Ten days with a 1975 Kawasaki S3 Mach II
(Page 2 of 7)
January/February 2008
Staff
Quick to capitalize on the Mach III’s success, in 1971, Kawasaki duly introduced a trio of triples focused on that bike’s two-stroke theme. First up for the new additions was a bigger and badder 750cc variant, the H2 Mach IV, followed by the 350cc S2 Mach II and finally the diminutive 250cc S1 Mach I, all sold as 1972 models.
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Not surprisingly, the 500cc and 750cc triples garnered the lion’s-share of attention from magazines and riders alike. And yet, the little 250cc and 350cc models, almost forgotten today, were stars in their own right — especially the 350 Mach II, which morphed into the 400cc S3.
The S3 — the best of the bunch
While the 250 Mach I changed little in its production life, Kawasaki continuously developed the 350. In 1974, it became the S3 Mach II, its engine enlarged by 50cc to 400cc and, most notably, rubber-mounted to a new, strengthened frame. The earlier 350 was already considered the best-handling of Kawi’s triples, and the new S3 was even better. "This is one Kawasaki that can be stuffed into a corner with lots of confidence," Cycle World said in its January 1974 issue. "It can be flicked from side to side, power on, except in the first two gears. In that situation you have to ease the power on to keep the front wheel down. If it had a little more power, production racing the 400 could be lucrative."
With 42hp it was no slouch, but like most two-strokes, its power tended to come in sharp peaks rather than broad waves. "The S3’s engine is sluggish at low revs," Cycle noted in its January 1974 review, "but when the tach needle moves past 5,500rpm those triple cylinders come to life in a large way." Even so, the bike’s power, smooth-shifting five-speed, compliant front end (which also generated criticism, with some testers complaining of a tendency to pogo on rough surfaces) and generally agreeable ergonomics made it a standout in the sub-500cc class.
Our little triple
Kurt Limesand acquired our test bike when an office mate discovered Kurt’s affinity for old bikes. Her father had inherited the bike from his dad, the original owner, and had decided it was time to let it go. Thanks to a less-than-complete description, Kurt thought he was getting a KZ400, but figured he couldn’t go wrong for the $150 asking price.
What he got is the bike you see here, a clean, low-mileage survivor showing a paltry 2,925 miles when we picked it up. Other than a new set of tires, new chain, battery and some serious cleaning, the bike is as Kurt found it. It’s not perfect, but it’s not too far off, either. The paint is good, the instruments are clear, the seat is free of rips and the chrome – right down to the impossible-to-find exhaust system – is just about perfect. Did we mention he only paid $150 for it?
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