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

[Jono]

Definitely a supersport....

Link to original page on YouTube.

[sharky nrk]

should be interesting for sure, kinda hard not to be excited from new vid

[Sirref]

now that is a flyby done right

It's so interesting how the sense of speed works. The closer you are to something the faster it feels, but if you're riding it doesn't feel that fast.

[ninjamunky85]

Hearing rumors that the H2 is going to be putting out well over 200 hp with a race version putting out around 300. Even rumors of a whole new frame and single sided swingarm.

[Klondike1020]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

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

What are you getting at CHONEofakind!!!?> lol

It looks sick, up the boost

[tiii]

Originally Posted by 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

That's not how superchargers work. They are more linear than turbochargers.

Funny, one of my Kawasaki fan buddies has an original H2 AND a GPZ750 turbo. This Ninja H2 sounds really promising.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by tiii

That's not how superchargers work. They are more linear than turbochargers.

Funny, one of my Kawasaki fan buddies has an original H2 AND a GPZ750 turbo. This Ninja H2 sounds really promising.

I thought it was a turbo re-read the post you quoted

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by ninjamunky85

Hearing rumors that the H2 is going to be putting out well over 200 hp with a race version putting out around 300. Even rumors of a whole new frame and single sided swingarm.

300hp and it handles like a supersport...sign me up lol I'll see if club racing orgs allow it into the superbike 1000cc class

[Alex]

Originally Posted by ninjamunky85

Hearing rumors that the H2 is going to be putting out well over 200 hp with a race version putting out around 300. Even rumors of a whole new frame and single sided swingarm.

I still don't understand the "race version" part of the rumor, as there's nowhere for it to race. Maybe there is an upspec version, a GT version, or whatever one might call it, but if it's got a supercharger or turbo on it, racing seems unlikely.

[tiii]

Originally Posted by Sirref

I thought it was a turbo re-read the post you quoted

http://www.motoroids.com/news/kawasa...ations-leaked/
Might just be more rumours; this one states it'll be a centrifugally supercharged litre bike...

Originally Posted by Alex

I still don't understand the "race version" part of the rumor, as there's nowhere for it to race. Maybe there is an upspec version, a GT version, or whatever one might call it, but if it's got a supercharger or turbo on it, racing seems unlikely.

Maybe Kawi is thinking a MotoGP rule change might be on the horizon? Or by racing can they be thinking DRAG racing? The original H2 had exceptional quarter mile times.

[Sirref]

I doubt they're thinking of motogp with this bike, motogp is pure prototypes so they'd have to make something special for it and there's no way that they'd just sell it to the public, ducati is the exception to the rule with the bimota being sold near identical to the wsbk version and the panigale superleggera being the closest you can get to a motogp bike on the market

[Alex]

Not really - the panigale superleggera has nothing to do with a GP bike. It's a very high-spec superbike, that would actually be unable to compete in the WSBK for a variety of reasons. (parts not homologated, overall too light, and a few more).

Their desmosedici from a few years back was a very good street rendition of a motogp bike circa 2004, but that's quite a ways back in terms of motorcycle development.

[Ducati999]

I am not sure if the rule still exsists but they did allow a turbo/supercharged 250cc to race against the 500cc class back in the 80s. I believe it was in Moto Gp. Honda built the "turbo" 250 (with oval pistons) but it was too heavy and they had lots of issues with heat. I am guessing that this rule has long since past but the future of bikes is definately along this route. Engineres are near the limits of what the internal combustion motor can produce and the simple answer is turbo/supercharging. Smaller/lighter motor= lighter bike with equal or greater power. Seems like the natural evolution now that electronics have progressed to the level where they can smooth out any issues.

