Nice memories. This was my first bike I bought new in '72. I use to pick on Honda CB500s, beat them every time. It made the owners mad that a 350 was beating their 500s but the S2 was only 5 hp less than the Honda, but 100 lbs lighter!
I had a test ride on an S2 350, the first model. I had been looking for a KH400 and that S2 came up for sale. Drum brakes, completely standard, heavy patina, dull paint. That machine was possessed! It remains the most thrilling, wildly inappropriate, antisocial, wonderful bike I’ve ever ridden. It had a hugely noisy engine, intake and exhaust, but with that frighteningly addictive musical triple note. The thing picked up revs astonishingly fast, rudely tried to loft the front wheel when I wasn’t expecting, and generally made it clear that we were going to be talking to an angry policeman sooner rather than later. Sadly, and it is sad even now, the owner wanted about twice what it was worth and a lot more than I had. I went on to buy a KH400 which I had for a very long time. Great bike but a shadow of what that S2 was. I have an H2C now, which has its moments, you never quite know when its going to decide to kill you. But I think that 350 put a big smoking brand on my heart that will never heal over.
I had a 1972 S2 350 Kawasaki. Pulled so many wheelies I broke the frame in two pieces. Drug the pegs so much the bolt holding them on came off. The top triple clamp broke when I came down from a wheelie. I loved it .
I was seventeen in 72 and this bike went like a rocket. At a steady 55mph it got 28 MPG. It required 3 new champion gold palladium's every 300 miles to run peak. It was a gas sucking screaming monster. I could set my ass all the way forward on top of the gas tank and in first I still couldn't hold the wheel down. Just engine torque not popping the clutch. You had to strobe and time 3 sets of points real often too.
@@davidmacphee3549 learned to strobe 3 sets of points regularly I'll say that. Now I've got over 28k on a Royal Enfield 650 twin. It's the new old British bike you and I would never own.
This was my first bike in 73..awesome looking, it was fast about not enough time in the day or night to drive it.. Can't let it idle too long, maybe about a minute before going for the first ride of the day, spark plugs would carbon up, that's why the blue smoke, and fouled up spark plugs.. Yeah then shut it off, let cool down, remove clean with wire brush, check the gap, put back in and Go.... One thing my friend did was Put Car horns on it, that little beep, beep didn't cut it.. I got the car horns a luxury car old Lincoln at a junk yard.. He installed them but kept grounding, so cut up some old intertubes to size where it making contact with the frame... That took care of the problem, Ooooo La, La.. When the horn button was pressed, they Sounded Beautiful... It added a Touch of Class.... Then traffic on the road would know that you're next to them.. Sometimes you would have to watch out for them too.. Not paying attention.. Even in a car you got to look out... I had the 350 about a later got my 73 H2 750..gold.. Don't have either One after 44 years I still miss them, terrible , feel bad to this day..
Magnifique bravo elle est très belle. Les Kawa de ces années là étaient les plus sportives des japonaises avec ce design agressif si novateur 👍 en plus le chant merveilleux du trois cylindres. La Kawa S2 s'est très bien vendue en France, on en voyait partout.
I had a blue '73 S2. Sold it in 76' ...At 6000 rpm the front wheel would be off the ground in first and second gear. I never saw another one of these on the road back then. (Many 750's)
This was my first street bike, bought it new in `72 and had a blast on it. Ran Klotz2 and expansion chambers with oversize jets. Blew off a lot of other bikes and cars, lol. I wish I still had it.
I had one just like it in 1974-75. Great motorcycle. I still think it is a great looking bike. It was fast but the fuel mileage was abysmal (18 mpg, consistently).
I had a kh 250 the same frame great handling, kh 400 know where near as good performance as the S2's handling, a kh 500, an amazing bike, I wish I'd kept the kh 500 for ever , perfect bike . I had lots of performance four Stoke , the triple's we're best . I couldn't touch the ground ,flat foot on the H2 750, but the 500was perfect for me . I had a friend with a 350, it was a great bike , the 2stroke triple's we're the best .
