マッハを夢見て80年代に突入したWildmanは、中型免許を取得する事になりました。この頃は「3ない運動」真っ盛りの頃で（高校生が）オートバイを「乗らない」「買わない」「免許を取らない」という素晴らしいスローガンのもとに日本の社会は動いておりました。
大型自動二輪免許はまだ一発試験しかなく教習所で取れる時代ではなかったので、合格率数パーセントのはるかかなたの憧れの免許でした。
それもこれもBoss世代の無謀運転による免許制度改正による悪政で、この頃は自分より5歳以上年上の人々を本当に恨んでおりました。
「まあ仕方がない、500と750はとりあえずあきらめて、中型マッハに乗りましょう」と中型免許取得に向け教習所に向かうWildmanでした。
そして教習車両はWildman'sブログ6月22日分でおなじみのHonda Hawk IIでした。「何てかっこ悪いバイクなんだ、こんなバイクを教習車にするセンスが分からん!」（オーナーの方、本当にごめんなさい）と思いながら教習に通っていると、ちょうど第2段階の頃より教習車両の入れ替えとなり当時最新鋭のHonda CBX400にバトンタッチとなりました。「これならいいかも・・・」と思いせっせと教習を受けて、無事免許取得となりました。
さて、あとはマッハを手に入れるのみです。車検のある350SS マッハIIは金銭的に維持が難しいので、マッハの末弟250SS マッハＩに的を絞り愛車探しが始まりました。「頑張って探すぞ～!」と意気込み、片っ端からバイク雑誌を読みあさり、ショップの広告、個人売買欄に目を通し、横浜市内のバイク屋を始め、上野のバイク街にも出向きましたが全く無いのです、マッハなんて見つかりません!!
「どうなってんだ、こりゃ??こんなにマッハって無いの!!」と悲痛な叫びのWildmanでしたがこの当時（'80年代初頭）は2007年現在よりも日本でマッハを見つけるのは困難でした。ちょうど製造中止後10年近くが経った初期のマッハシリーズでしたが、大型の500や750は当時のマニアが大切にしていて意外と現存率も高かったのですが、中型の250と350は暴走族車両と化してしまったり、A君のお兄様が川に捨てられてしまったように、てきとーな扱いを受けてしまい、2ストロークという事もあり耐久性の無さも手伝い破棄される事が多かったようす。'90年代になり日本では絶版旧車のブームが起こり、250や350も発掘されるようになり、何よりもショップによるアメリカからの逆輸入で沢山のマッハが専門店に並ぶようになりました。お金さえあればいくらでもマッハが手に入る時代になるとは思いもよりませんでした。
「くそー、どうしてもマッハが見つからん、どうすればいいんだ!!」と悩むWildmanでしたが当時の自分のコネクションではどうにもならず、全く見つかるあてもありませんでした。時間は経つけどマッハは見つからず、しかしバイクには乗りたいと苦しみの日々が続きました。
ミニカーコレクションにより旧い物を見つける事に関しては、年齢の割には長けていたWildmanでしたがこの当時マッハだけは手に負えませんでした・・・・そして最終手段(妥協）を考えました。「もうあきらめてKH250にするか・・・」と考え路線変更を目指す事にしたのです（しつこいWildmanにしては珍しい妥協でした）
カワサキKH250&400はマッハシリーズの最終型として1980年まで生産されました。2ストローク3気筒のマッハシリーズでもSSとKHは似て非なる物でした。知らない人から見ればそのデザインはカラーリングやテールカウルくらいしか違いが分からず、同じバイクに見えても仕方がありませんが、マニアから見ると別物扱いでした。
世界最速を目指したマッハシリーズは4種の排気量で全てのクラスで世界最速となりましたが時代はオイルショックとも重なり、もっと静かで燃費が良く安全なバイクを要求していました。
マッハシリーズは年々安全性や乗りやすさのほうに重点が置かれたマイナーチェンジが繰り替えされました。最速の化け物750SSは生産中止となり500SSは60ps→59psのパワーダウン後、最終型のKH500では52psとなり牙を抜かれたマッハとなりました。350SSは45ps→44psとなり、その後400SSに排気量アップしたにもかかわらずパワーは42psにダウン、さらにKH400では38psになってしまいました。250SSもKH250となり32PSから28psに大幅ダウンしていました。車重も年々増えていったので実際には数値以上にパワーの差を感じる物となっていました。
スーパーカーにより数値オタクだったWildmanにはこのパワーダウンは許せず「KHなんてカッコだけマッハっぽいダメバイク」と決め付けていていましたが、マッハが見つからないのであれば仕方がありません。「もういいやKHで、色だけ変えてマッハっぽくするか!」とやけ気味で今度はKH250探しが始まりました。その頃はすでにヤマハRZ250がデビューし、日本はレーサーレプリカを中心としたバイクブームに突入し始め、KHなんて時代遅れの乗り物でしたので、安いタマは結構ありましたが、暴走族御用達車輌のためオリジナルは中々見つかりませんでした。
必死の探索の結果雑誌の広告を見て、東京は赤羽の中古車屋に１台の赤いKH250を見つけました。早速見に行くと「試乗してもいいよ」というお店の人のお言葉がありました。「何ていい店なんだ!」と思ったらバイク屋隣のちょっと広めの駐車場の中で乗ってくれという事でした・・・免許をとったばかりでヨロヨロと駐車場を1周しましたが、いいんだか悪いんだか分かるはずも分かりませんでした。「もういいや、コレをください」と込みこみで￥18万円の赤いカワサキKH250（推定1979年型）がWildmanの手元にやって来る事になったのです。
もちろん親父に頭を下げ保証人になってもらい人生初のローン返済が始まりました（これがクセになり数年後の長期ローンによるシェルビー購入にもつながって行きます・・・）
という事で又も長くなってしまったので次回Part.4に続きます!!(4回連載は初めてですね!）
Wildman in 80s had dreamed of Mach and got license for Mid size Motor cycle. In this time "Three No Protest" was a social movement with nice slogan in Japan and it was for high school Student to Not "to Ride", "to Buy" and "to get license" for Motorcycle.
The Unlimited Motor cycle license was still only able to get by passing a riding test and was unable to get in Drivers Education class and it was only few percent will pass the test so it was almost like dream to get this licnese.