[Alex]

I can't find any record of that in GP. The switch was to allow 4-strokes in against the 2-stroke incumbents, and Honda attempted it in 1979 with an uber-high-tech, 4-stroke 500 with oval pistons. It was ultimately a failed experiment.

http://world.honda.com/history/chall...9pistonengine/

I can't think of any racing in many, many years in cars or bikes where turbo/supercharged engines ever competed in the same classes as normally aspirated machines. It goes back to the 1920's/1930's when all of this tech was still being worked out. (Blower Bentleys, etc.)

edit: research is fun! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One_engines has a great history of the different engine classes, and I learned quite a bit. It turns out that there were years where turbos were allowed in the normally aspirated machines, but the turbos became dominant so quickly that running without one meant backmarker status. Essentially, they were required to be competitive, up until they were banned.

[tiii]

The original H2 was a great quarter mile bike... Maybe KHI is thinking Drag Racing?

[k-os]

Originally Posted by Ducati999

I believe it was in Moto Gp. Honda built the "turbo" 250 (with oval pistons) but it was too heavy and they had lots of issues with heat.

Are you thinking of the NR500 for MotoGP?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_NR

http://world.honda.com/MotoGP/history/NR500/

[fast1075]

Good tie-in for Kawi to pull H2 out of the vault. But let's hope the new bike shares none of the former's traits beyond astonishing power for it's time.

I owned, built, and raced H2's. My first high speed crash was on an H2. They were horrible handling, with flexy frames, swing arms, and forks. The early models broke welds at the steering neck (which is what caused that first high speed crash).

My former racing partner has a beautiful example of one. Meticulously built, with frame mods and reinforced swingarm by D&G. Orient express N.O.S. gears, Falicon crank, and cylinders and pipes from Paul Gast. It is peaky and hard to ride other than in "insane" mode. But the SOUND of that beast at full song is amazing once it clears it's throat.

BUT, H2 carries a lot of mental weight for those who know the story, and Kawi is counting on the legacy to sell them.

[Ducati999]

Originally Posted by k-os

Are you thinking of the NR500 for MotoGP?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_NR

http://world.honda.com/MotoGP/history/NR500/

No after they failed to win on the NR500 they made an attempt at a turbo 250 which the rules allowed to race in the 500 class. It had oval pistons also and made around 160hp--from a 250! The issue was not power but weight whch is why i dont think it ever made it onto the race track (besides testing) --1980ish

[Alex]

I don't think the rules allowed it; the little that I was able to find make it seem like Honda was hoping that the rules would change to allow it, but it didn't happen. It doesn't look like it ever made it into competition.

http://forums.autosport.com/topic/17...p-motorcycles/

http://www.cbr250.net/forum/other-mo...0cc-yes-3.html

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mod...nr750%2087.htm

[Jono]

Its got freakin wings!!!! This thing is gonna be FAST!

And at least a carbon fiber front fairing.

[ninjamunky85]

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Sirref]

looks at carbon fiber
looks at bank account

guess this bike isn't for me

[Brother Michigan]

So it's a two-wheeled F1 car.

[Skullz]

Seen somewhere that the supposed cost was going to be 20,000 BP which is close to 32k here.
That is an insane amount of money for a bike.

[Brother Michigan]

Just remember there was such a thing as the Desmosedici RR.

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by Skullz

Seen somewhere that the supposed cost was going to be 20,000 BP which is close to 32k here.
That is an insane amount of money for a bike.

You can't make direct currency conversions on British prices. for example, a ZX10R is about 12,000 pounds, or $20,000US, but ZX10Rs are under $15K in the US.

The H2 will come in somewhere near the ZX14R.

Also, the recent video clearly shows this is a triple, so likely a 750 cc triple, which then makes total sense for reviving the H2 name. Too bad about the winglets, they will serve no purpose at road speeds, and they were tried in racing decades ago and found to make handling much worse. As for cost, the cost of CF has plummeted lately in manufacturing due to new sources of the fiber mat and a few patents expiring.

I think what we will see here is a 750 size bike with low weight and yet litre bike power. More power is likely just a ECU flash to turn up the max boost from the supercharger.
It's cool, but I still think a >150 hp is irresponsible for public consumption.

[garth285]

I think the header just looks like it has three pipes.... all of kawasaki patents show a 4 cylinder.

[xorbe]

Those wings better stay horizontal to the ground, unless you like extra sideways force in a corner at high speed.

