Kawasaki unveiled the Ninja H2R at Intermot and immediately the bike caught the fancy of everyone. The Ninja H2R is the track only version and produces a massive 305 HP. Now the automaker has unveiled the Kawasaki Ninja H2 at the 2014 EICMA show in Milan, this is the road going version of the latest from Japan’s bravest 2-wheeler manufacturer. As we write this, there is both disappointment and excitement, the latter for the way this superbike looks with torque being amplified with the use of a supercharger.
What is disappointing though is the horsepower on offer, the Kawasaki Ninja H2 produces only 207 HP (with a redline of 14,000 RPM), we know we just used the word *only* with a bike which can whizz past the ton in under 2.5 seconds but what gives? The Ninja H2 is no longer the sole bike in the 200 horsepower club. While bikes from the green stable (ZX-10R and ZX-14R) are already producing in excess of 200 horses, the 2015 Yamaha R1 (200 HP), Ducati Panigale 1299 (205 HP), MV Agusta F4 (210 HP) and the new BMW S1000RR (199 HP) are all members of the 200+ HP club, the BMW almost.
[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtAbCl6q864 540 375]
The Kawasaki Ninja H2 produces 207 HP with ram air while without it, the output is 197 HP. Torque is the name of the game though as the H2 produces 133 Nm at 10,500 RPM. Still the race version produces almost 50% more power and the H2 should have annihilated the competition with at least 250 ponies under its forced fed belly. Kawasaki has gone overboard with the electronics, the Ninja H2 gets the usual KIBS and KTRC along with KLCM, KQS, KEBC. Don’t fret over those acronyms, what we meant is that the bike has ABS, traction control, launch control, quick shifter and engine brake control respectively. There is also rear lift suppression and all of that you don’t need to know because there is just too much of electronic gizmos on this bike which is “Built Beyond Belief”.
The flagship Kawasaki also gets fully adjustable KYB front and rear suspension but the Ninja H2 does weigh quite a bit at 240 kgs (we always complain about how Kawasaki bikes weigh a lot). In comparison, the recently unveiled Yamaha R1 tips the scales at 199 kgs but produces much lesser torque of 112 Nm as it’s a naturally aspirated motor. Still one who buys the Ninja H2 can rejoice knowing he can up the power output to almost 300 HP by doing some modifications. Priced at $25,000 (Rs. 15.35 lakhs) in the USA, the Kawasaki Ninja H2 will make it to Indian shores at an expected price of over Rs. 35 lakhs. This hyper bike can be enjoyed by only the rider as there is no pillion seat on offer, so start saving right away.
