The Kawasaki H1 Mach III was a high-performance two-stroke 500cc production motorcycle manufactured by Kawasaki Motorcycle Corporation. It was sold in the U.S. and abroad in version forms from 1969 through to 1975.
During the mid 1960s, the USA had become the largest motorcycle market. American riders were demanding bikes with more horsepower and higher maximum speeds. Kawasaki already had the first 650cc, the Kawasaki W series but it did not fit the niche Kawasaki was aiming for. Honda introduced its Honda CB450 in 1965 and in 1969, the Suzuki T500 1 Cobra appeared. Also in development was the Yamaha XS 650. Already familiar with the Honda CB450, Kawasaki development began work on the top secret N100 Plan in 1967. The goal was to produce a motorcycle with 500cc displacement that was able to develop 60 hp and lay down 13-second quarter-mile times, then considered over the achievable limit for a road bike. The Mach III appeared in the U.S. in 1969 with a white sculpted fuel tank and blue racing stripe along the lower part of the tank, special Dunlop K77 tires, and suggested retail price of $999 (US) according to Dragbike.com.
Though not a direct successor of the Kawasaki W2, the W2 was the only four-stroke motorcycle Kawasaki had for the American market and that market was not like that of Japan where the W2 sold well. In the U.S., the Mach III proved to be very popular.
The engine, developed through Kawasaki's N100 Plan, was a three-cylinder two stroke with a displacement of 499 cc (30.5 cu in). Fuel and air mixing was provided by three Mikuni VM 28 mm carburetors. Ignition was through a Capacitor discharge ignition which increased the 12 volt system to 400 volts. A thyristor-based switching system then increased the voltage to between 25,000 and 30,000 volts leading to more efficient fuel burning.
Sourced from Wikipedia
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