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Motorcycles

Video road test: Kawasaki's supercharged Ninja H2

By Loz Blain
February 19, 2016
Video road test: Kawasaki's supercharged Ninja H2
Kawasaki Ninja H2: a handful in the tight stuff and the lower gears
Kawasaki Ninja H2: a handful in the tight stuff and the lower gears
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Kawasaki Ninja H2: with traction control disabled, the front snaps up scary-fast in the first three gears
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Kawasaki Ninja H2: with traction control disabled, the front snaps up scary-fast in the first three gears
Kawasaki Ninja H2: enormous Brembo brakes and KIBS ABS system stop you almost as quickly as this bike accelerates, if that's possible
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Kawasaki Ninja H2: enormous Brembo brakes and KIBS ABS system stop you almost as quickly as this bike accelerates, if that's possible
Kawasaki Ninja H2: at home on the Mulholland highway
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Kawasaki Ninja H2: at home on the Mulholland highway
Kawasaki Ninja H2: it's all about that boost
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Kawasaki Ninja H2: it's all about that boost
Kawasaki Ninja H2: KYB suspension is fully adjustable
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Kawasaki Ninja H2: KYB suspension is fully adjustable
Kawasaki Ninja H2: don't expect it to be a petrol sipper.
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Kawasaki Ninja H2: don't expect it to be a petrol sipper.
Kawasaki Ninja H2: gorgeous silver mirror finish makes it impossible to ignore in any company
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Kawasaki Ninja H2: gorgeous silver mirror finish makes it impossible to ignore in any company
Kawasaki Ninja H2: massive air intakes help suck over 200 litres of air per second into the airbox
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Kawasaki Ninja H2: massive air intakes help suck over 200 litres of air per second into the airbox
Kawasaki Ninja H2: ninja star rear wheel is a nice touch
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Kawasaki Ninja H2: ninja star rear wheel is a nice touch
Kawasaki Ninja H2: a handful in the tight stuff and the lower gears
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Kawasaki Ninja H2: a handful in the tight stuff and the lower gears
Kawasaki Ninja H2: keep the revs low and you've got yourself a beautiful, smooth touring engine
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Kawasaki Ninja H2: keep the revs low and you've got yourself a beautiful, smooth touring engine
Kawasaki Ninja H2: the looks start out weird, but grow on you fast
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Kawasaki Ninja H2: the looks start out weird, but grow on you fast
View gallery - 12 images

In the latest of our video road tests, Kawasaki USA turns Loz loose on the extraordinary Ninja H2. It's the only current mass-market production motorcycle with forced induction – thanks to its chirping, tweeting, custom designed supercharger – and rather than posting killer lap times, it's designed purely to be the paragon of utter excess on the road. So if you've got the guts to twist that throttle to the stop and let the boost build up, you'd better be ready to boogie. Enjoy the video after the jump!

Kawasaki's Wild, Supercharged Ninja H2

Cameras by Joe "Grumpy Cat" Salas of 4theriders.

For more information about the crazy Ninja H2, and how it compares to the "world's fastest production bike" – the Lightning LS-218 – check out our full Kawasaki Ninja H2 review.

View gallery - 12 images

Tags

MotorcyclesKawasakiVideoCrazyKawasaki NinjaReviewsSupercharged
11 comments
Loz Blain
Loz Blain
Loz leads the New Atlas team as Editorial Director, after nearly two decades as one of our most versatile writers. He's also proven himself as a photographer, videographer, presenter, producer and podcast engineer. A graduate in Psychology, former business analyst and touring musician, he's covered just about everything for New Atlas, concentrating lately on clean energy, AI, humanoid robotics, next-gen aircraft, and the odd bit of music, motorcycles and automotive.

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11 comments
Jason Catterall
Another top notch A Crapella performance by Loz! Love seeing you shit yourself a little, is that wrong?
snave
" It's the first mass-market production motorcycle with forced induction.."
Ahem, SuzukiXN 65 Turbo, Kawasaki Z750 Turbo, Yamaha XJ650 Turbo, and the godfather Honda CX500 Turbo and the CX650 Turbo... All production motorcycles: All forced induction.
The Kawa claim to USP fame is `forced induction via supercharging` - and even then one needs to add `mechanical` before `supercharging` because the pedants among us will point out that forced air induction - or aerodynamic pressure-induced airbox filling, has been a feature on many different machines for at least 20 years.
Oh, and then after that one needs to qualify it again with `motorcycle` as Peugeot brought a supercharged scooter - the JetForce Compressor to the mass market in 2003...
Basically then, the statement is incorrect...
PeterFlett
One of the best reviews I have watched in a long time - well done Loz - unbelievable bit of engineering - well done Kawasaki!
Mzungu_Mkubwa
Special needs, indeed! So, your sayin' that this is the "short bus" for motorheads, then?
Wolf0579
I'd love to take that for a spin on the freeway... although I'm an old guy and prefer motorcycles you sit on, as opposed to lay down on.
Nicolas Zart
I thought Honda had come out with a turbo bike in the 80s?
Woof
Yes, Honda (among some others) produced turbo bikes in the early 80s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CX_series#CX500_Turbo
Dan Lewis
Great response, great maneuverability...And it's ugly as hell! I'll wait another year or two.
Captain Danger
Well I can see why you only got 25 mpg
Loz
Thanks snave/Nicolas/Woof - sorry, I'm aware of those and I don't know how that got through. I've edited the text!
Ronbh - we did plenty of boring freeway riding on it as well, we just didn't subject you to that in the video! Riding flat out gets you much worse than 25mpg.
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