Kawasaki Ninja H2R – Tarmac terror or just clickbait?

Okay, so we’ve all seen the pictures and read the hype, but I was lucky enough to stumble on a real deal genuine Ninja H2R (yes, the ‘R’ version!) at the Feilddays last weekend, and got to spend some one-on-one time with the beast…

 

 

First off, let me say this – in person, the bike is visually stunning. Some people don’t like the outlandish fairings – they say it’s too gaudy, blah blah… Personally, I think it’s amazing how far they’ve pushed the envelope with the aero package on the carbon fibre fairings, how literally every piece of the bodywork is designed to add to the stability of the bike at high speeds. Because high speeds are absolutely what this bike is made for, with no exceptions.

 

 

The supercharged machine makes a claimed 310hp at 14,000rpm and 115lb-ft at 12,500rpm, and weighs just under 216kg. Yes, that’s pretty impressive, you have to admit! Prices are only available on application, but at an estimated US$50k I don’t think I’ll be getting one any time soon. Oh, and they’re all gone already anyway. Bugger. My mechanic has had one on his dyno and apparently it made even more power with some tweaking… Now I’m sad…

 

 

Okay so now that’s out of the way, let’s get down to it. You can’t register it for road use. You also can’t use it at any official race track in New Zealand – it’s too loud. So, aside from taking it to shows, or having it sit under a cover in your garage away from sticky fingers, what would you do with it? Is it, in NZ at least, just the ultimate clickbait by a motorcycle brand? No offense, Kawasaki, I think you’ve made an incredible machine, and I’d be happy to throw a leg over and take it for a test ride if you’ll let me!

 

 

With a top speed of around 400kph, there is no doubt this bike is one for the history books. Kawasaki set out to create something completely unhinged, and succeeded unquestionably. It is a marvel of design, and as I’ve said before, simply stunning to look at. Which is, I guess, the one thing it will be good for here… at least until someone is brave enough to put together a closed road top speed competition…?

Now that would be awesome! This would destroy all, I’m sure!

 

 

Yes, you read that correctly – 400 kilometres per hour. Let’s put that into simpler terms: just over 6 and a half kilometres in a minute. That’s over 110 metres per second. That’s more than a rugby field every second. Does that put it into perspective for you? At that speed, if you blink, you’ve just passed at least 10 cars… and they’re doing 100kph.

Don’t blink.

 

 

I’m almost afraid to ask, what will they come up with next?

– Scott

 

 

Thanks to the team at Kawasaki NZ for a great weekend!

 

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