Here in 2022, many a fan of motorcycle history knows the broad strokes of the original Kawasaki H2. In the early 1970s, the three-digit magic code seemed to be 750 among multiple OEMs, so Team Green had to find a way to stand out from the pack. 750cc, but make it wicked quick.
Of course, that quickness depends on context—as do most other things to do with motorcycle technology and how it’s developed over time. That’s a thing I often contemplate, particularly regarding bikes that were Big Deals (capitalization intentional) well before I was born. Sure, I can try to absorb the opinions of people who experienced it when it was new. However, unless someone invents a time machine, I can never have that experience for myself—and even riding that same bike now won’t help.
