Topic: Kawasaki H1 buying advice Needed Please

[squirley]

I am going to check out a 1969 H1 tonight and am looking for a little advice/insight as to what I should look for.  Here is the low down:

"i have a 1969 kawaski 500 tripple w/chambers and clipons. new top end only riden 2 times. lester front diskfront end and rims, and wisco pistons and rear sets. Make offer"

I know that after sitting, they can dry up and be expensive to rebuild, but I am not worried about having to dig into it.  The owner said that it does not come with papers, just a bill of sale.  Said he had it running about a month ago, and said he would try to get it going again if I came to look at it.  Bunch of little things are missing like lights and airbox...nothing big though.  Says he wants $500 for it.  What do you guys think?

[fuzzybutt]

BUY IT! 500 is nothing for one of those

[squirley]

Even without paperwork?

[fuzzybutt]

if it's a running h1 then yes, just be sure the bike isnt hot, bring the vin to your local police dept and have them run it.

[RRRToolSolutions]

Piece of cake to work on. I'm doing my 1970 now and have 11 other Kawasakis in total. The 1969 could easily be worth $10,000~12,000 if you do it right. I believe they are money in the bank.

Regards,
Gordon

[Gregorymoto]

BUY IT NOW, It Is worth 1grand in parts alone.  If it runs cool, you have a bas ass bike that is hard to find, Its a 69 500,,,,, cracker please.
BUY IT

[squirley]

Well, I looked at it last night and...To say the least it has alot of parts missing.  Someone really tried to make a racer and failed.  I took down the VIN and will run it today just to see if it is hot, (and believe me the situation felt like this could be a very good possibility).
As for being a 69, there was nothing left of anything 69ish on it, so that is unfortunate.  But, I am going to make an offer and we will see what happens, as the bike wasn't running and the kickstarter gear was broken (is this common?) so I pushed it around and it felt like it had good compression, popped off the heads and they looked good. So we shall see, cool bike though, but weighs a TON!

[Gregorymoto]

Cool man, trust me this is a sweet deal. The kick gear is not hard to fix at all.
If you need help getting paperwork for it so you can get a plate let me know.
I'll point you in the right direction.

I wish i was you, i have S1 250 triple, i would cut off a nut for a 69 500.

Good luck

[DarkRider]

the kick start could be something as simple as the spring not being engaged properly...look at it this way...it isnt original therefore open season onto making it YOUR bike. I have one of the smaller triples as well an S2 with an S3 350 engine in it. Hopefully soon i will have three of the S bikes provided i can get ahold of another truck lol.

[squirley]

Well I finally found a site to where I could verify the year, and it is actually a 1970.  Does this make it any less desirealbe?

[DarkRider]

Nope!

[Gregorymoto]

BUY it.

[squirley]

Well, I am not calling it a done deal until it is in my possession, but I am supposed to go pick it up tomorrow.  Little sketchy, as there is no paperwork or plate as previously stated.
Gregprymoto, you said that you could point me in the right direction to get a plate for this thing? Where should I begin?
Not being familiar with these older kawasakis, is there an actual vin plate with a number, or is it just the number stamped on the frame? 
Thanks for all your help with answering my questions too, and I am sure I will have many more.

[Gregorymoto]

I get you the info when i get home from work.

[Bodain]

You don't think twice about a 69 model. You might think twice about a 74 and up model.

[squirley]

Well, it is officially in my possesion, and lets say it needs alot of work.  WHere would you guys suggest I start just to get it running?

[sparty]

I know that you want to hear it run, but if it were my bike, I would strip it to the frame and start from there.  Begin to source parts, and take baby steps with the re-build.  You will have a better, safer and more reliable bike in the end.  Take your time, short cuts will decrease its value.  I would rebuild the entire engine, though it will cost some money, a classic like the H1 deserves the best treatment you can provide.

Sparty

[DarkRider]

http://kawtriple.com/mraxl/

http://kawasakitriplesworldwide.com/phpBB2/index.php

Theres some links to help you along...

Gordon (Ilbikes) Bill (Bill440cars) and myself are all members of the Kawasaki triples worldwide site

[squirley]

Yep, have already joined the triples  forum. However, it is not as user friendly as this one.  I have read several articles but I am going to tear the cases apart and see what is goin on in there.  I am a little hesitant as I only like to take on one project at a time and I already have a 550 going on, so it may be slow going, but will be fun.

[Gregorymoto]

Ya man get obsessed,

Hear is the place i used to get paper for my KO.

They are a little pricey but it was real simple and hands off.

The other option would be to go down to DMV with the vin number and plate number and file for a lost title.
That would be where i would start.

Good luck to you man.