Iconic Kawa......

[DP1400]

Thought i`d share this with you folks - I dug out this photo of one of my old Kawasaki Triples. A UK 1975 H1F 500. Totally standard, even original factory paint! As rare as hens teeth!! The only part on the bike which was not a UK original fitting was the American spec seat, (the UK spec machines had a centrally located grab strap), which I imported from the States due to the original one splitting and lacking the chrome strips.
If only i hadn`t sold her......

[Nic]

Ah, if only I hadn't sold her.
How many times have we all said that
I have a mate who has a 750.

[grog]

H1, sure were iconic. In 1975 i bought a 1972 with seized motor. Slight overbore to fit Suzuki GT550 pistons, ports enlarged, homemade expansion chambers. Was the points model, not cdi. No power at all under 5500 revs, then 6k was explosive. Revved to just under 8 when points bounced. Flames out exhausts. Never got round to fitting cdi, another 1k revs. Sure could go, sure could wheelstand. At full tilt used up all its fuel in 80ks. After that did similar to GT 750L Suzuki. Also a quick bike, just a bit friendlier.

[Irish in Oz]

And faster without the rear mudguard.

[Milts]

Ah, if only I hadn't sold her.
How many times have we all said that
I have a mate who has a 750.

Well i recently bought an '81 z650 and i'm already having second thoughts about it 

As the bike shares similar retro looks with my gsx, on the occasions i've ridden it i found myself comparing the two and end up disappointed with the Kawasaki something i hadn't banked on 

[DP1400]

 :hat:Irish in Oz - well spotted. The rear mudguard for that one spent its life in my garage. Beautifully designed bikes the H1`s, but spoilt only by that awfully long and ugly part. Ditto for the H2, and the Z1 come to think of it!

:hat:Milts - shame you feel that way. Truth is, like many classics, the Z650`s were fast in their day `cause everything else was slower then. Crap tyres & brakes only served to add to the fun! Try to enjoy it for what it is - a good `no frills`all-rounder. Until very recently i`ve always had more than one bike and apart from one exception the `other/s` have always been `70`s Strokers, and therefore totally different in every way to my `main` bike. Therefore i`ve never had the problem in being faced with dissapointing comparisons! Always worked for me......

[Irish in Oz]

An old mate of mine in Oz has all the 500's and his son has an H2 all in immaculate condition.

[Kiwifruit]

Nice bit of iron there DP1400