Topic: Terry's Kawasaki Mach III 500 build. Let the smoke begin.....

[MauiK3]

I think you’ve caught a serious case of Kawasaki smoke fever. No known treatment other than surrounding one’s self with parts and bikes.

[Stev-o]

I think you’ve caught a serious case of Kawasaki Smoke Fever.

Hilarious!  I've added that term to Frank's dictionary!!

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,84697.125.html

[Terry in Australia]

Beautiful bike Steve, it’d be great if I can score a H2, Dion’s maté’s bike is another restoration project, and I’m not sure how many restorations I’ve got left in me, but it’d look nice parked beside my Z1-B, Z1000 and the various H1’s when they’re finished. It’ll also cause me another problem in a couple of years time when I need to narrow my focus to just keeping the bikes I really want, and sell the rest. Decisions, decisions…..

[Alan F.]

Here ya go:

[Terry in Australia]

Here ya go:

Nice! Not me though Alan, I’d be hanging on for grim death!

[Alan F.]

 Yeah me too! I'd think a smaller bore triple would be fun though, like a 150 with an angry power band... Something manageable like that with good suspension and brakes.

[Trevor from Warragul]

I'd think a smaller bore triple would be fun though, like a 150 with an angry power band...

Honda NSR150SP, manufactured in Thailand, I'd love one in my garage! (only a single though)

[RAFster122s]

those NSRs are quick in the corners... with a light rider they would be a lot of fun

[Terry in Australia]

those NSRs are quick in the corners... with a light rider they would be a lot of fun

Ha ha, that counts you and me out David, we weigh more than that bike!

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah me too! I'd think a smaller bore triple would be fun though, like a 150 with an angry power band... Something manageable like that with good suspension and brakes.

There’s a guy on the triples FB page who’s installed a H1 engine into a modern chassis, (can’t remember which, but aluminium frame, USD forks etc) it would be a hoot to ride, lighter, rigid, excellent handling and brakes, kind of the antithesis of a classic H1.

[PeWe]

Yeah me too! I'd think a smaller bore triple would be fun though, like a 150 with an angry power band... Something manageable like that with good suspension and brakes.

There’s a guy on the triples FB page who’s installed a H1 engine into a modern chassis, (can’t remember which, but aluminium frame, USD forks etc) it would be a hoot to ride, lighter, rigid, excellent handling and brakes, kind of the antithesis of a classic H1.

A future build for you, Terry?

[MauiK3]

I think we have another Alan Millyard in the making. I think I have his name right, he has built a six cylinder Z1, 12 cylinder CBX and some other wild creations that seem to work well.

[Stev-o]

I think we have another Alan Millyard in the making. I think I have his name right, he has built a six cylinder Z1, 12 cylinder CBX and some other wild creations that seem to work well.

Yes, Allen Millyard, and dont forget his custom bike with a Viper V-10 motor!

https://www.coles-miller.co.uk/news/millyard-viper-v10-wins-2012-coles-miller-dream-machines-bike-of-the-year.html

[ekpent]

When Kaw King Rick Brett swung through my shop in May of 2018 on his way home from Florida he had this interesting 7 cylinder 606 creation in the back of his trailer along with some other goodies and extra toys in the back of his truck.   Here is a vid of Rick and some background and the bike running when it was in Florida that year.

[ekpent]

Of course if you want to go big or go home you could opt for the 48 cylinder option Kawasaki  This one was made by Simon Whitlock the same guy who made the 7 cylinder 606. Stuff amazes me that they can engineer and build.  https://www.throttlextreme.com/48-cylinder-kawasaki-one-insane-motorcycle/

[grcamna2]

I'd hate to pay the labor bill to do a 'ring job' on that last one !

[ekpent]

Cost well over a hundred to do the spark plugs 

[Terry in Australia]

I always thought Alan M was the “inventor” of the first 4/5/6/7 cylinder Kawasaki’s, but saw recently that another guy had built the first one back in the 90’s, 10 years or so before Alan. I’m trying to remember his name.

[spotty]

recently saw pics of a 8 cylinder Z13, across the frame, can't remember the capacity

[MauiK3]

I just can’t imagine getting a crankshaft to behave in the big cylinder count bikes.
Very cool bikes though.
Ahhhhh for an updated CBX, it would be glorious if it were done right…….by Honda

[Terry in Australia]

recently saw pics of a 8 cylinder Z13, across the frame, can't remember the capacity

They were too wide with only 6 cylinders. BMW’s across the frame 1600cc 6 is apparently only about as wide as a CB750 engine, I can’t remember if they staggered the cylinders like Bentley did with their V12, but I was impressed with how narrow the thing is.

[MauiK3]

Is it just me?
The various multi cylinder 2 stroke engines with almost any cylinder count seem to sound very similar.
The 4 stroke engines seem to take on very different tones that vary a lot with the cylinder count and orientation.

[Terry in Australia]

You’re probably right Steve, I was watching a really good Youtube vid yesterday of Kenny Roberts’ KR Proton 500cc 2 stroke triple. He sold it to a guy in South Africa on the proviso that he could come over and ride it whenever he wanted to. (Who wouldn’t want King Kenny to ride their bike?)

It was a weapon, 500cc triple, 180 BHP and only 120 Kg (I used to weigh more than that) and super thirsty (used 1 litre per lap of the track in SA, and it actually ran out of fuel on one lap and the rider had to push it back to the pits) but what surprised me the most was that it was very quiet, and sounded like any other 2 stroke multi I’ve seen. God knows how they got 180 BHP out of it, but I’d love to have a 180 BHP two stroke like that engine, apparently it had no noticeable power band, and just produced power in a linear curve from idle to flat out.

[MauiK3]

Amazing, if only they could run cleaner we'd be able to make cars with tiny little engines that make lots of power, remember the Saab? And the little Suzuki SUV that had a 3 cylinder two stroke (I think).

[PeWe]

I remember SAAB since it was a swedish car.
The 2 stroke had a nice sound when released throttle after revving it and sometimes rather smokey.
I had a girlfriend in early 80's that had one.