Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The fascinating story of Kawasaki's attempt in the early 1970s to make a 750cc Square 4 production motorcycle. Thanks to @Free_Ranger_CT110 for suggesting this video.
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Translation of display notes at Kawasaki Good Times World in Kobe, Japan:
Kawasaki, which always aims to be the fastest in the world, won the title of the fastest commercially available vehicle with the air-cooled, two-stroke, three-cylinder 750SS (Mach IV) that was released in 1971. However, the power race became numerical due to market needs. In the midst of the demand for further performance improvement, the development of the SQUARE-FOUR, code number "0280", was started secretly. Kawasaki's development team aimed to exceed the Mach IV in top speed and machine perfection while maintaining the displacement and maximum output of the 750SS. It was a new challenge to pursue the performance of the entire motorcycle, rather than relying on power alone for acceleration performance and top speed. The engine adopts a compact water-cooled square 4 layout to reduce air resistance at the front, and the right front and left front and rear cylinders are integrated. It is a twin carburetor specification with an intake port connected to each, and fuel injection was also developed to match it. The 2-in-1 exhaust pipe, designed with design as a priority, has two independent pipes on the inside to prevent power loss. Development progressed smoothly and they were close to achieving their target figures, but the plan was halted in August 1973 due to US exhaust gas regulations. The ultra-high performance machine SQUARE-FOUR, nicknamed "Steak Tartare" within the company, became a phantom model that never saw the light of day.
Video links:
2014 Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310LX & 310R First Ride - MotoUSA
youtube.com/watch?v=-t2MXACtFJQ
Kawasaki H2 750 Mach IV Triple Chainsmoker - Brightside Media
youtube.com/watch?v=wkqfwfjdCJ4
KAWASAKI SQUARE FOUR 750 Kawasaki Good Times World - Hifumi Watanabe
youtube.com/watch?v=Pjwj2Qu6HWk
Square Four Motocycles !!! - JAWA TINO
youtube.com/watch?v=cUN3uM0cotE
1956 Ariel Square Four - Moto Homeless
youtube.com/watch?v=yDXdTPSctSw&t=211s
Kawasaki KR 500 Frighi - Team Cipriani
youtube.com/watch?v=rMaeE964kBk
Suzuki RG500 for sale - Vintage-Motorcycles
youtube.com/watch?v=40Thw1JZFEg
Honda CB750 - The Birth of the Superbike - Brightside Media
youtube.com/watch?v=hcdUgUu66bk&t=224s
Music credit:
Ishikari Lore by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100192
Artist: incompetech.com
#classicmotorcycles #classicmotorbike #kawasaki #1970smotorcycles
The fascinating story of Kawasaki's attempt in the early 1970s to make a 750cc Square 4 production motorcycle. Thanks to @Free_Ranger_CT110 for suggesting this video.
Please do consider subscribing as it costs you nothing but really helps the YouTube algorithm understand that 3Phils is an established channel with interesting content. Thank you.
If you feel generous, using the Super Thanks button helps keep our channel going. It takes a lot of time, effort and resource to make these videos so we'd really appreciate it. Thank you.
Don't forget to join us on Facebook too!
facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550349542826
Translation of display notes at Kawasaki Good Times World in Kobe, Japan:
Kawasaki, which always aims to be the fastest in the world, won the title of the fastest commercially available vehicle with the air-cooled, two-stroke, three-cylinder 750SS (Mach IV) that was released in 1971. However, the power race became numerical due to market needs. In the midst of the demand for further performance improvement, the development of the SQUARE-FOUR, code number "0280", was started secretly. Kawasaki's development team aimed to exceed the Mach IV in top speed and machine perfection while maintaining the displacement and maximum output of the 750SS. It was a new challenge to pursue the performance of the entire motorcycle, rather than relying on power alone for acceleration performance and top speed. The engine adopts a compact water-cooled square 4 layout to reduce air resistance at the front, and the right front and left front and rear cylinders are integrated. It is a twin carburetor specification with an intake port connected to each, and fuel injection was also developed to match it. The 2-in-1 exhaust pipe, designed with design as a priority, has two independent pipes on the inside to prevent power loss. Development progressed smoothly and they were close to achieving their target figures, but the plan was halted in August 1973 due to US exhaust gas regulations. The ultra-high performance machine SQUARE-FOUR, nicknamed "Steak Tartare" within the company, became a phantom model that never saw the light of day.
Video links:
2014 Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310LX & 310R First Ride - MotoUSA
youtube.com/watch?v=-t2MXACtFJQ
Kawasaki H2 750 Mach IV Triple Chainsmoker - Brightside Media
youtube.com/watch?v=wkqfwfjdCJ4
KAWASAKI SQUARE FOUR 750 Kawasaki Good Times World - Hifumi Watanabe
youtube.com/watch?v=Pjwj2Qu6HWk
Square Four Motocycles !!! - JAWA TINO
youtube.com/watch?v=cUN3uM0cotE
1956 Ariel Square Four - Moto Homeless
youtube.com/watch?v=yDXdTPSctSw&t=211s
Kawasaki KR 500 Frighi - Team Cipriani
youtube.com/watch?v=rMaeE964kBk
Suzuki RG500 for sale - Vintage-Motorcycles
youtube.com/watch?v=40Thw1JZFEg
Honda CB750 - The Birth of the Superbike - Brightside Media
youtube.com/watch?v=hcdUgUu66bk&t=224s
Music credit:
Ishikari Lore by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100192
Artist: incompetech.com
#classicmotorcycles #classicmotorbike #kawasaki #1970smotorcycles
