When Kawasaki launched the Ninja H2 and H2R back in 2015, it was the only supercharged road legal motorcycle in production. The Japanese manufacturer followed it with the launch of H2 SX last year.
Now at the Tokyo Motor Show currently underway in Japan, Kawasaki has launched the naked version of the H2 range called the “Z H2”. Infusing their supercharged hyper sports platform with their Sugomi style naked model range “Z”.
Engine and Electronics
The core of the new Z H2 remain essentially identical to the Ninja H2 and H2 SX. Engine is a 998cc inline-4 Supercharged, producing about 197 bhp. A 101 nm of torque at 8,500 rpm which is about 1000 rpm lower than the hyper sport tourer H2 SX. The gearbox is a dog-ring transmission, meaning there's no sync of gear speeds, the gear teeth are longer helping more precise and accurate gear shifts, especially clutch-less at high rpms via Kawasaki Quick Shifter or KQS.
The details about electronics are a bit hazy but Kawasaki says it is IMU based with riding modes, ABS, lean sensitive traction control, electronic cruise control and selectable power output of 100%, 75% or 50%. Z H2 will feature an all digital TFT colour display and will have smartphone connectivity via “RIDEOLOGY THE APP”. Lighting is all LED.
Chassis and Suspension
The engine sits inside an all new trellis frame, different from the ones in H2 and H2 SX. The swingarm is also double-sided like the zx-10r super bike rather than the more fancy single sided unit on other H2's.
The suspension at both ends is from Showa. The front is the Separate Function Fork - Big Piston Fork and most likely a matching rear shock, details of which aren’t available yet.
The brakes are Brembo M4.32 callipers.
Styling
Looks might be the most polarising factor of this bike. The blend of H2 design with Sugomi has left a bit of a confused feeling in the entire look. Which the rear section is fine, it’s more about how the side panel of the headlight and overall face is designed. Its very unique though and can’t be mistaken as any other Z bike from the front angles at least. The ram-air duct is routed to the front from the left side of the LED headlight, as a result the right side panel doesn’t look symmetrical when viewed from front.
The headlight doesn’t move with the steering, only the fly-screen moves, which can look weird! And it weighs a massive 239 kg ready to go!
Well, this is an exciting time of the year for any motorcycle enthusiast or “biker”. Ducati has also unveiled it’s mental new Streetfighter V4, detailed article on it coming tomorrow.
Stay tuned.
All images courtesy: Kawasaki
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