Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Kawasaki Ninja H2

This article is about the supercharged four-cylinder motorcycle announced in 2014. For the 3-cylinder motorcycle of the 1970s, see Kawasaki H2 Mach IV.
Kawasaki Ninja H2
Street-legal Ninja H2
ManufacturerKawasaki Motorcycle & Engine Company
Parent companyKawasaki Heavy Industries
Production2015–present
ClassStreet-legal sport bike (H2)
Track-only sport bike (H2R)
EngineSupercharged (two-speed centrifugal) 998 cc DOHC 4-valve inline-4 four-stroke
Bore / stroke76.0 mm × 55.0 mm (2.99 in × 2.17 in)
Compression ratio8.5:1 (H2)
8.3:1 (H2R)[1]
Top speed322 km/h (200 mph) (H2)[2][3][a]
400 km/h (249 mph) (H2R)[1][4][5][6][7][8][9]
PowerH2:
(2015–2018) 141.5 kW (189.8 hp) (rear wheel)[10]
150 kW (200 hp) (claimed) @ 11,000 rpm
(2019–) 170 kW (228 hp) (claimed)[11]
H2R:
326 hp (243 kW) @ 14,000 rpm[1]
TorqueH2:
123.7 N⋅m (91.2 lb⋅ft) (rear wheel)[10]
133.5 N⋅m (98.5 lb⋅ft) (claimed) @10,500 rpm
H2R:
156 N⋅m (115 lb⋅ft) @12,500 rpm[1]
Transmission6-speed
Frame typeSteel trellis
SuspensionH2:
Front: 43 mm telescopic fork, preload-adjustable
Rear: Single shock, preload-adjustable
H2R:
Front: Fully adjustable KYB telescopic fork with steering damper
Rear: single-sided swingarm with monoshock
BrakesFront: 2 x 330 mm Brembo disc with radial-mount monoblock calipers
Rear: 250 mm Brembo disc with radial-mount caliper[12]
TiresH2:
Front: 120/70ZR17
Rear: 200/55ZR17
H2R:
Front: 120/60 R17 racing slicks
Rear: 190/65 R17 racing slicks
Rake, trail24.5°, 100 mm (4 in) (H2)
25.1°, 110 mm (4.3 in) (H2R)
Wheelbase1,450 mm (57.1 in)
DimensionsL: 2,090 mm (82.1 in) (H2)
Seat height32.5 in (830 mm) (H2)
830 mm (32.7 in) (H2R)
Weight240.0 kg (529.0 lb) (H2)[10] (wet)
215.9 kg (476.0 lb) (H2R)[1] (wet)
Fuel capacity17.03 L (3.75 imp gal; 4.50 US gal)
Track-only Ninja H2R

The Kawasaki Ninja H2 is a supercharged four-stroke supersport-class[13] motorcycle in the Ninja sports bike series manufactured by Kawasaki, featuring a variable-speed centrifugal supercharger.[14][15][16][17]

Its namesake is the 750 cc Kawasaki H2 Mach IV,[18][19] an inline triple that was introduced by Kawasaki in 1972 to "disrupt what it saw as a sleeping motorcycle market".[20]

Its Ninja H2R track-only variant is the fastest and most powerful production motorcycle on the market, producing a maximum of 310 horsepower (230 kW) and 326 horsepower (243 kW) with ram-air.[1] The H2R has 50% more power than the fastest street-legal motorcycles, while the street-legal Ninja H2 has a lower power output of 200 hp (150 kW)[21]–210 hp (160 kW) with ram-air.[1]

Design

Kawasaki selected the literbike platform for its top-of-the-line Ninja H2 model, rather than continuing with the higher-displacement Ninja ZX-14 hyperbike. Cycle World's Kevin Cameron explained that the literbike class is "the center of the high-performance market", attracting the best development in racing, with the best chassis and suspension design, so it made sense for Kawasaki to create a machine that could leverage this.[20]

The H2 is the first production motorcycle with a supercharger,[22] although turbochargers were available on some models in the early 1980s.

