Iconic Motorcycles Codexery

Kawasaki Ninja H2

A modern supercharged marvel, but not the first production motorcycle with a supercharger.

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Kawasaki Ninja H2

Rainmaker47 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Kawasaki's Ninja H2 is a four-stroke motorcycle in the hypersport class, equipped with a variable-speed centrifugal supercharger.[1] The Ninja H2R, a track-only version, achieves 310 hp maximum output, and 326 hp when ram-air is used.[2]

How it changed

Electronic rider aids include ABS, Kawasaki Traction Control, Kawasaki Engine Brake Control, a Kawasaki Quick Shifter, an electronic steering damper, and Kawasaki Launch Control Mode.[3] No production motorcycle before the H2 had a supercharger.[4] Rather than using the larger-displacement Ninja ZX-14 hyperbike platform, Kawasaki chose the literbike platform for its flagship Ninja H2 model.[5] According to Cycle World's Kevin Cameron, the literbike class represents "the center of the high-performance market," drawing the most advanced racing development.[5]

A 998 cc inline-4 engine with dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, and a two-speed centrifugal supercharger powers the H2.[6] Gears and shafts link the flywheel to a planetary drive, which in turn drives the supercharger.[7] For the 2019 model year, the H2's power grew by 15% due to modifications to the intake, spark plugs, ECU, and air filter.[8] The 2019 updates also included smaller, lighter Brembo Stylema calipers, a TFT dashboard, and smartphone connectivity.[8]

What the maker and period sources say

A 2018 Roadracing World article stated that the 2019 Ninja H2 line-up received engine updates making them the most powerful H2 engines to date.[9] The same source noted that the 2019 Ninja H2 features new LED turn signals and an LED license plate lamp.[9] Motorcycle.com reported that Kawasaki's European counterpart claimed a power increase from 197.3 hp to 227.8 hp for the 2019 H2.[10] That source also stated the 2019 H2 and H2R models receive Brembo's new Stylema monoblock calipers.[10]

A 2017 Motorcyclist article reported that Kawasaki made a limited-edition Ninja H2 Carbon with 120 units produced globally.[11] That article also stated that a portion of proceeds from the Ninja H2 Carbon went to charity with Kawasaki donating $20,000 to the Road 2 Recovery Foundation.[11]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Kawasaki Ninja H2" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Shields 2014; Newland 2014; Bennetts 2014; Olgiati 2014; "Video: Supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2 on Engine Dyno", Sport Rider, September 24, 2014 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Kawasaki Ninja H2" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Canet, "2015 Kawasaki Ninja H2 and H2R – FIRST RIDE", Cycle World, May 17, 2015; "Is this the New 2015 Kawasaki H2 street version teaser video?", Sport Rider, October 5, 2014; Canet, "2015 Kawasaki Ninja H2 and H2R – FIRST RIDE", Cycle World, May 17, 2015 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Kawasaki Ninja H2" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Cameron 2014b; Madson 2014; "Kawasaki Ninja H2: Electronic aids revealed - Shifting-Gears", Shifting-Gears, 2014-10-20; "Kawasaki Ninja H2 Launch Control And Quickshifter", Speed Society (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Kawasaki Ninja H2" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Kunitsugu 2014 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Kawasaki Ninja H2" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Cameron 2014a (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Kawasaki Ninja H2" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Tibu 2014a; Blain 2014; Kiser 2014; Cameron 2014b (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Kawasaki Ninja H2" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Cameron 2014b; Cameron 2014c; Cameron 2014b; Kunitsugu 2014 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Kawasaki Ninja H2" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Kawasaki Gives H2 Lineup More Power For 2019", Roadracing World, August 10, 2018; Chung, "2019 Kawasaki Ninja H2 Updated, Now Claims 228HP", Motorcycle.com, August 10, 2018; "Kawasaki Upgrades 2019 Ninja H2 SX SE+ With Electronic Suspension And More", www.roadracingworld.com, 6 November 2018 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  9. "Kawasaki Gives H2 Lineup More Power For 2019", Roadracing World, August 10, 2018. facts only, no text reused. roadracingworld.com
  10. Chung, "2019 Kawasaki Ninja H2 Updated, Now Claims 228HP", Motorcycle.com, August 10, 2018. facts only, no text reused. motorcycle.com
  11. "Kawasaki Unveils Limited Edition 2017 Ninja H2 Carbon Superbike", Motorcyclist, February 2, 2017. facts only, no text reused. motorcyclistonline.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Kawasaki Ninja H2 (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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