, make sure you’re leaning over the gas tank when you roll the throttle open.” He wasn’t kidding…. Front wheel would come off every time. The 350 would do the same at 5K RPMs but that 750 was a beast!

A friend of mine bought one of these in '72. He took me for a ride and was doing wheelies at 70 MPH. Last time I rode with him.

Still have my 1973 H1 Kawasaki 500. I raced it at Daytona in 1976 in amature class.

I’m 66 and I had the honor in my lifetime to drive 2 GOAT bikes , the 1972 Kawasaki 350 triple and the 1976 Yamaha RD 400c ( Canadian version, Black,White and Gold). I really miss those days of 2 strokes smokin in the morning, warming up, farting and popping to clear their throats. I was 20 when I bought the RD, brand new, learned very quickly what a true power band can do if you don’t have a good grip on the handlebars. Took on all comers, even the Honda 750’s were no match. Only the new ‘76 Z-1 900’s walked away, but off the pop the 400 still led till the big torque machine reeled me in. Good times 👍🇨🇦

Bought a used (2,000 miles) ‘74 in ‘75, it came more alive with Denco pipes added. June of ‘76 rode 4,400 miles in 14 days, touring the West Coast from Seattle to LA, then East to Albuquerque, Broke a spoke @ 100+ one week after returning home. abraded about 17% of my surface area, thought I’d gotten lucky to survive. Found out in 2004 I had broken C-5 vertebra in my neck. I spent three months rebuilding it ( added another disc brake in front, Progressive fork internals, bronze swingarm bushing, after market shocks, some porting on the heads, etc. Put 30,000 miles on it, got tired of being ticketed for speeding/ loud exhausts. Sold it and bought the last Honda 750 Interceptor for sale in Seattle in April of 1983.

It was February 1995. I’m 14 years old, out in my garage piddling with a GS400 I managed to trade some beans for when the phone rings. It’s my buddy, and he says “I found an H2! I’m buying it for $200!”. Now my buddy had no business buying an H2, and didn’t have two dimes to rub together, so I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. I gave him my running GS as a finders fee so that I could buy the beast. Two days later I had an all original 1972 widow maker sitting in my garage. It literally needed nothing but an air filter and battery to run. The previous owner had drained the tank and carbs before putting it away so everything was pristine. After a few stabs at that long kicker she burbled to life. I turned my hat backwards and headed down to the end of my street, which was about 5 houses down. I spun that sucker around and let her rip, and was astonished to blast past 60 mph as I passed my house! The growl that came from that machine had me instantly hooked. What a rush! After convincing my ridiculously cool dad to put a plate on it for me I spent the entire summer ripping up backroads in the rural area I lived in. One of the best memories of my life. Been chasing it ever since!

Way back in 1975 a guy in Melbourne Australia had a speedway sidecar outfit and it had two 750triples bolted together jam packed into a speedway sidecar frame, there's still guys about who would remember this outfit and the owner of it was Allen Forest it was wicked ,never got to race it but the technology to join two at the crank was ahead of it's time, way to go kwaka

I learned and owned it at seventeen 750 H2 1974 model the vibration was sic in lower gears did not start to smooth out till about 55mph. I worked at freehold raceway (race horses) There was a stretch of highway on the way to the track every morning I would open it up it was only about a 3 mile stretch to the 1st exit. I remember my back sprocket looking like the ocean that bike had so much torque!!! Great memories.

The blue -72 with Denco pipes are my dream bike.

I rode one as a young bike mechanic in the early 80s. Just synchronized the carbs and took it for a test ride, I was 18! Amazing experience.

Love your videos. Love you passion for bikes, two strokes included. I just bought a 1972 H2 750 today and I am very excited! You helped me with my buying decision so I would like to say thank you! Can’t wait till the snow melts here in Anchorage and I can ride it!

Had an h2 in 1972.I'm now 74 and still miss that bike!

My dad has a ‘72 750. Turned it into a dirt drag bike bored .100 over. Ported and polished heads, 3 42mm Lectron carbs. Was the bike to beat back in the day! Still has it too, hoping to get her back competing soon!

If you ever driven, heard or seen one of the Kawa 2T triples on the road.... you understand why they are so sought after. I know, I have one!🥰

The 73 was my favorite. The tail piece, the color and the overall look does it for me. Had one in the early 80s and naturally wish I never would’ve sold it.😢

I'm stoked and stroked!!! I can't believe all the comments on 350 Triples,......I'm 64 years old and in 1977 I was 18 years old and bought a 72 Kawa 350 Triple Two stroke! Beat up as it was I was stalking Big 650 and 750 four strokers and crushing their egos and machines with a twist of the throttle I would pull wheelies in 1rst ,second, and third gear !!! at about 7 to 9000 rpm !! Bikers would pull up to me after each race and blurt out, what in the hell is that (thang)! and how is it so quick ??? Still think about em all the time,!

