What can one say about some of the most exiting motorcycles ever to hit the street?
The 500 Triple cylinder H1 two stroke was the stuff of awe and legend when launched in 1968.
The first official UK road test of the Mach3 recorded standing quarter mile in just 12.76 seconds, the fastest ever by a road bike at that time. The 60BHP engine, unusually for Kawasaki, who along with Bridgestone had pioneered the use of disc valve induction, was through necessity piston ported. This was because of the difficulty of attaching a carburettor to the crankcase of the centre cylinder of the three-cylinder layout.
This design lead to works as well as privately entered race machines, Mick Grant of England making his racing name on the “ Green Meanie”.
They scored well in Grand Prix racing, regularly being runner up to the unbeatable MV Agusta of Agostini, also coincidentally a three cylinder machine, albeit a four stroke.
Later models had less radical porting, and were slower, although much easier (and safer!) to ride. All are classic machines today and anyone who has never owned or ridden one of the 20th century’s most Iconic motorcycles has missed out, that unique triple cylinder sound raising the hairs on any petrol heads neck!
