[visordown.com] - Supercharged Ninja H2 launch this month

[Ninjette Newsbot]

KAWASAKI has just announced that it will launch a new “ground-breaking” motorcycle at Intermot in Cologne on September 30.

Other than the name – Ninja H2 – the firm hasn’t released any definite details about the bike, but all indications are that it will be the machine that uses the supercharged four-cylinder engine that the firm revealed at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show.

This is the full text of the firm’s press release:

With cutting-edge performance recognised as a core element of the Kawasaki worldwide DNA, the company will showcase yet another ground-breaking motorcycle at the Intermot Motorcycle Show in Cologne starting on Sept 30th. A motorcycle “Built Beyond Belief”.

Drawing on skills and experience from experts within not just the company’s motorcycle division but across its aerospace, gas turbine and other high-technology contemporary manufacturing disciplines as well, Kawasaki is anticipating huge international interest in the project that has evocatively been christened Ninja H2. Harnessing the power of the Kawasaki manufacturing group “collective strength”, the H2 will represent a unified engineering and state of the art technology approach.

Capturing the spirit of the 750cc Mach IV H2 that, along with the 500cc three cylinder H1 and all-conquering 903cc Z1 Super Four, epitomised Kawasaki’s market defining performance image, the Ninja H2 project is set to add yet another name to the roll call of machines that embody Kawasaki’s performance and engineering expertise while changing the motorcycle landscape forever.

The key part is the reference to the firm’s gas turbine and aerospace divisions. The same terms were used when the supercharged engine was shown last year.

That prototype motor appeared to be based on some of the same castings as the ZX-6R unit, but with the addition of a supercharger to boost power. The new ‘H2’ reference could be a suggestion that the final engine will actually be around 750cc. With a supercharger, the resulting motor would probably be powerful enough to destroy 1000cc normally-aspirated bikes in performance terms, while potentially being smaller and lighter. The implication is the sort of radial step forward that was last seen on the 1992 Fireblade and the 1998 Yamaha R1.

The firm has launched a teaser website which shows a few silhouetted elements of the bike, leaving no doubt that in terms of its shape it’s a proper superbike.



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[ninjamunky85]

So when can I get a supercharger kit for my 300?

[Jono]

Too pumped! A supercharged 750 supersport would be awesome! Kawasaki is going to change the game.

[kdogg2077]

Lighter and more powerful sounds sweet.

Now the insurance on the other hand...

[Jono]

Vol 2 of this video comes out tomorrow!! I hope a little more bike is shown.

[choneofakind]

Cool! is this supposed to be a Gixxer 750 beater or a superbike that handles like a supersport?

[Jono]

Power of a liter bike with the weight of a 600 supersport!

[Sirref]

pretty sure the idea is a superbike that handles like a supersport

I think they'll use the 750cc engine to provide solid low down torque then work the turbo in to give it screaming high end power on par with a superbike, possibly exceeding superbike power

[choneofakind]

While I'm thinking about it, the article referenced the 1998 R1. Isn't the current R1 and R6 getting a little long in the tooth? Any word on those?

[Jono]

It's time for a change from all the Japanese bikes. I think Kawasaki is on the leading edge of this new era of sportbikes. But who knows what Yamaha is planning. More triples? I hope so!

[Sirref]

a yamaha r6 675 triple would be very intriguing

honda has been busy with it's bike lines recently, the cbr650f being particularly interesting from their lineup
suzuki has never really interested me much though other than the sv650 and the drz400sm and that doesn't seem to be changing

[Alex]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

While I'm thinking about it, the article referenced the 1998 R1. Isn't the current R1 and R6 getting a little long in the tooth? Any word on those?

I thought I saw something about the next R1 having 220 hp. Need to find the article...

edit: http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bike...-r1-spy-photo/

230 hp rumored for the race version; the new evo rules in SBK require the street version to be much closer to the racebike (and vice versa) than the current generation, so over 200 hp for the street version isn't out of the question.

[psych0hans]

There's a new R1 on the cards... Not so sure about the R6...

[Somchai]

The 2015th R1 - it's more about the gearbox(es)

http://www.motorcycle.in.th/article....Become-Reality

[Jono]

2015 will be an exciting year!

[Jono]

Oh yeahhhh! Love it! Take a listen.

Link to original page on YouTube.

[choneofakind]

RRRRRR achoo! rRRRRRRRRRRR achoo! rrRRRRRRRRR achoO!

But is it a turbo wastegate or a supercharger blow-off we're hearing?!?! I'm betting a supercharger from the engine they unveiled last year and the whine in the video.

bwahaha, forced induction sneeze always reminds me of Snot Rod, one of the characters from Cars:

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Jono]

Definitely supercharged. And it's gotta be a 750cc. I will be very surprised if it isn't.

[M42]

Mostly a whole lot of nothing, but they do have one of those "profile lit from above" pics of the H2 at the end.

Link to original page on YouTube.

Liking the line of the tail and tank!

