The Kawasaki 500-cc Mach III (a.ok.a. H1) earned a spot in historical past as a legendary two-stroke triple. The H1 was famend for its uncooked energy and record-setting prime pace however feared for its flimsy chassis and grossly insufficient brakes. Launched within the early Nineteen Seventies as a part of Kawasaki’s revolutionary Mach III lineup, Cycle World famously described The H1 as “a motorbike that might redefine pace for its period, however required a gentle hand and a daring spirit to tame.” Throughout its time the H1 was unbeatable in impromptu stoplight drag racing and the bike of alternative for these sport sufficient to mount the bike not so affectionately often called the “windomaker”.
Quick ahead to the current day and Atlanta Bike Works in Georgia USA has introduced a shocking instance of the Kawasaki H1 B again to life. That is no concourse restoration although. As an alternative, the AMW workforce has melded classic character with trendy engineering to create a one-of-a-kind resto-mod.
In Woodstock, Georgia, Atlanta Bike Works has been a hub for classic Japanese bike fans since 2011. Led by founder Joe Berastegui, his workforce combines over 75 years of experience to create masterpieces that honor the previous whereas embracing the long run. This H1 B restoration was a labor of affection for considered one of AMW’s purchasers with a deeply private backstory. The bike belonged to the proprietor’s late father, and its resurrection was as a lot about preserving a household legacy because it was about reviving a chunk of bike historical past.
The challenge started with over ten packing containers of elements stuffed with parts worn to various levels that wanted to be painstakingly sorted. As soon as they’d their head round what was there, may very well be salvaged, or needed to be sourced, the AMW workforce launched into the intensive transformation.
Each element of this construct was rigorously calculated to make sure the optimum end result. To rework the notoriously sloppy body it obtained triangular gussets, including much-needed rigidity. Complementing the body improve is a customized swingarm that has trusses included into its design to cut back undesirable flex. Classically styled twin shocks by Ikon assist the rear finish whereas a ’96 Suzuki GSXR entrance finish and customized brake package deal additional sharpen the bike’s dealing with. These adjustments alone have remodeled this H1 right into a confidence-inspiring canyon carver, however the checklist of upgrades doesn’t finish there.
The 498cc two-stroke triple on the coronary heart of the H1 is a showcase of Atlanta Bike Works’ engineering prowess. A road porting package deal, mixed with a .5 overbore and Wossner pistons, gives a considerable increase in horsepower. Customized billet heads and a balanced crankshaft optimized for premix gas are complemented by a trio of VM34 Mikuni carbs with ported intakes and free-flowing pod filters. A surprising Higgs Velocity exhaust spectacularly completes the ability improve package deal.
Fashionable electronics have introduced reliability to this thought-about construct. An NWT Cycletronic X21 wiring hub has rocketed the bike’s electronics into the twenty first century. Accompanying the brand new system are a number of NWT equipment which have simplified the setup and added steadfast reliability. The ending touches included contemporary paint laid utilizing a basic H1 scheme over the predominantly authentic bodywork. And all the inventory elements repurposed in the course of the construct have been handled to contemporary paint after being vapor blasted to take away any undesirable oxidization or rust.
Because of Atlanta Bike Works, this H1 provides its proprietor the perfect of each worlds. By combining trendy reliability and dealing with with the Kawasaki’s iconic styling, they’ve made the H1 we’ve all the time dreamed of. And for the proprietor, it’s a rolling reminder of their household’s previous that may be loved by generations to come back.
