1972 Kawasaki H1 500 Triple Original Sales Brochure

So, here is one of those times where the brochure did not show a Motorcycle exactly the way it actual ended up being sold. First, not just in my pictures but the physical brochure too, shows the bike looking pretty red instead of the beautiful candy orange it actually was. Second, in addition to the orange fenders there were three additional orange parts that went with the rear fender and taillight. These parts are shown for some reason a chrome on the brochure. These differences strictly pertain to the H1-B.

In the USA for 1972 there were actually two very different H1 500's. The H1-B and the H1-C. The brochure is 99% for the H1-B. Notice in the image directly above, the ignition system specs "* three points,..." and below "* CDI also available." This is really the only reference to the H1-C. While I am sure a true triple expert would have a longer list, the main differences I am aware are as follows:

H1-B
-- breaker point ignition
-- painted fenders, taillight bracket, and fender brackets
-- hydraulic front disc brake
-- additional oil steering damper below triple tree

H1-C
-- CDI electronic ignition
-- stainless steel fenders
-- front drum brake

Here is a picture from motorcycles-for-sale.biz of a beautiful H1-C for sale:



Here are a couple comparison pictures I have cobbled together:



Above note of course the disc vs drum brake but also the steering damper added to the H1-B near the horn.



Above note the brackets on the left (brochure) are chrome but on a production H1-B they are orange whereas they are chrome on the H1-C.

Please note that I know that there are other visual differences in these images. Pictures of bikes from the internet are bound to have variations either due to being sold in different markets (reflectors/no reflectors) while other bikes are "restored" to non 100% original standards (parts painted black that maybe shouldn't be). The purpose here was just basic information for someone who did not know there were two models of the H1 in 1972.

Thanks for looking. Gary  /  kawasaki-yama-zuki