Kawasaki S2 Mach II
Encyclopedia
The Kawasaki Mach II was a 350 cc Kawasaki standard motorcycle
, made from 1972 through 1973.
500 cc introduced in 1969. The Mach II's engine was a 3-cylinder two-stroke with an engine displacement
of 346 cc (30.45 cubic inches). The S2 Mach II replaced the twin Kawasaki A7 Avenger
with its Kawasaki rotary disc valve
twin-cylinder.
on the S2 Mach II as well as H2 Mach IV
. It covered most of the taillight assembly behind the seat and allowed for a less conspicuous rear fender. This design innovation would be copied and seen on the 1977 Yamaha RD400 and nine 1978 Suzuki
models beginning with the GS1000 down to 250 cc bikes.
The 1973 S2 had upgrades over the 1972 model. It had a front disc brake
, changes in the front fork and seat.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
, made from 1972 through 1973.
History
The Mach II was a direct result of the widespread success of the Kawasaki H1 Mach IIIKawasaki H1 Mach III
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 from 1969 through 1975.-History:...
500 cc introduced in 1969. The Mach II's engine was a 3-cylinder two-stroke with an engine displacement
Engine displacement
Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
of 346 cc (30.45 cubic inches). The S2 Mach II replaced the twin Kawasaki A7 Avenger
Kawasaki A7 Avenger
The A7 Avenger was a Kawasaki motorcycle. It was a standard or Universal Japanese motorcycle sold in the U.S. and abroad from 1967 through 1971.-Development:Kawasaki was the last of the big four Japanese manufacturers to start making motorcycles...
with its Kawasaki rotary disc valve
Rotary valve
A rotary valve is a type of valve in which the rotation of a passage or passages in a transverse plug regulates the flow of liquid or gas through the attached pipes. The common stopcock is the simplest form of rotary valve...
twin-cylinder.
The racing tail appears
In 1972, Kawasaki designers took a progressive leap forward in overall design appearance with the creation of the first race tailRace tail
The race tail or motorcycle tail is a functional feature of a Grand Prix motorcycle located behind the motorcycle seat. It is designed to maintain a smooth flow of air from the rider over the motorcycle's rear.-Origin:...
on the S2 Mach II as well as H2 Mach IV
Kawasaki H2 Mach IV
The Kawasaki H2 Mach IV was a 750 cc 3-cylinder two-stroke production motorcycle manufactured by the Kawasaki. The H2 was a Kawasaki triple sold from 1972 through 1975....
. It covered most of the taillight assembly behind the seat and allowed for a less conspicuous rear fender. This design innovation would be copied and seen on the 1977 Yamaha RD400 and nine 1978 Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
models beginning with the GS1000 down to 250 cc bikes.
The 1973 S2 had upgrades over the 1972 model. It had a front disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
, changes in the front fork and seat.