These law has been added after the Bosss' Generation rode around in wild manners and changed license Law and Wildman really hated older people for that.
"Well that cant be helped, lets forget about 500 and 750 and try the middle size Mach" and Wildman went to the Drivers Ed fir Middle Class Motorcycle license. And the bike in the Drivers Ed was Honda Hawk II which Wildman wrote on Blog June 22nd. "How Bad it looks, I cant understand why they use these kind of Bike for Drivers Ed." (I apologizes to owner in advance)and so Wildman was going to Drivers Ed and in 2nd stage the brand new Honda CBX 400 came to class.
"This one is good" so He went to class as much as he can and finally got his license.
So now it was up to getting the Mach. The 350 SS Mach II with Japanese inspection was hard to maintain money wise so Machs
Last smallest Brother 250SS Mach I was set as target to find the love machine.
"Les find one" so he was up to it and read all the Motor cycle Magazine and ad from the shops, the private for sale on list, went to Motorcycle shops in Yokohama and up to Ueno but really
He couldn't find one. No Mach is around. "What is happening? How rare is the Mach?!" Wildman was crying out but this period in the 80s was just the most difficult time to find, even harder then now in 2007 to find one in Japan.
It was just 10years after the production for the first Mach series but the big 500 and 750 were kept in nice condition by Manias and many survived in good condition but 250 and 350 were made to BOUSOUZOKU bikes and like As brother who threw it away into the river, they were treated more less like he did and with less durable two strokes made even worth to burnout and scrapped.
In the `90s Japan had rare and dead stock old Motor cycle boom and many 250 and 35 Mach were Hunted from abroad (USA) and brought back to Japan and lined up in many shops. Then it was time that you can buy Mach If you have money, which was not really expected.
"Gee, I cant find Mach, what can I do?" So Wildman struggled but back then it was impossible to find with Wildmans connection. The time goes by and cant find the Mach but want to ride Motorcycle and hard days continued. From Mini Car Collection Wildman was good at finding old things But Mach was something he couldn't control.
So as a last resort (a compromise) was thought out. "Lets forget it and find KH 250" so the Direction was changed to find different Motorcycle ( the rare for Wildman to give up on finding things) Kawasaki KH 250 & 350 was Last Mach series and was made until 1980.
Even in The 2stroke 3 cylinder Mach series, SS and KH was totally similar but different things. From the eye of people who don’t know the design and coloring and tail cowl were the only differences can be found and rest looks like the same but from Manias eye it was totally different things.
The project target was World fastest for Mach series and made world fastest in all 4 different class But it was time of Oil shock and time was looking for more economical quiet and safe Motorcycle. Mach series had minor change every year for more safety and more easier riding.