Specifications in the infobox are from Kawasaki unless noted.[23]

Production

The street-legal Ninja H2 has mirrors in place of the track-only H2R's winglets,[21] and plastic body panels in place of the H2R's carbon-fiber panels but there is the H2 carbon version that has them in carbon. The street-legal H2 is said to make 200 horsepower (150 kW), probably with reduced supercharger boost compared to the H2R.[21] The H2 and H2R share the supercharger (with a lower boost level on the H2) and many other components, with the exception of the head gasket, cam profile and timing with ECU mapping, exhaust system, and clutch (the H2R's clutch has two additional plates).[1]

For 2017, Kawasaki made a limited-edition model with 120 units produced globally: the individually-numbered Kawasaki Ninja H2 Carbon with special paint and carbon-fiber upper cowl. For 2017, the standard Ninja H2 was also updated.[24]

For 2018, Kawasaki made a new sport touring version of the H2, the Kawasaki H2 SX, with a claimed wet weight of 256.1 kg (564.5 lb). Features that are options on the base model H2 SX come standard on the Kawasaki H2 SX SE, which has a claimed wet weight of 260.0 kg (573.3 lb).[25] It has revised throttle bodies, camshafts, crankshaft, pistons, cylinder and cylinder head as well as a new exhaust system aimed at increasing mid range torque. The intake system and supercharger impeller were also redesigned. A new larger fuel tank, rear trellis subframe and panniers increase the bike's weight by 19 pounds (8.6 kg).[26]

For 2019, the H2 received an update with 15% more power from updates to the intake, spark plugs, ECU, and air filter, among other components. Also added was a new LED lighting scheme and a special top coat of paint that is claimed to be self-healing and able to smooth over small scratches in warmer conditions. Also new were lighter and smaller Brembo Stylema calipers, a new TFT dash, and smartphone connectivity that provides information about the GPS route, speed, RPM, current gear, fuel mileage, fuel level, and odometer.[27][28] In addition, the 2019 Ninja H2 SX SE+ features electronically controlled suspension.[29]

Engine and supercharger

The H2's engine is a 998 cc (60.9 cu in) 4-valve, dual overhead cam inline-4 with a two-speed centrifugal supercharger.[30][31][32][33]

The supercharger is driven by a series of gears and shafts connecting the flywheel to a planetary drive, finally spinning a dog-shifted two-speed shaft attached to the impeller.[33] Throttle control is electronic.[34] A centrifugal supercharger has the advantage of generating less heat than other designs, especially scroll-type or screw-type superchargers.[33][22] Without an intercooler (which the H2 lacks), excess heat in the intake charge can cause pre-ignition that can damage or destroy the engine.

Electronic aids

Electronic rider aids include an anti-lock braking system (ABS), Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC), Kawasaki Engine Brake Control (KEBC), a Kawasaki Quick Shifter (KQS), an electronic steering damper (ESD), and Kawasaki Launch Control Mode (KLCM).[33][35][36][37]

Aerodynamics

The front fairing of the Ninja H2R incorporates winglets[38] made of carbon fiber, just like the rest of the H2R-exclusive bodywork. They may be aerodynamic devices designed to create a low-pressure zone to help move cooling air through the engine bay,[39] to produce downforce at high speed,[32][31] or to provide straight-line stability in a short-wheelbase sportsbike chassis.[22][40]

Chassis

The H2 and H2R have a tubular, thin-wall steel trellis frame and a single-sided swingarm,[22] with a traditional sportsbike wheelbase of 1,450 mm (57 in).[41]

Explaining the advantages of Kawasaki's approach to exploiting aerodynamics instead of lengthening the wheelbase, a South African Dave Abrahams said, "It's easy to build stability into a hard-accelerating drag machine with a long wheelbase... but Kawasaki wanted a track-day machine, one that would also go round corners."[41] High speed motorcycles often have long wheelbases. Extra length is added by the extended swingarm on a typical drag motorcycle, and a typical land speed record streamliner has a meters-long wheelbase (3.7 meters for the current record holder, Ack Attack).