That was my 1st bike , got in 73, Small and Fast..in 74 got me it's bigger bro, 73 750 h-2 . Very Fast, so I had 2 bike's, don't have either one as of 77' , sold the H-2 , and just let the S-2 sit and collect dust..Dang 😢 regret very much, could have had one of them to this day..
I've got a hybrid version. KH250B2 chassis. S2A engine and carbs. S1C gearbox. I get the benefits of the better handling and brakes of the later bike, with the sound and go of the S2. I've put Koni shocks out back, and stiffer fork springs with custom spacers to keep the stance correct. I've owned my bike for 33 years, and I've spent a fair amount keeping it on the road, and it gets a lot of compliments. But it's nowhere near as nice as that. I hope it gets ridden and enjoyed.
I had a 72 in blue in 1985. It had been my brother's. I got it running, but it would not run well after a few weeks and would fowl out after a couple of hours. The clutch was very stiff. Probably from sitting those years. 8500 miles on it. No one could help me with the engine fowling issue, so I let it go to a friend the same year. He recently sold it to a collector in Iowa.
Bought a 1972 model exactly like the fully restored red model in early 1973 for $425. Had it 12 years and sold it for $425, should of kept it I guess! Wasn't real excited about all the blue smoke out of the triple pipes, at the time it was a little less than desirable. I even replaced the oil injector pump, and put new rings in it, and it still smoked. Guess I wasted $100 bucks in parts.
I bought a shabby but complete one for restoration a few months ago. I was browsing on Ebay after a bottle of red and won it sight unseen!. Been collecting N.O.S parts from all over the globe since. A cocaine habit would be cheaper!. I've stripped the bike for cleaning and inspection but thankfully no sign of tool marks or the dreaded pipe grips just the usual wear and tare.
Please put up a video of your S2 when you're finished. I saw the video of the other bike you finished, and you do great work. I have a 72 S2 also that I've owned over 30 years. Mine is decent shape, about a 7 out of 10, and I'll be restoring mine soon after I retire.
@@michaeldavis5775 Thank you, you're very kind. At the moment I'm putting all my efforts, and funds into a 1972, H2 so the S2 will be a while yet, although I've gathered pretty well all the N.O.S parts I need for that build. Thanks again for your comment.
This is completely insane I am a proud owner of this specific make and model bike. It has complete sentimental value to me due to it being my father's. I am currently working on a restoration. I could not be more overjoyed. Would love to correspond with you. Incredible video very informative and so very helpful... Thank you
@@davidmacphee3549 i bought it 22nd June 2016 the day before the 25% plunge in the £ due to the Brexit Vote. More judgement than luck. I have a Kh400 and 2 H2 750 triples. The S2 350 was a reluctant starter when I collected it from its 3000 mile transit. Recently I changed the rectifier and it starts first time and rides well. It wasn't as mint as it looks in the video but is still a great little bike and performs really well. The rear ty(i)re was so large that the centre stand had been removed but I jave returned it to standard and found a replacement stand. The bike is now in Jersey, british channel islands
Used to love leaving Harleys in a cloud of smoke after they laughed at the sound my little 350 s2 made. I bought it used for $200 from a guy who had laid it down and decided to quit riding in 1974 Very little cosmetic damage.
My brother had bought a red one that had just under a 1000 miles on it in 1974 that had killed it's previous owner and had a new front end on it and cost about a buck a mile. What an incredible bike we used to do wheelies out of the driveway riding 2 up with it and bother a lot of 4 stroke owners . Heh! I ended up with a s3 400 that was almost as good but the s2 could handle like crazy. Not like the mk4
I'm restoring one of these at the moment. Trying to rebuild the whole bike with as many new parts as possible. Engine will have all new parts all the way through, crank, pistons, gears, oil pump, clutch, ignition, charging, wire loom and so on... I think it's the least profitable project that has ever been done - anytime. My budget is now close to 15K USD as we speak, and I haven't started assembling it yet. Complete front forks ended at little less than 2K USD! Still looking for the left hand mirror, if anyone has one for me! Oh, and I have the rear fender too! ;)
David Handley I do want to sell one, i have three of them. Are you looking for a project or ready to ride? i have two that need a fair bit of work and the other needs a bit.
