1,832
edits
Difference between revisions of "Kawasaki H1"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
detailed history of H1
(changed Daytona to Daytona 200 --> see discussion) |
m (detailed history of H1) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
The '''[[Kawasaki]] H1''' (known in cycling circles as "The Mach III") was the bike that changed the course of high performance motorcycling. | |||
The '''[[Kawasaki]] H1''' (known in cycling circles as "The Mach III") was the bike that changed the course of high performance motorcycling. The three-cylinder, 500cc two stroke power plant had an impressive 60 horsepower and became the quickest production motorcycle EVER produced as it sped down the quarter mile in an unbelievable 12.8 seconds @ 99.5mph. The H1 retailed for $999.00 it would typify what Kawasaki became known for '''Innovation''' and '''Acceleration'''! The H1 still creates excitement today. | ==History== | ||
Kawasaki 2 stroke triple. | The Kawasaki H1 Mach III was the result of the successes of the [[Honda CB450]] and [[Suzuki T500]]. The United States was the largest market and the public had the desire for larger bore, higher horsepower and higher top speeds from bikes. Kawasaki came up with the '''N100 Plan''' in July 1967. The target was to create a motorcycle with a displacement of 500cc, a 1/4 mile standing start of 13 seconds, and 60 horsepower. Kawasaki planned to do this by (1) increasing the bore of air-cooled two-stroke parallel twin cylinder [[rotary disc valve]] engine on the [[Kawasaki A7|Kawasaki A7 Samurai]], or (2) develop a revolutionary new engine layout. Both twin cylinder and a three cylinder engines were developed alongside each other with the assistance of Osaka University. Kawasaki finally went with the three cylinder. | ||
Kawasaki produced the first ever MACH III in September 1968. In June 1970 Kawasaki launched a candy red bike with white stripes and a few minor changes. In September 1971, the H1A was launched. | |||
<ref>[http://www.dragbike.com/news/features/history_h1.htm DragBike.com: History of the H1 Mach III]</ref> | |||
The three-cylinder, 500cc two stroke power plant had an impressive 60 horsepower and became the quickest production motorcycle EVER produced as it sped down the quarter mile in an unbelievable 12.8 seconds @ 99.5mph. The H1 retailed for $999.00 it would typify what Kawasaki became known for '''Innovation''' and '''Acceleration'''! The H1 still creates excitement today. Kawasaki 2 stroke triple. | |||
==H1R== | ==H1R== | ||
[[Image:1969-kawasaki-h1r.jpg|right|thumb|1969 Kawasaki H1R]] | [[Image:1969-kawasaki-h1r.jpg|right|thumb|1969 Kawasaki H1R]] | ||
| Line 165: | Line 171: | ||
==1976== | ==1976== | ||
In 1976 the model designation was changed to the [[Kawasaki KH500|KH500]] | In 1976 the model designation was changed to the [[Kawasaki KH500|KH500]] | ||
==References== | |||
<references /> | |||
[[Category:Kawasaki motorcycles|H1]][[Category:1970s motorcycles|H1]] | [[Category:Kawasaki motorcycles|H1]][[Category:1970s motorcycles|H1]] | ||
{{motorcycle-stub}} | {{motorcycle-stub}} | ||