Pre-Intermot engine announcements and analysis

The H2 was announced by Kawasaki in a late-2014 teaser campaign, and was widely expected to be fully revealed at the Intermot motorcycle trade show the same year. Before full details were released by Kawasaki, the supercharged inline-4 engine[17] was thought by several industry observers to be identical to, or closely related to, a nearly 1,000 cc inline-4 with a centrifugal supercharger displayed by Kawasaki at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show.[15][b][42]

Cameron published an analysis showing that an engine of that displacement, mildly boosted at 5 psi (34 kPa), would generate 203 horsepower (151 kW)—more than that of Kawasaki's current leader, the 191.7-horsepower (143.0 kW)[43] ZX-14 (horsepower figures are expressed at the rear wheel). The same engine would generate 257 horsepower (192 kW) with 10 psi (69 kPa) of pressure. His analysis included a discussion of the benefits of a two-speed supercharger for more linear power delivery (as opposed to the intractable Japanese turbo bikes of the 1980s that suffered from turbo lag). Cameron also said Kawasaki patent documents suggested the engine would rely on evaporative cooling using port fuel injection, instead of a bulky intercooler.[20]

Kawasaki claimed the 2013 model had the first supercharger designed by a motorcycle manufacturer.[44] In 2013, journalists said that the engine could power the "next generation [Ninja] ZX-14R" sportbike.[45] Journalists also noted that Kawasaki already has a production inline-4 supercharged (albeit intercooled[46]) engine powering the Jet Ski Ultra 300X personal watercraft.[47]

Production announcement

Engine shown at 2013 Tokyo Motor Show; supercharger has cover embossed "Kawasaki" to right of cylinders
Cutaway H2R engine and supercharger. Orange painted plenum surrounds impeller, behind which is visible part of planetary gear system.

At the 2014 Intermot motorcycle trade show on September 30, 2014, Kawasaki announced that a race-only Ninja H2R model would be produced in addition to the detuned street-legal Ninja H2, which would be fully revealed at the EICMA trade show in November.[32][18] The bike was shown for the first time in North America at the AIMExpo show at Orlando, Florida in October, 2014.[48]

According to details Kawasaki made public about the H2's engine at Intermot, it was confirmed to be a 998 cc inline-four engine with a supercharger, producing 300 horsepower (220 kW) in the track-only H2R variant, still by far the highest rated engine ever for any factory production motorcycle[32][30][31] (50% more than its nearest competitor, the BMW S1000RR).[18]

Reception

Global press coverage both before and after Intermot was extensive.

Before the full reveal of the H2R, reactions tended to emphasize the reintroduction of forced induction to the motorcycle marketplace, with headlines like "Hail the New Supercharged Era" (Autoevolution),[30] "Supercharged Ninja imminent" (Motor Cycle News),[14] "New Kawasaki sports bike will use a 1000cc supercharged engine" (Visordown (UK)),2014 "Kawasaki officially uncovers Ninja H2 supercharger" (Cycle Online (Australia)),[13] "Kawasaki Ninja H2: How the supercharger works" (Motociclismo),[16] and "Kawasaki's H2 superbike: A technical look at Kawasaki’s upcoming supercharged superbike" (Cycle World).[20]

After the introduction, before any test rides had even been permitted, coverage turned to both the bike's unusual styling and its precedent setting power. Both industry and general-readership press said the machine "will beat up the supersport scene with a steam hammer" (Der Tagesspiegel),[49] "smashes the superbike class" (Gizmag),[31] is "a game changer" (Autoevolution),[50] "a quantum leap into the future that redefines the way we see motorcycles" (Independent Newspapers),[41] and "the poster child of 2-wheeled insanity ... so extreme it's hard to comprehend" (Road & Track),[51] or was simply "radical" (Motor Cycle News)[18] and even "ludicrous" (Bloomberg Businessweek).[38]

