72 Kawa mach 111 h1 Chopper! Winter wake up call..

[chuck peterson]

 

Now that's what I like to see in the middle of winter...even more dangerous modifications to an unrideable bike, now get out there and mess yours up!

 

https://baltimore.craigslist.org/mcy/5956412569.html

[fotoguzzi]

[twowings]

The Flexible Flyer!

[Triple Jim]

We've been admiring that one on the triples board.   

[Xlratr]

The fork tubes need wiping with a little WD40, but apart from that ...
:-)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LowRyter]

probably needs tires and a battery. 

[azguzzirep]

probably needs tires and a battery.

And a longer kickstand.

[Triple Jim]

And a longer kickstand.

Right, he put an aftermarket stand on it that looks like it's shorter than the stock one.   

[Rough Edge racing]

 If it had stock rusty fork tubes and all else the same, would it be worth the asking price?

[Triple Jim]

Not to me.  There's too much severely rusted stuff on it, and a the engine is a complete unknown, but will at a minimum take $1,500-$2,000 for the rebuilt crank, new pistons, boring, transmission seals, clutch, bearings, and gaskets.  It'll take $10k to restore it properly, and it's in such sad shape I don't see a way to put a couple thousand into it to make it a rider.  That's an H1B, which is the only H1 to have points ignition, and that's not a good thing.  If I were to want a road worthy rider quality H1, I'd buy one in that condition for less than it would take to get this one to that state.  That's not to say many triples in that condition or worse haven't been brought back to life by folks looking for a project.

New reproduction fork tubes are not much over $100/pair, so that's the least of your worries. 

[redrider]

I had the H II S3A 400 with points. Adjusting 3 sets weekly along with carbs that wound not stay tight on the spigots got to be old quickly. Oh, it was fun with milled heads, porting and chambers. Such was what we put up with back then.

[tazio]

If I brought that POS home, the wifey would have a stroke. Probably TWO strokes. Just sayin'

[oldbike54]

 "Cleaner than many late 2000's sport bikes we get in" , wholey schmidt , what is happening to those poor sport bikes 

 Jim , is it worth 300 bucks ?

 Dusty

[Triple Jim]

I'm sure it's worth $300.  There must be some salvageable parts there.  :)

[oldbike54]

I'm sure it's worth $300.  There must be some salvageable parts there.  :)

 You don't sound too sure  Seriously , if all of the old, beat up, broken, rusty , crusty , and generally forlorn motorbikes sitting in garages , barns , carports , fields and forests , were all gathered up in one spot , we might realize how not rare some of these things really are .

 Dusty 

[Triple Jim]

Well, there were a lot more triples sold in the US than Guzzis, that's for sure.  I'm pretty confident that I could put my hands on a decent rider H1 for three or four thousand bucks.

[oldbike54]

Well, there were a lot more triples sold in the US than Guzzis, that's for sure.  I'm pretty confident that I could put my hands on a decent rider H1 for three or four thousand bucks.

 There is a MC salvage here that had several Trips , maybe 10 of them in different displacements . 10 years ago someone bought all of them for just a bit more than scrap price , which was probably what most were , scrap that is .

 Dusty

[huub]

wow,i would buy that in milliseconds over here. (netherlands)
that is what we would pay for just the exhaust system.....

[twowings]

Well, there were a lot more triples sold in the US than Guzzis, that's for sure.  I'm pretty confident that I could put my hands on a decent rider H1 for three or four thousand bucks.

"Kawasaki H1" and "decent rider" are mutually exclusive terms...one of the worst-handling motorcycles ever.

Restore it for static display as a museum piece evocative of another time and leave it at that...


 

[Triple Jim]

"Kawasaki H1" and "decent rider" are mutually exclusive terms...one of the worst-handling motorcycles ever.

At least that's the folklore.  I know a guy who still races one and does just fine.  I can't tell where you are by the location information you put in your profile, but if you can make it by the 2-stroke meet at Deals Gap the last full week of May, I can get one of the H1 guys to lead you through the Dragon.  :)

[Arizona Wayne]

As I recall the 500 came with CDI ignition and the latter post Mach IIIs handled better than the original version which was a death trap.  Or maybe the 750 version handled better. 

[Triple Jim]

All but the '72 H1B came with CDI.  The earlier ones had a 12v powered system and the later ones were magneto CDI.  '73 and on H1s had a different frame from the early ones, and probably handled a  little better, but all can be made to handle decently with good setup.  Decently for an early 1970s motorcycle, of course.

Here's an S3 (400) I made the exhaust system for last year.  It has an H1 (500) engine in it, and lots of neat improvements.  The S3 is often considered the best handling of the triples, and I assure you that this one handles very well!

[Arizona Wayne]

I used to road race against Kawi 500 triples in soCal and 2 of their riders got killed due to the nasty handling of the `69 versions.  Their weight distribution was terrible(most on the back) and going down a straight they would weave all the way.  I was on a 350 R5 Yamaha or 350 CL Honda at the time.   We ran 250 to open races together.

[Triple Jim]

Thanks Kirby.  Cool story too.  It seems that when the Z1 came out, the factory made sure it beat their H2s in demonstration drag races by detuning the H2s just enough.   

Here's a friend on his white and blue H1 that I welded the pipes for, tearing around his club track:

[Triple Jim]

Thank you for that too.  The guy riding is quite a craftsman as well.  He made that fiberglass stretched tank, reproduction side covers, and seat/tail, as well as doing his own porting and reed conversion (etc.).

[oldbike54]

 Modern tires also help tame the Trips . The rubber we had when they were new was not wonderful.

 Dusty

[Triple Jim]

Oh, you're sure right, Dusty!  In fact they help tame all motorcycles that didn't have decent rubber back then.  You should see a DT100 when you take off the knobbies and put Avon Roadriders on it.   

[Xlratr]

All but the '72 H1B came with CDI.  The earlier ones had a 12v powered system and the later ones were magneto CDI.  '73 and on H1s had a different frame from the early ones, and probably handled a  little better, but all can be made to handle decently with good setup.  Decently for an early 1970s motorcycle, of course.

Here's an S3 (400) I made the exhaust system for last year.  It has an H1 (500) engine in it, and lots of neat improvements.  The S3 is often considered the best handling of the triples, and I assure you that this one handles very well!

That's Beautiful!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dukedesmo]

Quote from: Xlratr on Today at 09:56:20 AM

That's Beautiful!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Indeed, a work of art. 

[Triple Jim]

Thank you.  Before anyone thinks I built the whole bike though, a friend got it 90% done and sold it to another friend.  It was the 2nd friend who asked me to do the expansion chambers and silencer for it, and do a little engine work while it was here.