The Kawasaki H1R was a racing motorcycle built by Kawasaki for the 500 cc class of Grand Prix racing. Based on the H1 street bike, it used a two-stroke three-cylinder engine set across the frame and was the first multi-cylinder two-stroke racer sold commercially to privateer teams.
Kawasaki H1R at a glance
| Maker | Kawasaki |
|---|---|
| Class | 500 cc Grand Prix racer |
| Based on | Kawasaki H1 Mach III |
| Engine | two-stroke three-cylinder, across the frame |
| Significance | first multi-cylinder two-stroke racer sold to privateers |
| 1970 | Ginger Molloy second in the 500 cc world championship |
| 1970 results | four second places; Kawasaki second among constructors |
| 1971 | Dave Simmonds won the Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama |
| 1971 championship | Simmonds fourth; Kawasaki third among constructors |
| 1972 | Kawasaki fourth among constructors |
A short article based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the H1R.
History of the Kawasaki H1R
The H1R took the layout of the H1 Mach III road bike — a two-stroke three-cylinder mounted across the frame — and turned it into a Grand Prix machine. Kawasaki sold it to privateer teams, which made it the first multi-cylinder two-stroke racing motorcycle available to customers rather than works riders only.
1970
Ginger Molloy finished second to Giacomo Agostini on the dominant MV Agusta in the 500 cc world championship, scoring four second places during the season while Kawasaki finished second in the constructors championship.
1971
Dave Simmonds rode the H1R to victory at the season-ending Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama, where Agostini sat out the race having already won the championship. It was Kawasaki’s first victory in the premier 500 cc class. Simmonds also finished second to Agostini at the Finnish Grand Prix and took third places in Holland and Italy, securing fourth in the riders championship while Kawasaki was third among constructors.
1972
Kawasaki finished the constructors championship in fourth place. The best results of the year were a second place in Spain and a third at the East German Grand Prix.
Design and features
- H1-based engine: a three-cylinder two-stroke in the same across-the-frame layout as the road bike.
- Sold to privateers: the first multi-cylinder two-stroke racer that private teams could buy.
- Grand Prix success: a factory-supported second place in the 1970 championship and a first 500 cc win in 1971.
Kawasaki H1R versions
- H1R (1970): the original customer racer.
- Later H1R and H1RW developments: the specification evolved through the early 1970s.
The H1R was developed from the H1 Mach III road bike. More models are in the Kawasaki collection.
Video: kawasaki 500 h1r circuit du luc
Video by patrice weissenbach on YouTube.
Sources
- Kawasaki H1R, English Wikipedia: racing history, results, significance
