Kawasaki H2 Decals: Model Year Guide (1972-1975)
What the H2 Was
The Kawasaki H2 Mach IV was a 750cc two-stroke triple. It ran from 1972 to 1975 — four model years, four variants, and enough differences between them to make decal selection genuinely complicated.
If you are restoring one, the year matters. The decals changed. The colours changed. Even the graphics placement shifted across the run. A set from the wrong year looks close. It is not correct.
This guide covers what changed, year by year, so you can identify what you need before you order.
H2 Variants at a Glance
Variant suffix codes confirmed: H2 (1972), H2A (1973), H2B (1974), H2C (1975). Four variants, four model years.
| Year | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | H2 | First year. Sweeping two-tone painted pinstripe on tank and tail, "50" number on the side panel. |
| 1973 | H2A | Prominent multi-toned stripe running horizontally along the lower portion of the fuel tank. |
| 1974 | H2B | Large chainsaw-style graphic with "Kawasaki" running through the centre, no tail decal, "750" and "Mach IV" on the side panel. |
| 1975 | H2C | Final year. Shark Fin graphic design. |
Year-by-Year Decal Differences
1972 — H2
The first H2 is the one people reach for when they picture the Mach IV. The 1972 H2 was offered factory in two colours: Pearl Candytone Blue and Pearl Candytone Gold. The UK got Blue only that year — Agrati Sales imported 112 Blue machines and didn't bring in the Gold scheme.
The tank graphics on the 1972 feature a sweeping two-tone painted pinstripe on the tank and tail, with a 50 number on the side panel. If your frame plate reads 1972, this is the set you need.
1973 — H2A
The 1973 H2A was offered in Candy Gold and Candy Purple. Gold carried over from 1972; Purple was new for this model year. Blue was not offered. Only 30 H2A units were officially imported to the UK that year — a survivor is unusually scarce.
The H2A graphics feature a prominent multi-toned stripe running horizontally along the lower portion of the fuel tank.
1974 — H2B
The 1974 H2B was offered in Candy Lime and Candy Gold. The Gold scheme often reads as brown under aged clear coat, which is why you'll see it described as "Candy Brown" in older references. It isn't.
The H2B graphics feature a large chainsaw-style design with Kawasaki running through the centre. There is no tail decal on the H2B; the 750 and Mach IV designations appear on the side panel.
1975 — H2C
The final year. The 1975 H2C was offered in Candy Super Red and Candy Purple. Purple is the collector's pick. The H2C carries the distinctive shark fin graphic design.
We also stock Candy Green for the H2C as a made-to-order option for customers who've asked — that one isn't factory.
How to Identify Your Year
The frame number is the most reliable guide. All H2/H2A/H2B/H2C share the same prefixes — frame H2F-, engine H2E- — with continuous sequential numbering: H2 from H2F-00001, H2A from H2F-23671, H2B from H2F-32201, H2C from H2F-42547. Engine ranges run in parallel: H2E-00001, H2E-23158, H2E-32401, H2E-42827.
Frame and engine numbers don't match exactly — Kawasaki didn't install engines in strict sequence, so the numbers can be up to a few hundred apart. Engine swaps are also documented in the restoration community, which makes the engine number an unreliable standalone identifier. If the frame number and engine number tell different stories, trust the frame.
UK supply was thin and brokered through Agrati Sales until Kawasaki set up directly in 1975. Official imports totalled around 400 H2s across all four years (112, 30, 105, 150 per year). Most H2s now in the UK arrived later from US owners — often in better shape thanks to drier winters.
When in doubt, send us the frame number. We will point you at the right set.
Which Set Fits Yours?
Once you have the year confirmed, the set selection is straightforward. We carry decal sets for each H2 variant — each one reproduced from original factory reference, not approximation.
Browse the H2 range at /collections/kawasaki-h2-750-series. Each listing names the variant and year. If your variant is not in the range yet, send us the frame number — we will quote a made-to-order set or let you know when it is added. If you only need part of a set, we'll quote and supply partial sets on request. For custom commissions — different colour or non-catalogue variant — simple jobs typically take around 7 days; more complex work depends on design time.
Application Notes
Once you have the right set, application is the same for all H2 variants.
We use the wet method — a water spray with a couple of drops of washing-up liquid on the sticky side of the decal. It sounds counter-intuitive. It does work. The water lets the decal slide into position before you commit, which matters on a tank with compound curves.
Fitting instructions are included with every set, and also available on our website. One point worth noting here: once the decal is positioned and the water has dried out — give it a few days — clear-coat with a 2K product. Petrol spills and sun will take their toll on an unprotected decal.
If something goes wrong during application, do not panic. A creased decal can be warmed with a hairdryer and repositioned. Take five, re-spray, and go again.
Browse the H2 Range
Decal sets for the 1972–1975 H2 750 — each matched to the correct variant year.
Any questions about fit, send us the frame number and year. We will take it from there.