[alex.s]

what the ****?

[KawiKid860]

Maybe kawi got tired of cars having superior aerodynamics and wants to change the game. Let's hope the nation of squids doesn't get their hands on these because they're so fast lol

[choneofakind]

Y'all call them wings, I call them frame sliders... errr, I mean expensive comprehensive insurance rates. What will hit the ground and break first?

Now I'm hoping for a naked variation. (half kidding)

Originally Posted by KawiKid860

Maybe kawi got tired of cars having superior aerodynamics and wants to change the game.

Errrrmm... Wings actually produce quite a bit of drag. The trade off for downforce (what wings like this make, assuming they're not purely ornamental) added by wings is increased form drag and larger frontal area. If anything, wings make vehicles slower in a straight line, but more glued to the pavement. Example: Indy, F1. I'm not entirely sure how this translates to 2-wheeled dynamics through turns, but it seems like it would help keep the nose down over hill crests if you put wings and dive planes on the front of a bike.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Y'all call them wings, I call them frame sliders... errr, I mean expensive comprehensive insurance rates. What will hit the ground and break first?

Now I'm hoping for a naked variation. (half kidding)




Errrrmm... Wings actually produce quite a bit of drag. The trade off for downforce (what wings like this make, assuming they're not purely ornamental) added by wings is increased form drag and larger frontal area. If anything, wings make vehicles slower in a straight line, but more glued to the pavement. Example: Indy, F1. I'm not entirely sure how this translates to 2-wheeled dynamics through turns, but it seems like it would help keep the nose down over hill crests if you put wings and dive planes on the front of a bike.

because the bike pitches, it will be a requirement for the wings to be active. otherwise they will fight against the bike when turning. this means going faster will result in increased corning ability... going too slow will actually keep you from going faster.

[snot]

Originally Posted by Sirref

looks at carbon fiber
looks at bank account

guess this bike isn't for me

Read the thread on making cash. Then you can buy, problem solved.
I am saving for a new exhaust and school, it make change to a new bike fund.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by snot

Read the thread on making cash. Then you can buy, problem solved.
I am saving for a new exhaust and school, it make change to a new bike fund.

I love that thread and already use many techniques to make a quick buck, but until I work a salaried position I can't reasonably sustain a purchase on that level.

especially when all of my spending money goes to track days

[Alex]

Kawi made a big deals about the winglets attached to the ZX-12R back in 2000-2001. They didn't really do anything either.

[Brother Michigan]

Originally Posted by garth285

I think the header just looks like it has three pipes.... all of kawasaki patents show a 4 cylinder.

Not to mention that we supposedly have a picture of the engine itself...

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by alex.s

because the bike pitches, it will be a requirement for the wings to be active. otherwise they will fight against the bike when turning. this means going faster will result in increased corning ability... going too slow will actually keep you from going faster.

By active do you mean that the wings will be able to keep parallel to the ground regardless of how far the bike is leaned to produce downforce that is parallel to the weight force of the bike? That seems very complicated. Or are you just saying that they will rotate so they can pitch up or down to either apply downforce while upright or 'lift' while leaned? The resultant force of lift while leaned would help the bike steer... But that all seems incredibly complicated for something that MotoGP doesn't even use.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

By active do you mean that the wings will be able to keep parallel to the ground regardless of how far the bike is leaned to produce downforce that is parallel to the weight force of the bike? That seems very complicated. Or are you just saying that they will rotate so they can pitch up or down to either apply downforce while upright or 'lift' while leaned? The resultant force of lift while leaned would help the bike steer... But that all seems incredibly complicated for something that MotoGP doesn't even use.

if they don't rotate they would need movable flaps to reduce the effect of that wing in certain cases. you want down force when striaght up and down... but when you are turning, you want basically the exact opposite force... instead of pushing down on the bikes Y axis, it needs to push on the X axis. if it wasn't an active set of wings, they would be great for up and down, and as soon as you tried to turn you would crash.

[Bob2010]

Sweet. A supercharged bike to go with my supercharged cars

[xorbe]

Any day now ...