The Kawasaki Mach III earned its “widow maker” nickname for good reason. Kawasaki started with an air-cooled, 60-horsepower, flame-throwing, oil-burning, two-stroke, 500cc three-cylinder engine. The bike could hit 60 miles per hour in 4 seconds with a top speed well over 100 miles per hour. Unfortunately, this engine was bolted to an ill-handling chassis with drum brakes woefully inadequate to stop this beast. The bike was introduced with much fanfare in 1969 and quietly removed from the Kawasaki lineup in 1975 (although it was greatly improved by that time).
The Mach III faded into history until making an amazing comeback with collectors who didn’t flinch at bidding over $25,000 for a clean Mach III. The Mach III market has softened recently but a restored Mach III still commands between $15,000 to $20,000.
Mach III collectors make this 1971 Running-When-Parked Mach III a viable investment. The bike appears to be complete, well preserved (check out the rubber on the pegs and kickstarter) and not abused (heck, the forks aren’t even bent!).
I would be surprised if this bike is still available. If interested, I left the phone number so you can give the owner a call.
The phrase “Running When Parked” (RWP) is code for a once treasured possession that has been neglected in the corner of the garage or tool shed for far too long. Lacking the energy, time or resources to bring the little beauty back to life, the owner lists it for sale in hopes that a new owner will massage it back to health. Our collection of RWP bikes fall into two distinct categories; treasure or trash. And you are the only one who can properly judge which category the bike belongs in.
