Had one. Loved to rev. Lots of fun, weakness - it has a four main bearing crankshaft. The drive side of the crankshaft flexes so much that it burns the thrust washers and squeezes the rod to the point that the rod turns black almost all the way up to the wrist pin. The next year 350 had a six main bearing crank.. this is about the time I started road racing. You didn’t see many of the Kawasaki machines on the track very often or for very long because of the wide engine, they could not survive crashes. The 350 and 400 machines handled very well. They were pretty even with the RDs which ruled the race tracks. RD actually stands for race developed. The factory road racers and the rDs shared the same crankcasesslashengine cases pretty much, and frames, pretty much. The street bikes had extra tabs welded on them for hardware.. The machine in this video sounds like crap because he took the baffles out. They actually ran much better with the baffles in. too bad the 500 &750 triples didn’t use the same frame as the 350 and 400 because the 500s and 750s handled like a wet noodle. They were horrible wigglers
I had a KH400 for some years. Great bike, one of the sweeter triples. However, I test rode an original S2 350. Totally different machine! Thrillingly aggressive, loud and wilful. Like the KH400s naughty sister.
I love the smell of blendzall in the morning .. Kawasaki motorcycles made the most noise/mechanical noise. They did a little tricks to get that little bit more power like put the wrist pins on the center of the piston. That was mechanically the most efficient location, but, that also contributed to a lot of piston rattle from the skirt clattering.. other manufacturers put their wrist pins slightly off-center so the piston would not rattle as much.. Kawasaki also used straight cut primary gears which make a whining sound, but transmitting the power at right angles is the most efficient way from an engineering point. To hell with the noise from the gear whine.. that’s why the Kawasaki‘s were faster in the quarter-mile times, so the magazines could print the stats in comparison tests.. I think the best engineered two strokes were the bridgestones.. I had the Bridgestone 350 GTR. It had a 6 gallon fuel tank when everyone else had a 3 1/2 or 4 gallon tank. The Bridgestone had a dry clutch, the cylinder boars were actually chrome etched onto the aluminum. That bore would not wear out unless you were foolish enough to run no air filter. You just replaced pistons and rings when the time came. With the dry clutch, you did not have the drag of the clutch running in oil like everybody else had. The Bridgestone had a six speed when it was not yet common. The RDs did not get a six speed until 1973. The Bridgestone had a six speed in the late 60s. The Bridgestone had a shift shaft that went all the way through the engine so you could put the shifter on either side. It would start in any gear by pulling the clutch in and kicking, it would start without a battery ... It was a rotary valve twin. The catastrophe that happened to Bridgestone that was the end of the company, was the longshoreman strike in the late 60s. Literally thousands of ships were not being unloaded for months because of that strike. Ships were loaded with the next years supply of Bridgestone motorcycles on the East Coast, and on the West Coast, and they could not be unloaded because of the strike, that was the end of Bridgestone … I believe that today had Bridgestone survived, it would be Honda at the top, followed by Bridgestone then Yamaha, suzuki Kawasaki.. One of life‘s little tragedies.. two of my friends had Bridgestone 350 GTR motorcycles, they rode from Pennsylvania, to San Francisco, down into Mexico, Back to San Francisco, and then back home here to Pennsylvania on those machines without even fowling a spark plug..
Oh, that is nice. I wanted to buy the 1972 S2 shortly after I got my first motorcycle, the Yamaha AT2. I even have a photo of my new bike parked next to the new S2 (and the H2 and Suzuki GT550) on the local dealer. I especially liked the S2 because it handled very light, like my AT2 but it had worse gas mileage than the bigger H2 because 30% of the gas is used for cooling! So I bought the Honda SL350K1 then the big KZ900. I have the KH500 which handles nearly as light but I still want the S2.
Jeez - mine was $1330 brand new in Oct 1972 - in New Zealand. 70 miles on a tank of gas and sparkplugs every 500 miles! Was quicker than my mates RD350 in the wet though - also did good wheelies!
Thanks for the offer. I need to start saving money. I have over 50 bikes, mostly stock, including 5 CB750s so my maintenance cost is high but the S2 is on my high list too, even more than the H2. When you're in Vegas, especially if you're riding that S2, please let me know.
