I used to drag race H1's back in the day and wrench on AFM H2's. Scared the shit out of me every time coming off the line, never knew where it was going with all the stock frame flex. Damn, I miss them.
My friend good at the Dealer i worked had one,best he ran was 9.94 134mph.It had some Fast by Gast pieces .Around 155 hp,very nice,thanks for posting.PS I had a new 1970 red H1,I ordered it in 1969,received it in early 1970,I paid 1104.00 out the door.I loved it so much,even though it didn't do anything except go to 0- 80 really quick,the carbs were a little rich or too big,about 6000 rpm,all hell would let loose,wheel in the air.2 cycle oil misting the air,what fun it was.
That gets a big Friday night Fuck Yeah from me... Talk about a two-stroke Kawi Triple, Expansion Chambered Rocket Ship... Thanks for the 30 year blast down memory lane.... Not much good in my life now, memories take me back, to great friends, many now dead, and fun-as-hell vehicles we owned, now long gone... I sit here, waiting to die, comforted at least, by memories of toys like this...and remembering that, 35 years ago, on an August Friday night, we would have gotten a great group together, with a cold barrel of beer, some really great weed, and all our muscle cars and bikes... And we would have headed out into Friday evening somewhere... And the party didn't end until sometime that following Sunday evening. Hard to believe so many of the friends are gone, same as the vehicles. Life, I guess. Sometimes you wish you would have died with your friends, because being the last one alive can really suck. Damn, we had some great times.
AudiophileTubes Thank You, A.T. It's tough, coming to the reality, that One's Best Days, are now firmly planted in the rearview mirror, instead of the windshield... 35 years ago, we Owned a big chunk of the Lakefront here in town, with our Plymouth and Dodge Muscle Cars parked, gleaming in the sun, hoods up, tops down, and we had just as many badass bikes partying along with us... Warm air, great friends, awesome vehicles, and Pretty Girls... Those days, our Group, and that laughter... They will be with me until I am no more. I'm 50 now... the laughter, and the Pretty Girls... And my Pals... All gone now. It felt like we would be Kings Forever... One of us committed suicide, because his life went numb, after the Girl he loved, found the arms of another. That was 1981, I still think of John often. 18 years old. What a waste. But, it happens... When the girl you love more than life itself, suddenly isn't there anymore... and worse yet, she's with someone else... John was going to marry that young girl. He was crushed. Then, June 26,th, 1994, a Sunday, my good pal Joe, and I were up north, staying at the cabin were I hunt deer in the fall... We began target shooting out back, having a blast, Suddenly, Joe's Husky began barking and wailing, enough to interrupt us, and as Joe turned to see why his dog was yelping, he somehow mishandled his revolver, and there was a massive explosion, just to my left, where he was, next to me, and the bullet went into his right ear, hurling him into the air, from the energy of the just fired round, and his head vaporized, into a red mist. Hi bottom jaw remained, hanging from a small amount of tissue, but his other teeth, and the rest of his head, had blown all around, into the grass, and also, coated me, instantly. In the blink of an eye, we were laughing, and bragging about the best shot, and then, that quick, Joe has a 260 grain .357 magnum, jacketed hollow point bullet, taking his head off, and I am suddenly covered in blood, and everything that used to make Joe the awesome buddy he was. I could have understood if we had been in combat, or even a really bad neighborhood... But not on a golden Sunday morning, in the Beautiful Wisconsin Northwoods... No... You are never supposed to see something like that happened to the guy that you wrote big wheels with around the bloc, when you were barely 6 years old... Bigwheels became motorcycles, and then his 1969 440 Magnum Dodge Charger R/T... We loved wrenching on our rides, and going 4 wheeling and camping and shooting, up near Tiny Carter, Wisconsin, on hiway 32, where our favorite bar was, just outside the Nicolet National Forest it was called the Red Nosed Reindeer and of course they had a wooden dear hang off the sign at the front of the bar with a red bulb for his nose it was just one of those classic small town up north bars where the beers flowed, the conversation was great, and the company, even better. Haven't been up there in 20 years... Sadly, the red nose is no longer. The retired logger who owned it, by himself, passed a year or two after Joe did. Nine Inch Nails has a song, "Hurt", with a phrase that reads: "Everyone I Know, goes Away, in the End..." We just had eaten some bacon and eggs. Beautiful day. Then, my best friend is laying there, his head gone, a lot of it on me. Panic. Terror. Horror. It never stops... seeing him alive one second, violently erased, the next, mostly in dreams that have terrorized me for 20 years... The hours and days after that are a fog... Its never gotten better, and those damned night terrors, sometimes so bad that I wish I could force myself to stay awake all night, so that I don't fall asleep, and then see Joe's head explode again, only to wake up suddenly terrified... You can never un see that kind of visceral horror. Its not anything like TV or the movies... when its real, and its your best friend, on a warm Sunday morning, that turned black, in an instant. And then, April of this year. 2 months before the 20(!) Year anniversary of Joe's unspeakably terrible accident. My last pal from that great bunch of Mopar Gearheads, Matt, went out around 9:30 to get some smokes, and came back home. As he walked toward his front steps, after parking his car, 3 dark monsters, came from the shadows, stuck a gun in his chest, and took a couple dollars from Matt. Pissed that their nights work only netted a couple bucks, they began to demand more money, and asked him where he was hiding his money... on him, or in his car... and one of them panicked, and then, 3 shots... and as they were seen running away from Matt's house, he was left out on his front stairs, bleeding out, with the lower part of his abdomen having been opened up, by the angle of one of the thugs bullets, leaving my Friend of more than 35 years, on the cold concrete, trying desperately to hold his intestines inside the gaping wound, before he passed out... Thats how Firemen found him, hands still holding his gaping wound, all his life's blood, on the cold concrete... He was gone, minutes after the two 17 year olds, and the head rat, age 18, were on their way, to spend those two whole dollars, which wasn't enough, to keep these 3 Monsters, from brutally murdering my friend... FOR NOTHING Sorry to dump all this, but all those years ago, at OUR Spot, at the Lakefront, in our Roadrunners and Chargers, and 'Cudas, if someone would have predicted Suicide, Horrific Accident, and Robbery/Murder, as the fate of my 3 very close Buddies, before any of them turned 50... We all would have laughed... And cracked open another cold beer, Enjoying our Reign, as the Kings we were... I was married for a while, I blame myself for her leaving... She knew none of what happened to Joe, and that I saw it happen, I had turned into a dark soul, and