I am an addict. There, I said it. H2

H

KiwiShane said:

I believe this cycle gained its name partly due to inexperienced jockeys
A one owner

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exactly.

Have you watched the Road Runner launch from his standing start when the coyote gets after him?
Hang on tight. I had a friend in my other life who had one that was bored and stroked. Wheelies at 90 mph were easy.
He is still alive....private jet pilot now.

Around 1979 there was a 72 with chambers for sale on the corner of the new neighborhood I had moved in.
Older guy owned it. We chatted awhile about motorcycles and experiences and was all excited about me buying it.
I had 2 stroke dirt bike experience and had a 'Norton' in the past. He really wanted me to buy it because he Wouldn't sell it to his nephew!!!!!!
Told me to ride it wherever I wanted. Off I went. Around town, going through the gears it was fine. It surged when trying to hold it at a constant speed.
Figured it needed some jetting. Took it up on the freeway, surging along in 5th. Went to accelerate to change lanes, it bogged, downshift, still bogged,
one more downshift hit the throttle, it cleared and......................................................... lightened the front wheel.........................alot.
I could probably work it out and get used to it., but Took it back and said no thank you.
Years later I regretted not buying it.

It was NO beginners bike for sure. It actually rode, handled and stopped just fine for the short time I rode it.
It was the surging, bogging then the hit that made it a hand full.
A real problem in traffic for the neophyte.

It was Cycle World that dubbed it the Widow Maker. I think to discourage sales...

I can understand why cycle world dubbed it with that title.
I took a spin on the "modified" Kaw mentioned above and it scared the ever loving $hit out of me.
I had decent riding experience having owned Hondas, Beezers and Rickmans but that bike was a whole different animal.
I came back quickly after cracking the throttle a couple of times and lifting the front end off the pavement.
I told Blake the owner "that's too much bike for me."

Wish I had one now though.
Even one of todays carbon fiber computerized fuel injected hot handling rocket bikes would have a tough time keeping up with that 2 cycle terror on the straights.
They will hear you coming from a long way off on that one Concourse. Misbehave on it...God will show up and scold you.
Cool find.

Rode one once in the mid seventies- I had a Commando and my buddy had an H 2 . In a word , frightening acceleration.
I seem to recall the center cylinder having overheating troubles- stands to reason but I’m sure there are knowledgeable people in the blue smoke crowd that can elaborate on this .
Good luck and have fun and keep us up to date on your progress.

Here's another account:

Hauled it home

Automatic dishwasher soap & HOT water

concours said:

Automatic dishwasher soap & HOT waterView attachment 99092View attachment 99093View attachment 99094

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Its in pretty bloody good condition considering the time under a tarp etc...
I rode my mates brothers one when I was about 16-17......it felt similar to a RM 500 except taller geared...but still a arm stretcher !!...frightening for a young fella

Good luck! Some of my best buys I brought home in the rain!

mean gene said:

Good luck! Some of my best buys I brought home in the rain!

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Timing is critical. He mentioned selling. He named a price. With no quibbling, I put Ben Franklins on the desk.

RE: The Frame
I researched these awhile back when I got my H1.
Came to my unprofessional opinon there is nothing wrong with the frames.
The biggest issues is operator, followed by suspension components front and rear, swing arm components and good tires.
Shocks can be upgraded, forks tuned better and much better tires are available. Swing arm bushes checked and corrected as necessary.
Steering bearings checked. Brakes can easily be upgraded from modern rides.
Set of 'Superbike' bars to get the weight forward and have at it.
That's my menu. Your mileage and tastes may vary....

MichaelB said:

RE: The Frame
I researched these awhile back when I got my H1.
Came to my unprofessional opinon there is nothing wrong with the frames.
The biggest issues is operator, followed by suspension components front and rear, swing arm components and good tires.
Shocks can be upgraded, forks tuned better and much better tires are available. Swing arm bushes checked and corrected as necessary.
Steering bearings checked. Brakes can easily be upgraded from modern rides.
Set of 'Superbike' bars to get the weight forward and have at it.
That's my menu. Your mileage and tastes may vary....

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Yup, I concur. The clientel was a big part of it.

Matching pair??

Onder said:

Maybe the frame is fine. Perhaps the problem is with the swinging arm or the swinging arm to frame mounting.

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The frame looks similar to a twin loop wideline, except the swingarm is mounted relatively lower. This causes the push of the rear wheel to have a greater moment about the center of gravity, lifting, or reducing the front wheel' s grip on the road, and altering the rake and trail stability....giving that hinged in the middle effect.

Part of the greater moment is the high torque output of the engine. This torque should have been compensated for by swingarm mounting points higher up the frame.
Perhaps the designers intended it to be that way; they may have wanted a bike that was a “wheelie maker”.


Slick

texasSlick said:

The frame looks similar to a twin loop wideline, except the swingarm is mounted relatively lower. This causes the push of the rear wheel to have a greater moment about the center of gravity, lifting, or reducing the front wheel' s grip on the road, and altering the rake and trail stability....giving that hinged in the middle effect.

Part of the greater moment is the high torque output of the engine. This torque should have been compensated for by swingarm mounting points higher up the frame.
Perhaps the designers intended it to be that way; they may have wanted a bike that was a “wheelie maker”.


Slick

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I was studying that. The swing arm pivot is close to the countershaft sprocket, and at the same elevation. Engine/trans design must have played into it...

Elle va

Some prepatory work