Cycle World and Motor Cycle News both commented on how Kawasaki had claimed the high end of the market with the H2, moving past a stagnant market (at least from the Japanese Big Four manufacturers) full of cookie-cutter sportsbikes and low-priced entry-level bikes, and had set up the H2 as a halo model for the entire brand. Cameron said, "When we look at the current crop of 1000s, all date from before our present "recession," and what little has come by way of new product has sought to please the mostly imaginary "new buyer" with low-tech delights."[33] Highlighting Kawasaki's ability to create a product leveraging aerodynamic, turbine and engine technology design expertise from across the large Kawasaki Heavy Industries conglomerate (called a "vast industrial complex" by Sport Rider[22]), an unsigned Motor Cycle News piece said "The H2R you see here is the very pinnacle of what Kawasaki can do ... This is the firm's halo product, and every element is Kawasaki at its very best, from the engine and aerodynamic development, through to the mirror-finish black chrome paint specially developed for this model."[18]

Some analysts noted odd features of the supposedly track-only H2R model. Although it is outfitted with racing slicks and lacks many features required on a street-legal vehicle in most jurisdictions, such as headlights, rear view mirrors, and turn signals visible from the front or sides, it also has features that are unusual or absent on pure track bikes, such as an ignition lock and LED tail light.[18][40]

Speed record attempts

H2

Cycle World recorded a ⁠1/4⁠-mile time of 9.62 sec. @ 152.01 mph (244.64 km/h) with a 0 to 60 mph acceleration at 2.6 seconds and a top speed of 183 mph (295 km/h).[10] Kent Kunitsugu, editor for Sport Rider magazine, competing in a land-speed racing event in Mojave, California at the Mojave Air and Space Port airfield in the Mojave Magnum land-speed racing, took a Ninja H2 with just a few bolt-on performance parts adding over 70 horsepower and achieved a top speed of 226.9 mph (365.2 km/h).[52][53]

On August 12, 2018, rider Shigeru Yamashita, with an unofficial team of Kawasaki employees (known as Team 38),[54] set a 202.743 mph (326.28 km/h) speed record in the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) P-PB 1000 class for under-1,000 cc displacement production supercharged motorcycles with limited modifications at the Bonneville Speedway. On August 15, Yamashita broke his own record with a new speed of 209.442 mph (337.06 km/h).[55][56][57]

H2R

2015

James Hillier's H2R (by Quattro Plant/Bournemouth Kawasaki).[58] Tyre warmers were electrically heated before the demonstration run.[59]

In June 2015, TT race competitor James Hillier rode a Kawasaki H2R around the 373⁄4-mile TT road course as an inter-race demonstration lap at near-race speeds,[58] using normal Superbike slick race tires,[59] leading to a TT record of the highest top speed attained in the Isle of Man by a motorcycle.[60] The top speed of "over 206 mph" (332 km/h) on the Sulby Straight was recorded on Hillier's personal Strava GPS smartphone app for cyclists.[61]

2016

On June 30, 2016, Kenan Sofuoglu, a five-time world champion Supersport circuit-racer, made a top speed attempt.[62][63] Kawasaki supplied a stock H2R augmented only with special tires developed by Pirelli for the top speed attempt to withstand extreme high speeds, and the bike was supplied with race-grade fuel.[64] Sofuoglu was also supplied with a special one-piece leather suit to enhance aerodynamics for his record attempt.[64]

This attempt, with the Turkish president in attendance, was made across the then-newly completed Osman Gazi Bridge, at the time was the fourth longest in the world at just over a mile and a half.[65] Kawasaki quoted the H2R's maximum speed to be 380 kilometres per hour (240 mph).[66] After training and preparing for four months, a speed of 400 kilometres per hour (250 mph) in just 26 seconds was claimed by a video-recording of the bike's dashboard display.[9][67][68][69]

