Kawasaki Nastiest Ninja

Known for its occasional off the wall motorcycle offerings, Kawasaki has delivered a smackdown to the rest of the motorcycling world by conjuring up a supercharged track only superbike that outputs just shy of 300hp, and needs special aero-aids just to keep it grounded at high speed.

This isn’t the first H2R from Kawasaki for in 1972 the company rocked the market with its H2 750cc two-stroke triple, the R being the race version. The new H2R is 998cc, however, and a four-stroke inline four this time, energised by supercharging. After a month of teaser videos, the firm recently unveiled the race bike at Cologne’s Intermot bike show.

Kawasaki has employed a trellis construction frame because it presents less obstruction to airflow over and around the engine a single-sided swingarm, and carbon fibre bodywork honed at the firm’s Gifu based wind tunnel, ensuring high speed stability. How fast? Calcs suggest a top speed starting with a three. It sports some of the most serious radial-mount race brakes available, and slick tyres confirm its track only status.

There are various types of supercharger and Kawasaki opted to use the most efficient, a centrifugal supercharger for it heats the air it compresses less. The supercharger is packaged into the space behind the cylinder block and its compressed air output pressurises the intake airbox above it. The tech details are still guarded by Kawasaki but the result, according to the maker, is ‘the kind of acceleration no rider has experienced before’, though no doubt with civilizing electronics, like traction, engine braking, and launch control systems.

The important question is what will come from the H2R. Back in the seventies we got the H2. Will history repeat itself here? The chances are good that it will because Kawasaki states ‘The street model (Ninja H2) will be released at EICMA.’ Rumours suggest it is backed off to around 220bhp.