Motorcycle specifications KawasakiH2 750 Mach IV 1972 A sports monster

When the 750 H2 came out in 1971, Kawasaki was riding the wave of big 2-stroke bikes it had itself launched in 1968 with the 500 H1. Not that the greens were the first to market this type of motorcycle, but they had given themselves the means to mass-produce a monster.

The Mach IV went on sale in France in 1972. It followed the recipe of the 500 to the letter, but with a huge dollop of horsepower. The chassis was also inspired by that of its little sister, but was reinforced. The frame tubes are larger, the front wheel gets a disc brake to replace the 500's ridiculous drum, and the "big one" even comes with a steering damper.

Mechanically, Jeannot la Case's (Joe Bar Team) bike is more impressive than its predecessor, but the chassis is much more appropriate. The "chewing gum" frame is forgotten, and the brakes are finally acceptable.

The engine develops 74 hp (71 hp in 1974 following a few modifications to make the H2 a little more civilized). The bike passes 200 km/h in no time, and acceleration is enormous, as is the torque of this 2-stroke (7.9 m.kg at 6,500 rpm).

On the road, the key word is "fun". The H2 is made for uncompromising battle. It's a far cry from any road-going design. The H2 is a pure sports car.

In 1974, it was modified to make it softer and more civilized, but with little effect. As one British tester put it, "they might as well have been giving Tyrannosaurus rex a shot of underarm deodorant and a flea collar.

On the other hand, the Mach IV is a glutton. It whistles its 10 liters per 100 kilometers without forcing itself. With the oil crisis, this bad habit was to prove the undoing of the hairiest monster on the market. Production ceased in 1976.

Tanthallas - Photo credits D.R.