You couldn't give me another one! I bought one in '71 & the damned thing nearly killed me 3 times. What a total piece of shit. Went fairly quick in a straight line, couldn't turn corners for love nor money & was impossible to stop fast from anything over 70 mph. I put 12,000 miles on mine in 3 months over the summer of '71 & gladly traded it off in the fall. I hope the Kawasakis of today are better.
@r6mmbr If someone gives you one, give it to me! True, the drum brakes didn't stop them but later on the disc brake upgrade solved that. For that time they were great motorcycles but you had to recognize their limitations. Naturally, all the motorcycles have improved tremendously since then!
You have a deal! The brakes were just one of many issues Kawasaki had not resolved on the 500 & 750 triples of the early '70s. Poor frame geometry & the attendant handling issues were likely more dangerous than poor brakes. Durability was also very poor. I traded my H1 in on a Yamaha in Sept of '71 & found out a week later from the dealership that 2 of the 3 cyl were cracked. The clutch failed after less than 2 months & had to be replaced under warranty...
@r6mmbr Wow! You must have had a lemon! They were selling like hotcakes where I was at. I got mine the day after I graduated high school. I got the last one available for a few months just beating out two guys that came in to buy one after me. I rode that thing all over that summer (100 degrees plus in the desert in summer) and it ran like a bat outta hell. I quit junior college but started up after two years absence and in two years I was ready to transfer to a four year college.Sold it then.
@atreewithnolife ...and they still are 40 years later. Kawasaki should take note instead of building their generic looking butt ugly bikes they make now!
@bananakiller21 Today's motorcycles are seriously lacking in styling! Back in the seventies, you could look at a motorcycle and tell what it was. Today's motorcycles have the worst looking exhaust system..they look like pipes with coffee cans welded on the ends! 80's Ninja Kerker style exhaust were cool but now I've yet to see any decent exhaust pipes! Look at the new Kawasaki ZX14 exhaust. Butt Ugly!
Two days ago I watched this video & I commented as below. Tonight I saw a nice 1975 H1F on ebay, you know what's coming don't you, yes, I put a bid in not expecting to win it & it's all your fault !!!! Well, I guess I'm looking forward to being 17 again ! :-)
@t250j Very nice looking motorcycle. Looks like it is in great shape! It looks like a 1973 H1 and not a 1975? I had a friend that had a 73 that looked just like it. I did a video of another friend's 1973 here on youtube. No matter what year it is, welcome back!
@kawasakih1 You're right but actually, it is an 1975 H1F according to the frame number. It had H1D paintwork and exhausts. I'm well into the restoration process and it's now in the correct 1975 candy sky blue paintwork and the correct H1F exhausts. Should be finished in time for next spring, restoring is fun but expensive !
Great video, brings back fantastic memories of my H1F bought new in 1975 (£750) the last of the H1's just before the KH500's as a 17 year old I rode it just like that, I'm amazed I survived !
@kawasakih1 Yeah, that's true for sure ! I suspect that the later H1's also handled a little better (although not much better). That was a real blast down memory lane for me though. As my user name suggests I also had a Suzuki T250 as a "warm up act" to the H1, still got a T250 & often hanker after another H1. Thanks for the memories, I was 17 again for a moment then !
@roady42 Terrible brakes, not the best handling, exceptional horsepower, ...I think anyone that owned one is lucky to still be alive! Great bikes though! Great memories!
You couldn't give me another one! I bought one in '71 & the damned thing nearly killed me 3 times. What a total piece of shit. Went fairly quick in a straight line, couldn't turn corners for love nor money & was impossible to stop fast from anything over 70 mph. I put 12,000 miles on mine in 3 months over the summer of '71 & gladly traded it off in the fall. I hope the Kawasakis of today are better.
r6mmbr 1 month ago
@r6mmbr If someone gives you one, give it to me! True, the drum brakes didn't stop them but later on the disc brake upgrade solved that. For that time they were great motorcycles but you had to recognize their limitations. Naturally, all the motorcycles have improved tremendously since then!
kawasakih1 1 month ago
@kawasakih1
You have a deal! The brakes were just one of many issues Kawasaki had not resolved on the 500 & 750 triples of the early '70s. Poor frame geometry & the attendant handling issues were likely more dangerous than poor brakes. Durability was also very poor. I traded my H1 in on a Yamaha in Sept of '71 & found out a week later from the dealership that 2 of the 3 cyl were cracked. The clutch failed after less than 2 months & had to be replaced under warranty...
r6mmbr 1 month ago
@r6mmbr Wow! You must have had a lemon! They were selling like hotcakes where I was at. I got mine the day after I graduated high school. I got the last one available for a few months just beating out two guys that came in to buy one after me. I rode that thing all over that summer (100 degrees plus in the desert in summer) and it ran like a bat outta hell. I quit junior college but started up after two years absence and in two years I was ready to transfer to a four year college.Sold it then.