the dreams scared her... She was Soft, and warm, and kind, yet the damned darkness that is now so much of my life, chased her out of my life. I can take a thousand showers, scrub till I'm raw... But Joe's blood, and brains, and tiny pieces of skull, never rinse away. One particularly horrific moment came, as my ears were ringing, and I looked down for a second, and one of his eyeballs was near my shoe. I felt like I had suddenly been dropped into a shop of horrors, scared to see what else lay on the grass, I couldn't breathe, I actually tried putting the jawbone correct, in a sheer panic, I remember thinking the doctors will need all this tissue to reattach, in the E.R... I was throwing up, the blood had gotten in my mouth, caked my eyes, everything was spinning, and even walking was a slow-motion daze... So, yes, here's to the good times... Be a good friend... You are never guaranteed tomorrow, a lesson I've had far too much of. Without her Love, and with all my friends partying on the other side, I sincerely hope, if I fall asleep tonight... That I never wake up. I tell this story, hoping, someone might see it, and be suddenly grateful, for a life and a woman they might have taken for granted... Realizing that maybe his life isn't so bad, by comparison. I was SO alive, all those years ago... Now, alone, scared, cold, sad, and I stumble one day to the next, wondering how I could have forced my beautiful, soft, innocent Angel, into leaving. God Damn what I've become. What kind of god shits down someone's life, makes him have to see what happened that day in June, and let's other people meet the Girl they dream about, Marry, and be surrounded by children, who come from that love they share, and then grandchildren, even more Love... I think he creates a guy like me, to live what became of my life... so that other people could point and say, oh my god... don't end up like him... As they shut the door behind them, walking into a house filled with all the good things that come, from the happiness of a loving partner to face the hell life can be... Together. Me... I hear the door slam shut, hearing laughter coming from the warm inside, as tighten my collar, against the cold late fall wind, that reminds me that I have nothing to come home to, the chill in the air, a reminder of how cold my apartment, and my bed are. I really don't want to know this life any longer... My last close friend, blown away for nothing but hate, can't pick up the fone and tell him that Tina left... And now, no Tina, to hold me, and tell me she'll always be here when the world gets cold... Like she used to. There is no god... Only Hell...and I'm just a few steps away... Sorry... Had to let some of this out... Writing used to help. Now, all it does is interrupt another useless day, cold and alone, with 30+ years of memories, of a once happy, hopeful guy... Who sits around now, wishing i had the guts, to put the barrel of my Mossberg 12 guage shotgun, into my mouth, and ensure proper cranial evacuation. That way, when I see Joe again, on the other side, we will both have similar features. That way he wouldn't have to feel self conscious. I'm coming' Joe. Soon. Every day is more painful than the next. I've never told anybody any of this on social media... But I'm losing my last grip on reality. Begging Tina not to go, was the final act. And yet, it was my horrible self, that finally drove her from me... Nothing is any good. Thanks for putting up with my pained banter. I apologize for wasting your time with this... Time you could have spent with a Woman who cares about you. I knew that feeling once, and I killed it, chasing off the only person left in my life. Be happy. Love. Don't be me
Paul Bourgeois Paul, I don't know you but I am incredibly moved (to tears) regarding your bad experiences. Please realize that what happened to Joe was an accident, and certainly not your fault! And of course, having someone you love leave you is not easy. I have also experienced my best friend (we even backpacked through Europe together in 1984) dying (more like wasting away) from a terrible form of stomach cancer. Seeing him gasping for his last breath was just too much, and it left a lasting impression on me, especially one that life is truly precious. I also had my college sweetheart leave me all because I was the only one that took her virginity, and even though she wanted to get married immediately (I did not... was too young), she probably wanted to experience other guys too! I still don't fully know why she split. I also take care of TWO autistic family members, and the stress and heartache is worth the few minutes of joy I may get with them. So i've learned that along with the tragedies come rays of sunshine known as hope and/or peace of mind in knowing i've done nothing wrong, and live every day trying to be human! My demeanor can often be grouchy or existential as well, but when I see a child smile or a dog run up to me, tail wagging, it restores something in my humanity. Revel in the simple, good things that life has to offer, for they do temper the bad if you allow them to! I'm in my 50's too. Peace to you.
***** thank you for being so kind. These are the hardest days I've ever had in my life, and I just feel empty. Not able to ride anymore, but I do still enjoy the memories. And yes, the smile of a baby still warms my heart, even as I am still heartbroken at never having had babies myself. Where there is a baby, there is love. Hard living my life with none. I don't know what tomorrow holds. But I appreciate your kindness. Thank you.
AudiophileTubes thank you, its just such a hard time. My bed is empty, like my heart, and it just seems darker each day. The Softness that a woman brings is life itself. I hope things improve for you, and I'm also sorry for the sadness you've known. God Bless.
Wonderful H2 and drag, thankyou Sir! I was taken to a long country road outside my NSW town to first ride one in 1974 when I was 13. The week before I was taken to the same place by the same older friend to ride an older CB750K. Riding the Kawi well was a big topic of conversation. I remain convinced that one rides by the seat of ones pants and keeps ones eyes peeled on the next bend... smoothness and accuarcy are acheived by that principle. A committment to developing skill and good roadcraft allows you to ride anything anywhere happily. I still love the oppertunity for a swap for a good ride on a H2 and any of the old air-cooled Kawi's and Hondas, and I hate riding at the back of the pack. The H2 is a magnificent ride and in my mind a very sharp weapon and equal in vibe to all the Z1's, not matched until the arrival of the CB1100R.
Re clutch: The bike has a 'slider' clutch, similar to a snowmobile. It's set to engage at 6,500 rpm's. There is no clutch handle, it's just twist and go. It has a kill system..each time I push the button to shift, the motor 'kills' momentarily to allow the strain to ease enough to engage the next gear. It also has a 'two step' system, which allows me to turn the throttle wide open while holding a button. It revs just to that 6,500 (adjustable) and when the green lite is nearly on, let go of the button!! The second button, just below it, is for the shift. The lite on the headlite pot is the shift light, set at 10,500 rpms. When it comes on...push the button!! A small shift arm lets me gear down when stopped.
