Will The H2 Be The Most Powerful ICE Production Bike Ever?

[developer]

Not the naked ZH2 or the tourer H2 SX - but the proper one - the Ninja H2.

It's been around for 10 years (yes really) and during that time, no other manufacturer has launched anything with equal or more power,. other than Kawasaki themselves, who upped the power for the 2nd gen in 2019 to 238bhp (max).

With increasing emissions regs, and the onset of electric/hybrid bikes, could it be that it will remain the most powerful ICE production bike ever?

With that in mind, is it's classic status assured?

[Bob_Defly]

Let's see what the 5cyl MV engine brings shall we...

[Orchardab]

Latest Panigale R has 239bhp.

[black-k1]

With Kawasaki having already created a hydrogen motorcycle (based on the "tourer" H2SX engine) I suspect there's still a long way to go with ICE engines

https://www.kawasaki.co.uk/en/news/_World_s_First_...

[podman]

Orchardab said:

Latest Panigale R has 239bhp.

218BHP stock, 239 with a change to a "race" exhaust and "special oil"..

An H2 with a full system nets you that and more at the tyre.

Since it was banned in the EU, its already enjoying somewhat what of a cult status and I think will end up as a future classic.

That said, I was at Corby Kawasaki on Monday buying some parts for mine, the lads there said Kawaski are trying hard to get it through the latest emissions regs and get it back on sale in the EU as the demand is still strong.

Be interesting to see how that plays out.

[NITO]

The same engined Bimota H2 Tesi has 239hp. (242ps)

[developer]

NITO said:

The same engined Bimota H2 Tesi has 239hp. (242ps)

Bimota using a H2 engine for it's halo product - says it all really

[NITO]

I think the H2R legalised would be the true classic. There is at least one in circulation, which I think I saw at the Bike Specialists some time back.

[black-k1]

NITO said:

I think the H2R legalised would be the true classic. There is at least one in circulation, which I think I saw at the Bike Specialists some time back.

That bike belonged to one of the guys at FWR. He was the one who got it road registered. We discussed it when I took my H2 SX in for tyres. He said that it was the only bike he'd ever ridden that was too much for the road.

[podman]

black-k1 said:

NITO said:

I think the H2R legalised would be the true classic. There is at least one in circulation, which I think I saw at the Bike Specialists some time back.

That bike belonged to one of the guys at FWR. He was the one who got it road registered. We discussed it when I took my H2 SX in for tyres. He said that it was the only bike he'd ever ridden that was too much for the road.

Your right mate.

Bob from FWR borrowed my (stock) exhaust, servo motor, indicators, numberplate holder and some other OE parts to get his R through the approval tests..

He has been trying to sell it on and off since I think,maybe sold now, I dont know.

The H2 is essentially a detuned H2R, the differences are pretty small between the 2.

Cams, supercharger gears & , inlet & mapping, thats about it, the H2 is actually good value Vs an R, if that makes any kind of sense..!

Many people mod their H2s on the road with H2R power levels and more, I cant afford to get through a tyre in a weekend so its fine where its at for me.

[Hedobot]

Blimey

240 bhp,, i thought my old zx9r back in 1997 was quite powerful.

That amount of power must feel quite interesting to say the least.

Impressive

[Steve Bass]

Orchardab said:

Latest Panigale R has 239bhp.

Peak power doesn't really tell much of the story.
The supercharged engine will have much more area under the power curve and be much faster anywhere in the rev range. Additionally, it can easily be massaged to make much more power whereas the Ducati Panigale R motor is at the limit of normally aspirated power potential.
As amazing as the Ducati Panigale T motor is, it wouldn't see which way the H2 went anywhere other than on track.

[Flavio Mosley]

I remember MCN (and some other mags in the states) dyno-ing the 2019 model and it made exactly the same power as the previous one.

Kawasaki couldn’t and wouldn’t explain why.

I’ve ridden both when I worked for a Kawasaki dealer, they both felt just as bonkers fast as each other, but a customers one that was fettled by BSD in Peterborough was in another league.

[Remal]

Had my H2 since 2016. So almost 10 years, First year got it on the dyne and it has just under 241BHP at the wheel. I only wanted to get it smoothed out on the dyne but it's so held back as standard. first 4 gears and top speed removed. Still running the cat. Just a power commander and exhaust

Don't use it as much as I did but still love riding it. Want a tourer at some point to put next to it. AS for most powerful production it's going to take some nuts to try and beat the H2. Never say never



Not bad for a bike 10 years ago.

Edited by Remal on Monday 1st December 16:48

[dibblecorse]

podman said:

black-k1 said:

NITO said:

I think the H2R legalised would be the true classic. There is at least one in circulation, which I think I saw at the Bike Specialists some time back.

That bike belonged to one of the guys at FWR. He was the one who got it road registered. We discussed it when I took my H2 SX in for tyres. He said that it was the only bike he'd ever ridden that was too much for the road.

Your right mate.

