Is it for real, a KZ350 triple?

I didn't find a test on the 350 Yamaha so the facts are unknown, but what I did find in Cycle magazine tests.
1972 S2 14.87 seconds
1976 RD400 14.14 seconds
1976 KH400 14.64 seconds

So the RD400 was half second quicker than the Kawasaki of the same CC. This is probably what I remember as the fact the Yamaha was quicker, not for sure the same in 350s, but the RD350 was always more popular than a S2 sales wise.

If you take a look at the stats even provided by Kawasaki.
1972 S2 350 44hp
1974 S3 400 42hp
1976 KH400 36hp
1977 "" ""
1978 "" ""

Try to figure this one out?????

who knows, I want one anyways.

Those were some slow bikes!! I've always liked the A7 Avengers with the 350 rotary valves, had a 69 model in 1970.

Here's an excerpt from a Motor Cyclist road test in 1969.

The speed up to 8000 rpm was as lightning quick as I have experienced on anything of any capacity and. regardless of purpose in life. The makers claim of 13.8 sec for the standing ¼ mile, would I fancy be difficult to substantiate during daily use, unless you are willing to risk the wrath of the police, car drivers, John Conell, Vincent owners and. Vic Anstice. In the hands of an expert, I have little doubt that it could be achieved, but meanwhile a conventional clutch start is quite enough to leave everything else except, maybe, another Kawasaki a long way behind..

110 mph and 13.8 second quarter mile, where did that RD and S3 go??? :laugh:

Had a problem keeping rotary valves in them though, I blew up two of them in the six months I owned the thing.


Forgot the link :blush:


motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bi...asaki-a7-avenger.php

I wish I had patience for the little buzzers, but it's enough work just trying to help my friend keep his RD running. Seems it regularly sheds all of is nuts and bolts like a snake shedding its skin. :laugh:

I have one friend with two Avengers. He's put many miles on those things... mostly pushing them.

And the countless Suzuki's with destroyed cranks. The center cylinder just eats rod bearings.

Steve, I actually have Erol's Kaw AR-80 in the basement. I don't know what his plans are... seized piston, but I gotta move that thing outta here.

I don't know if 1/4 mile times are a good way to judge two-strokes. I believe the CB350 out runs the RD400 in 1978 in the quarter (a fact I love reminding my RD buddy of).

the middle piston would seize on my friends and so he hooked up a fan and a toggle switch where we run oil coolers...also he yelled at me for trying to downshift into corners...lol.....it was about the coolest little street bike i ever rode and way cooler than the r-5 another friend had at the same time.....

it had chrome chambers...when he got it seized on the side of a house,it has swirled risers like a chopper and a king and queen seat....he fixed that stuff and it was super cool,even got it in a magazine shot doing a burnout at the old,now no more,laguna seca burnout contest.......1990's


here is a pic i found of a cool one

oh and it did seem to have the abilities of a bigger bike..or maybe it just gave the impression of speed....either way it was 100% fun to ride and felt really special....those tiny chambers and signature kawi lines were super duper classy

trianglelaguna wrote:

oh and it did seem to have the abilities of a bigger bike..or maybe it just gave the impression of speed....either way it was 100% fun to ride and felt really special....those tiny chambers and signature kawi lines were super duper classy

I rode a one back in 1978. A guy my buddy knew asked me if I'd swap my 77 CB750K out for a few miles on his Kaw. Sure.

So I keep twisting the throttle until that little beast came up on the pipe. Surprise surprise. Nothing really quite like it. Really a fun ride.

Had one, it was 71/72 not sure what year bought it at yard sale for $50 with title. I bypassed the oil injection mixed gas or was a screamer. It would wheelie easy in 1st or 2nd gear with throttle only needed. Not a comfortable bike bike sure was fun and head turner. It's set up like a triumph bike but loud and fumes were stinky due to being a two stroke. So yes this bike does exist.

Going to premix on a kaw triple is a perfect way to waste the crankshaft on one of them, they arent designed that way, the oil injection goes directly to the crank bearings and rods on the early ones arent slotted so they die a pretty quick death that way

Jack wrote: Originally known as the S2, became the KH series in 1976. That would make it a KH-350.

They never made a "KH350".