[alex.s]

here is a video of the sound of the bike. you can hear the supercharger blowoff

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Alex]

/merged

[Sirref]

I'm so looking forward to this launch, could make a great bike for an older and more mature version of me

[CZroe]

Originally Posted by M42

Mostly a whole lot of nothing, but they do have one of those "profile lit from above" pics of the H2 at the end.

Link to original page on YouTube.

Liking the line of the tail and tank!

First thing I thought of when the video popped up in my YouTube subscription feed and I watched it was "those things on the front look a bit like the Ducati "aerodynamic winglets." I wonder if those are blinker stalks on the street version.

[Skullz]

I really hope it's within the 440cc to 500cc range capable of competing with much larger cc engine SS bikes, and that would be a real game changer in the smaller CC market which there is little competition in atm.

There would be no competition with kawasaki leading the pack in the sub 500cc Superbike category.
Could you imagine all the other companies shock and dismay at a super bike of 500cc's or less knocking them out of a market. One can only dream O_o

[thisisbenji]

Now this is going to make a good first bike! Why even waste time on the 300 now?

[choneofakind]

Hahaha the engine they released is a 750 with a supercharger. I really doubt they're going to create a whole new mid-smallish engine with a super charger when they literally just released a 750 variant that hasn't even been used in a bike before. Think about this...

[subxero]

I must be the only person who is like meh...

Is it cool... sure, would it be cool for pro racing, possibly, for the general public...? not so sure.
I can deal without the extra bits, added stress to the engine and higher cost of production.

just me?

[Alex]

As far as I know, it won't be legal for any racing class I've heard of (except for perhaps land-speed racing, which has classes for everything). The advantage to a small displacement engine with forced induction is the same here as in cars; better fuel economy and lighter weight when you don't need big power; big power/performance when you want it. Motorcycles are already so powerful and so lightweight (compared to cars) that it's going to be interesting to see how this tech works in this context.

[Sirref]

except it'll be a 750 so you'll likely have massive torque when you aren't using the true power, I expect it'll pull from as low as 3000rpm

[Redgeneral]

I'm curious how they'll use it as well. I mean if it's based off a 750cc supersport style engine, then I have no idea how you would even spool up the turbo within street conditions.

Even a 600cc NA supersport can shatter any reasonable speed limit in first gear.

I bet it would be an insane racing machine though. To have 600cc ergos and maneuverability but with Liter bike power. Insane.

[Sirref]

ya, if I got one I'd beg to be let into the superbike racing class (they'd probably let me) and then beat everyone off the line after a good amount of practice

[subxero]

Originally Posted by Alex

As far as I know, it won't be legal for any racing class I've heard of (except for perhaps land-speed racing, which has classes for everything). The advantage to a small displacement engine with forced induction is the same here as in cars; better fuel economy and lighter weight when you don't need big power; big power/performance when you want it. Motorcycles are already so powerful and so lightweight (compared to cars) that it's going to be interesting to see how this tech works in this context.

^ what I'm trying to wrap my head around

[subxero]

Originally Posted by Redgeneral

I'm curious how they'll use it as well. I mean if it's based off a 750cc supersport style engine, then I have no idea how you would even spool up the turbo within street conditions.

Even a 600cc NA supersport can shatter any reasonable speed limit in first gear.

I bet it would be an insane racing machine though. To have 600cc ergos and maneuverability but with Liter bike power. Insane.

I keep hearing supercharger not turbo

big difference.

Is there any conformation for one or the other?

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Sirref

except it'll be a 750 so you'll likely have massive torque when you aren't using the true power, I expect it'll pull from as low as 3000rpm

750 is "small" compared to a ZX-14.

Originally Posted by subxero

I keep hearing supercharger not turbo

I thought the patent was for a supercharger-enhanced engine.

[alex.s]

patent is for SC.... audio clip sounds like an SC... makes more sense for a 14k moto to do SC... who wants turbo lag?

maybe someone will combo charge it.

[xorbe]

I have a weak spot for expensive, unique things ... so how much is this going to cost, lol

[Redgeneral]

The downside to a SC instead of a Turbo, is that there is no mileage savings since the SC constantly saps power from the engine.

Turbo lag is an awful thing, but if you stay out of boost you can get incredible gas mileage.

That being said, the power that thing is going to put down is going to be insane and I would take it for a spin any day.

[Brother Michigan]

I've read quite a bit of speculation that this engine is actually the Ninja 1000 engine with a supercharger. I think that would make it something of a ZX-14 competitor or maybe even a Concourse 14 replacement.

[xorbe]

Originally Posted by Brother Michigan

I've read quite a bit of speculation that this engine is actually the Ninja 1000 engine with a supercharger. I think that would make it something of a ZX-14 competitor or maybe even a Concourse 14 replacement.

Hopefully not!

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Redgeneral

The downside to a SC instead of a Turbo, is that there is no mileage savings since the SC constantly saps power from the engine.

Some SC implementations can be clutched/declutched to allow it to freewheel when not helpful.