So that's why it was revving higher on the run than at take off, not sure I'd want to be fiddling with a clutch lever when that thing bites either. Thanks for explaining that, I didn't want to start anything with mister C-S-C and his slipping clutches.
anonymous I know. Still, this is NOT a centrifugal clutch. Similar to how a snowmobile does not use a centrifugal clutch. Those types of clutches use spring power to produce friction, not centrifugal force. They are fundamentally different.
Brian Critchley .The parents did the killing if you want the truth..What parent would put their 16 year old child on the fastest production vehicle in the world and then wonder how come their child is dead? In 1970 the h1 was the fastest production vehicle in the world. I love the bikes and i got hurt real bad when i was 16 but it was alcohol that caused me to get hurt and almost killed..Kawasaki did get the shit sued out of them though and the bikes were nicknamed the widow maker for a damn good reason..Like any two wheel or four wheel machine though, the minute a human thinks he has mastered the machine and has become the "boss" of it then injuries will take place.
+lethaldone Its was the brakes that killed people, they were absolutely worthless. A million years ago I had a PE 400 dirt bike, 400 two stroke beast. It had drum brakes, when dry they barely did anything to stop you, when wet they were nonexistent. I wipeout harshly many times trying stop using those things...and I was going slow on a trail. I see a lot of guys in the cafe retro scene putting old drum brakes on their bikes for the cool look....I'm sure they don't actually ride those bikes...just posers.
This video totally kicks ass!!! If you have never personally experienced the pure evil that these bikes deliver, you are missing out. I have owned many bikes big and small, new and old but nothing feeds my senses quite like the ORIGINAL Kawasaki H2 750! It's like good wholesome rock and roll, It's a satisfaction that never fades. Thanks Gary for cheering me up on this winter day, now I am stoked to go do some racing! Smokin Joe!!!
+johnapaterson - I'm not sure if you mean you had recently pulled one from a barn or not. If so, know that these bikes don't have the frame or brakes to match their power. Short of adapting the engine to a more modern frame, it's impossible to have one that 'handles' good in the turns. Be careful for yourself and those who care about you. By the way, lucky you to find such an animal hiding in the barn.
Brother Joe you are a legend and a 2 stroke God :) we love you and all your hard work on the Widow Makers , i had a 1974 Green mean H2 at the tender age of 18 and almost died ! but learned how to respect her and we rode off into the sunset on PCH long Beach Ca. for another 6 years :) man id give my left nut to have her right Now :)
@@albertchavez2693 I remembered the 750's being blue and the 500 green. Then I saw the 1974 750 was green. Kaws have always ruled the road, the new supercharged H2 is interesting, but the ZX-14R is still King.
I remember this system from I bike shop I went to years ago. They had a drag racer in the front of the shop. Their system was a pneumatic cylinder that actuated the shift lever and the engine ignition was "killed" at the moment of the shift. (A button switch on the left). I don't remember the make of the bike, but it was a four stroke. This was in the eighties and I never saw the bike in action. Would have loved to see it in action. Thanks for this video.
Cool bike and video. I had lots of fun on a modified H2 street bike in the 80's. If you raced S/E back in the ProStar days, I may have met you, even though I raced S/C at the time. Thanks for sharing!
If youve never rode an h2 you are missing out on one of lifes pleasures,I miss my ole h2 what a fun ride,My buddy has about 20 h-1 and h-2 that we raced back in the 80s and early 90s, there is just nothing like em,Ive been riding bikes for 50 yrs and these are the ones you never forget
I had kh2 400 trippel trust me for 400cc this year give you a ride of your life get a wheelie in every gear I'm probably glad I got rid of that bike what a rush man there fast I wrote a 751 time it's got a hell of a lot more power in the 400 let me tell you I think there's something to be put on a Shelf top notch in my book
@@imnew2nm324 I'm not too sure of that, I've ridden cross country on an H-1, the blue one like a 1971, and my idiot friend's YZ490 dirt bike was at least as scary because it had the same kind of powerband as my H-1.
I noticed b4 your 1/4 mile run it takes a few seconds to idle back down after you open the throttle. So it seems lean which gives the most power (weird that less fuel makes more power than more). I owned so many RD/RZ 350s/ RD400s i lost count (and 1 RZ500), but always liked the sound of the Kaw triples the best. Something about that 3 cylinder firing order i guess.
Nice run and thanks for that explanation of the clutch 2step etc. there was usually one of these at my local track every year. At the staging lanes these things sound nuts. It went high 9s. Later there ends up being 4 guys with them and 3 went high mid 9s and the other super low 10. I have a 200 Yamaha blaster. Only 2stroke I have had and it makes you feel like a wild man as soon as the power band hits and you grab 2-3 extra gears than you intend lol couldn’t imagine this ride. Lots of fun and fast as hell with only 3cyl.
1977 aged 17 and my beloved Suzuki GT750 with a full racing Mead Speed fairing drop bars round the triple clocks and a specially made fibreglass seat all painted in the Barry Sheene red/black/gold and I don’t have one picture or photo of it😩
hey Paul , def. agree w/you ,those triples were sick , myself , I had a little RD350 , I can"t tell you how many jaws dropped when I was beating 500/650s with my little "chainsaw "on steroids ,I used to race the rich kids for titles , then sell em" right back to them ,before mommy/daddy round out ,i"m 54 ,wish I still had it .but, my ultimate bike of choice now , is the Eliminator 900 , one of the other bad ass bikes of our time .lost some friends over the years , we just gotta remember the good times , brah .
Kawasaki 2 stroke triples were my favorite bike. I really loved my 2 stroke triple and wish I'd never sold it. Ya gotta have some balls to ride a wing ding machine.
so many people ( hard line four strokers) never got the allure of the triple two stroke maybe this video helps. The power band at 6k was amazing as you can hear between shifts. But they never knew unless they took it for a spin
I always rode triples. The Honda 750 guys would see me on the highway and always want to go for it. I loved letting them pull ahead, then downshift, get it up in the ported powerband, and pass them on one wheel. Funny how they dropped back never to be see again after that.
Well boys I just bought one, a barn find, with three engines, total basket case. 1972, candy blue. Going to restore her, do a resto-mod so I can make it safe enough to ride, upgrade the suspension and brakes, brace the frame, better wheels and tires. Been wanting one for years, damn good investment too, one sold at auction for $52k, can you believe it...I think it was a unrestored low mile hangar queen. Kids will get it when I'm gone, along with the RZ350.