Bob from FWR borrowed my (stock) exhaust, servo motor, indicators, numberplate holder and some other OE parts to get his R through the approval tests..

He has been trying to sell it on and off since I think,maybe sold now, I dont know.

The H2 is essentially a detuned H2R, the differences are pretty small between the 2.

Cams, supercharger gears & , inlet & mapping, thats about it, the H2 is actually good value Vs an R, if that makes any kind of sense..!

Many people mod their H2s on the road with H2R power levels and more, I cant afford to get through a tyre in a weekend so its fine where its at for me.

I've been with Bob when he has tracked that, i think Bob levels of talent are the minimum required to track that monster.

[trickywoo]

Remal said:

Had my H2 since 2016. So almost 10 years, First year got it on the dyne and it has just under 241BHP at the wheel. I only wanted to get it smoothed out on the dyne but it's so held back as standard. first 4 gears and top speed removed. Still running the cat. Just a power commander and exhaust

Don't use it as much as I did but still love riding it. Want a tourer at some point to put next to it. AS for most powerful production it's going to take some nuts to try and beat the H2. Never say never



Not bad for a bike 10 years ago.

Edited by Remal on Monday 1st December 16:48

98 ft lbs seems low for the power. Wonder if it’s tuned down for torque to make it manageable.

[Jimbo.]

developer said:

Not the naked ZH2 or the tourer H2 SX - but the proper one - the Ninja H2.

It's been around for 10 years (yes really) and during that time, no other manufacturer has launched anything with equal or more power,. other than Kawasaki themselves, who upped the power for the 2nd gen in 2019 to 238bhp (max).

With increasing emissions regs, and the onset of electric/hybrid bikes, could it be that it will remain the most powerful ICE production bike ever?

With that in mind, is it's classic status assured?

Whilst the challenges are different (emissions, the eventual ban on new ICE sales etc) I recall similar being said of the CBR1100XX, GSX-1300R Hayabusa and ZX-12R: “will there be the most powerful bikes ever before they’re banned outright?” Etc.

And then Kawasaki come along with one of motorcycling’s bigger “Hold my beer a minute, would you?” moments with the H2

My money is on Ducati or BMW with some batst crazy WSB thing in a few years, or a MotoGP-based special, that doesn’t require exhausts, oils, lucky rabbits feet etc. it’ll also cost a bazillion pounds.

[Krikkit]

Jimbo. said:

My money is on Ducati or BMW with some batst crazy WSB thing in a few years, or a MotoGP-based special, that doesn t require exhausts, oils, lucky rabbits feet etc. it ll also cost a bazillion pounds.

MV Agusta are building a twin crank V5 which should be right up there

[black-k1]

Krikkit said:

Jimbo. said:

My money is on Ducati or BMW with some batst crazy WSB thing in a few years, or a MotoGP-based special, that doesn t require exhausts, oils, lucky rabbits feet etc. it ll also cost a bazillion pounds.

MV Agusta are building a twin crank V5 which should be right up there

Kawasaki have already shown, with the H2R, that the H2 platform has a long way to go with regards output. Add to that the suggestion that Kawasaki are already planning to make the H2 Euro 5 compliant so Kawasaki think there's still life left in the concept. I suspect that, until someone else does a forced induction platform, any real threat to the current H2 will simply result in a minor tweak from Kawasaki and the addition of another 20 horses.

[podman]

dibblecorse said:

podman said:

black-k1 said:

NITO said:

.

I've been with Bob when he has tracked that, i think Bob levels of talent are the minimum required to track that monster.

I absolutely agree, my mildly tweaked H2 is the most challenging thing I’ve ever ridden , if im not feeling on top form for whatever reason, I wont ride it, very easy to get in a sticky situation on a H2 , they do take a bit of muscling about Vs something more track orientated, fair play to Bob .

Krikkit said:

Jimbo. said:

My money is on Ducati or BMW with some batst crazy WSB thing in a few years, or a MotoGP-based special, that doesn t require exhausts, oils, lucky rabbits feet etc. it ll also cost a bazillion pounds.

MV Agusta are building a twin crank V5 which should be right up there

I didn’t know of that, just had a search, looks like that could be a very exciting thing if it comes to fruition….going to sound epic as well isnt it!

black-k1 said:

Krikkit said:

Jimbo. said:

My money is on Ducati or BMW with some batst crazy WSB thing in a few years, or a MotoGP-based special, that doesn t require exhausts, oils, lucky rabbits feet etc. it ll also cost a bazillion pounds.

MV Agusta are building a twin crank V5 which should be right up there

Kawasaki have already shown, with the H2R, that the H2 platform has a long way to go with regards output. Add to that the suggestion that Kawasaki are already planning to make the H2 Euro 5 compliant so Kawasaki think there's still life left in the concept. I suspect that, until someone else does a forced induction platform, any real threat to the current H2 will simply result in a minor tweak from Kawasaki and the addition of another 20 horses.

Amen to that!