Brings back memory's, Bought one in a basket $20.00 (lol really parts in a basket( blew roller bearing rod). Got new parts, case was still good, rebuilt it around $100.00 back in the day. scared me, don't remember what I traded it for next. Had a lot of cars and bikes like that if I had kept in a barn I would be rich today.

Rode one in my teens. Just crazy fun beyond belief! Drove one in 1975, never ending throttle. Didn't matter what gear you were in, 1st-2nd was rear-end gone. 3-4 even 5th gear was a "crank at your own risk" . The new crotch rockets you know what to expect. This beasty was definitely a sleeper. Only reason I'm still alive is because of a worn down tread on rear on gravel. The KZ regular 4 strokes were wild. The 2-stroke 750 was pure insanity!

Had the pleasure to own two of them, both 350 cc, a 1972 and 1973. The ‘73 had front disc brakes. The ‘72 had drums front and back.

In 1974, I bought a new H1 500cc and loved it. I put three expansion chambers with silencers on it. I loved it.

When I started riding in the mid 1970s, The Kawasaki 2-Stroke Triples were everywhere. Along with the Suzuki triples.

A friend let me ride his new 500 triple in about 1973 or 74. He said be careful. I was 15 weighed about 90 pounds. Got on it and butt went straight to back of seat and only holding on by hands. Couldn't get off gas until it quit pulling in 1st gear. That was all I wanted. Took it back and got off. LOL

I rode triple air cooled 2 strokes of both Kawasaki and Suzuki back in the day as a bike shop mechanic helping to support my MX days. Even the later water cooled buffalo. I owned all of them for various lengths of time and sadly sold them for what I thought was a greener pasture to support the newest and greatest MX bike purchase at that time. A GT 380 Suzuki, and an H1 500 Kaw were the only street bikes to make me ever consider I might just have entered into a high-speed back flip wheelie because I got a little too cocky. Made it through both events unharmed but it did make me consider more things. Very cool bikes and I wish I still had them. To me at that time they were just really heavy versions of the dirt bikes I raced at the time with street style suspension but would wheelie like crazy after 10 minutes of figuring out their balance and power characteristics. Years later I got dumb again and bought a new VFR 700 Interceptor and within minutes of straddling that bike I was on the back tire in first through high gear at 100 mph and then it hit me..... you can't do 200 pound dirt bike stuff with a 700 pound street bike on the street in traffic. Well, I did it because I didn't have a dirt bike at the time that would wheelie to 100 mph and run 160 on the interstate with shorts and a t shirt with no helmet. Back then it was "hey you wanna race?" .... run what you brung type of thing on a day when you wanted a leisurely weekend ride to town for a coke and a hamburger..... No "hold on, let me go gear up" was an option. A 280 z that was supposed to be hot at the time was left behind at 120 What was then a hot item 600 Hurricane was left behind at 130. And a straggler on a 1000 Hurricane that wanted to know wtf, got scared at 140 and lifted. After we all caught at the next exit, I also realized that in the process of that manly adrenaline ladened feat of many poor decisions. I passed a semi-truck and trailer while in the left lane at well more than twice his speed. I could have been killed by a simple pebble coming out of his tire going through me like a bullet. A tire blow out, ... anything at 160 on a bike in that condition can kill you before you even realize you're too stupid to understand you just killed yourself. After that I sold it and lived to tell the tale. I should probably be dead by now given all the dumb stuff back then, but I got away with it. Now I just gotta find a KX 500 and H2 to rinse and repeat at nearly 60 years of age lol.

Very interesting and unbelievable prices but they were and still iconic motorcycle and I still want to ride one one day never had the chance in all my 50 years! One day I will! ❤

I rode an H1 and an H2 to high school in 1973 and 1974. I still own a 1970 500 and a 1975 750. Neither has been restored but I've owned the '75 750 since new and it's never been started.

I have a H1. Its a blast to ride. Nothing like it. I plan on doing a rebuild on the crankshaft in 2024 to get back to top performance. Nothing like a two stroke triple.

I had acquired one of the little brothers ,(the 350 triple) in a trade along with a 900 Z-1, both bikes were sitting in a storage facility unit under piles of boxes. Both had under 600 miles

I'm 54. When I turned 16 I went from the dirt to the pavement and never looked back. At 16 I had the 400 not the 750. 2 stroke 3 banger. Loved that bike

I owned a 1972 candy blue h2, it was a handful to ride

Had one, Death trap, speed wobbles, wheelies, ir did it all. Always wondered what it would be like to have this engine in a good handling chassis.

I had a H1 500 and found out about the powerband the hard way, was out riding with my friends they on their Harleys and me on the H1 we all took off from a bend in the road I hit 7200 on the tach and the front wheel came Stright up. needless to say, i did not make the bend but hit a tree. only did slight damage to the front forks. that bike was a lot of fun as long as you respected it.

