First Ride - 2015 KAWASAKI NINJA H2 and H2R
Simply blown away.
How can aboard a 326-horsepower sports car ready for the full throttle? You first to blow the cobwebs example boarded the same basic machine 210 horsepower! I'm sure that this is not behind the Kawasaki Ninja supercharged H2 and H2R dynamic duo of thought, but the three tracks will be 20 minutes before the motorcycle into the most powerful mass-produced saddle I definitely appreciate in this street-legal H2 on the planet.
Kawasaki has a remarkable performance heritage and is not a shy from walking a fine line. For many seasoned enthusiast, Team Green's legacy began with H1 Mach III and 1970s of H2 two-stroke triple, a pair of no-holds-barred in their time rides, and the name of the glory of these new machines bicycle. Despite these years has been the challenger, we can always count on brass from Kawasaki, the company with strong technology originated in the aerospace and high-speed rail, to name a few innovations in the field of Kawasaki Heavy Industries knuckles counter punch.
In fact, some of the technical resources KHI sector to help create the most powerful bike in the past outrageously available to the public (with its "civilized" EPA standard H2 correspondence). While many people have questioned the basic principles behind these machines, you must give it to Kawasaki H2R having winged wheel chocks pull on the ball and let it fly.
If you are already logged on to the social media these last few months, the chances are you've seen (maybe tired) Kawasaki Ninja H2 marketing video. Before my mouth dry up saliva for some time, I've been jonesing for the H2 adrenaline fix since I put one leg on the American track Kawasaki pilot production exclusive video H2R continuous shooting. Although tied to the rear wheel track bike, my heart racing fire respirator laid off. How much power is an obvious question, but Kawasaki is not ready to disclose all the important numbers to our time. Believe me when I say it feels like a ton, and now we know H2R come up with a claimed 310 horsepower peaks at 14,000 rpm without punching the air and 326 hp stiff headwind!
With a short time and some of the details, I boarded the 20 hours of flight to Doha, Qatar's capital, modern metropolis. In the country's new permanent building, Qatar is just larger than the Los Angeles area, a mere peninsula toward the Persian Gulf is large. Its main attraction is the motorheads Losail International Circuit, home of motorcycle night race.
As the only ninja motojournalist and invited North American H2 / H2R reporter, I feel my 1:30 am arrival at the hotel registration desk host dignitaries sleep deprivation. In the hotel lobby, I ran into a motorcycle from Germany by a few companions game hardened scribes. The day before the test track still marvel, my colleague talked about how animation surprisingly fast, Kawasaki, I hope that I am good, because one of the drivers in their group, almost spent the night in the hospital!
The following four hours of shutter glasses, I'm ready to face the fire. Technical Overview offered before traveling Kevin Cameron's technology preview version of the main features and details of the review covered. With the leak of power output, I also learned that there are some differences between the models inside the engine. The amount of the cam profile, head gasket (the H2R has a lower compression ratio), and two additional plates in R clutch. This, along with a particular type of exhaust and ECU mapping, accounting for the difference between character and peak power output.
KAWASAKI H2
Rated at 200 horsepower, there is no ram air (210 horsepower speed) at 11,000rpm, H2 is adjusted to greater "in the end" than R, the region is far lower than its reference in a stunning high-1050098.5 lb - ft of torque peak rpm. Horsepower curve shape above the level of the peak torque figure off, creating a rotational speed of 2500 rpm limiter's cut. What is needed on the street!
The riding position a little more than one ZX-10R's more relaxed feeling. Saddle is a front and back Collection ring position, your legs have three-quarters of the rear seat hip support pads flanking the stent is narrower than the fast-moving. This unique feature, the real benefit is that when you transfer ass seat on both sides and use a closed position as a docking Hang stop stays in support achieved under hard acceleration. They are adjustable 15 mm higher returns riders.
Title to the circuit, I immediately noticed a bike company to pull the clutch, what can be expected of the power level is transmitted. Although the two versions of H2 using a sloping slip clutch to relieve the back wheel torque and the resulting jump downshift, I do not know why the clutch auxiliary ramp, so that even the Ninja 300 was found, and no used here to reduce the work?
A few corners of my first lap, obviously, the engine throttle response is suddenly shut off. Removing excess adjustment in throttle cable free play before, my second meeting helped a little; however, the initial hit is a considerable degree of driveline lash intensified. I can only imagine, but are not familiar with the negotiations in response to the sharp corners of public roads will feel more apparent.
Once the throttle cracking, ride-by-wire injection system provides an intuitive twist connection between the handle and the rear tire. Power delivery is the reciprocal of the third and ramps linear manner within the speed increase is not overwhelming speed range. Turn things heat up over 5000 intake roar rising and accelerating the removal of any doubt turbocharger is worth its weight.