I have a triple H2 I wish I did not worked it up so much because it was a fast bike stock and a lot of fun to ride in the streets Now I have to watch out for my teeth the handle bars come up in my face in any gear. I am thinking of detuning it.I enjoyed the ride thanks for posting c];-D
+AL theDoctorWho - No need to de-tune it. Simply adjust your grip on the throttle or use a throttle stop. Also, if it will come up "in any gear," you have geared it way too low. Put a one tooth larger countershaft sprocket and/or 4 to 6 teeth smaller rear sprocket on and never attempt to run it top speed in 4th or 5th.
I am going to pull it out next year and see where I stand with it Paul Gas said I have to run the electron Carbs but I just might change the cyclinders back to stock. I Hate to see what condition its in. Thank you for the sagestion ;-)
AL theDoctorWho - Knowing Paul Gast for many years, he is definitely THE 2-stroke Kawasaki drag racing god. Your wording seemed as if your bike was street ridden. Lectrons are awesome carburetors for racing (esp. drag) but not so friendly for street use. Instant on/off power but not very smooth when you must constantly modulate the throttle. I would think you could use a few different CV carbs while finding a close recommendation on jetting, etc. but if Paul says your engine setup must use Lectrons, perhaps it is a good idea in your case to return the top end to stock and freshen up the old carbs it had. Good luck to you and be safe.
Hi, Mine had Denco`s and pipes but as I remember the carbs were slightly increased for larger ones. It is a long time ago but does 38mm ring any bells ?.
+diishoots - You probably rode well enough and could beat modified SOHC Honda 750s with your stock H2. With a proper Denco mod, they likely gave up and parked or sold their bikes. Good times!
+diishoots Just like me!. Brilliant urban burner. Real pisser for Honda owners. Did you pipe it up as well?. Used a lot more fuel though. Who gives a fcuk. Strokers live forever. I am too old now 74. Those Halcyon days.
Is the motor rated at max hp at 10,500,I'm asking because I've seen ET looses and gains,just by hitting the magic mark the motor likes.When your over the powerband the motor flattens out and you start to slow .I love these,I had a H1 I bought new,1104.000 out the door,it was 999.00 what a deal,red/white.fun bikes,thanks for posting
Very fast motorcycle I had one let me tell you that machines real it ain't no joke and it can hurt you yeah it's got some power by one of the best production bikes ever to come out they sure don't make them like that no more I had kh2 400 13 second quarter mile stock can you imagine what a 750 can do scary but cool nice videos thank you
Good Lord in heaven.... I wants one. @ connorsracing: thanks for the vid and the explanation of the clutch and shifting system. Amazing. Ever worry about throwing a piston through the head with that kind of load?
used to race a micro sprint in the mid 80's in central mo. with a yz465 yamaha. always wanted to put one of the old triples on there but the ol man wouldnt try it.
wow at 1:18 - 1:19 right before the bike takes off, it made a very strange but cool sound. is that the 2 step rev limiter that you mentioned in the comments?
+Xgamer121X - Correct. That is the lower step of the rev-limiter at wide open throttle. (I answered you since it looks as if the owner may not monitor this channel with any regularity.)
Back in the day a lot of Harley and Triumph riders would turn the other way when these little rice grinders came screaming through town. They were screamers!
this is where it was designed to be ridden,it is a very dangerous bike,definitely not for an amateur,this thing will kill you,third gear wheelies at 80 mph,oh yeah all the transmission parts interchange between 500's and 750's been there done that
My good friend put a 750 H2 together in the 90's,about 155 hp,it ran 9.94 at 134 mph,beautiful bike
My idea of a good time. I race four strokes now but grew up on Kawasaki two strokes...still gets my heart pumping!
I used to drag race H1's back in the day and wrench on AFM H2's. Scared the shit out of me every time coming off the line, never knew where it was going with all the stock frame flex. Damn, I miss them.
My friend good at the Dealer i worked had one,best he ran was 9.94 134mph.It had some Fast by Gast pieces .Around 155 hp,very nice,thanks for posting.PS I had a new 1970 red H1,I ordered it in 1969,received it in early 1970,I paid 1104.00 out the door.I loved it so much,even though it didn't do anything except go to 0- 80 really quick,the carbs were a little rich or too big,about 6000 rpm,all hell would let loose,wheel in the air.2 cycle oil misting the air,what fun it was.
That gets a big Friday night Fuck Yeah from me... Talk about a two-stroke Kawi Triple, Expansion Chambered Rocket Ship... Thanks for the 30 year blast down memory lane.... Not much good in my life now, memories take me back, to great friends, many now dead, and fun-as-hell vehicles we owned, now long gone... I sit here, waiting to die, comforted at least, by memories of toys like this...and remembering that, 35 years ago, on an August Friday night, we would have gotten a great group together, with a cold barrel of beer, some really great weed, and all our muscle cars and bikes... And we would have headed out into Friday evening somewhere... And the party didn't end until sometime that following Sunday evening.
Hard to believe so many of the friends are gone, same as the vehicles. Life, I guess.
Sometimes you wish you would have died with your friends, because being the last one alive can really suck. Damn, we had some great times.
Take heart Paul, you're not alone! I'm right there with you friend!
AudiophileTubes Thank You, A.T. It's tough, coming to the reality, that One's Best Days, are now firmly planted in the rearview mirror, instead of the windshield... 35 years ago, we Owned a big chunk of the Lakefront here in town, with our Plymouth and Dodge Muscle Cars parked, gleaming in the sun, hoods up, tops down, and we had just as many badass bikes partying along with us... Warm air, great friends, awesome vehicles, and Pretty Girls... Those days, our Group, and that laughter... They will be with me until I am no more.
I'm 50 now... the laughter, and the Pretty Girls... And my Pals... All gone now. It felt like we would be Kings Forever... One of us committed suicide, because his life went numb, after the Girl he loved, found the arms of another. That was 1981, I still think of John often. 18 years old. What a waste. But, it happens... When the girl you love more than life itself, suddenly isn't there anymore... and worse yet, she's with someone else... John was going to marry that young girl. He was crushed.
