Review: 2016 Kawasaki Ninja H2 Street, Track, Drags

The River Mark has been used for special, history changing projects at Kawasaki since the 1890s and was approved for use on the H2… Very few Ninja H2s came into Australia and all of them are sold…

Special thanks to Western Sydney International Dragway for use of the track for the shoot

Before I headed to Kawasaki HQ I familiarised myself with the bike by reading the technical information in the press kit that was couriered to me by Kawasaki Japan the eve of the bike’s world unveiling. Thankfully, the electronics, although comprehensive, are basic in operation so easy to use.

Kawasaki got it right with a basic traction control set-up for the user with just four settings to choose from (I used Mode 1 mostly), and a single step setting for engine brake reduction, it is all too easy to operate. As is the launch control, which has three modes to choose from.The quickshifter only shifts up, with no autoblip downshift.

No too much to learn aside from how to navigate the fantastic ‘Man Machine’ dash, as named by Kawasaki. The plan was a decent road ride out past Western Sydney, then an afternoon at Western Sydney International Dragway for test runs, speed runs and a shoot. Later I would head to Wakefield Park for some laps.

No times were recorded on the day as there was no timing gear in operation however high 9s were calculated.

2016 Kawasaki Ninja H2 – The Ride

I hop on and familiarise myself with the bike. I’m surprised just how comfortable it is. It feels like a ZX-10R in a way, with a more upright riding position and a wider seat. As bulky as it looks, the H2 does not feel big when I sit on it. Everything falls to hand perfectly.

Getting the H2 off the line is harder than it is on a sportsbike and that hurts times but once settled the H2 accelerates much quicker than the average superbike or Hayabusa/ZX14.

I fire the bike up like any other Kawasaki and it idles away very smoothly at 1000rpm. The dash is fantastic – large and readable not like the typical sportsbike unit. The tacho is huge and the digital LCD screen large. It shows speed, trip, boost, KTRC setting, gear, KENG and KQS on. I grab first, ease out the clutch with a few more revs than usual, and get on with it.

After negotiating heavy traffic for an hour, where the Ninja H2 just behaved like any normal EFI bike, albeit with a snappy throttle, I’m finally able to let loose. The first time I take the revs above 6000rpm I’m on the M4 freeway and holy crap do I get a shock. I’ve ridden plenty of 200-horsepower bikes but none accelerate like this. It is the way the power builds, the way the torque is on tap, that gives the sense of ‘pull’.

Topping out at 260km/h in 400 short meters on a streetbike off the showroom floor is something else…

The sound of the supercharger is fantastic – the exhaust note, well, very lame! From 6000rpm to 8500rpm is a blur. I’m not game to take it further on the road when I have WSID at my disposal later…

I exit the freeway and find some country roads for a bit of fun. It looks like it would not get around a turn but the Ninja H2 is a very, very capable cornerer. With similar geometry to the ZX-10R, the H2 has the handling performance of a sportsbike and I’m really surprised at how it feels as I carve up some backcountry roads. The brakes are sensational – despite 330mm rotors and the best monoblock Brembo calipers available, the brakes are not overkill.

Front end feel is fantastic on the H2, it really gives confidence and that makes the riding experience even better. The cornering ability of the bike is stunning.

They are pulling up a very heavy bike (a ZX-10R is 208kg wet on the scales, some 20kg less than the dry H2 weight), so are just right. The brilliant KYB forks are something special and a standout to me – equally as much as that acceleration.

The forks have a completely different feel to any I have used. They are compliant; offer good spring support but on the brakes are sensational, particularly braking into a turn. The feel on offer from the front end is brilliant.

On the streets the H2 is placid and smooth, although the throttle is a little choppy in traffic on some settings. Overall though a nice roadbike and it handles brilliantly.

Change of direction is fast and direct, while support and compliance at the back is outstanding. The bike feels flat and balanced whether on the gas, the brakes, carrying rolling speed… it is planted and balanced. On most country roads you would be hard pressed to keep up with it on a ZX-10R or ZX14. And on the straight bits, forget it!

Supercharged Ninja H2 front-end. Supercharged Ninja H2 rear end.

On the racetrack this machine truly surprises me. I rode it back to back with the 2016 ZX-10R at the World Press Debut held by Kawasaki Australia at Wakefield Park. On the H2 I lapped a fair bit slower than on the 10R, around 1:08s on the H2 verses 1:03s on the ZX-10R, however, I could have pushed another second out of it but did not want to risk it. The H2 accelerated quicker than the 10R but lacked the outright top end of the superbike and obviously the agility.

The H2 is, however, an incredibly good handling bike and the size of the machine is completely disguised by the sensational geometry, brakes and suspension. It can be thrown into a corner with aggression and steers fast and accurate both on and off the brakes.

In the turn the H2 sits on its side effortlessly with no sign of stand up and great front end feel. Off turns there is some very slight lag, which is electronic, then it fires off like a cannon! The KTRAC is brilliant and was popping all the way around Wakefield as I twisted the throttle open hard. I was stunned by the fantastic track performance of the H2.

On the racetrack the H2 truly surprised me. It handles more like a superbike than a hyperbike.

The quickshift is smooth and accurate and clutch action also smooth and progressive. I did not touch the engine braking settings, I left it standard, and was happy with that.I try the different modes but go back to mode 1. I figure if I am going to ride the fastest production bike in the world, I want to ride it as fast as it can be not dummed down…