That H2B was a bargain , here in the UK sound examples are £17k+ . Had two red H2c's back in the day, first one cost £829 with 800 miles on the clock from a dealer.

Bought my '75 H2 750 with Denco motor and chrome chambers for 600.00 .With wheelie bar low 9's. Was beautiful. Sold it in 1982 fo $600.00,not bad, drove for 7 years and broke even! Unfortunatly left $25000.00 on the table! Timing is everything. I won't talk about my Ferrari 250 GTO from Victoria High School 1972, didn't buy for $5200.00 still crying!Left $75,000,000 on the table.

Got a OP purple '75. These things rock!

I wanted a 1970 H1 because I got out of High School that year. I still own my H1 and will never sell it . She's .40 over Weisco's and has Bill Widges chambers.

Had a 73 750 in 1984. Bought used and rebuilt it . Easy to work on. Crazy fast. Had a 500 bought new in 1982 no comparisons to the 750.

Senior in high school.. bought the fifth machine sold by valley motor sport , Northampton ma. 1973 Top speed 128 then it wobbled, nothing was a challenge. Z28 camero dragged and beat without going over break-in rev line . Installed a larger rear sprocket and velocity stacks. Paid $1525.00 Had a gold color. Was clean but crude, had cruise control(hand tighten a screw, no quick release ) cruised at 85 or you ran a lower gear.

Yes i had a 71 blue streak fassssst as hell loved it

Howdy and great vid,...This is funny I just dusted off my 1972 H2, this weekend to go for a squirt and then found this feed! The bike still scares me!

Great videos thanks - I own a 74 - fully restored to new condition like the green one behind you in the video - here in New Zealand - fun bike :)

I still have my 1974 H2, I paid $1875.00 out the door, they call it the window maker, I think it was cycle world called it Evil, Wicked, mean and nasty. I remember taking 1st gear up to 35 mph then hit second gear and you were gone, if it didn’t stand up you weren’t doing it right. I remember other people on bikes I would race saying it was like they just locked up their brakes, my H2 would get it. If you knew this bike and rode it hard it would eat 850 commando’s, that was a fast bike.

Drove a H 1 to high school. It was my first “car”!

Love seeing these bikes. I have a very good condition 1975 S1 250 in blue that I’d be willing to part with for someone trying to put together a set. Thanks again for sharing this. These bikes are beautiful!

I have a 74 H2 race bike and two H1s. They are awesome bikes! fast and scary! Just the way I like it!

That’s front disc..rear drum on those bikes

That is for doing the Great video on these bikes. I’ve buying riding wrenching Kawi triples & big 4’s since the early 70’s & at 67yrs old (and quad bypass later!) still own & ride 2 1974 H1 500 triples & a 78 KZ1000 LTD. Fun bikes to ride out on country roads and to car bike cruise nights too where the old Kawi’s (not 67yr old Kawi riders like me!😜) get a lot of attention. And I’m not afraid to get into them once in a while breaking 100mph!/😳

I had the humble 250 S1C version complete with front drum brake. Awesome sounding, easy to start and super chilled bike to ride, despite the powerband.

I had the 500cc H1 back in the day. It had the double leading shoe front drum brake that faded faster than stop. Loved the sheer acceleration and showing off past the girls school with a wheelie. Handling was non existent so I sold it and bought a Duke. I did ride a 750 H2 but the guy had just polished the seat and it had me reaching for the kill switch as I slide backwards and twisted the throttle trying to hold on.

The 1969 mach lll 500 was the only year with the hot timing, detuning was implemented in 1970 on through the kh series. A second rebuild with decent porting and polish on the 1969 500 model would pull away from a stock 750 triple. In my mind, the true widow maker was the 500cc 1969 mach lll. I owned a 1970, 1971, 1972 and a 1973 mach lll, all of which were 500cc, none of those bikes had the insane power band of the 1969, even though all the info back then stated that detuning did not start untill the 1974 kh series was launched, I don't think this true.

Had a 74 balanced and blueprinted. Bike would screammm. A lot of pissed off guys on their 1000's couldn't believe when I dusted them. Wasn't a good handling bike but in a straight line it hauled ass.

I seriously think that colours are very important on these bikes.

Bought a mint blue 72 in 73 at 18 from a GI on Air Base who never rode it. Wild ride! Nothing since compares. So quick they de-tuned the 73’s (smaller carbs heavier flywheel. 72 was the year to own! Like having a 70 Hemi-Cuda

Had the 400 S3 and even it went fast. Front wheel was easy to pull up

I had an old H2 I rode to class at IU in the early 80's. Loud pipes so I would walk it out of the quad to start it. I rode in snow, on ice and with my first wife on the back. Constantly messing with the points! Then moved to Dallas and got a KZ 1000!