Then, June 26,th, 1994, a Sunday, my good pal Joe, and I were up north, staying at the cabin were I hunt deer in the fall... We began target shooting out back, having a blast, Suddenly, Joe's Husky began barking and wailing, enough to interrupt us, and as Joe turned to see why his dog was yelping, he somehow mishandled his revolver, and there was a massive explosion, just to my left, where he was, next to me, and the bullet went into his right ear, hurling him into the air, from the energy of the just fired round, and his head vaporized, into a red mist. Hi bottom jaw remained, hanging from a small amount of tissue, but his other teeth, and the rest of his head, had blown all around, into the grass, and also, coated me, instantly. In the blink of an eye, we were laughing, and bragging about the best shot, and then, that quick, Joe has a 260 grain .357 magnum, jacketed hollow point bullet, taking his head off, and I am suddenly covered in blood, and everything that used to make Joe the awesome buddy he was. I could have understood if we had been in combat, or even a really bad neighborhood... But not on a golden Sunday morning, in the Beautiful Wisconsin Northwoods... No... You are never supposed to see something like that happened to the guy that you wrote big wheels with around the bloc, when you were barely 6 years old... Bigwheels became motorcycles, and then his 1969 440 Magnum Dodge Charger R/T... We loved wrenching on our rides, and going 4 wheeling and camping and shooting, up near Tiny Carter, Wisconsin, on hiway 32, where our favorite bar was, just outside the Nicolet National Forest it was called the Red Nosed Reindeer and of course they had a wooden dear hang off the sign at the front of the bar with a red bulb for his nose it was just one of those classic small town up north bars where the beers flowed, the conversation was great, and the company, even better. Haven't been up there in 20 years... Sadly, the red nose is no longer. The retired logger who owned it, by himself, passed a year or two after Joe did.
Nine Inch Nails has a song, "Hurt", with a phrase that reads:
"Everyone I Know, goes Away, in the End..."
We just had eaten some bacon and eggs. Beautiful day. Then, my best friend is laying there, his head gone, a lot of it on me. Panic. Terror. Horror.
It never stops... seeing him alive one second, violently erased, the next, mostly in dreams that have terrorized me for 20 years... The hours and days after that are a fog... Its never gotten better, and those damned night terrors, sometimes so bad that I wish I could force myself to stay awake all night, so that I don't fall asleep, and then see Joe's head explode again, only to wake up suddenly terrified... You can never un see that kind of visceral horror. Its not anything like TV or the movies... when its real, and its your best friend, on a warm Sunday morning, that turned black, in an instant.
And then, April of this year. 2 months before the 20(!) Year anniversary of Joe's unspeakably terrible accident.
My last pal from that great bunch of Mopar Gearheads, Matt, went out around 9:30 to get some smokes, and came back home. As he walked toward his front steps, after parking his car, 3 dark monsters, came from the shadows, stuck a gun in his chest, and took a couple dollars from Matt. Pissed that their nights work only netted a couple bucks, they began to demand more money, and asked him where he was hiding his money... on him, or in his car... and one of them panicked, and then, 3 shots... and as they were seen running away from Matt's house, he was left out on his front stairs, bleeding out, with the lower part of his abdomen having been opened up, by the angle of one of the thugs bullets, leaving my Friend of more than 35 years, on the cold concrete, trying desperately to hold his intestines inside the gaping wound, before he passed out... Thats how Firemen found him, hands still holding his gaping wound, all his life's blood, on the cold concrete... He was gone, minutes after the two 17 year olds, and the head rat, age 18, were on their way, to spend those two whole dollars, which wasn't enough, to keep these 3 Monsters, from brutally murdering my friend...
FOR NOTHING
Sorry to dump all this, but all those years ago, at OUR Spot, at the Lakefront, in our Roadrunners and Chargers, and 'Cudas, if someone would have predicted Suicide, Horrific Accident, and Robbery/Murder, as the fate of my 3 very close Buddies, before any of them turned 50... We all would have laughed... And cracked open another cold beer, Enjoying our Reign, as the Kings we were...
I was married for a while, I blame myself for her leaving... She knew none of what happened to Joe, and that I saw it happen, I had turned into a dark soul, and the dreams scared her... She was Soft, and warm, and kind, yet the damned darkness that is now so much of my life, chased her out of my life. I can take a thousand showers, scrub till I'm raw... But Joe's blood, and brains, and tiny pieces of skull, never rinse away. One particularly horrific moment came, as my ears were ringing, and I looked down for a second, and one of his eyeballs was near my shoe. I felt like I had suddenly been dropped into a shop of horrors, scared to see what else lay on the grass, I couldn't breathe, I actually tried putting the jawbone correct, in a sheer panic, I remember thinking the doctors will need all this tissue to reattach, in the E.R...
I was throwing up, the blood had gotten in my mouth, caked my eyes, everything was spinning, and even walking was a slow-motion daze...
So, yes, here's to the good times... Be a good friend... You are never guaranteed tomorrow, a lesson I've had far too much of.
Without her Love, and with all my friends partying on the other side, I sincerely hope, if I fall asleep tonight... That I never wake up.
I tell this story, hoping, someone might see it, and be suddenly grateful, for a life and a woman they might have taken for granted... Realizing that maybe his life isn't so bad, by comparison.
I was SO alive, all those years ago... Now, alone, scared, cold, sad, and I stumble one day to the next, wondering how I could have forced my beautiful, soft, innocent Angel, into leaving. God Damn what I've become. What kind of god shits down someone's life, makes him have to see what happened that day in June, and let's other people meet the Girl they dream about, Marry, and be surrounded by children, who come from that love they share, and then grandchildren, even more Love... I think he creates a guy like me, to live what became of my life... so that other people could point and say, oh my god... don't end up like him... As they shut the door behind them, walking into a house filled with all the good things that come, from the happiness of a loving partner to face the hell life can be... Together.
Me... I hear the door slam shut, hearing laughter coming from the warm inside, as tighten my collar, against the cold late fall wind, that reminds me that I have nothing to come home to, the chill in the air, a reminder of how cold my apartment, and my bed are.
I really don't want to know this life any longer... My last close friend, blown away for nothing but hate, can't pick up the fone and tell him that Tina left... And now, no Tina, to hold me, and tell me she'll always be here when the world gets cold... Like she used to. There is no god... Only Hell...and I'm just a few steps away... Sorry... Had to let some of this out... Writing used to help. Now, all it does is interrupt another useless day, cold and alone, with 30+ years of memories, of a once happy, hopeful guy... Who sits around now, wishing i had the guts, to put the barrel of my Mossberg 12 guage shotgun, into my mouth, and ensure proper cranial evacuation.
That way, when I see Joe again, on the other side, we will both have similar features. That way he wouldn't have to feel self conscious. I'm coming' Joe. Soon.
