Which motorcycle was nicknamed the “Widow Maker” because of its abrupt power delivery?

The Kawasaki H2 Mach IV was nicknamed the “Widow Maker” because of its abrupt power delivery.

Kawasaki produced the H2 Mach IV, also known as the 750 Mach IV, from 1972 to 1975. Its 748 cc two-stroke, three-cylinder engine produced strong acceleration for its era, but the motorcycle’s chassis, braking performance and handling could make that power difficult for inexperienced riders to manage.

The nickname is commonly associated with the H2’s reputation rather than being an official Kawasaki model name. It is also sometimes confused with the smaller Kawasaki H1 Mach III, a 500 cc two-stroke triple that developed its own reputation for demanding handling.

The H2 belonged to the peak period of large Japanese two-stroke performance motorcycles, before stricter emissions rules and the growing popularity of four-stroke superbikes changed the market.