Two-Stroke Drag Machine from Matt Kopp of Vintage Auto and Cycle…
In 1971, Kawasaki introduced two siblings to the infamous 500cc H1 Mach III, both of them two-stroke triples like the original “Widowmaker.” One was the H2 Mach IV 750, and the other was the S2 Mach II 350. The S2 350 weighed a full 50 pounds less than its 500cc sibling, and unlike its big brothers, the lighter machine “had some pretense at handling.”
“It is much lighter feeling than the Mach III 500, steers more easily, feels comfortably narrow, has better ground clearance in corners than does the Mach III, and will pop those same delightful (or scary) wheelies in the lower gears.” –Cycle World, 1971
With 45 bhp on tap, the 350cc two-stroke triple could muster a factory-claimed quarter-mile time of 13.6 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph — not bad for less than $900!
This S2 drag bike comes from Matt Kopp of Vintage Auto and Cycle, who fixed up his first pull-start mini bike at the age of 8 years old…and soon began the career he’d follow into adulthood.
“By the age of 11 I was buying old mini bikes, fixing them up, and reselling them for a small profit. Wheeling, dealing, fixing up old dirt and street bikes from that point on…”
This 1972 S2 350 Kawasaki had been wrecked back in 1986, on a major highway — Matt received it as a payment from a guy who owed him some money. It was too busted up to take back to original condition, so a project was in order.
“I always loved watching the two-stroke drag bikes of the 1970s early 80s and that style is what influenced the build.” -Matt
Matt relocated the swingarm mounting points give the bike nearly three inches of stretch, and added rear struts to drop the bike and keep it rigid. He fabricated the stinger-style chambers along with the horseshoe handlebars. The rear fender and seat are also one-offs, while the gas tank is a modified Suzuki Stinger mini bike unit.
The bike was featured in some shows before the pandemic, but then locked away in storage when the world shut down. Only recently did Matt get the bike back out, and it won the People’s Choice Award at the Fall Throttle Show. There, our buddy Peter Goertz of Pete’s Classic Cycle interviewed Matt about the build, which you can watch below.
View this post on Instagram
We love this smoke-spitting triple-cylinder drag bike — well done, Matt! Below you’ll find our full interview with Matt about the build along with a few more details and photos. Enjoy!
Kawasaki S2 Drag Bike: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
It all started when I bought my first mini bike from my friend back when I was 8 years old. It was an old Bronco TX4 pull-start mini bike and it was pretty worn out when I got it so I was pretty much forced to figure out how to fix it. With the help and guidance of my father, we fixed the bike up and I rode it almost daily in the summer months. By the age of 11 I was buying old mini bikes, fixing them up, and reselling them for a small profit. Wheeling, dealing, fixing up old dirt and street bikes from that point on.
By the time I was 16 I had started fixing up old cars also. I have been working on old bikes and cars full time at different shops throughout the years until opening my own shop in 2014. Vintage Auto & Cycle is focused on repairs and restoration on pre 1980 bikes and cars.
Above is a pic of me selling some bike stuff at a yard sale in 1980. Yeah, that’s me sporting the white Levi’s. I was around 15 years old then.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
The bike started out as a wrecked 1972 S2 350 Kawasaki.
• Why was this bike built?
The bike was originally built as shop promo and was first shown at the Freedom Machines Show in Canada in 2018. After that it was shown at other events like Roll The Bones in Montreal, Fuel Cleveland in Ohio, and the first Glory Daze show in Pittsburgh 2019. It was scheduled for many other shows in 2020 but covid happened. Being in Canada, all the shows were canceled for the season and we were not able to cross the border to go to the US shows, so the bike was put away in storage.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
Always loved watching the two-stroke drag bikes of the 1970s early 80s and that style is what influenced the build.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
The rear swingarm mounting points were relocated to give the bike almost a three-inch stretch. Rear struts were added to drop it and keep it rigid. The stinger style chambers are fabricated also the horseshoe handlebars. The rear fender and seat are also fabricated, and the rear splash or rubber guard is stainless steel. The gas tank is a modified Suzuki Stinger mini bike tank.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Probably around stock factory hp. The engine was rebuilt to stock specs. The only mods are the exhaust chambers and the velocity stacks on the carbs.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
I have never ridden it. It was built and the engine was run through three heat cycles; the fuel drained and has not run since.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
Not really I just like looking at it.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
I would like to thank my wife and kids for putting up with me. Also like to thank Pete’s Classic Cycle for pushing me to get the bike out of storage and back out to be seen.