The speed was not officially confirmed or independently verified. No fixed point optical sensors for distance/speed calculations, chronometers, or hand-held devices were used,[8] and the speed was only given later with a theoretical calculation,[70] using the distance he traveled in 26 seconds on the 8,799-foot-long (2,682 m) bridge. Cameron had calculated two years earlier that with the right gearing, the H2R's engine power could theoretically overcome aerodynamic drag up to 250–480 miles per hour (400–770 km/h).[33]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ H2 used for 400 km/h record was "specially prepped" according to Kawasaki.
  2. ^ Cameron also recalled Kawasaki's supercharged piston engine experience with the WWII era Kawasaki Ha40 aircraft engine.[20]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Canet, Don (May 17, 2015). "2015 Kawasaki Ninja H2 and H2R – FIRST RIDE". Cycle World. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  2. ^ Thompson, Laura. "KAWASAKI H2 SETS WORLD SPEED RECORD AT BONNEVILLE". Visor Down. CMG Ltd. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Kawasaki Ninja H2 To Make Record Attempt At Bonneville Speed Week". Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  4. ^ "IOMTT: Hillier & Ninja H2R Set Roads TT Record". Cycle World. June 11, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  5. ^ Kunitsugu, Kent (May 18, 2015). "Videos: Kawasaki Ninja H2R goes head-to-head against three supercars". Sport Rider. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  6. ^ "motorcyclist" team green goes for gold. January 2015, page 32
  7. ^ "VIDEO: Insane Speed On the Kawasaki H2R at Isle Of Man TT". Motorcyclist. June 15, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Production Bike World Record 0-400 kmh in 26 sec. HD". YouTube. June 30, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  9. ^ a b MacDonald, Sean (July 7, 2016). "400 KPH On A Production Motorcycle". Cycle World. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  10. ^ a b c d Hoyer, Mark (November 6, 2015). "2015 Kawasaki Ninja H2 – ROAD TEST REVIEW". Cycle World. Archived from the original on December 27, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  11. ^ "KAWASAKI NINJA H2 (2019 - on) Review".
  12. ^ "Kawasaki Ninja H2R". Brembo - Official Website. July 25, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Shields 2014.
  14. ^ a b Newland 2014.
  15. ^ a b Bennetts 2014.
  16. ^ a b Olgiati 2014.
  17. ^ a b "Video: Supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2 on Engine Dyno". Sport Rider. September 24, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-09-27.
  18. ^ a b c d e f Motor Cycle News 2014.
  19. ^ Ninja H2: Vol.6 promotional video on YouTube published by Kawasaki, September 16, 2014
  20. ^ a b c d e Cameron 2014a.
  21. ^ a b c "Is this the New 2015 Kawasaki H2 street version teaser video?". Sport Rider. October 5, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-10-07.
  22. ^ a b c d e Kunitsugu 2014.
  23. ^ 2015 Ninja H2 specifications, Kawasaki, retrieved 2014-11-05
  24. ^ "Kawasaki Unveils Limited Edition 2017 Ninja H2 Carbon Superbike". Motorcyclist. February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  25. ^ Kunitsugu, Kent (March 28, 2018). "Kawasaki's 2018 H2 SX SE Is The Most Powerful Sport-Tourer You Can Buy". Cycle World. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  26. ^ Gustafson, Joseph (November 7, 2017). "2018 Kawasaki H2 SX Sport-Tourer Debuts—Get Ready To Wet Your Gore-Tex". Cycle World. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  27. ^ "Kawasaki Gives H2 Lineup More Power For 2019". Roadracing World. August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  28. ^ Chung, Dennis (August 10, 2018). "2019 Kawasaki Ninja H2 Updated, Now Claims 228HP". Motorcycle.com. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  29. ^ "Kawasaki Upgrades 2019 Ninja H2 SX SE+ With Electronic Suspension And More". www.roadracingworld.com. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  30. ^ a b c Tibu 2014a.
