-When he parks the Kawasaki, people flock to watch
Oddbjørn Mikkelborg's favorite motorcycle for short trips; Kawasaki 400 S3 Mach II
Oddbjørn Mikkelborg from Bærum has a number of classics to choose from when he goes on a trip or a meeting. He has been featured previously here on the website with his six-cylinder Kawasaki Z1300Dfi. Now he is back with a small but lightning-fast Kawatrippel. When it comes to short rides to the nearest cafe and nostalgic experiences, his first choice is the little 3-cylinder 2-stroke Kawasaki 400 S3 Mach II. “When I park the bike, it is crowded with people who want to take a closer look at what kind of bike this is,” says Oddbjørn.
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The early 70s were the heyday of the 2-stroke. Kawasaki H2-750 was one of the fastest things to come out on two wheels. However, Kawasaki Heavy Industries also needed bikes in the smaller machine segment, with lower weight and more moderate power. The 400 S3 Mach II was one of the solutions to this need. At the beginning of the 70s, the power hysteria was about to take off. Honda's CB 750 Four had its loyal followers, while Suzuki addressed two-stroke enthusiasts with its water-cooled GT 750. Yamaha sold well with its XS-650 and now had the TX 750 on the drawing board. However, the fastest and fiercest of all was Kawasaki with the H2-750. 74 hp from 3 cylinders running in 2-stroke mode, gave kick that bordered on the indefensible. Now, not everyone wanted such a big and powerful motorcycle, and Kawasaki had several great 2-strokes to show off in their sales brochures. The H1-500 came out in 1969, and became very popular. They eventually expanded the model range with 250, 350, and 400 cc, all with 3-cylinder 2-stroke engines. Thus, over a period of time, five different 2-strokes were produced.
400 S3 Mach II
In 1974, the 350cc engine was phased out in favor of the new 400cc engine, the 400 S3 Mach II. The appearance of the S2-350 and 400 S3 Mach II was relatively similar. Kawasaki 400 S3 Mach II was a nimble machine, which with its 42 hp gave a fresh, but not unreasonably brutal kick when you press the throttle. Low weight and a “tight” steering geometry made the bike very easy to ride. The drum brake at the rear in combination with a single disc at the front gave good braking capacity.
Thirsty 2-strokes
Although the 2-strokes were the most fuel-hungry, consumption turned out to be relatively normal with sensible throttle use. The engine was also set up so that it pulled well without having to rev too high. This gave the engine a quieter ride, more suited to everyday use. Compared to the S2-350, the 400-cubic had higher torque at lower revs. This made it more agile and resilient than its predecessor. It is also worth noting that the engine mounts were via rubber blocks, which reduced vibrations from the engine. 1975 was the last model year for the 400 S3 Mach II, and in 1976 the supposedly more environmentally friendly successor, the KH-400, was released. This was also equipped with a three-cylinder two-stroke engine, but had somewhat reduced power. The environmental alibi was probably stronger on paper than in practice!
Technical data Kawasaki S3-400 Mach II, 1975 model:
Engine: 3-cylinder 2-stroke, air-cooled
Displacement: 400 cc
Power: 42 hp at 7000 rpm.
No. of gears: 5
Front tires: 3.25 x 18
Rear tires: 3.50 x 18
Electrical system: 12 volts
Tank: 14 liters
Weight: 149.5 kg (dry)
Top speed: 176 km/h
