H2 for sale  H1 for sale S3 For Sale S2 for sale S1 for sale 1969 H1 for sale KH250 For Sale KH400 For Sale  H2 for sale  H1 for sale S3 For Sale S2 for sale S1 for sale 1969 H1 for sale KH250 For Sale KH400 For Sale 

H2 for sale  H1 for sale S3 For Sale S2 for sale S1 for sale 1969 H1 for sale KH250 For Sale KH400 For Sale  H2 for sale  H1 for sale S3 For Sale S2 for sale S1 for sale 1969 H1 for sale KH250 For Sale KH400 For Sale 

Bikes in the museum

Most people who have got this far will probably be aware of all the models in the triples range. There were 250cc, 350cc and 400cc versions, but the real beasts of the range were the original 500cc H1 and the 750cc H2, with which the factory upped the "terror ante" in 1972. These were motorcycling’s equivalent of the rottweiler: banzai bikes that would wheelie at the drop of a hat and hide their number plates from pursuing police cars in impenetrable clouds of blue exhaust smoke.

 ‘The S3 400 was the best all-rounder of them all in terms of handling performance and fuel economy.’ says Rick. ‘You should be able to pick up a nice one for about £1,200.’ So that makes the S3 his favourite triple then? Don’t be stupid! Handling, fuel economy, and sensible ‘Dayglo Derek’ stuff like that are not Mr. Brett’s priorities. The model that sets his pulse racing is the 750. There were four versions, each available in two colours. He owns all eight plus a few reserves! He reckons the purple H2C produced in 1975 was the best looking but the 1972 model was the definitive psycho from hell, so naturally that’s his number one. ‘They deserved their wild reputation.’ he says. ‘Even today there are not many bikes that can produce that same adrenaline rush. Modern superbikes may be quicker but they don’t excite in the same arm-wrenching way.’ Incidentally, you may find this hard to believe but there are now at least three times as many H2’s in the U.K. as there were in 1978! 

Triples make up the bulk of the machines on display - 750s and 500s in road and race trim, an S1 250, S2 350 and  S3 400. The oldest bike on show is the Japanese  factory’s 650cc W1. Rick bought this concours- winning 1966 BSA A10 last year from a mate in the club who is now working on the renovation of an even rarer version of the same model.

Next up are a 1967 Bushwhacker trail bike and an A1 250c twin of the same vintage. Kawasaki’s later multi-cylinder four strokes are represented by a Z650, a six-cylinder Z1300 and, of course, a 900cc Z1. Not quite all the bikes are yet up to Rick’s own exacting standards. He plans to replace the American spec 1972 H2 with a better example he is soon to start assembling and points to a tiny error or two in the spec of an 1974 H2B he rebuilt 10 years ago. We are talking about the use of stainless steel instead of steel bolts and that kind of thing.

‘When we started restoring these things the restoration standards were appalling.’ he says. ‘Bikes that that were concours winners ten years ago wouldn’t even make the top 20 today. Standards today are far higher and I believe British restorers are the best in the world.’

Rick’s Kawasaki knowledge does not end at the Triples, in recent years he as added other Kawasaki Models to his collection from the super rare Coyote mini bikes through the KV75 range, the A series models, a couple of 1960’s W models and finally several 1970’s Z models. 

A recent addition is the Australian W1 police bike, pictured right. There are also four guest bikes in the museum from the world of road racing - two H1R 500s, a KR500 and KR750. They are owned by Rick’s mate Simon Whitelock, who is another legend in the Classic Kawasaki Club. He is a triples fanatic who has created a whole fleet of mind-boggling specials including a nine-cylinder 750cc (three 250cc engines mounted one behind each other), an across the frame seven and an H1 with water-cooling, fuel injection, supercharger and nitrous oxide kit. Rick says the project Simon is working on now makes that lot look rather conservative!        

On the museum wall behind Simon’s water-cooled KR750 hang two photographs. One is of Mick Grant pulling a wheelie (naturally) on a factory 750 on his way to setting a new outright lap record at Cadwell Park in 1977. The Yorkshire ace also rode the same bike to victory in that year’s Classic TT - one of seven wins he scored at the Isle of Man. The other picture shows Rick sitting astride the machine. It was taken at the Classic Kawasaki Club’s annual rally in 2000 when guest of honour Mick brought along the bike. Rick couldn’t resist taking it for a brief spin around the rally field. If you are a Kawasaki triples fan, life just doesn’t get any better!