Kawasaki H1-500 Mach III

Kawasaki1970

"The Widowmaker"; Kawasaki H1-500 Mach III

Until Kawasaki unleashed "The Widowmaker" H1-500, the brand was not an unwritten leaf in the motorcycle world. True, they were a bit in the shadow of Honda in particular, but when the 3-cylinder 2-stroke burned the rear wheel rubber at the green light coming out of the traffic lights, Kawasaki was on everyone's lips from then on.

The drum brake was the weakest part for the fast triple

The sleek two-wheeler in chrome and bright colors left most of its competitors behind. Machines like Triumph Trident 750, Norton Commando 750 and not least Honda CB750Four were potent enough, but in the fight for the first 400 meters from a standing start, the Kawasaki was a real nut. The top speed, which was just over 190 km/h, was also a challenge that was difficult to match, even for the big 4-strokes with much larger displacement.

The reason it quickly earned the nickname "Widowmaker" was that it quickly became too much for young, inexperienced riders. The bike's speed exceeded its handling characteristics, and many riders had fatal accidents behind the handlebars of the 500cc bike.

The H1-500 quickly revved up to the redline, which extends to 12,000 rpm.

With a whopping 60 hp to move just under 174 kg (dry weight), it became almost explosively fast when you hit the throttle hard, largely because the 2-stroke was very prone to revving. The fact that the center of gravity was also far back meant that it easily went on the rear wheel, which often led to traffic accidents.

The 3-cylinder power package developed a whopping 60 hp at 7500 rpm.

For Kawasaki however, the model was a success, and a powerful signal to its competitors that they were now a force to be reckoned with. The model was in production from 1969 until the mid-1970s. In today's market, it is the first two years in particular with the typical 1960s styling that are most sought after.

These have drum brakes both front and rear, and the classic gas tank that has a narrowed profile on the sides. Kawasaki H1-500 was also one of the world's first mass-produced motorcycles with electronic ignition, which was marked by a yellow lightning bolt painted on the bike's right side cover.

The H1-500 was among the world's first motorcycles with electronic ignition

Technical data Kawasaki H-500 Mach III , 1970 model:
Engine: 3-cylinder 2-stroke, air-cooled
Displacement: 499 cc
Power: 60 hp at 7500 rpm.
Carburettors: 3 x Mikuni VM28SC
No. of gears: 5
Electrical system: 12 volts
Ignition system: CDI
Tank: 15 liters
Front tires: 3.25 x 19
Rear tires: 4.00 x 18
Weight: 174 kg (dry)
Top speed: 191 km/h

The H1-500 was marketed as the world's fastest motorcycle, which was close to the truth.