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66 | FireFlyz
BIKE
Review
By building the H2, Kawasaki has regained the title for the
fastest bike in theworld.
Tech Specs Kawasaki Ninja H2
ENGINE
Type
998cc, liquid-cooled, 16v, inline-4
Bore x Stroke
76 x 55mm
Compression
8.5:1
Fuelling
Electronic Fuel Injection, supercharged
Claimed Power
200hp@ 1100rpm
Claimed Torque
133.5Nm@6400rpm
Frame
Trellis, high tensile steel
F Suspension
43mmUSD forks, fully adjustable
R Suspension
NewUni-Trak, and fully adjustable
Front Brakes
Twin 330mmfloating discs, Brembomonoblocks, ABS
Rear Brakes
Single 250mmdisc, twin-piston calliper, ABS
Wheelbase
1,450mm
Seat Height
825mm
WetWeight
238kg
Fuel Capacity
17L
Price
RM153,900(inc. GST)
T
here
are no more secrets when it comes to new products these
days. Manufacturers now actively manage the introduction
of a new car or bike by ‘leaking’ details, pictures and even
development videos long before they’re actually offered for sale.
However, until you’ve actually ridden or driven something, you
can never tell how good or bad it’s going to be.
We knew about the Kawasaki H2 before it was unveiled at the
Intermot Show in Germany last year, and when the covers were pulled, there
was both a gasp of surprise and some disappointment.
You see, whilemuchwasmade of how theH2would redefine speed boundaries
with its supercharged engine it was its track-only brother, the H2R, that hogged
the headlines. The 320bhp and a massive price tag will do that, but the bike
for masses wasn’t as impressive on paper. Sure, 200hp, Bat Mobile looks and a
supercharger impeller that breaks the speed of sound were all novel ideas, but
Kawasaki already had bikes with just as much power and more torque that were
much cheaper. Was it all just hype then?
The H2 is a showcase of all the technological might possessed by parent
company KHI (Kawasaki Heavy Industries), and features engineering solutions
that had to be literally created on a clean sheet of paper. Surely such an
undertaking dare not fall flat when delivered to an expectant biker community.
Spend two minutes riding the H2 and you’ll know any thoughts of it being a
disappointment are just silly. From the way it sounds to the way it accelerates
and seems to compress time and space, there is no other experience like it and
that includes the latest raft of hyper cars.
A big reason for this is the supercharger nestled in the 998cc four-cylinder
engine. It’s a centrifugal-type unit in a cast aluminium housing, which is placed
behind the cylinder bank to allow for better flow of pressurised air. It has features
like an impeller made from a single block of aluminium to ensure perfect balance
and at full operating speed pumps in over 200-litres of air per second into the
Flying Without Wings
engine, with air speeds reaching 100m/s.
Unlike a turbocharger there is no lag
with a supercharger. So theoretically, it’s
already delivering extra power from very
lowengine revs. The H2 gets great big gobs
of torque from low engine speeds, so care
and precision is needed with the throttle.
The response is near instantaneous
and though Kawasaki’s 10-level KTRC
(Kawasaki Traction Control) system
offers differing levels of power delivery
and electronic intervention, the way 200
Japanese horses run out of the engine’s
stable is breathtaking to experience.
To a certain extent, it can also be
frustrating. Try to accelerate hard out of
a corner and the KTRC warning light will
flash in anger while cutting drive to the
rear wheel. You can reduce the level of
electronic intervention and even turn it
off but this isn’t recommended if for mere
mortals or if your last name isn’t Rossi.
Also, if there’s any precipitation in the air
or standing water on the road surface, it’s
P i c t u r e s : S h u k o r J a n i s & V I P h o t o g r a p h e r