kawasakih1 1 month ago
Wow, this sure brings back the memories, it was exactly like this, except for the helmet.
darrenj7 4 months ago
what a mean bike!!
atreewithnolife 7 months ago
@atreewithnolife ...and they still are 40 years later. Kawasaki should take note instead of building their generic looking butt ugly bikes they make now!
kawasakih1 7 months ago
@kawasakih1 true!!
atreewithnolife 7 months ago
@kawasakih1 the ninja isnt ugly D:
bananakiller21 2 months ago
@bananakiller21 Today's motorcycles are seriously lacking in styling! Back in the seventies, you could look at a motorcycle and tell what it was. Today's motorcycles have the worst looking exhaust system..they look like pipes with coffee cans welded on the ends! 80's Ninja Kerker style exhaust were cool but now I've yet to see any decent exhaust pipes! Look at the new Kawasaki ZX14 exhaust. Butt Ugly!
kawasakih1 2 months ago
@kawasakih1 yeah but the 250 is a nice one
bananakiller21 2 months ago
@kawasakih1 i guess your right
bananakiller21 2 months ago
@bananakiller21 Don't get me wrong...I'm still a fan! I just think they should get back to the great styling they used to have! A bit of retro look!
kawasakih1 2 months ago
@kawasakih1 i would love if they would bring back the old models
bananakiller21 2 months ago
@bananakiller21 They'd sell a lot, especially to old guys like me! They should have new models and retro models!
kawasakih1 2 months ago
@kawasakih1 the best part about the old ones they can be used for almost anything :D
bananakiller21 2 months ago
Nicely done. I thought it was fake.
ReDact45 10 months ago
Just subbed you. I like the old bikes. So you added the sound. Good job.
cashstore1 11 months ago
@cashstore1 Thank You. They have a great sound to them!
kawasakih1 11 months ago
what a truly fantastic clip i cant help but watch over and over great stuff mate
08jakemate 1 year ago
@08jakemate THANK YOU!
kawasakih1 1 year ago
@08jakemate me too!
atreewithnolife 7 months ago
Two days ago I watched this video & I commented as below. Tonight I saw a nice 1975 H1F on ebay, you know what's coming don't you, yes, I put a bid in not expecting to win it & it's all your fault !!!! Well, I guess I'm looking forward to being 17 again ! :-)
t250j 1 year ago
@t250j HA! I'm guilty as charged! What can I say? It's good to relive one's childhood! Welcome to the club! Let me know if you win!
kawasakih1 1 year ago
@kawasakih1 Oh, I won alright .... your fault ! :-))
See.. Item 330453357691 on Ebay.
Still, you only live once, "Let the Good Times Roll !"
t250j 1 year ago
@t250j Very nice looking motorcycle. Looks like it is in great shape! It looks like a 1973 H1 and not a 1975? I had a friend that had a 73 that looked just like it. I did a video of another friend's 1973 here on youtube. No matter what year it is, welcome back!
kawasakih1 1 year ago
@kawasakih1 You're right but actually, it is an 1975 H1F according to the frame number. It had H1D paintwork and exhausts. I'm well into the restoration process and it's now in the correct 1975 candy sky blue paintwork and the correct H1F exhausts. Should be finished in time for next spring, restoring is fun but expensive !
t250j 1 year ago
@t250j Candy Sky Blue H1F- Very Nice!
kawasakih1 1 year ago
Great video, brings back fantastic memories of my H1F bought new in 1975 (£750) the last of the H1's just before the KH500's as a 17 year old I rode it just like that, I'm amazed I survived !
t250j 1 year ago
@t250j Thanks! Any 17 or 18 year old that survived those is lucky indeed! You are lucky you had disc brakes that would actually stop!
kawasakih1 1 year ago
@kawasakih1 Yeah, that's true for sure ! I suspect that the later H1's also handled a little better (although not much better). That was a real blast down memory lane for me though. As my user name suggests I also had a Suzuki T250 as a "warm up act" to the H1, still got a T250 & often hanker after another H1. Thanks for the memories, I was 17 again for a moment then !
t250j 1 year ago
Far out! I had one in 75, lucky to still be alive.
roady42 1 year ago
@roady42 Terrible brakes, not the best handling, exceptional horsepower, ...I think anyone that owned one is lucky to still be alive! Great bikes though! Great memories!
kawasakih1 1 year ago
Fantastic stuff!!!!!!!!
grahamzx9r 1 year ago
Oh, Louis. tsk tsk.
synonynantonym 2 years ago
Bet this took you back! I flipped my RD400 in 1985 doing wheelies... whoops :-) Anth.
828cc 2 years ago
Too bad you didn't have a video of you flipping it! LOL! I used to have dreams of looping an H1 but never did it!
kawasakih1 2 years ago
Put me off doing wheelies and didn't half skin my knees :-) Anth.
828cc 2 years ago
Great vid
shinysideup100 2 years ago