Kawi2strokes.com Forum

I just brought home a 75 H1, woo hoo!

It needs a total restoration, but I have time and a bike to ride in the meantime.

I want to make it a rider, keeping it pretty original looking but more practical.

I have 2 questions today.
First, what does it take to get reasonable (or at least safe) handling?
Second, besides handling and brakes are there any other things that I need to be concerned about to make a good rider?

Thanks for your help

Tapered steering head bearings, bronze bushes in the swinger. Decent rear shocks 1 to 3" longer, 18" front rim and an EX 500 caliper conversion for super front brake. And front springs from works shocks.

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Twist the throttle, tilt the horizon, and have a great time. What triples are all about...........

Not to speak for Ja-Moo, but he listed the mods in order of importance. Getting rid of play in the head and swing arm is a matter of safety. The longer rear shocks, 18" front wheel, and new front springs are handling tweaks. I'll add that loose spokes are another tank-slapper starter.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

Don't forget the BT45 tires!!

A 1/2in. bore master cylinder for the EX caliper works great too!

J

I agree with the above but think tires are very high up on the list.
Haven't done 18" wheel mod yet but would also add cartridge emulators and low stiction fork oil.

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There are only two types of motor sport racing:
Nitro and everything else
(Sometimes referred to as fast and slow)

Here is one of my favorite mods for a stock swingarm.



Double needle bearings from KZ900.
I did this on my 74 H1 approx 8 years ago (at least 40K miles) and it's just as tight today.

PK

hey PK ,is that tube wrapped in paper one long replacement for the two steel bearing sleeves on the H1.?

thanks mark

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she will never be pretty but she is a fun ride.

73 KAWASAKI H1 (Sold).
82 YAMAHA RD350LC
2000 KAWI KDX200H
2001 Triumph TT600

Yes, it replaces the two bearing sleeves and the spacer beween them, and it needs to be cut.
When I did this mod I used the stock H1 caps and O-rings, and in order to do that I had to re-use pieces of the old bushings.

I finally found the illustration i made a couple of years ago: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/399336/Pictures/Posted/Needle%20Bearing%20Mod.pdf

PK

thanks PK ,nothing like a clear pic to show whats what.
thanks for that.
mark

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she will never be pretty but she is a fun ride.

73 KAWASAKI H1 (Sold).
82 YAMAHA RD350LC
2000 KAWI KDX200H
2001 Triumph TT600

There was a big discussion on the bush vs bearing years ago. If both stay properly lubricated, the bushes are actually better as there is more contact area.

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Twist the throttle, tilt the horizon, and have a great time. What triples are all about...........