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Set to be the pinnacle of motorcycle performance, the Kawasaki Ninja H2R is a supercharged motorcycle masterpiece. Created with cooperation from across the engineering and technology scope of Kawasaki heavy industries, the Ninja H2R matches cutting-edge engine, performance, the highest quality chassis dynamics and a host of craftsmanship details to create a new two-wheel icon.
The launching point for the development of the Kawasaki Ninja H2R motorcycle was a strong desire to offer riders something they had never experienced before, so Kawasaki created the “ultimate motorcycle” from a clean slate.
Developing the Ninja H2R as a closed-course model allowed the unadulterated pursuit of performance, free from the limitations that street riding would impose. The result was a new model offering a sensory experience surpassing anything else that riders can find today.
The Ninja H2R is powered by a supercharged engine with a compact design on par with powerplants found in liter-class supersport models. The key to achieving its incredible performance lies in the engine’s supercharger, which is a motorcycle-specific unit designed completely in-house with technology from Kawasaki’s Gas Turbine & Machinery Company, Aerospace Company and Corporate Technology Division.
Highlights of the 2015 Kawasaki Ninja H2R:
- Ninja H2R is designed for closed-circuit use only
- 998cc four-cylinder engine fitted with Kawasaki supercharger for intense acceleration
- Supercharger uses planetary gears, spins at up to 130,000 rpm and develops up to 20.5psi boost pressure
- MotoGP™-style dog-ring transmission allows fast shifting and works with standard quick shifter
- Bodywork developed with Kawasaki Aerospace Company to generate downforce
- Kawasaki River Mark used to indicate combined Kawasaki Group technology
- Trellis frame used for first time on a Kawasaki motorcycle to provide strength, controlled flex and air circulation
- Single-sided swingarm used for first time and mounted to the engine
- KYB AOS-II Air-Oil Separate cartridge fork, adjustable KYB rear shock
- 330mm front discs with four-piston Brembo® calipers
- Multi-mode traction control, launch control, engine braking control, ABS and a quick shifter
To facilitate smooth, quick shifting, a dog-ring-type transmission was selected. This is similar to the kind of transmission commonly found in MotoGP™ or Formula 1, and was developed with the Kawasaki Racing Team.
Unlike a standard motorcycle transmission, where the shift forks slide the gears into position, the gears remain in place in a dog-ring transmission. Only the dog rings move, sliding into position to engage the desired gear. Because the dog rings are lighter than transmission gears, this type of transmission offers a significantly lighter shift effort. Shift feel is also improved, and a much quicker shift is possible, facilitating quicker acceleration.
Kawasaki used Brembo parts for both the clutch lever’s radial-pump master cylinder and the clutch release mechanism. They receive extra attention from Brembo before being shipped to Kawasaki. Each part is examined and adjusted to help eliminate any ineffective (idle) stroke, resulting in superb control.
The objectives for the chassis were to provide superb motorcycle composure at ultra-high speeds, while offering cornering performance that allows the rider to enjoy circuit use, and finally to be very accommodating to the rider. Ordinarily, high-speed stability can easily be achieved with a long wheelbase, but a shorter wheelbase was selected to achieve the compact overall package and sharp handling that were desired.
So the frame needed to not only be stiff, but also to be able to absorb external disturbances, which could otherwise unsettle the chassis when encountered at high speed. A trellis frame provided both the
strength to harness the incredible power of the supercharged engine, and the balanced flex to achieve stability for high-speed riding.
The cast aluminum wheels were designed specifically for the Kawasaki Ninja H2R. The star-pattern five-spoke wheel design was selected based on the optimum balance of rigidity for high-speed performance. Knurling on the inside of the rear wheel rim helps prevent tire slipping on the wheel that could be caused by the massive torque generated by the engine.
The Kawasaki Ninja H2R is only available in its very special mirror coated black paint with the remaining bodywork in carbon fiber.
As a flagship for the Kawasaki brand, it needs to have presence, and styling that reflects its incredible performance. But the design is much more than cosmetic. While its edged styling certainly looks the part, the Ninja H2R also possesses a functional beauty: each piece of its bodywork was aerodynamically sculpted to enhance high-speed stability; the cowling design also maximizes cooling performance and heat dissipation, aiding the engine’s incredible output; and the ram air duct is ideally positioned to bring air to the supercharger.
More than any Kawasaki motorcycle to date, the Ninja H2R is a showcase of craftsmanship, build quality and superb fit and finish – right down to the high-tech mirror-like paint specially developed for this model.
Price: £ 41,000