Every day is more painful than the next. I've never told anybody any of this on social media... But I'm losing my last grip on reality. Begging Tina not to go, was the final act. And yet, it was my horrible self, that finally drove her from me... Nothing is any good. Thanks for putting up with my pained banter. I apologize for wasting your time with this... Time you could have spent with a Woman who cares about you. I knew that feeling once, and I killed it, chasing off the only person left in my life. Be happy. Love.
Don't be me
Paul Bourgeois Paul, I don't know you but I am incredibly moved (to tears) regarding your bad experiences. Please realize that what happened to Joe was an accident, and certainly not your fault! And of course, having someone you love leave you is not easy. I have also experienced my best friend (we even backpacked through Europe together in 1984) dying (more like wasting away) from a terrible form of stomach cancer. Seeing him gasping for his last breath was just too much, and it left a lasting impression on me, especially one that life is truly precious. I also had my college sweetheart leave me all because I was the only one that took her virginity, and even though she wanted to get married immediately (I did not... was too young), she probably wanted to experience other guys too! I still don't fully know why she split. I also take care of TWO autistic family members, and the stress and heartache is worth the few minutes of joy I may get with them. So i've learned that along with the tragedies come rays of sunshine known as hope and/or peace of mind in knowing i've done nothing wrong, and live every day trying to be human! My demeanor can often be grouchy or existential as well, but when I see a child smile or a dog run up to me, tail wagging, it restores something in my humanity. Revel in the simple, good things that life has to offer, for they do temper the bad if you allow them to! I'm in my 50's too. Peace to you.
***** thank you for being so kind. These are the hardest days I've ever had in my life, and I just feel empty. Not able to ride anymore, but I do still enjoy the memories. And yes, the smile of a baby still warms my heart, even as I am still heartbroken at never having had babies myself. Where there is a baby, there is love. Hard living my life with none. I don't know what tomorrow holds. But I appreciate your kindness. Thank you.
AudiophileTubes thank you, its just such a hard time. My bed is empty, like my heart, and it just seems darker each day. The Softness that a woman brings is life itself. I hope things improve for you, and I'm also sorry for the sadness you've known. God Bless.
Wonderful H2 and drag, thankyou Sir! I was taken to a long country road outside my NSW town to first ride one in 1974 when I was 13. The week before I was taken to the same place by the same older friend to ride an older CB750K. Riding the Kawi well was a big topic of conversation. I remain convinced that one rides by the seat of ones pants and keeps ones eyes peeled on the next bend... smoothness and accuarcy are acheived by that principle. A committment to developing skill and good roadcraft allows you to ride anything anywhere happily. I still love the oppertunity for a swap for a good ride on a H2 and any of the old air-cooled Kawi's and Hondas, and I hate riding at the back of the pack. The H2 is a magnificent ride and in my mind a very sharp weapon and equal in vibe to all the Z1's, not matched until the arrival of the CB1100R.
Great story. I got my license on my 14th birthday, and wheelied away on a ported and piped '71 H1 500, and never looked back. Those were the days!
Re clutch: The bike has a 'slider' clutch, similar to a snowmobile. It's set to engage at 6,500 rpm's. There is no clutch handle, it's just twist and go. It has a kill system..each time I push the button to shift, the motor 'kills' momentarily to allow the strain to ease enough to engage the next gear. It also has a 'two step' system, which allows me to turn the throttle wide open while holding a button. It revs just to that 6,500 (adjustable) and when the green lite is nearly on, let go of the button!! The second button, just below it, is for the shift. The lite on the headlite pot is the shift light, set at 10,500 rpms. When it comes on...push the button!! A small shift arm lets me gear down when stopped.
So that's why it was revving higher on the run than at take off, not sure I'd want to be fiddling with a clutch lever when that thing bites either. Thanks for explaining that,
I didn't want to start anything with mister C-S-C and his slipping clutches.
Dude that's f'kin awesome.
No it is not.
anonymous
I know. Still, this is NOT a centrifugal clutch. Similar to how a snowmobile does not use a centrifugal clutch. Those types of clutches use spring power to produce friction, not centrifugal force. They are fundamentally different.
bull
Probably the most dangerous production bike made during its' day. When yer RPM's hit the powerband hold on!
Yes, they killed a few young people around were I grew up..
Brian Critchley .The parents did the killing if you want the truth..What parent would put their 16 year old child on the fastest production vehicle in the world and then wonder how come their child is dead? In 1970 the h1 was the fastest production vehicle in the world. I love the bikes and i got hurt real bad when i was 16 but it was alcohol that caused me to get hurt and almost killed..Kawasaki did get the shit sued out of them though and the bikes were nicknamed the widow maker for a damn good reason..Like any two wheel or four wheel machine though, the minute a human thinks he has mastered the machine and has become the "boss" of it then injuries will take place.
lethaldone Happy to see your still with us Brian.
+lethaldone Its was the brakes that killed people, they were absolutely worthless. A million years ago I had a PE 400 dirt bike, 400 two stroke beast. It had drum brakes, when dry they barely did anything to stop you, when wet they were nonexistent. I wipeout harshly many times trying stop using those things...and I was going slow on a trail. I see a lot of guys in the cafe retro scene putting old drum brakes on their bikes for the cool look....I'm sure they don't actually ride those bikes...just posers.
Definately but super!!. One had to have one and then pipe and Denco it up. Bloody marvellous those days Keith.
This video totally kicks ass!!! If you have never personally experienced the pure evil that these bikes deliver, you are missing out. I have owned many bikes big and small, new and old but nothing feeds my senses quite like the ORIGINAL Kawasaki H2 750! It's like good wholesome rock and roll, It's a satisfaction that never fades. Thanks Gary for cheering me up on this winter day, now I am stoked to go do some racing!
Smokin Joe!!!
Yes very fun bike, I pulled one from barn with low miles. I've been on some mean bikes but this one is the most exhilarating with the feel and sound.
+johnapaterson - I'm not sure if you mean you had recently pulled one from a barn or not. If so, know that these bikes don't have the frame or brakes to match their power. Short of adapting the engine to a more modern frame, it's impossible to have one that 'handles' good in the turns. Be careful for yourself and those who care about you. By the way, lucky you to find such an animal hiding in the barn.
