Kawasaki H1 1971

[ChrisW]

I always expect these bikes (excuse the generalisation) to be smaller, and then you see them with the rider on for perspective.

[Skub]

I always expect these bikes (excuse the generalisation) to be smaller, and then you see them with the rider on for perspective.

They are quite a bit scaled down from modern stuff in some respects. Things such as the fuel tank are more dinky because they're not half airbox!

Not the best comparison,but you can see the fuel tank sitting much higher on the Zed. The seat height is similar on them both,an easy both feet flat on the ground.

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[Mr. Dazzle]

Pretty sure I saw one of these out and about in Kent today.

Two stroke triple (based on the number of exhausts and the sound) with Kawasaki on the tank. Didn't get a proper look cause I was driving and it was overtaking. Had the same purple colour scheme as some of the bikes posted above.

Have to say, it sounded bloody awful to these ears

[Skub]

Pretty sure I saw one of these out and about in Kent today.

Two stroke triple (based on the number of exhausts and the sound) with Kawasaki on the tank. Didn't get a proper look cause I was driving and it was overtaking. Had the same purple colour scheme as some of the bikes posted above.

Have to say, it sounded bloody awful to these ears

The cacophony is an acquired taste.

[cheb]

Pretty sure I saw one of these out and about in Kent today.

Two stroke triple (based on the number of exhausts and the sound) with Kawasaki on the tank. Didn't get a proper look cause I was driving and it was overtaking. Had the same purple colour scheme as some of the bikes posted above.

Have to say, it sounded bloody awful to these ears

We'll hunt you down for that comment. Once the smoke's cleared a bit.

[Druid]

Pretty sure I saw one of these out and about in Kent today.

Two stroke triple (based on the number of exhausts and the sound) with Kawasaki on the tank. Didn't get a proper look cause I was driving and it was overtaking. Had the same purple colour scheme as some of the bikes posted above.

Have to say, it sounded bloody awful to these ears

The cacophony is an acquired taste.

In the same way as sprouts are?

[Skub]

Three out of four indicators stopped working when I was out today,investigation showed a broken earth wire in all three non functional blinkers.
What's the odds of that happening? Certainly a new one on me to have three fail simultaneously.

[Yorick]

I've lost track of which is your favourite??

[Skub]

I've lost track of which is your favourite??

I daren't say,one might fall out with me.


Probably still Mr.Blue......

[Yorick]

I've lost track of which is your favourite??

I daren't say,one might fall out with me.

Any big differences?

[Skub]

It's an odd thing that two bikes essentially the same aside from cosmetics should be much different.

Blue has a slightly more manic 6k-8.5k rush,probably because they put an airbox snorkel on Mr.Orange to quieten the induction noise. They also dropped the main jets down a size.

Handling wise Orange feels like a bigger bike,a bit more vague at speed and the front disc is better than the shoes on Blue.

I think I'm also more 'careful' with Orange because it's in such good nick,whereas Blue gets ragged more because it's not as perfect,so I'm more relaxed on it because of me more than the bikes.

I'd be hard pushed to choose if I had to sell one.

[Yorick]

It's an odd thing that two bikes essentially the same aside from cosmetics should be much different.

Blue has a slightly more manic 6k-8.5k rush,probably because they put an airbox snorkel on Mr.Orange to quieten the induction noise. They also dropped the main jets down a size.

Handling wise Orange feels like a bigger bike,a bit more vague at speed and the front disc is better than the shoes on Blue.

I think I'm also more 'careful' with Orange because it's in such good nick,whereas Blue gets ragged more because it's not as perfect,so I'm more relaxed on it because of me more than the bikes.

I'd be hard pushed to choose if I had to sell one.

Lucky bugger to have this situation

[Skub]

It took 10 months of waiting,but I finally got my refurbed stator back from a triple specialist. Some before and after pics.

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[mangocrazy]

Cracking job - he's had the base plated blasted and zinc passivated and done a lovely job on the rewind and the wiring. Better than new, I'd say.

[ZRX61]

One thing I remember from my triples was the rainbows from Two-Squeak oil deposits behind the bike on a wet road as you sat at a red light with the bike idling

[ChrisW]

Looks to be a properly well done job.

[Skub]

I've had an original plated airbox to put on for about a year now,but two carbs have to come off to get the box in and out,so since the bike has been consistently running sweet,up to now I haven't bothered to fix what isn't broken.

Lately the centre pot has been slower than the other two on cold starting,it chimes in after about 10 seconds or so. The bike runs perfectly when warm,no low speed bother,so I suspected the cold running/choke system. There's a very fine hole in the float bowl which allows extra fuel when the choke plunger is raised. I didn't see anything obvious,but poked a 10 thou E string down the hole and gave it a good blowing out with compressed air just to be sure. Hopefully sorted,or I'm looking elsewhere for the problem. Too late and too wet to drag it out for a start. Maybe tomorrow.

I checked the carb sync while I was in there and happily it was spot on.

On the early 69-71 H1s the airbox rubbers come in 3 sections with metal inserts and clamps. This is a job best tackled if you aren't in a hurry anywhere,or if you very much enjoy a challenge. Twat of a job. It's a bit easier on later H1s as the rubbers are one piece.

72 on airbox - black and 69-71 airbox - plated.

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Job jobbed.

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[Dixiethedog]

The triple is beautiful. I have to admit to have never been a 2 stroke fan, back in my day when a lot of lads (friends)had 250LC's I always wanted big 4 cylinder bike(zed, GS,GSX) but I can appreciate 2 strokes now.
A neighbour of mine recently had the chance of a smaller KH250 from a decesased estate which sadly did not work out. Otherwise that would have ended up in my shed. I am gutted in a way as I would have loved to have been involved and learnt new things from it. But your bike is stunning.

[Skub]

The triple is beautiful. I have to admit to have never been a 2 stroke fan, back in my day when a lot of lads (friends)had 250LC's I always wanted big 4 cylinder bike(zed, GS,GSX) but I can appreciate 2 strokes now.
A neighbour of mine recently had the chance of a smaller KH250 from a decesased estate which sadly did not work out. Otherwise that would have ended up in my shed. I am gutted in a way as I would have loved to have been involved and learnt new things from it. But your bike is stunning.

Cheers,the camera flatters it a little,it's a rider and shows definite signs of that. After my early years and a rash of strokers,I also went the big 4 stroke route. Z1 and GS thou were the start of it. I missed out on the triples,so I suppose buying this one was ticking a box,but I'd no idea how addictive that would turn out to be! There's two in the garage now and I'm still looking at others for sale,even though I don't have the room ffs.

[Dixiethedog]

[ There's two in the garage now and I'm still looking at others for sale,even though I don't have the room ffs.
[/quote]

I have several bikes in the "shed" and no space and I am constantly looking for the next bike. I would love to shift 3 or 4 bikes so that I could replace them with erm... 3 or 4 bikes. I think that we must be cut from the same cloth.