Intermot show: Kawasaki H2R

Kawasaki has certainly laid down the performance gauntlet at the Intermot motorcycle fair with its new H2R supercharged superbike. Like a 300hp gauntlet.

We presume that’s a gearbox output – or maybe not as Kawasaki hasn’t gone into serious detail about the engine yet – but even if the figure is appreciably lower at the rear wheel the 998cc in-line four-cylinder with forced induction could have started something seriously exciting, much like the 750cc two-stoke H2 triple did in the 1970s.

The specs panel for the H2R are scant, but the images tell the story: it’s a circuit-bike only with only limited numbers destined to make it Down Under according to Kawasaki Australia. But don’t despair, as a street version (H2) will be unveiled in November.

Kawasaki, as mentioned during the bike’s month-long teaser campaign,  has designed the supercharger in-house, which has obviously allowed them to keep the engine’s capacity at a ‘sensible’ mark. It’s a scroll-type supercharger which is apparently one of the more efficient in the forced-induction scene. Electronic aids should abound with all that power, although Kawasaki has remained silent on that score so far.

There isn’t an aluminium frame, with Kawasaki instead opting for a striking steel trellis design, which the company says provides the desired amount of flex and strength for the massive output. The H2R has Brembo brakes, but there’s not too much else to add to the chassis discussion.

The H2R will be seriously fast, so Kawasaki turned to its aerospace division to help deliver the aerodynamic carbon fibre bodywork and to make sure the bike remains cool and calm with so much hyper activity going on underneath.

The most striking parts of the bodywork are the ‘winglets’ adjoining the windscreen, while the ram air will be working at full capacity to direct fresh air into the supercharger.

Kawasaki’s new flagship is a head turner, and now the next chapter awaits with the street bike. Will the H2 be a pussycat compared to the H2R, or one that will still make other manufacturers weep? We’ll find out next month.