S2 only came out in apple candy red. the one i think you would be interested in is Candy red (Original) paint, will need tank repaired (has been scraped on one side) some surface rust needs attention and to make it look the goods if your that fussy re chrome expansion chambers, new brakes. I want $3500 AU
My goodness, one of my favorite bikes ever. the design is simply beautiful.
To me, it looks like 20 Grand! I would have to hang it on the wall though.
I had one of these. Had a lot of fun on it. Best thing I did was use Klotz 2 stroke oil and platinum plugs. Ran great!
My God, what a timeless beauty! The pure essence of motorcycling!
Nice memories. This was my first bike I bought new in '72. I use to pick on Honda CB500s, beat them every time. It made the owners mad that a 350 was beating their 500s but the S2 was only 5 hp less than the Honda, but 100 lbs lighter!
Yup I beat everything on this rocket ride.
Worked @ Memphis Speed then. Mine had Denco heads, J&R chambers, port work, 3 Holley chrome coils, clip-ons, & rear sets. Tossed the drum brake & forks. RD 350 forks, wheel w/ disc was swapped on. Stock Honda 750s hated me.
@@TWak4ord I would love to know more!
I had a test ride on an S2 350, the first model. I had been looking for a KH400 and that S2 came up for sale. Drum brakes, completely standard, heavy patina, dull paint. That machine was possessed! It remains the most thrilling, wildly inappropriate, antisocial, wonderful bike I’ve ever ridden. It had a hugely noisy engine, intake and exhaust, but with that frighteningly addictive musical triple note. The thing picked up revs astonishingly fast, rudely tried to loft the front wheel when I wasn’t expecting, and generally made it clear that we were going to be talking to an angry policeman sooner rather than later.
Sadly, and it is sad even now, the owner wanted about twice what it was worth and a lot more than I had. I went on to buy a KH400 which I had for a very long time. Great bike but a shadow of what that S2 was.
I have an H2C now, which has its moments, you never quite know when its going to decide to kill you. But I think that 350 put a big smoking brand on my heart that will never heal over.
I had a 1972 S2 350 Kawasaki. Pulled so many wheelies I broke the frame in two pieces. Drug the pegs so much the bolt holding them on came off. The top triple clamp broke when I came down from a wheelie. I loved it .
Every time you gripped that throttle, you felt another Orgasm coming on!
I was seventeen in 72 and this bike went like a rocket. At a steady 55mph it got 28 MPG. It required 3 new champion gold palladium's every 300 miles to run peak. It was a gas sucking screaming monster. I could set my ass all the way forward on top of the gas tank and in first I still couldn't hold the wheel down. Just engine torque not popping the clutch. You had to strobe and time 3 sets of points real often too.
We started out very much alike Brother!
@@davidmacphee3549 learned to strobe 3 sets of points regularly I'll say that.
Now I've got over 28k on a Royal Enfield 650 twin. It's the new old British bike you and I would never own.
This was my first bike in 73..awesome looking, it was fast about not enough time in the day or night to drive it.. Can't let it idle too long, maybe about a minute before going for the first ride of the day, spark plugs would carbon up, that's why the blue smoke, and fouled up spark plugs.. Yeah then shut it off, let cool down, remove clean with wire brush, check the gap, put back in and Go.... One thing my friend did was Put Car horns on it, that little beep, beep didn't cut it.. I got the car horns a luxury car old Lincoln at a junk yard.. He installed them but kept grounding, so cut up some old intertubes to size where it making contact with the frame... That took care of the problem, Ooooo La, La.. When the horn button was pressed, they Sounded Beautiful... It added a Touch of Class.... Then traffic on the road would know that you're next to them.. Sometimes you would have to watch out for them too.. Not paying attention.. Even in a car you got to look out... I had the 350 about a later got my 73 H2 750..gold.. Don't have either One after 44 years I still miss them, terrible , feel bad to this day..
yup had a 1972 S2 like that,made that lovely turbine roar.
Magnifique bravo elle est très belle. Les Kawa de ces années là étaient les plus sportives des japonaises avec ce design agressif si novateur 👍 en plus le chant merveilleux du trois cylindres. La Kawa S2 s'est très bien vendue en France, on en voyait partout.
