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Just when I think i'm out, they drag me back in.....

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Road_Clam

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1973 Kawasaki H1. It's surprisingly complete, but the strange is the fact it has a 1974 dated engine. I've actually been looking for one of these for quite some time but they seem to be either $500 clapped out "bikes in a box", or $7000 mint restored ones. Bought this barn find off a guy I raced motocross with back in the mid 80's. At this time I just don't have the funds to do a true OEM restoration and honestly i'm not really a 70's vintage chrome type guy. I'm thinking a "mild" restoration with some matte black instead of chrome. Engine has good compression, but no spark. Needs a lot of cosmetics top be a nice bike again. I see some signs of bubba work but not too much.





 
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I have to disagree with you. It needs but one thing to be a nice bike again - to run well.

Please don't alter the look. Know that unless you plan to keep it forever, any mods that are not easily reversible, particularly cosmetic, will greatly reduce it's value.

Arguably the first superbike.
 
Wash it, wax it, and ride it just as it is is the way to go. Dont mess with it AT ALL and it will fetch the bigger buck than if you tried to restore anything.
 
These came of age as I did, but I never rode one. I have been studying them from time to time.
From what I just read about how they handle from a test rider, they're built to high side you on any fast corner.
Then it's as loud as 3 trail bikes at every stop light.
Me, I'd have to engineer all those handling issues out if it, and that looks like a challenging project.
 
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Buffalo Bill said:
These came of age as I did, but I never rode one. I have been studying them from time to time.
From what I just read about how they handle from a test rider, they're built to high side you on any fast corner.
Then it's as loud as 3 trail bikes at every stop light.
Me, I'd have to engineer all those handling issues out if it, and that looks like a challenging project.
Click to expand...


The chassis is a substantial limiting factor. The swingarm is bushings, no bearings. The chassis geometry is not the greatest , unwanted flex and so on. The sweet racy sound on these antique triples with a nice set of aftermarket tuned street chambers is like NO other ! This is a keeper. I have no intention of selling. I am going to have the bodywork professionally restored to the OEM metallic green. Beyond that, just going to clean it up, get it street safe, have some "badly rusted beyond polishing" parts refinished and just ride it and have fun. I did a faithfull OEM resto with my '87 GSXR and it costs a SICK amount of money, time spent seeking out mint obsolete parts, and now i'm afraid to drive it as I keep getting small dings and scratches. I don't have a garage so storage is a challenge. I rebuild weekly drivers, NOT garage queen flamingos ;)
 
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Brings back old memories, I had one, the same color and everything. My neighbor had a 750 Honda & he couldn't believe my little 500 would beat him thru the 1/4 mi. every time we ran them. He still brings it up every now & then.
 
Started the teardown and accesment. It needs a lot of work and many parts to be road safe. The very strange issue with this bike is the frame is coded for 1973, yet the engine and all electrics are 1974 ? I've been having a very confusing time identifying this situation. The members over at http://kawasakitriples.myfastforum.org/ have been a HUGE help. I'm more of an early 80's 4 stroke / 4 cyl. type guy, i'm very "green" with 2T Triples !

 
I had a couple of friends that had these back in the day. After hearing them talk about the torque, they scared the crap out of me. The last thing I wanted was to flip one over. 4 strokes seemed a better bet for me. Good luck and I definitely want to see it finished.
 
Good find. I owned and raced an earlier version back in the day. Drags and roadrace too. By the time that version was made they weren't selling as well as they had so i'm not surprised at the numbers being odd, the frame could well have been previous year's stock being used up. I've seen a couple of others like that. I suspect here in NZ we got either the first produced in the year or the scrapings of the previous years build.
Your biggest problems if you want to go original will be pipes and airbox..as I'm sure you already know.
Personally, I'd put pipes and pods on it and leave most of the cosmetics as is but cleaned...As it could have been built in the day and perhaps discovered like that.
I'd really recommend going through the motor. They aren't that hard to do and it will almost certainly need seals.
The ignition should be straightforward - just a bit costly. there are several people supplying replacements.

Have fun, by the time that was sold most of the handling issues were solved.
 
My brother had that bike, it was a 74.

I have a friend who knows everything and everyone when it comes to restoring triples, he has mint 500 and 750s in every paint scheme from every year, I think that's 23, plus more parts than you can imagine
 
Im guessing this guy Road_Clam is the old forum member with the sweet EZ 1100. Hey Rich ! Welcome back. I use to follow your threads and enjoy your NE camaraderie with Jethro and Doug aka crag antler.
 
GregT said:
Good find. I owned and raced an earlier version back in the day. Drags and roadrace too. By the time that version was made they weren't selling as well as they had so i'm not surprised at the numbers being odd, the frame could well have been previous year's stock being used up. I've seen a couple of others like that. I suspect here in NZ we got either the first produced in the year or the scrapings of the previous years build.
Your biggest problems if you want to go original will be pipes and airbox..as I'm sure you already know.
Personally, I'd put pipes and pods on it and leave most of the cosmetics as is but cleaned...As it could have been built in the day and perhaps discovered like that.
I'd really recommend going through the motor. They aren't that hard to do and it will almost certainly need seals.
The ignition should be straightforward - just a bit costly. there are several people supplying replacements.

Have fun, by the time that was sold most of the handling issues were solved.
Click to expand...

The bike didn't come with the OEM exhaust, it came with Denco street chambers, and the airbox is missing. I have some Uni Filter pods on order. Who ever stored this engine did and excellent job. The carbs were reasonably clean, and the crankcases were filled with oil. A peek at the piston skirts they look to be in excellent condition. Compression is up around 150 psi, but the #1 cyl is a little low. I may pop off the top end as that's a very simplified process. I think your right about the 73/74 year issue. The bike looks completely factory and nothing looks to be hacked. If someone did in fact swap to a 1974 engine and electrics they did an outstanding job !
 
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Road_Clam said:
The bike didn't come with the OEM exhaust, it came with Denco street chambers, and the airbox is missing. I have some Uni Filter pods on order. Who ever stored this engine did and excellent job. The carbs were reasonably clean, and the crankcases were filled with oil. A peek at the piston skirts they look to be in excellent condition. Compression is up around 150 psi, but the #1 cyl is a little low. I may pop off the top end as that's a very simplified process. I think your right about the 73/74 year issue. The bike looks completely factory and nothing looks to be hacked. If someone did in fact swap to a 1974 engine and electrics they did an outstanding job !
Click to expand...


When i said pipes and pods, i meant aftermarket pipes...denco had a good name back in the day. Rare as you say to find a motor stored as well as that. One oddity on them is the kickstart gear is prone to seizing on it's shaft which can lock the motor...Check it kicks over as it should.
Finding usable OEM pipes and airbox is mission impossible now. Guy here in NZ bought what was advertised as a good set of OEM pipes for his H2 off ebay - looked good in the pics too. They're rubbish...and from this distance how do you do anything...
 
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