I owned one for one month before a man took a quick left hand turn into me and I did a summersault and landed on my head . My helmet was destroyed but no head trauma. The speedometer almost removed chance of future progeny. Bike took $700 to restore it. It was $825 new.
nice original s2 rode one of these in the 70s really rattel when reved ,never sound the same when rebored , new little ends,, ruins porting i believe please upload video of riding ,id love to here that distinctive whistleing sound from clutch as you pull away slowley,no other triples seemed to make that sound ,rode all triples ,s2 handeled best fitted with kr76 and kr84 ,DO NOT EVER LEAVE PETROL TAP ON ,made this mistake ,petrol seaped into engine ,on start up hydraulic locked and snapped crank
Had one. Loved to rev. Lots of fun, weakness - it has a four main bearing crankshaft. The drive side of the crankshaft flexes so much that it burns the thrust washers and squeezes the rod to the point that the rod turns black almost all the way up to the wrist pin. The next year 350 had a six main bearing crank..
this is about the time I started road racing. You didn’t see many of the Kawasaki machines on the track very often or for very long because of the wide engine, they could not survive crashes. The 350 and 400 machines handled very well. They were pretty even with the RDs which ruled the race tracks. RD actually stands for race developed. The factory road racers and the rDs shared the same crankcasesslashengine cases pretty much, and frames, pretty much. The street bikes had extra tabs welded on them for hardware.. The machine in this video sounds like crap because he took the baffles out. They actually ran much better with the baffles in.
too bad the 500 &750 triples didn’t use the same frame as the 350 and 400 because the 500s and 750s handled like a wet noodle. They were horrible wigglers
had a '73 just like it, nice quick bike.
Still a great style and sound -
Kawa triple were a worldwide legend and watching at yours brings back memories to me.
thx for posting =
Kawa triples 250/350/400/500/750 - a legend =
That was the 1st bike I ever purchased. Bought it from my brother in law. After he rode it the first time he sold it because it scared him.
Good memory :)
One of the nicest bikes ever!
I always wanted one ,but was way out of my budget in the early 70s , thanks for the posting .
You really should have found the budget, somehow !!
I had a KH400 for some years. Great bike, one of the sweeter triples. However, I test rode an original S2 350. Totally different machine! Thrillingly aggressive, loud and wilful. Like the KH400s naughty sister.
I traded a 59' Ford Ranchero for one of those. Best trade I ever made! Miss that bike.
I had a red '73 RD 350 bitd. Love 2 strokes!
That sounds really sweet, always loved the s2
Lovely Bike!
Easily my best bike ever.
Thanks for your comment!
YES! I love the S2, too!
Nice
My brother had one exactly the same colour
Lovely sound from the 2 stroke engine, hardly see any of these around now....
That rattle, that blue smoke - absolutely fabulous!!!
I love the smell of blendzall in the morning ..
Kawasaki motorcycles made the most noise/mechanical noise. They did a little tricks to get that little bit more power like put the wrist pins on the center of the piston. That was mechanically the most efficient location, but, that also contributed to a lot of piston rattle from the skirt clattering.. other manufacturers put their wrist pins slightly off-center so the piston would not rattle as much..
Kawasaki also used straight cut primary gears which make a whining sound, but transmitting the power at right angles is the most efficient way from an engineering point. To hell with the noise from the gear whine..
that’s why the Kawasaki‘s were faster in the quarter-mile times, so the magazines could print the stats in comparison tests..
I think the best engineered two strokes were the bridgestones.. I had the Bridgestone 350 GTR. It had a 6 gallon fuel tank when everyone else had a 3 1/2 or 4 gallon tank. The Bridgestone had a dry clutch, the cylinder boars were actually chrome etched onto the aluminum. That bore would not wear out unless you were foolish enough to run no air filter. You just replaced pistons and rings when the time came. With the dry clutch, you did not have the drag of the clutch running in oil like everybody else had.
The Bridgestone had a six speed when it was not yet common. The RDs did not get a six speed until 1973. The Bridgestone had a six speed in the late 60s. The Bridgestone had a shift shaft that went all the way through the engine so you could put the shifter on either side. It would start in any gear by pulling the clutch in and kicking, it would start without a battery ... It was a rotary valve twin.