So beautiful

Have the purple one , geesh had to count my fingers , hum 46 years , it sat in the showroom for a year or so forget now getting old 🙂

I have a1973 H2 750 sitting in my barn I would like to rebuild.

Glad I kept the 5 that I own for all these decades.

OMG , I had the purple one 10 years ago , I sold it for a $1,000 . Had I known this I would've kept it. Great content as always, thanks jack

I just acquired 5 - 500 original Triple's ... 3 - 72 500's , 2 - HE1's ...... Canadian vintage .

Road one In 82 in Portland was amazing couldn't get enough

Two days ago on Bring a Trailer auction a 72 blue 750 just like the one I bought brand new for around eleven hundred dollars sold for $25,500. The same thing this one went for.

Love them bikes 👏👍

I rode a 500 when I was 16 back in 1985

Start looking for the 500CC 80's two strokes, going for crazy money. RZ500, RG500, NSR400...

In 1972 I was new discharged from Navy and had dicharge money to throw at a 69 Norton P11 A.....it wasnt stock it had better compression and a harmon collins tigre power cam, it was a badass and I was beating everything in south Fla. 2wheel or 4 wheel...I ran across a 500 tripple that didnt exactly embaress me (stoplight/stoplight) but he ended my evening very early

Had H2 with werges big bore kit and chambers was really quick

I had a 1974 green one and it did screen popped a few willies on this

Good video. Where can a guy get parts for these now.

I am glad these 750 H2 are not around today , because the young riders of today would kill them self's on it . And the only reason the prices are going way to high is the auction houses driving the price up so the can make more cash .12-16k is a respectable price to pay for one that is in original shape . Own two H2, 1- Z1B 900 2-KZ1000 .

Man I wish I still had mine it was blue and it was the fastest bike I’ve ever owned , I sold it dirt cheap back in the 80’s . FML

I can't understand why the later year model H2s are selling for so much money. I can see big bucks for the '72, and maybe the '73 models, but the later year models were choked down so bad by the EPA, they were just a shell of the earlier models...

I had all 3 a350,a 500 and the 750.

I just got my dads 1974 750 Mach 4

Also had a kz 1000

Nearest i got was a 76 Suzuki GT 750

Had the original H2. Now ride the 2nd gen H2 SX SE. Brock modded lol

I'd love one of these from Sam Oates and demi bideford

I've got the 500 needs cosmetic restoration. I'm in NY state wonder what I can get for it lmk if someone is interested

I have a 75 250 triple. A few in Canada. More in the States, but most are in the UK and Europe. I've never seen one at Mecum

My dad bought a brand new brown h2 750 in 1974 and laid it down (NOOB) rider and sold. In 1993 i found a low mile good cond. 1974 brown 750 h2 750 with a parts bike for $ 800 .. Rode it for 2 years and then traded it for a stupid 600 $ mtd mower and 200 $ cash. Im feeling really bad right now.

I had one exactly like the Thumb nail pic . Developed a bad bearing in the crank and just rusted out in my backyard . Wish I would have saved it .

Got my first - 72 H1. Then I just had to have the 72 H2. Looks like I sold them way too cheap.

The baffles were out of the 74's pipes..

Красивый мотоцикл 🏍 👍

The 500 was the widow-maker, Two of my friends had the 750’s , tamer long wheel base. I’d love an early RG500 Suzuki, much better on the track. I’m now the proud owner of a 1981 GSX1100 , if someone has a mint RG500 in Western Australia and interested to trade, get back to me …

My brother in law had the 750, I drove that bike and let me tell you that from a complete stop, once the light turned green it was like a sling shot. Brakes sucked.

I have 2 of them in the day

You think this will slightly bring up RD and Suzuki GT model prices?

Why is your given price $1000 less than the auctioneers announced price ? Also John Kraman called them an H1 ? Maybe the '74 isn't in as good condition as the others, not because of the year.

I can't believe the prices now, back in the day they were just a fun disposable bike, a little under powered but you could fix that

Thanks Jack. What the hell is the auctioneer saying? - I can't understand a word.

Jay Leno has bought them all.

Buddy had one. He would ride off into the sunset on back wheel. Insane power terrible handling.

25 k is small money for a wealthy person who really wants to take it home.

💥 Jack You Got To Stop That Shit 😳 The Widow Maker Was The 1969 H1 500 Not H2 750… If Your Going To Tell It Tell It Right💥

The purple 75 is the rarest of all H2's. The cycledrag commentator on these vids is so incredibly annoying he ruins what is otherwise, good content.

The green 1974 model was in fairly poor condition next to the other three - that's why it was so much cheaper!!! Seems obvious to me.............

The 500 was a better road racer with a 750 swingarm and Brake assembly

Front Drum Rear Disc… ? Rare One Off