Follow the Builder
Instagram: @vintageautoandcycle
Website: vintageautoandcycle.com
Facebook: Vintage Auto and Cycle
Pete’s Classic Cycle Interview
More Kawasaki Triple Builds…
People’s Choice: 1972 Kawasaki S2 350 Drag Bike - Two-Stroke Drag Machine from Matt Kopp of Vintage Auto and Cycle… In 1971, Kawasaki introduced two siblings to the infamous 500cc H1 Mach III, both of them two-stroke triples like the original “Widowmaker.” One was […]
Five-Cylinder Smoker: 1972 Kawasaki S2 415 - Up for Auction: 1972 Kawasaki S2 415 with Allen Millyard Engine… Allen Millyard has a gift for making the impossible look factory. That has always been part of his magic. Many builders can build a […]
Seventies Smokeshow: Spondon Kawasaki H1 500 Triple - Tarty Two-Stroke: Manx Road Racer and Toolmaker Builds a 70s-Style Smoker… No street bike is as infamous as the Kawasaki Triple. For the 1969 model year, the original H1 Mach III 500 came howling and […]
Norsaki: Norton Dominator x Kawasaki Two-Stroke Triple! - From Davmomoto: 1955 Norton Dominator Meets 1974 Kawasaki S3 Mach II… Yes, you can believe your eyes. What you see before you is a 1955 Norton Dominator with a featherbed frame mated to a 1974 […]
49-Cylinder Two-Stroke Kawasaki - Guinness World Record Holder: “Tinker Toy” by Simon Whitelock… Recently we showcased the 7-cylinder Kawasaki two-stroke built by the UK’s Simon Whitelock, who’s been building custom motorcycles specials since 1985. He says the Kawasaki Triples […]
7-Cylinder Kawasaki “KH606” Two-Stroke! - Kawasaki “KH606” from Simon Whitelock… Unless you’ve been living under a rock of late, you know the name Allen Millyard — the tea-drinking retired British Ministry of Defence engineer who builds some of the […]
KH Five: 5-Cylinder Kawasaki Widowmaker! - Kawasaki Quintuple: 883cc 5-Cylinder Two-Stroke from Allen Millyard… Recently, we’ve been looking back at the many mind-blowing creations of Allen Millyard, the mild-mannered English gentleman known for shed-built specials that defy belief. In the past […]
1000cc Widowmaker: Kawasaki H2 Mach IV 1000-4 - 120-bhp 1000cc 4-cylinder Widowmaker from Allen Millyard… Introduced in late 1971, the Kawasaki H2 Mach IV 750 was the fastest-accelerating, scariest production machine money could buy. The 748cc air-cooled two-stroke triple-cylinder engine made 74 brake […]
Resurrecting a Legend: Kawasaki H1 Mach III Custom - Basket Case to Asphalt Warrior: 1971 Kawasaki H1B… In the annals of motorcycledom, few street-going machines have earned a more notorious reputation than the original Kawasaki H1 Mach III, a 500cc two-stroke triple developed for […]
Triple Black: Kawasaki H2 by Vinny Borbone - A vintage racer builds one bad two-stroke street bike… The Kawasaki H2 was one of the most uncompromising motorcycles ever produced, a 750cc two-stroke “Widowmaker” triple that was loud, smoky, crude, and scarily fast, cutting […]
Mini Missile: Kawasaki “KV250” Two-Stroke Triple! - Ralf Kraemer shoehorns a KH250 triple into a KV minibike! In the late 60s, the Honda Monkey took the market by storm, becoming a sensation among riders both young and old. In 1971, Kawasaki released […]
800cc Widowmaker: Kawasaki “KH750” Triple - An 800cc, 120+ hp Triple from Ralf Kraemer… In the late 1960s, Kawasaki wanted to create a 500cc two-stroke motorcycle that could boast 60 horsepower and a 1/4-mile time below the 13-second mark. The result […]
Mythic 750 Triple: Denco CR90 Restomod - Street Dragster: Modernized tribute to the mythic Denco CR90… The Kawasaki H2 remains one of the most notorious motorcycles in history, a 750cc two-stroke triple that became known as the “Widowmaker” — a moniker that […]
Green Meanie: Kawasaki “KR800” Triple - Triple Trouble: 800cc, 130-hp Kawasaki two-stroke triple from Ralf Kraemer… The Kawasaki H1 Mach III hit showroom floors in 1968, a 500cc two-stroke triple that cost less than $1000 and could outrun nearly any muscle […]
Purple People Eater: Kawasaki H1 500cc Land Speeder - Steve “Brewdude” Garn builds a 500cc two-stroke triple landspeed bike! In 1968, Kawasaki unleashed the H1 Mach III, a 500cc two-stroke triple that would quickly earn a reputation as “The Widowmaker.” The 415-pound, 60-bhp smoker […]
