Kawi2strokes.com Forum

Im starting the restoration on my 1974 Kawasaki H2 i bought back in 1977 from the original owner. It was the first motorcycle I ever owned. At the time I only had a few hours riding experience on my buddy's XL250.
Regardless of all the horror stories about these bikes I found it to be very easy to ride and no where as ill handling as their reputation. I survived the experience with no permanent damage.

I keep the bike stock for the first couple years. In 1979 I bought a KZ1000 MKll as my everyday bike so I decided to hot rod the H2. It has Denco Cobra 120 motor. I stripped off everything not neccasary. Its still in that late 70s configuration. I last rode the bike in 1981. I ended up moving from Texas to California in 1987 and the bike had been sitting in my parents garage since.

My plan is to restore it back to its original condition. Unfortunately during my parents move to a new house 15 years ago all the parts not attached to the bike were lost or throw away. The missing original exhaust system, air box, wheels and various small bits and pieces are going to be expensive to replace.

I'm in the parts acquisition phase right now. The motor is going back to stock specs. Not sure what I'm going to do with the Denco stuff.

Looking forward to experiencing 1977 again......





Back in 1977.....

Welcome!!!
Looks like a nice 74. Check your PMs...

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I Love the Smell of Blue Marble in the Morning!!!
Tim Steele in Front Royal, VA
Home of the Phoenix Project
Stay in it when it comes on the pipe, no need to be scared...

Welcome, keep us posted. You have a lot of work finding all the stock parts. It all shows up on ebay eventually. Hopefully the few contacts i gave you might be able to help. I think it would be cool to restore the modded form since you have it all.

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Current bikes: H1 69,71,72,76 KH 500, H2 72(2),73,74,75(3) , 77RD 400, 08 KLR 650. 76 KZ 900, Yamaha RZ 500, ihave so many triples gave up listing them.
Have seversl tons of H1/H2/S parts for sale, http://www.triplestuff.net dhg1337@gmail.com

Hi, If you decide to sell the Denco stuff please contact me. MMy email is jack.fontaine @yahoo.com Iwould gladly give a fair amount for the parts. Ihave a 100 hp kit now ,would buy carbs to.It mite help you with the cash for the stock stuff . Thanks Jack750

Thanks for the comments.

Not sure yet what I'm going to do with the Denco stuff, think I'll hold onto it for a while.

Started the tear down. I was curious how the top end would look after all these years.




Left cylinder is missing its piston, I knew one was missing. Cannot remember now what the reason was. Note Denco stamp and serial number. The center cylinder is missing its stamp, I'll tell that story later.


Still looks like new! The last time I touched this motor was 1981.

i guess you didn't run it much after the denco upgrade judging by the lack of burn marks on the pistons etc.

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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

That was a fresh rebore, it had seized a piston earlier. I had a new Wiesco piston for the empty cylinder, it was one of the parts that went missing....

Don't remember now why it didn't get installed.

My buddies and I all had Kawasaki 1000s we were playing with and I probably just lost interest....

The more I think about it, I may have last run it in late 1979 or early 1980.

I would restore it to it's last configuration. Much cheaper to do and the resale value as a period correct hod rod will be almost as much as a restored to original bike.

Like your bike What was the reason for changing the gas tank and seat back then, did something happen to them Just curious

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1977 KH 400
1976 KH 250/350 rat bike
1971 KV 75
1976 KV 75

It's the original bodywork, just wanted to change the color. I liked the flatter seat profile of the 72-73 models.