The catastrophe that happened to Bridgestone that was the end of the company, was the longshoreman strike in the late 60s. Literally thousands of ships were not being unloaded for months because of that strike. Ships were loaded with the next years supply of Bridgestone motorcycles on the East Coast, and on the West Coast, and they could not be unloaded because of the strike, that was the end of Bridgestone …
I believe that today had Bridgestone survived, it would be Honda at the top, followed by Bridgestone then Yamaha, suzuki Kawasaki..
One of life‘s little tragedies..
two of my friends had Bridgestone 350 GTR motorcycles, they rode from Pennsylvania, to San Francisco, down into Mexico, Back to San Francisco, and then back home here to Pennsylvania on those machines without even fowling a spark plug..
They were really nice and powerful that 2strokes.The only problem was they needs a lot of fuel.
A lot of fuel?? Not a major concern, if you had one of these 🤣🤣
beautiful bike , i was not born that time...
Oh, that is nice. I wanted to buy the 1972 S2 shortly after I got my first motorcycle, the Yamaha AT2. I even have a photo of my new bike parked next to the new S2 (and the H2 and Suzuki GT550) on the local dealer. I especially liked the S2 because it handled very light, like my AT2 but it had worse gas mileage than the bigger H2 because 30% of the gas is used for cooling! So I bought the Honda SL350K1 then the big KZ900. I have the KH500 which handles nearly as light but I still want the S2.
Awesome Bike ! Thanks for posting !
That's the exact bike I had in 1972.
Thank you buddy!
WOW! I've checked your 350!
It's AWESOME!!
Got one now undergoing restoration.
Very Nice!!!
thanx, have a lot of plans for it, chrome chrome and more chrome! ride safe!
Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, oldKXdude.
The car behind it, is Chevrolet BelAir wagon.
I think it is '56.
Jeez - mine was $1330 brand new in Oct 1972 - in New Zealand. 70 miles on a tank of gas and sparkplugs every 500 miles! Was quicker than my mates RD350 in the wet though - also did good wheelies!
Hi, 400gp.
Thanks for your info.
Yes, I will try to upload the video of riding soon....
Thanks for the offer. I need to start saving money. I have over 50 bikes, mostly stock, including 5 CB750s so my maintenance cost is high but the S2 is on my high list too, even more than the H2. When you're in Vegas, especially if you're riding that S2, please let me know.
YES!! It was bad economy, But it's still better than my pick up truck.... And much FUN!!
So, engine started: could you ride it?
Sure, why not… but. I’ve sold…🥲
Thx! So you used to have the S2 before?
If it reminded you that's my pleasure.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Your Z1 sooo cooool.
ありがとー。
同じSS350乗ってました。煙がすごくまたカストロールの赤オイルもたくさん消費
Thanks, tedmault!
WOw...veryclean..nice machine
Had one years ago.
Thanks! RalfK.
Fantastic!
Very very Beutifull!!
I owned one for one month before a man took a quick left hand turn into me and I did a summersault and landed on my head . My helmet was destroyed but no head trauma. The speedometer almost removed chance of future progeny. Bike took $700 to restore it. It was $825 new.
nice original s2 rode one of these in the 70s really rattel when reved ,never sound the same when rebored , new little ends,, ruins porting i believe please upload video of riding ,id love to here that distinctive whistleing sound from clutch as you pull away slowley,no other triples seemed to make that sound ,rode all triples ,s2 handeled best fitted with kr76 and kr84 ,DO NOT EVER LEAVE PETROL TAP ON ,made this mistake ,petrol seaped into engine ,on start up hydraulic locked and snapped crank
way fast,scaerist small bike ,i have ever ridden.
I see, Thanks.
Oh, yes. it's scare, but fun!! :)
the sound.
Thanks, Captain.
When you ready to buy the S2 ,Please contact me.:)
Thanks for the comments!
Please check my another triple video.(H1)
Peace&Triples!!
有り難うございます! カストロ赤オイル、欲しいです。:)
Hi, Did you receive my e-mail? that I sent you on Mar.6th.
I live in zip90278 area.
Thanks.
Thanks!!