Kawasaki Triple - Modifications

Modifications

In 1974, the 350 cc S2 was expanded to a 400 cc S3. In addition, the model range was toned down in performance. The H2 ceased production in 1975, and the model line became the KH series in 1976. United States production stopped in 1976, while the 250 cc KH-250 and 400 cc KH-400 continued in Europe and elsewhere until 1980.

The S1 was popular for some time as a budget performance bike in England because of its small size, and the fact that at this point in time it was legal for learners to ride. The entire S series of motorcycles used breaker point ignition, which was more reliable than the early CDI ignition and much cheaper to repair or replace.

Kawasaki triples were air-cooled, and the crankshafts were pressed together. This made it possible to cut an engine apart, press up extra sections of the crankshaft, re-weld different sections of the cases, and make multi-cylindered motorcycles. The ignition system and carburetors had to be redone. Four-cylinder 1,000 cc H2s were known to exist, but the most common bikes to be modified were the S series, with 5- to 7-cylinder models being built, and at least one "V-6" (two three cylinder banks feeding into a common transmission). There even exists a 48-cylinder bike made up of 250 cc parts. These bikes were more of a machinists' skill exercise than a practical development. They were impractical because the engine was made much wider and the clutch and gearbox were put under more strain.

The 500 cc H1 also benefitted from the marketing genius of Kawasaki. They identified their target customers perfectly. Many US bikers under 30 years of age simply wanted to be the fastest kids on the block. Producing a two-stroke engine was significantly cheaper than a four-stroke, and for many years Kawasaki managed to keep the list price for the H1 under the magical $1,000 barrier. Competing bikes from Norton and Triumph were over $1,200 and slower. For a while Kawasaki even dropped the CDI and reverted to the cheaper contact breaker ignition in order to keep the price under $1,000.