There is a Japanese word ‘Yōkai’ which describes the supernatural. Something that has only ever been dreamed about. Tried and failed. If anyone could do it, Kawasaki could and have.
I haven’t been in the motorcycle industry for long. But I have been lucky enough to witness the production of an astounding machine, the 2015 Kawasaki H2. To sum this bike up in one word would not be fair, but if I had to, that word would be AMAZING. We have been lucky enough to get our hands on one of these rare beasts and with our experience and knowledge we plan on turning an amazing motorcycle into an even better, more powerful machine.
The Kawasaki H2 was originally an idea thought up in the 1970’s to produce a motorcycle that has never been done before and would scare the pants off even the most experienced riders. Something that dreams were made of and in the following suite, something that was rare, and would open the door to a new age and a new way of thinking. The release of the current Kawasaki H2 and H2R is exactly that.
Sure people have been playing with power for years, tinkering and trying all kinds of mods, myself included. Our workshops have worked on turbo Hayabusa’s and big bore ZX10s. Every bike I have owned I have played with re-jetting and cutting open air boxes, chasing that all important horse power. But for it to be done on a limited production scale and to be considered so reliable that it has a 2 year unlimite km warranty is just un-heard of.
Now don’t get me wrong I am not here to fluff up the H2, it does that pretty well it’s self. I am here to tell you about what we are doing with ours.
This time 2 years ago I started hearing whispers about Kawasaki possibly producing some kind of turbo or supercharged 1000cc or 1400cc bike. “Why not” I thought, “They are already doing it in their jet skis!” But little did I know what was to follow. This road going 1000cc super charged bike is unlike anything that Kawasaki have ever done before. Firstly 90% of the bike has been done in house. The only thing that wasn’t built in Kawasaki’s own factory is the brakes (Brembo) and suspension (which was an effort by both Kawasaki and Ohlin’s). Every other aspect and part of this bike was designed, tested and built within Kawasaki’s walls. The impeller for the supercharger, being one piece of cnc mechined alloy, was designed and built by Kawasaki’s aero nautical and space division. The traction control was designed and built by the electrical engineering division. The carbon fiber fairings on the H2R spent hundreds of hours inside the aero wind tunnel not to learn how to lift the bike but how to keep the front wheel on the ground.
This bike truly is a credit to the ability and knowledge that is held within the Kawasaki factory and the ability of all it’s divisions. To produce such a bike is one thing, but to produce such a bike and then have it available to the public to buy and ride is another. It is a true achievement to have a supercharged limited production road registered bike that has 6000km service intervals and a 2 year factory warranty, makes me speechless. We have been lucky enough to play with the bosses one and have a little fun. With our head mechanic and most experienced Kawasaki technician Marty Blake working on the bike. We have already been trying different mods to get a bit more power, or different handling. Fit the Akro pipe.
Ok, now let’s get a custom lead pipe made to remove the catalytic converter, great! Breaths better, sounds great. Pops a bit on deceleration with the change of back pressure, but throws some great flames. Need to fix that, have they made a power commander yet? Just getting released? Excellent! What about an air filter? Just our luck, both arrive at the same time, and with the blessing of the one and only factory trained Dynojet tuner, Mark Carlsson, in the country. Off it goes for the final map and dyno tune! What horse power will it produce? How much torque does this machine hold? How high will it go? Can we make this unbelievable animal even better than it already is? We already have a nice little cult following on the H2 as our lucky customers that have bought them are eager to see what the next thing is we are doing and how it performs so they can then decide if it is something they are going to do to their own bikes. From the information I have, we are the first in the
southern hemisphere, if not the world, to accurately modify, map, tune and report the horsepower and torque reading of this bike outside of the well and truly closed and locked doors of Kawasaki. Now I am not sure about you but that excites me to no end.
Few people have the coin or the passion to spend the money on such an amazing machine, and after riding this bike I questioned the need for my own kidney for such a thrill. But to be able to be so close to this amazing project really makes this something worth writing about. To have this bike in particular so greatly high-lighted that other counties are waiting for our results really is an amazing feat, for both
Kawasaki and us!
I am sure that no matter what Kawasaki do in the future, whether this motor is used in another bike, or the H2 is re-designed to be more cost effective. I can guarantee the original H2 and H2R of 2015 will be a collector’s item for years to come. When we are all old and wheels no longer exist, and we are travelling via hover bikes or time travel, a rare few of us will be able to comment and tell our grand children about the time we saw, or rode, or chased, or owned a H2 on the road, on the track, in the dealership or even in our dreams. Until the next amazing motorcycle development, the 2015 Kawasaki H2 and H2R reigns supreme.
215 horse power and 106 foot pound of torque at the rear wheel. Without even separating one engine case or modifying any standard component on the bike.
