EICMA: 2015 Kawasaki Ninja H2
The street bike has finally debuted, and pulls out a cool 207hp with ram air, 197hp without. Peak torque is 133Nm, and weight is 237kgWe’ve seen the 300hp H2R track version of Kawasaki’s new supercharged Ninja family, but here’s the one with the really broad appeal – the street-based H2. Unveiled in Milan, the 998cc in-line four-cylinder H2 produces 205hp with ram air, and 197hp without, and there’s 133Nm of torque at 10,500rpm. However, it isn’t the lightest one-litre machine at 237kg.
Aside from minor differences in the engine unit -- camshafts, head gaskets and clutch – as well as the intake and exhaust systems tailored for street use to ensure noise and emissions standards are met, the supercharged engine of the H2 is essentially the same as the unit in the closed-course Ninja H2R. Compared to a naturally aspirated litre-bike, the compression ratio is relatively low at 8.5:1—but with the supercharged effect that’s apparently not an issue.
The supercharger is driven by a planetary gear train, which runs off the crankshaft. The gear train increases the impeller speed to 9.2 times the crank, which means that at maximum engine speed (approximately 14,000rpm), the impeller shaft is spinning at almost 130,000rpm.
Air supplied to the supercharger enters via a single ram air intake in the left side of the upper cowl. For optimum efficiency, the air cleaner is positioned directly before the supercharger.
The street bike carries over the same electronics found on the H2R: traction control, launch control, engine brake control, anti-locking brakes, quick shifter (KQS), and an Ohlins electronic steering damper.
The chassis includes a swingarm mounting plate, which bolts to the back of the engine. The swingarm pivot shaft goes through this plate, essentially allowing the swingarm to be mounted directly to the engine. According to Kawasaki, the use of the swingarm mounting plate means that the frame does not need to use cross members for stability, contributing to the frame’s light weight.
There’s fully adjustable KYB suspension, with the company’s motocross-developed fork (the AOS-II) making its tarmac debut. Two 330mm Brembo discs deliver the braking force at the front, and a 250mm disc at the rear.
The H2 will go on sale in Australia early next year, but we’re just awaiting word from Kawasaki Australia on the specific details.
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