Although the H2 will not set a new top gear roll performance mark, it will be interesting to see how it lighter upgrade to speed up the game through a gearbox.
Any measures are not lightweight, H2 declared weight 525 pounds to break its 4.5 gallons of fuel tank, its chassis has a 24.5 degree rake and 4.1 inches and 57.3 inches of wheelbase clues. 3.375 miles of bike work, 16 turn Losail circuit has a significant competitive edge, display processing, the rushing ZX-14R and Suzuki Busa circle. My approach is no different, and I have any big bike, the smoother steering input and rolling, not buying, H2 from the vertical to the deep lean.
Hydrogen sulfide is the first to use a road bike KYB fork of ASO-II Motocross is based on the development of gas - oil separation type cartridge fork. The low friction design 43 mm 32 mm with a large free-floating piston in the oil - damper box, the bottom seal area of the outer tube between the pumping oil into the pump. Oil in this region is believed to provide a tube on which can slide with each other, resulting in an extremely smooth film friction reducing effect. H2 fork are actually feeling very soft, perhaps a mistake, because the induction slight feeling of fuzziness in the front end so I missed a few vertex along the way.
Turning gap is quite adequate; after warning peg feelers provide fair in rare cases lever Don sidestand. I rarely have riders bank to one of these restrictions, neither H2 mode, in a week-long, multi-wave emission scrape by its exhaust gas cans. Hard drive off the second, third, or even fourth gear corner will get to see the front as well as the electronic control Ohlins steering damper bar subsided swing. Losail second gear hairpin particularly thrilling power wheelies start, but I still open an account over!
But even so, adrenaline-charged moments bait, breathing heavy artillery out of the last corner on the track does not match the long straights. The KSQ (Kawasaki fast converter) allows the clutch upshifts toe level I sit at 12,000 rpm torque peak. From the second gear in a few seconds to top the six-speed box upshift see the display on the instrument panel display off 187 mph on the steering 1. ago I caught VBOX GPS data logger gun analysis indicates that the actual speed of 178 mph.
KAWASAKI H2R
Sexy wrapped in carbon fiber body, the H2R menacing demeanor and tone for my crew chief assigned to pick up a bike repair station in the afternoon session. Its lightweight titanium exhaust deafening screams with each quick blip the throttle, and then break off the compressor when the accelerator again chirp.
Both models use the same electronic H2 driver support package, including KTRC (Kawasaki Traction Control System) and KIBS (Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock braking system), based on the 10R is. Expansion in this KEBC (Kawasaki Engine Brake Control) and KLCM (Kawasaki emission control mode), the latter has three settings, providing the invasion gradually increasing level control wheelspin and balance effects, while allowing the rider from the throttle held wide stop Start opens.
The H ABS 2 is not available to beat, then R allow disabling the rear (or front) anti-lock. No adverse effects have been felt, for me to invoke ABS boarded H2 rare occasions (feeling the subtle pulse of the lever without any arbitrary), I leave the r system as well. And with parked on or over 40 mph speed limit will result in immediate repair station pop-up messages to get home, I did not taste KLCM function Speedway. I think that the choice of two engine braking, and light environment is the best two bicycles. Same KTRC. I settled into a minimally invasive number 1, minus setting to relax these supercharged stallion's reins.
Cowboys who feel they do not need any obnoxious electronic products may want to reconsider here. While I look forward to the linear test H2R and TC closed, this is not the time or place. Even at a lower setting (less invasion), it does not take much to trigger TC throttle when cornering. On the dashboard flashing yellow KTRC indicator it may also be labeled as: HSA (Highside avoid)!
Even KTRC covering my back, I pay due respect to the r and smooth throttle closed corner. Slip 'N grip export drive it can produce it is the closest most of us can experience the feeling of WSBK corner exit. Although 476 pounds of H2R is no match for the real super processing, feedback is significantly higher than the H2, with less spacing around better. Less high deceleration and two teeth in the rear, and R listed more haggard tone state, I think it is necessary to run through some of the corners of the lower gear circuit. Sing it straight at the red line of the income came before.
From the last corner in the heart of the accelerator, I could feel the rear Bridgestone Battlax V01 Racing smooth break loose and hooks, and TC tempering its wheels off the ground smoothly into the fourth round of desire leap forward bike. As I gear flashed above the start / end time, H2R digital speedometer continue to climb, because I hold the throttle pinned deep as I am. In my fastest lap, which registered 203 mph (according to my VBOX191 mph), about 1500 rpm to spare. Because I popped lap after lap, I marvel at the power of Brembo calipers and actor monomer consistency and 330 mm rotor wind from the windshield to explode behind. Incredible progress has been accelerating and braking, because the original H2 days to achieve.
In the $ 25,000 Kawasaki Ninja H2 and 50 large ninja H2R, experienced such exciting stimulus, if not cheap to obtain.
