1972 H2 750 Kawasaki question

[Jeff.saunders]

The Yamaha 350's were a very fast bike through the turns. Yamaha produced top-notch 250 and 350 street bikes and race bikes.

Jarno Saarinen won the Daytona 200 on a 350cc Yamaha routing bigger 750cc bikes (including from factory Kawasaki 750 triples) by lapping the field...
here's a good article on him : https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~peer/racer-jarno.html

Sadly killed at Monza in his prime.

[kawpaul]

Originally Posted by Dudester

Yah I remember that bike, back in 73 a friend of mine had one which was a 72, 2 stroke and a very fast machine. In 73 I had the Yamaha RD 350 which was almost as equally fast, but, not fast enough in the long run to beat him !!


You obviously didn't read my post right. I never said I beat him or kept up with him, but I still gave him a run for his money, considering I had more than half the cc's less than he had. So a 750 beating a 350 on the ¼ mile by a mere 2 seconds shows how fast that little RD350 really was.

It was about 14 and a half seconds which was fast for a 350. A little port work and it would be silly. I loved the little RDs and RZs and wish I had one. They were actually a much better handling package that the kaw. But to say a mid 14 second bike will even be in the running with a mid 12 second one with both riders being capable is just nuts. In the quarter mile 2 seconds is light years apart.

[zen4me]

Sorry to take so long getting these pictures up. Yeah I'm still selling because my dad says this is just too much bike for me if I restore it. It is rough but we had it running this weekend. So, what do you guys think?

[zen4me]

I have more pictures if anyone is interested. Thanks again for all your help!!

[StarGate]

Based on the info at Zedder that is a 73 frame with a 72 engine. I've never seen one with side covers like that either.

[kawah1c]

Numbers are fine for 72. Side covers too. It has a 73 front fender and the ignition cover on the left hand side of the engine is from an H1 500 73-76. Seems to be mostly there. Not nice, but nice ! I'd keep it if I were you. Restore it. As long as you remember what your dad told you about this bike's personality, and you understand that you don't have to keep full throttle ALL the time, you'll be fine.

Seems to be the correct engine for that frame, too.

A bike isn't more dangerous than the rider allows it to be.

[650hardtail]

pm sent

[zen4me]

Originally Posted by kawah1c

Numbers are fine for 72. Side covers too. It has a 73 front fender and the ignition cover on the left hand side of the engine is from an H1 500 73-76. Seems to be mostly there. Not nice, but nice ! I'd keep it if I were you. Restore it. As long as you remember what your dad told you about this bike's personality, and you understand that you don't have to keep full throttle ALL the time, you'll be fine.

Seems to be the correct engine for that frame, too.

A bike isn't more dangerous than the rider allows it to be.

Very, very true!!! Though I am a daddys girl and our personalities are so similar that if he couldn't handle it I know I can't. Alot of my childhood was spent on this bike and I was really shocked to find out he still had it and even more when he gave it to me. Thanks for the info, would you hazard a guess as to how much it might be worth?

[gpzrider]

Mine had a decent paint job that was far from original. Light pitting on the chrome and just general wear for a 72. But, it did run and ride good. I sold it for $2500 a couple of years ago to a guy who slapped it on ebay and sold it again for $3500. If it runs, I would fix it up and get it painted and ask more. But, in it's current condition, I wouldn't take less than $1500 and you could probably get more than that. If it were mine and I was serious about selling I would start it at $1500 on ebay and let the bidders decide what it's worth.

[kawah1c]

Originally Posted by gpzrider

Mine had a decent paint job that was far from original. Light pitting on the chrome and just general wear for a 72. But, it did run and ride good. I sold it for $2500 a couple of years ago to a guy who slapped it on ebay and sold it again for $3500. If it runs, I would fix it up and get it painted and ask more. But, in it's current condition, I wouldn't take less than $1500 and you could probably get more than that. If it were mine and I was serious about selling I would start it at $1500 on ebay and let the bidders decide what it's worth.

+1

[650hardtail]

looks like another one off to evilbay

[zen4me]

For anyone who is interested I just listed my H2 on Ebay. Thanks for all of your advice!

[kawah1c]

Kawasaki:eBay Motors (item 150386544256 end time Nov-12-09 13:22:55 PST)

[zen4me]

Thanks for posting the link.

[gpzrider]

Over $1500 and still climbing with 4 days left. Why am I not surprised?

[650hardtail]

$4650 final....hope thats the sign of the economy turning around ????
or a deadbeat bidder...ive seen much nicer h2's sell for less...
hope the end deal is real and you get paid...

[zen4me]

Hi first of all I would like to thank you for all your help and advice! I am just blown away with the final bid price. Everything seems to be very on the up and up and should be finalized this week. She will be going to the UK to a gentleman who has done some awesome restorations on some other Kaws. Once again thank you, this money will help more than you can imagine.
Jamie

[650hardtail]

congrats..someone really wanted that...but hope all goes well on the sale

[QKENUF4U]

prob. good ol RB from the kaw. triple board....
congrats on the big money..... glad its going to a person who can appriciate it....

[650hardtail]

Originally Posted by QKENUF4U

prob. good ol RB from the kaw. triple board....
congrats on the big money..... glad its going to a person who can appriciate it....

i doubt rb would go that high..but you never know..i saw his last shipment of
bikes in michigan before he loaded em...one of each year/color triple..
heres some of them in his one of his garages



can you say h2 ??? heres a few