A naked bike with a menacing demeanor, the Z H2 is powered by a 998cc supercharged, four-cylinder engine that cranks out 197hp and 137Nm, making it the fastest in its class.
The headline with the new Z is, of course, that supercharged, four-cylinder engine. For the naked machine, the mill retains the same architecture as the H2 sportsbike but with a focus on low and mid-range torque, and an easy to control engine character.
To achieve this Kawasaki has revised the supercharger inlet and ram air intake. To help the supercharged-gases escape, it’s matched with a new exhaust collection box that is longer and allows gases to mix before being passed through the single catalyst. Another bonus with this system is the Z H2’s end can is noticeably smaller than that of the H2 – and some other high-performance bikes of recent years.
The frame of the new Z H2 is a completely bespoke item for the new model. The emphasis was to help create a machine that would provide light handling and good mid-speed corner characteristics. To do this Kawasaki has dispensed with some of the frame braces located around the top of the engine, possibly in a bid to introduce more flex into the machine, helping to maintain a more predictable street-focused motorcycle.
Kawasaki has also adjusted the front end geometry for the new bike, opting for a machine that is more flickable while still within the boundaries of providing good all-around stability. With 24.9° of rake and 104mm of trail, the Z H2 has a more aggressive front-end set up when compared to the H2 sportsbike, which runs 27° of rake and 103mm of trail.
The final major part of the chassis that is all-new is the swingarm; Kawasaki has done away with the single-sided item of the H2 and H2 SX. Instead, the engineers have borrowed tech from the Ninja ZX-10RR and its double-sided item, mounting it directly onto the rear of the engine via a newly designed swingarm pivot plate.
The Z H2 is equipped with a powerful Brembo M4.32 monoblock calipers biting on 290mm discs in front and a 226mm disc at the rear. The brake system is controlled by the Kawasaki Intelligent Anti-Lock Brake System (KIBS). Speaking of high-tech electronic aids, the Z H2 boasts several riding modes: Sport (197hp), Road, Rain, and Rider (98hp).
Other features include launch control, traction control, a quick shifter, cruise control, smartphone connectivity, and a TFT dashboard. The full-color dash shows speed, gear, shift light, odometer, dual trip meters, fuel gauge, range to empty, current/average fuel consumption, outside temperature, coolant temperature, clock, Economical Riding Indicator, IMU indicator, KIBS indicator, boost pressure, and boost temperature.
