Bike Envy: Kawasaki H2 Mach IV "The Widowmaker"

BIKEENVY

Feast your eyes my friends. Although the good book specifically forbids coveting thy neighbor's possessions, I'm afraid this beautiful example of Kawasaki's 2-Stroke H2 Mach IV hath made me a sinner. In a recurring segment that I'm tentatively calling BIKE ENVY, I'd like to bring you the strange and wonderful motorcycles I see around town so that we might all be able to ride vicariously through these awesome machines.

Go on, swing a mental leg over this blue beauty and settle into that 70's feeling. Now start her up and head out on the open road, but say a quick prayer as you do, because this bike's 74 horses are bottled up in very narrow power-band, and if you're not extremely delicate with the throttle, the sudden stampede may overwhelm the frame in a corner or lift the front to the sky on a straight. Such misbehavior earned the H2 Mach IV the nickname "widowmaker" and cemented the bike in motorcycle infamy while introducing many a rider to the cement.

Yet another Kawasaki to compete for title of fastest thing on two wheels on race tracks and in backyard debates, it was introduced in 1971, a time in which the 750 cc race class was gaining in popularity and British and Italian bikes were dominant. The H2 proved that the Japanese were worthy challengers. A top speed of 126 mph and a standing quarter mile time of 12 seconds were made possible by the 748 cc inline three-cylinder two-stroke mill and a power-to-weight ratio of 1 hp to 5.7 lbs.

The production run of the H2 was short. From 1971 to 1975 it underwent small tweaks to reduce power and improve handling, which makes the earlier models even more sought after, despite their inherent danger. Noise and pollution regulations essentially ended the era of the big 2-stroke sportsbike, but the H2 lives on in pristine examples such as this as well as in the name of Kawasaki's current hyperbike, the supercharged H2R.

Keep an eye out for these rare beasts and if you have the fortune of seeing one in person, you'll understand the depth of my BIKE ENVY. This particular bike was spotted outside one of LA's legendary motorcycle hangouts, The Rock Store. Stay posted for more installments of "BE" as I run into a spectrum of fascinating 2-wheeled machines both in LA and Kobe. For now, here are some H2 Mach IV specs for you to enjoy.

Production Run - 1971-1975
Power - 74 hp @ 6800 rpm
Torque - 57.1 ft/lbs @ 6500 rpm
Weight - 423 lbs 
Engine - 748 cc, air-cooled, Inline-3, 2-stroke
Transmission - 5-speed, chain driven
Top Speed - 126 mph
0-60 mph - 5 sec
Standing 1/4 mile - 12 sec

Location: 30354 Mulholland Hwy, Cornell, CA 91301, USA

Comments

  1. TheHozzApril 6, 2021 at 12:59 PM

    Awesome concise info! Are you a fanboy by chance...?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jacob "Kobu" RippensApril 6, 2021 at 1:44 PM

    Thanks Mr. Hozz! Always reassuring to know at least one person is reading.

    ReplyDelete

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