  31. ^ a b c d Blain 2014.
  32. ^ a b c d Kiser 2014.
  33. ^ a b c d e f Cameron 2014b.
  34. ^ Cameron 2014c.
  35. ^ Madson 2014.
  36. ^ "Kawasaki Ninja H2: Electronic aids revealed - Shifting-Gears". Shifting-Gears. 2014-10-20. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  37. ^ "Kawasaki Ninja H2 Launch Control And Quickshifter". Speed Society. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  38. ^ a b Stock 2014.
  39. ^ Lavrinc 2014.
  40. ^ a b Beeler 2014.
  41. ^ a b c Abrahams 2014.
  42. ^ Visordown 2014.
  43. ^ Lenatsch, Nick (March 7, 2012). "Kawasaki ZX-14R – Road Test". Cycle World. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  44. ^ Ets-Hokin 2013.
  45. ^ Siler 2013.
  46. ^ 2012 Jet Ski Ultra 300X detail & features, Kawasaki, c. 2014, archived from the original on 2014-09-15
  47. ^ "Teaser video announces 2015 Kawasaki Ninja H2". Sport Rider. September 1, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-09-04.
  48. ^ Bornhop 2014.
  49. ^ Walter 2014.
  50. ^ Tibu 2014b.
  51. ^ Kierstein 2014.
  52. ^ Kunitsugu, Kent (July 7, 2016). "Video: High Speed – Running Kawasaki's Ninja H2 to 226.9 mph". Sport Rider. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  53. ^ "Rotobox Carbon-Fiber Motorcycle Wheels Proven at 226.9 mph". Sport Rider. April 28, 2016. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  54. ^ "Team 38 head to the Mojave Mile with the H2R", kawasaki.co.uk, August 10, 2015, retrieved January 1, 2019
  55. ^ Ben Clark (23 August 2018), "Kawasaki Ninja H2 hits 209mph at Bonneville Speed Week", Motor Cycle News
  56. ^ Abhilasha Singh (August 12, 2018), "Kawasaki Ninja H2 to attempt land speed record at Bonneville Speed Week", The Financial Express
  57. ^ Speed Week 2018 certified records, Southern California Timing Association, August 18, 2018, p. 8
  58. ^ a b A lap of the Isle of Man TT with James Hillier - aboard the H2R. Kawasaki UK. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2019. at race paddock during TT week in 2015
  59. ^ a b Hiilier hits highest speed on H2R - video iomtt.com, 11 June 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2019
  60. ^ "IOMTT: Hillier & Ninja H2R Set Roads TT Record (Video)". Cycle World. June 11, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  61. ^ Hillier hits highest speed on H2R IoM TT.com Official site Retrieved July 20, 2016
  62. ^ Contractor, Sameer (July 1, 2016). "Kenan Sofuoglu Hits Top Speed of 400 Kmph on the Kawasaki Ninja H2R". Car and Bike. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  63. ^ WSBK official website. Retrieved November 21, 2016
  64. ^ a b Tibu, Florin (July 1, 2016). "400 KM/H in 26 Seconds Aboard a Kawasaki Ninja H2R". Autoevolution. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  65. ^ "Kenan Sofuoglu hits a bonkers top speed of 400 kmph on the Kawasaki Ninja H2R". WheelStreet. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  66. ^ Zoltan, Bogdan (July 1, 2016). "Kawasaki Ninja H2R Goes From 0 To 400KM/H Or 249MPH In 26 Seconds". Carscoops. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  67. ^ Sofuoglu, Kenan (June 30, 2016). "Kenan Sofuoglu break World record by reaching 400 kmh with Kawasaki Ninja H2R. HD". YouTube. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  68. ^ Azmi, Thoriq (July 1, 2016). "Kawasaki Ninja H2R hits 400km/h". bikesRepublic.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  69. ^ Marsden, Liam (July 1, 2016). "Kenan Sofuoglu reaches 299mph on Kawasaki H2R". Motor Cycle News. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  70. ^ Collins, Andrew (June 30, 2016). "Kawasaki H2R Proves It Really Can Go 299 MPH On A (Closed) Public Road". Jalopnik. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

Sources

Records
Preceded by Fastest production motorcycle
2016- 		Succeeded by
Quelle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_Ninja_H2