The fastest monster 750 SS production was stopped, 500SS had power down from 60ps to 59ps, The last KH500 was powered down to 52ps the Mach without a fang. 350SS was powered down form 45ps to 44ps and later it was bored to 400 SS but made power down to 42ps, KH400 was down to 38ps.
250SS was powered down from 32ps to 28ps in KH250. Super Car made Wildman a number mania but Wildman was not able to forgive this power down, "KH is just looks like Mach but not fast" so he thought it was not good bike but since Mach was unable to find He had no choice.
"Fine I will go with KH, change color to look like Mach" so little upset and finding KH250 had started. The weight was gaining every year so it was less power to feel than on the books figure.
By then Yamaha RZ250 was already debut and Japan was in racer replica boom, KH was late and left out from the time, and many cheap ones were there but mostly modified as popular for Bouzouzoku and original was hard to find.
With die hard finding, found little add of Red KH250 in second hand bike shop in Akabane Tokyo. Went to check the bike and " You can ride it" as nice people at shop was generous enough to give A test ride. "What a nice shop" but shop meant to ride in the large parking lot beside the shop. Just got license and riding little unstable, it was not possible to tell anything about the bike in Just going around circle once in that parking lot. "That's fine, Please I will take this one." So all included in 180K Yen Red Kawasaki KH250 (1979) was made to reach Wildman.
Of course begged father to become a guarantee to make first loan of life time and paying back has started. (this was addictive and long term loan was made for Shelby purchase) so this was long story again so it will continue on next part 4 ! (first time to have part 4!)
カワサキKH250&400はマッハシリーズの最終型として1980年まで生産されました。2ストローク3気筒のマッハシリーズでもSSとKHは似て非なる物でした。知らない人から見ればそのデザインはカラーリングやテールカウルくらいしか違いが分からず、同じバイクに見えても仕方がありませんが、マニアから見ると別物扱いでした。
世界最速を目指したマッハシリーズは4種の排気量で全てのクラスで世界最速となりましたが時代はオイルショックとも重なり、もっと静かで燃費が良く安全なバイクを要求していました。
マッハシリーズは年々安全性や乗りやすさのほうに重点が置かれたマイナーチェンジが繰り替えされました。最速の化け物750SSは生産中止となり500SSは60ps→59psのパワーダウン後、最終型のKH500では52psとなり牙を抜かれたマッハとなりました。350SSは45ps→44psとなり、その後400SSに排気量アップしたにもかかわらずパワーは42psにダウン、さらにKH400では38psになってしまいました。250SSもKH250となり32PSから28psに大幅ダウンしていました。車重も年々増えていったので実際には数値以上にパワーの差を感じる物となっていました。
スーパーカーにより数値オタクだったWildmanにはこのパワーダウンは許せず「KHなんてカッコだけマッハっぽいダメバイク」と決め付けていていましたが、マッハが見つからないのであれば仕方がありません。「もういいやKHで、色だけ変えてマッハっぽくするか!」とやけ気味で今度はKH250探しが始まりました。その頃はすでにヤマハRZ250がデビューし、日本はレーサーレプリカを中心としたバイクブームに突入し始め、KHなんて時代遅れの乗り物でしたので、安いタマは結構ありましたが、暴走族御用達車輌のためオリジナルは中々見つかりませんでした。
必死の探索の結果雑誌の広告を見て、東京は赤羽の中古車屋に１台の赤いKH250を見つけました。早速見に行くと「試乗してもいいよ」というお店の人のお言葉がありました。「何ていい店なんだ!」と思ったらバイク屋隣のちょっと広めの駐車場の中で乗ってくれという事でした・・・免許をとったばかりでヨロヨロと駐車場を1周しましたが、いいんだか悪いんだか分かるはずも分かりませんでした。「もういいや、コレをください」と込みこみで￥18万円の赤いカワサキKH250（推定1979年型）がWildmanの手元にやって来る事になったのです。
もちろん親父に頭を下げ保証人になってもらい人生初のローン返済が始まりました（これがクセになり数年後の長期ローンによるシェルビー購入にもつながって行きます・・・）
という事で又も長くなってしまったので次回Part.4に続きます!!(4回連載は初めてですね!）
Wildman in 80s had dreamed of Mach and got license for Mid size Motor cycle. In this time "Three No Protest" was a social movement with nice slogan in Japan and it was for high school Student to Not "to Ride", "to Buy" and "to get license" for Motorcycle.