I had a blue '73 S2. Sold it in 76' ...At 6000 rpm the front wheel would be off the ground in first and second gear. I never saw another one of these on the road back then. (Many 750's)
I had two S2s in 1988 - sold them for £300 each... Wish I had kept hold of them...
My first motorcycle a 1972 350....I sure wish I still had her. CRY CRY!!
Boy these were rare even in their day. I grew up in Clearwater Fla and you rarely ever saw any S2’s or S3’s on the street.
that Bike is gorgeous,. a great engine , mind blowing performance from a 350
This was my first street bike, bought it new in `72 and had a blast on it. Ran Klotz2 and expansion chambers with oversize jets. Blew off a lot of other bikes and cars, lol. I wish I still had it.
Absolutely gorgeous.
Three sets of points I seem to remember....
had the exact same bike as a teenager in HS.
I had one just like it in 1974-75. Great motorcycle. I still think it is a great looking bike. It was fast but the fuel mileage was abysmal (18 mpg, consistently).
28 at 55 MPH but only eighteen at 85..
Gorgeous Cranberry Red!
I had a kh 250 the same frame great handling, kh 400 know where near as good performance as the S2's handling, a kh 500, an amazing bike, I wish I'd kept the kh 500 for ever , perfect bike .
I had lots of performance four Stoke , the triple's we're best . I couldn't touch the ground ,flat foot on the H2 750, but the 500was perfect for me .
I had a friend with a 350, it was a great bike , the 2stroke triple's we're the best .
I’m here because I was just given one. Needs work. But I am excited now after watching this video
First bike I owned was an S2 third gear on it was a blast 💥
That was my 1st bike , got in 73, Small and Fast..in 74 got me it's bigger bro, 73 750 h-2 . Very Fast, so I had 2 bike's, don't have either one as of 77' , sold the H-2 , and just let the S-2 sit and collect dust..Dang 😢 regret very much, could have had one of them to this day..
I had the exact same bike bored and carbs rejetted and it would bury speedometer. It would get a little light above 120. I’d love to have that bike.
Bought it new in 73. Paid $900 CDN. Loved it!
New in 72 one thousand CDN. Nova scotia. Where were you?
@@burtvhulberthyhbn7583 S2 $998 Toronto. H1 $1349 H2 $1745
Z1 $2495
I've got a hybrid version.
KH250B2 chassis. S2A engine and carbs. S1C gearbox.
I get the benefits of the better handling and brakes of the later bike, with the sound and go of the S2.
I've put Koni shocks out back, and stiffer fork springs with custom spacers to keep the stance correct. I've owned my bike for 33 years, and I've spent a fair amount keeping it on the road, and it gets a lot of compliments. But it's nowhere near as nice as that. I hope it gets ridden and enjoyed.
I had a 72 in blue in 1985. It had been my brother's. I got it running, but it would not run well after a few weeks and would fowl out after a couple of hours. The clutch was very stiff. Probably from sitting those years. 8500 miles on it. No one could help me with the engine fowling issue, so I let it go to a friend the same year. He recently sold it to a collector in Iowa.
Pops jus got one can’t wait to repaint it with him
Bought a 1972 model exactly like the fully restored red model in early 1973 for $425. Had it 12 years and sold it for $425, should of kept it I guess! Wasn't real excited about all the blue smoke out of the triple pipes, at the time it was a little less than desirable. I even replaced the oil injector pump, and put new rings in it, and it still smoked. Guess I wasted $100 bucks in parts.
@Domino The smoke is and smell is part of the fun!
I bought a shabby but complete one for restoration a few months ago. I was browsing on Ebay after a bottle of red and won it sight unseen!. Been collecting N.O.S parts from all over the globe since. A cocaine habit would be cheaper!. I've stripped the bike for cleaning and inspection but thankfully no sign of tool marks or the dreaded pipe grips just the usual wear and tare.
Please put up a video of your S2 when you're finished. I saw the video of the other bike you finished, and you do great work. I have a 72 S2 also that I've owned over 30 years. Mine is decent shape, about a 7 out of 10, and I'll be restoring mine soon after I retire.
