Kawasaki H1-R

The Kawasaki “Green Meanies” have always been the bikes that I’d dreamt about riding. Well the opportunity arose, thanks to Alan McIlrath. He has just rebuilt a H1-R, and asked me to parade it at the Mallory Park Post-TT in June 2001.

Andy’s Classic Racing Site
a.mahon@btinternet.com
Webmaster: Andy Mahon

The bike pictured here, is a 500cc H1-R, and is all original having been built in the period. The exact history of this machine is not too clear, but is thought to have been built up by Dave Simmonds from spares that he had remaining from his racing rebuilds. It has an early 1970 frame and a 1971 H1-RA engine.

All engine work and rebuilding was carried out by Alan, and I went along the week before Mallory to look it over and advice on prepping it for the track. Obviously this involved wiring up most of the brake parts, and all the oil plugs, as per today's standard.

The engine runs on Avgas and Castrol R30, premixed at 18:1 Plus it still uses a pump feed to the crank bearings, which makes the overall ratio of about 17:1
The gearbox also uses Castrol R30, and is one down four up, with a right foot change. First time for everything!

The bike gained a huge amount of interest, as it should, from many people who had ridden these bikes in the period.

Post-Classic Racing

The first thing I noticed, when sat on it, was just how small, and cramped it was. Ok, I’m 6’2”, but this is a 500. The only alterations to be carried out prior to my first ride was the lowering the gear lever, so that I could actually get my foot over it to change down.
As already mentioned the bike is totally original, including the un-silenced pipes. Once fired up I was amazed to find that it was quieter than many of the Yamaha TZs running with silencers!

To see a photo of me at speed through Devils Elbow.

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