Brother Joe you are a legend and a 2 stroke God :) we love you and all your hard work on the Widow Makers , i had a 1974 Green mean H2 at the tender age of 18 and almost died ! but learned how to respect her and we rode off into the sunset on PCH long Beach Ca. for another 6 years :) man id give my left nut to have her right Now :)
@@albertchavez2693 I remembered the 750's being blue and the 500 green. Then I saw the 1974 750 was green. Kaws have always ruled the road, the new supercharged H2 is interesting, but the ZX-14R is still King.
I remember this system from I bike shop I went to years ago. They had a drag racer in the front of the shop.
Their system was a pneumatic cylinder that actuated the shift lever and the engine ignition was "killed" at the moment of the shift. (A button switch on the left). I don't remember the make of the bike, but it was a four stroke. This was in the eighties and I never saw the bike in action. Would have loved to see it in action. Thanks for this video.
sure miss my H2 750, awesome sound pure 2 stroke adrenaline - thanks for uploading
Cool bike and video. I had lots of fun on a modified H2 street bike in the 80's. If you raced S/E back in the ProStar days, I may have met you, even though I raced S/C at the time. Thanks for sharing!
If youve never rode an h2 you are missing out on one of lifes pleasures,I miss my ole h2 what a fun ride,My buddy has about 20 h-1 and h-2 that we raced back in the 80s and early 90s, there is just nothing like em,Ive been riding bikes for 50 yrs and these are the ones you never forget
Good grief. My eyeballs were plastered to the back of my skull just watching that.
Man, that thing launched like a cannon! What a wicked powerband!
Just melt hearing that awesome stoccatto wail, bloody gorgeous!!
Have got the sound from 1:18 through to 1:38 as a ringtone on my phone.
Annoying as hell but pretty darn cool!
@@WhiteNacho and without the context of the video it's even more annoying, found myself trying to answer quickly just to stop it. Gone now..
@@enwri Attack of the 10 foot bee!
RIGHT in the powerband!! Excellent.
Holy shit, and I thought two stroke dirt bikes were terrifying hahaha
Nothing in comparison to the H1 or H2's.
I had kh2 400 trippel trust me for 400cc this year give you a ride of your life get a wheelie in every gear I'm probably glad I got rid of that bike what a rush man there fast I wrote a 751 time it's got a hell of a lot more power in the 400 let me tell you I think there's something to be put on a Shelf top notch in my book
@@imnew2nm324 I'm not too sure of that, I've ridden cross country on an H-1, the blue one like a 1971, and my idiot friend's YZ490 dirt bike was at least as scary because it had the same kind of powerband as my H-1.
@@edarmstrong9389 those half liter singles are their own kind of beasts for sure haha
Nasty and loud just like I remember mine. Wicked fast in the day and not for the air headed riders.
You are sure right, kids nowadays have no clue.
I noticed b4 your 1/4 mile run it takes a few seconds to idle back down after you open the throttle. So it seems lean which gives the most power (weird that less fuel makes more power than more). I owned so many RD/RZ 350s/ RD400s i lost count (and 1 RZ500), but always liked the sound of the Kaw triples the best. Something about that 3 cylinder firing order i guess.
Nice run and thanks for that explanation of the clutch 2step etc. there was usually one of these at my local track every year. At the staging lanes these things sound nuts. It went high 9s. Later there ends up being 4 guys with them and 3 went high mid 9s and the other super low 10. I have a 200 Yamaha blaster. Only 2stroke I have had and it makes you feel like a wild man as soon as the power band hits and you grab 2-3 extra gears than you intend lol couldn’t imagine this ride. Lots of fun and fast as hell with only 3cyl.
that's very nice; the front wheel just seemed to have landed just at the end of the race !!!!
I think it was helmet cam. Mebbe his head was flung back momentarily from the G’s 😂
God I miss 2 strokes.
Still around if you want one.
1977 aged 17 and my beloved Suzuki GT750 with a full racing Mead Speed fairing drop bars round the triple clocks and a specially made fibreglass seat all painted in the Barry Sheene red/black/gold and I don’t have one picture or photo of it😩
Mosquito killers lol. Great bikes though.
hey Paul , def. agree w/you ,those triples were sick , myself , I had a little RD350 , I can"t tell you how many jaws dropped when I was beating 500/650s with my little "chainsaw "on steroids ,I used to race the rich kids for titles , then sell em" right back to them ,before mommy/daddy round out ,i"m 54 ,wish I still had it .but, my ultimate bike of choice now , is the Eliminator 900 , one of the other bad ass bikes of our time .lost some friends over the years , we just gotta remember the good times , brah .
I still have my 76 RD400. The little bastards were great out of the hole.
Kawasaki 2 stroke triples were my favorite bike. I really loved my 2 stroke triple and wish I'd never sold it. Ya gotta have some balls to ride a wing ding machine.
breathtaking, mean, wicked and nasty... all rolled into one inconspicuous machine.
so many people ( hard line four strokers) never got the allure of the triple two stroke maybe this video helps. The power band at 6k was amazing as you can hear between shifts. But they never knew unless they took it for a spin
I always rode triples. The Honda 750 guys would see me on the highway and always want to go for it. I loved letting them pull ahead, then downshift, get it up in the ported powerband, and pass them on one wheel. Funny how they dropped back never to be see again after that.
holy Shitballs......what an awesome ride.
thanks for sharing this old smoker wide open
Great ride. That will keep the spark plugs from getting fouled. ;-)
+onethumbpicker - Haha! It'll sure help! Great comment.
now thats fast bye a very good driver-total class
Just another day on a Kaw Triple...nice...
WOAH!! That was intense! Thanks for the wild ride, connorsracing! I need a cup of coffee... or a muscle relaxer.
Good God! I wish I still had mine!
Thanks for the memories 👍👍
23 people have never ridden a two stroke.
Well boys I just bought one, a barn find, with three engines, total basket case. 1972, candy blue. Going to restore her, do a resto-mod so I can make it safe enough to ride, upgrade the suspension and brakes, brace the frame, better wheels and tires. Been wanting one for years, damn good investment too, one sold at auction for $52k, can you believe it...I think it was a unrestored low mile hangar queen. Kids will get it when I'm gone, along with the RZ350.