@@michaeldavis5775
Thank you, you're very kind. At the moment I'm putting all my efforts, and funds into a 1972, H2 so the S2 will be a while yet, although I've gathered pretty well all the N.O.S parts I need for that build.
Thanks again for your comment.
Back again. I’d buy that bike!
This is completely insane I am a proud owner of this specific make and model bike. It has complete sentimental value to me due to it being my father's. I am currently working on a restoration. I could not be more overjoyed. Would love to correspond with you. Incredible video very informative and so very helpful... Thank you
I bought this bike in 2016 from Kaplan Museum Tracey. If you need info then ask. It's in the UK now.
To me, it looks like 20 Grand! I would have to hang it on the wall though.
@@renethebault5977 Good Lord! Tell us More!
@@davidmacphee3549 i bought it 22nd June 2016 the day before the 25% plunge in the £ due to the Brexit Vote. More judgement than luck. I have a Kh400 and 2 H2 750 triples. The S2 350 was a reluctant starter when I collected it from its 3000 mile transit. Recently I changed the rectifier and it starts first time and rides well. It wasn't as mint as it looks in the video but is still a great little bike and performs really well. The rear ty(i)re was so large that the centre stand had been removed but I jave returned it to standard and found a replacement stand. The bike is now in Jersey, british channel islands
Used to love leaving Harleys in a cloud of smoke after they laughed at the sound my little 350 s2 made. I bought it used for $200 from a guy who had laid it down and decided to quit riding in 1974 Very little cosmetic damage.
Harleys were at lot slower back then , Right? I loved doing that to them! Those guys were twice what I weighed back then!
Wonderfull
Well I just buy one of those its a 1972 I want to restore mine
I just restored one for a customer. New rebuilt motor plus.
My brother had bought a red one that had just under a 1000 miles on it in 1974 that had killed it's previous owner and had a new front end on it and cost about a buck a mile. What an incredible bike we used to do wheelies out of the driveway riding 2 up with it and bother a lot of 4 stroke owners . Heh! I ended up with a s3 400 that was almost as good but the s2 could handle like crazy. Not like the mk4
👍👍👍
I'm restoring one of these at the moment. Trying to rebuild the whole bike with as many new parts as possible. Engine will have all new parts all the way through, crank, pistons, gears, oil pump, clutch, ignition, charging, wire loom and so on... I think it's the least profitable project that has ever been done - anytime. My budget is now close to 15K USD as we speak, and I haven't started assembling it yet. Complete front forks ended at little less than 2K USD!
Still looking for the left hand mirror, if anyone has one for me!
Oh, and I have the rear fender too! ;)
I still have a parts one. Tempted to rebuild.
Were s your burners gone
i got 3 of these bikes in my shed, for sale in Melbourne Australia.
findvoltage I'm in Melbourne too and looking to buy one. Do you want to sell one?
David Handley I do want to sell one, i have three of them. Are you looking for a project or ready to ride? i have two that need a fair bit of work and the other needs a bit.
findvoltage least amount of work. What colour?
S2 only came out in apple candy red. the one i think you would be interested in is Candy red (Original) paint, will need tank repaired (has been scraped on one side) some surface rust needs attention and to make it look the goods if your that fussy re chrome expansion chambers, new brakes. I want $3500 AU
findvoltage it's actually the S1 250 that I'm looking for in red.
Yeah nice, but does it run!
Just want to say that the s1 is a 250, the s2 is a 350, the s3 Is a 400
We know.. lol
Also the one that we all would love to own the 500 kh it was band from the UK as it was prone to high speed wobbling and the brakes were crap
Yeah but how do I buy it
Ok. So how much do you want for it? Genuine enquiry.
David, this motorcycle sold this summer at auction on eBay
Kaplan Cycles Damn. Thanks anyway.
scott gorham thanks
AT SEA LEVEL 2 GEARS FRONT WHEEL UP CHURPS AT 60mph LANDING @ 7000ft ft top speed 55 mph
Haben will.........
The music annoys and takes away from hearing the bike