Kawasaki Triple - Model Summary

Model Summary

1969 H1 500 cc white w/blue stripes, distributor CDI ignition, drum front brake, "Mach III 500" badge on side cover and "electronic ignition" decal on oil tank. Early 69 models had bridged port intake design, with "windowed" carbs. Late 1969 saw the introduction of the Charcoal Grey model, but a common misconception is the charcoal grey model is called a 1969 model—it is indeed a 1970 model. Kawasaki paperwork that came with the bikes, and the sales brochures confirm this. This has been spread by many in order to add value to their bikes by being able to call them a first year model when they are not. The red and white model replaced the peacock grey model due to poor sales.

1970 H1A 500 cc

1971 H1B 500 cc, style redesign without the Mach "III" badge

1972 Entire line introduced, intended to be similar in style, with the "swooping" racing stripes on the tank that distinguished the triples.

• S1 250 cc,
• S2 350 cc, drum front brake
• H1C 500 cc, orange, disc front brake, CDI dropped for breaker points, and a front disc brake.
• H1C had points instead of the CDI IGNITION as found on an H1B, and a front disc brake as opposed to the drum brake on the earlier H1B. Also a few cosmetic changes.
• H2 750 cc, front disc brake, CDI ignition with one igniter unit per cylinder.

1973

• S1A 250 cc
• S2A 350 cc
• H1D 500 cc Adopted H2's CDI ignition and the styling that would be used on the later 1974 models.
• H2A 750 cc

1974 All models restyled with a new cleaner design that resembled the Kawasaki Z-1, with an instrument "pod" rather than separate instruments. All models revised for more civilized performance at the expense of raw power.

• S1B 250 cc front drum brake.
• S3 400 cc disc front brake, restyled cylinder head design for better cooling.
• H1E 500 cc
• H2B 750 cc

1975

• S1C 250 cc
• S3A 400 cc
• H1F 500 cc
• H2C 750 cc

1976

• H2 dropped from line, models renamed "KH" to match the "KZ" line of four strokes.
• KH-250 250 cc.
• KH-400 400 cc.
• KH-500 500 cc.

1977–1980 Only surviving models are the KH-250 and KH-400.