That's a hell of a chainsaw motor!🤣
I have a triple H2 I wish I did not worked it up so much because it was a fast bike stock and a lot of fun to ride in the streets Now I have to watch out for my teeth the handle bars come up in my face in any gear. I am thinking of detuning it.I enjoyed the ride thanks for posting c];-D
+AL theDoctorWho - No need to de-tune it. Simply adjust your grip on the throttle or use a throttle stop. Also, if it will come up "in any gear," you have geared it way too low. Put a one tooth larger countershaft sprocket and/or 4 to 6 teeth smaller rear sprocket on and never attempt to run it top speed in 4th or 5th.
I am going to pull it out next year and see where I stand with it Paul Gas said I have to run the electron Carbs but I just might change the cyclinders back to stock. I Hate to see what condition its in. Thank you for the sagestion ;-)
AL theDoctorWho
- Knowing Paul Gast for many years, he is definitely THE 2-stroke Kawasaki drag racing god. Your wording seemed as if your bike was street ridden. Lectrons are awesome carburetors for racing (esp. drag) but not so friendly for street use. Instant on/off power but not very smooth when you must constantly modulate the throttle. I would think you could use a few different CV carbs while finding a close recommendation on jetting, etc. but if Paul says your engine setup must use Lectrons, perhaps it is a good idea in your case to return the top end to stock and freshen up the old carbs it had.
Good luck to you and be safe.
Hi, Mine had Denco`s and pipes but as I remember the carbs were slightly increased for larger ones. It is a long time ago but does 38mm ring any bells ?.
@@racer774 Smart man.
Wow !! 2 strokes rule !!
Thanks for the ride
That was freakin awesome. I'm building a gpz turbo.. can't wait to submit footage of it.
Had one of these in high school, crazy fast!
How......could you ever part with one of those.
thanks for the ride! sweet
My dad sold his Kawi triple before I was old enough to ride.That was probably a good idea.
He got rid of it because he loved you. Never forget that.
Ran one of those with a Denco setup in the 70's. Ported and polished street and strip...used to piss off all the Honda guys LOL.
+diishoots - You probably rode well enough and could beat modified SOHC Honda 750s with your stock H2. With a proper Denco mod, they likely gave up and parked or sold their bikes. Good times!
+diishoots Just like me!. Brilliant urban burner. Real pisser for Honda owners. Did you pipe it up as well?. Used a lot more fuel though. Who gives a fcuk. Strokers live forever. I am too old now 74. Those Halcyon days.
A good running early H1 500 would kick any Honda 750-Four's ass in a straight line, you didn't even need the extra 250 cc's
great sound love, the electronics
THE WIDOWMAKER!
Ya got's ta love tha Instant RPM's !!!!
Great video - thanks.
Is the motor rated at max hp at 10,500,I'm asking because I've seen ET looses and gains,just by hitting the magic mark the motor likes.When your over the powerband the motor flattens out and you start to slow .I love these,I had a H1 I bought new,1104.000 out the door,it was 999.00 what a deal,red/white.fun bikes,thanks for posting
Only bike out there at the time that gave my Yoshimura modded Z1 fits back in the day.
Perfect gear cluster ! ….nice, close ratio changes.
My Dad had one. Super fast for what it was.
Very fast motorcycle I had one let me tell you that machines real it ain't no joke and it can hurt you yeah it's got some power by one of the best production bikes ever to come out they sure don't make them like that no more I had kh2 400 13 second quarter mile stock can you imagine what a 750 can do scary but cool nice videos thank you
Did you not learn how to use punctuation when you were in school?
It's mine now! Christmas in July! I will post some new videos soon for all to see.
Nice Run!! I love the Kawi Triples. You didn't show a view of the bike. "Lucas Oil". Nice! ;-)
that was so sweet
not only do they scream but the transmissions interchange between the H1 AND H2 I did it when I took out 2nd gear,they swap alright
John Boote famous in New Zealand has a photo on his office wall from the day he raced a DC-10 down the runway of the Christchurch city airport.
Good Lord in heaven.... I wants one. @ connorsracing: thanks for the vid and the explanation of the clutch and shifting system. Amazing. Ever worry about throwing a piston through the head with that kind of load?
Very nice love my 75 H2C!! :)
Bikes back then was like riding a mail box
9.64 and it sounds like the clutch is slipping or its SPINNING? Man what a monster...
"Wow" sounds like that bike is geared perfect.......
had 750 kaw built by paul gast , went 9.37 140.4 what a ride...
right .. a real hell machine ...
thats fookin fast
Awesome! Can I try it?
That was great damn I would love to do that on one of them
It looks like you red lighted!?
nice bro!
That was awesome. Hydraulic clutch and all
No hand operated clutch on that one.
Sounds like my 1st bike- a 73 S-2 but that only could run 15 flat at about 88 mph dead stock
used to race a micro sprint in the mid 80's in central mo. with a yz465 yamaha. always wanted to put one of the old triples on there but the ol man wouldnt try it.
wow at 1:18 - 1:19 right before the bike takes off, it made a very strange but cool sound. is that the 2 step rev limiter that you mentioned in the comments?
+Xgamer121X - Correct. That is the lower step of the rev-limiter at wide open throttle. (I answered you since it looks as if the owner may not monitor this channel with any regularity.)
Did it break the speed of sound
Fucking awesome ,ya gotta love the roar of that 2-stroke Tripple hehe :-)
Now That's Fast ✅ No Clutch Slippage... Love It What Was The Time?
That's a bad boy !!
Love to have seen the bike...
Love 2 strokes
What an F'N SCREAMER !!!!!.....Holy Crap!!!!
Would've been nice to see the bike, and the ET/MPH. Oh well, cool video all the same.....
Walter Kaaden......................lets hear it for the man!
+Richard Moxham Yep !!. Walter was the man with his friend whose name escapes me for now. Ports all over the show.
Miss that sound
Nice 👍🏻 😊
DAMNS-THATS NO SEWING MACHINE
Back in the day a lot of Harley and Triumph riders would turn the other way when these little rice grinders came screaming through town. They were screamers!
I couldn't keep a clutch in mine.Was a 1972, with a big bore kit.
Luv it
this is where it was designed to be ridden,it is a very dangerous bike,definitely not for an amateur,this thing will kill you,third gear wheelies at 80 mph,oh yeah all the transmission parts interchange between 500's and 750's been there done that
I'm with Billy..(post below).. I miss that exhaust smell.
ohhhhhhhhyes
I hate to ask a dumb question but what was the time for the quarter mile
Liking this
Where are the balls compartment on that bike? I reckon it is quite large, that space..
hell yeah man brappp
The widow making weedwacker.
H2 ?x