The Unlimited Motor cycle license was still only able to get by passing a riding test and was unable to get in Drivers Education class and it was only few percent will pass the test so it was almost like dream to get this licnese.
These law has been added after the Bosss' Generation rode around in wild manners and changed license Law and Wildman really hated older people for that.
"Well that cant be helped, lets forget about 500 and 750 and try the middle size Mach" and Wildman went to the Drivers Ed fir Middle Class Motorcycle license. And the bike in the Drivers Ed was Honda Hawk II which Wildman wrote on Blog June 22nd. "How Bad it looks, I cant understand why they use these kind of Bike for Drivers Ed." (I apologizes to owner in advance)and so Wildman was going to Drivers Ed and in 2nd stage the brand new Honda CBX 400 came to class.
"This one is good" so He went to class as much as he can and finally got his license.
So now it was up to getting the Mach. The 350 SS Mach II with Japanese inspection was hard to maintain money wise so Machs
Last smallest Brother 250SS Mach I was set as target to find the love machine.
"Les find one" so he was up to it and read all the Motor cycle Magazine and ad from the shops, the private for sale on list, went to Motorcycle shops in Yokohama and up to Ueno but really
He couldn't find one. No Mach is around. "What is happening? How rare is the Mach?!" Wildman was crying out but this period in the 80s was just the most difficult time to find, even harder then now in 2007 to find one in Japan.
It was just 10years after the production for the first Mach series but the big 500 and 750 were kept in nice condition by Manias and many survived in good condition but 250 and 350 were made to BOUSOUZOKU bikes and like As brother who threw it away into the river, they were treated more less like he did and with less durable two strokes made even worth to burnout and scrapped.
In the `90s Japan had rare and dead stock old Motor cycle boom and many 250 and 35 Mach were Hunted from abroad (USA) and brought back to Japan and lined up in many shops. Then it was time that you can buy Mach If you have money, which was not really expected.
"Gee, I cant find Mach, what can I do?" So Wildman struggled but back then it was impossible to find with Wildmans connection. The time goes by and cant find the Mach but want to ride Motorcycle and hard days continued. From Mini Car Collection Wildman was good at finding old things But Mach was something he couldn't control.
So as a last resort (a compromise) was thought out. "Lets forget it and find KH 250" so the Direction was changed to find different Motorcycle ( the rare for Wildman to give up on finding things) Kawasaki KH 250 & 350 was Last Mach series and was made until 1980.
Even in The 2stroke 3 cylinder Mach series, SS and KH was totally similar but different things. From the eye of people who don’t know the design and coloring and tail cowl were the only differences can be found and rest looks like the same but from Manias eye it was totally different things.
The project target was World fastest for Mach series and made world fastest in all 4 different class But it was time of Oil shock and time was looking for more economical quiet and safe Motorcycle. Mach series had minor change every year for more safety and more easier riding.
The fastest monster 750 SS production was stopped, 500SS had power down from 60ps to 59ps, The last KH500 was powered down to 52ps the Mach without a fang. 350SS was powered down form 45ps to 44ps and later it was bored to 400 SS but made power down to 42ps, KH400 was down to 38ps.
250SS was powered down from 32ps to 28ps in KH250. Super Car made Wildman a number mania but Wildman was not able to forgive this power down, "KH is just looks like Mach but not fast" so he thought it was not good bike but since Mach was unable to find He had no choice.
"Fine I will go with KH, change color to look like Mach" so little upset and finding KH250 had started. The weight was gaining every year so it was less power to feel than on the books figure.
By then Yamaha RZ250 was already debut and Japan was in racer replica boom, KH was late and left out from the time, and many cheap ones were there but mostly modified as popular for Bouzouzoku and original was hard to find.
With die hard finding, found little add of Red KH250 in second hand bike shop in Akabane Tokyo. Went to check the bike and " You can ride it" as nice people at shop was generous enough to give A test ride. "What a nice shop" but shop meant to ride in the large parking lot beside the shop. Just got license and riding little unstable, it was not possible to tell anything about the bike in Just going around circle once in that parking lot. "That's fine, Please I will take this one." So all included in 180K Yen Red Kawasaki KH250 (1979) was made to reach Wildman.
Of course begged father to become a guarantee to make first loan of life time and paying back has started. (this was addictive and long term loan was made for Shelby purchase) so this was long story again so it will continue on next part 4 ! (first time to have part 4!)
