2014 EICMA: Kawasaki H2 showcased

After teasing two-wheeler enthusiasts for months Kawasaki finally unveiled the Kawasaki H2 at the 2014 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy. The Kawasaki H2 is a road-legal version of the 300PS Kawasaki H2R hyperbike that was showcased at the 2014 INTERMOT show almost a month back. Since the Kawasaki H2 is a road-spec motorcycle the 998cc, liquid-cooled, supercharged inline-four motor has been detuned to churn out 200PS at 11,000rpm and peak torque of 113.5Nm at 10,500rpm. The Kawasaki H2 will be offered with an option of Ram Air that hikes the power output to 210PS. 

The styling of the bike is inspired from the Kawasaki H2R heavily but it gets additions like a headlamp, turn indicators, tail lamp and rear-view mirrors to make it road legal. The Japanese two-wheeler giant claims that the mirrors have been designed to assist high-speed stability while a 'chin spoiler' on the fairing delivers downforce to the front wheel. Other major visual change on the Kawasaki H2 is the humungous muffler while it has carried forward design details like the starfish wheels and single-sided swingarm (first for any production Kawasaki motorcycle) from the Kawasaki H2R. The swingarm is directly mounted to the powerplant that acts as a stressed member. Pillion seat on the Kawasaki H2 has been a given a miss.

The steel trellis frame on the Kawasaki H2R is same as the track oriented offering and has been finished in a shade of bright green. Kawasaki claims by employing a trellis frame they have been successful in keeping the wheelbase as short as possible thereby improving the handling dynamics of the Kawasaki H2. The Kawasaki H2 tips the scale at 238kg which is on the heavier side and boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 0.89PS/kg. 

Electronic goodies on the Kawasaki H2 include multi-level traction control with a track mode, launch control to maximise acceleration, quick-shifter and ABS. The bike also features an electronically adjustable Ohlins steering damper. Suspension duties are taken care of by fully adjustable KYB suspension at front and rear. Braking is done via 330mm semi-floating discs and radial-mounted monobloc calipers at the front and a 250mm disc at the rear sourced from Brembo. 

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Kawasaki hasn’t divulged details like pricing but it will be the new flagship road-legal offering from their stable and it will be priced above the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R but numbers will be restricted to maintain exclusivity. It is expected that Kawasaki will bring the H2 to the Indian two-wheeler market soon after sales in the European commences by early 2015 and should carry a sticker price of around Rs 25 lakh.