Kawasaki Ninja H2, for the street, for those who have no complexes

They say that in the order form to the designers, a kind of letter to the wise men, which they sent from Kawasaki when they started the project of the Kawasaki ninja h2 the phrases "Provide intense acceleration, ultra-high top speed and track performance typical of supercar models" appeared. Magic words wherever they are that have led us after almost two months of waiting and constant sleepless nights until Kawasaki ZX1000N, because this will be the commercial name of the ground-to-ground missile that they have prepared.

For the more restless it should also be noted that the Kawasaki Ninja H2R will be marketed under the name of Kawasaki ZX1000PBut today we're going to focus on the registrable version, the one that will hopefully hit dealerships in March 2015 and if you win the lottery you can take it home with a license plate bolted to its rear.

The design tells us that it took two different routes, on the one hand that of H2R version intended for the circuit exclusively, with pure performance and without the limitations of the street. The other way is that of the H2 version, with features very similar to those of the circuit model, but complying with the necessary standards to be homologated on the street.

The result is a supercharged engine that reaches 200 hp but that is capable of supporting the 300 hp of the R version. The main element to achieve these benefits is the supercharger developed entirely by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and which incorporates technology from the Gas Turbine & Machinery Company, Aerospace Company and Corporate Technology departments. Kawasaki's own division.

Although the mixing and input from the other departments of the company is not limited to the manufacture of the supercharger, there are also contributions from the Aerospace Company department at points such as the aerodynamic mirror anchors to ensure greater stability at high speeds.

Finally, we must highlight the use of Kawasaki River Mark logo, reserved for models of special historical significance, as is expected with this Kawasaki Ninja H2. That also inherits the Ninja name from the brand's sports models along with the H2 designation that was already used in the Kawasaki 750SS Mach IV that was also an icon in its time.

Returning to the letter to the wise men, to achieve intense acceleration you have to get a powerful engine, but without neglecting that this has to be a compact and light unit. The solution of adopt a supercharging system It was the closest to the ideal, and thus began the design of the powertrain.

Power, more power

Again reading the Kawasaki press release, we find that thanks to the supercharger being designed within the company it has been possible to p fine-tune it so that it works properly at almost any rev range the motor. Its high efficiency and minimal thermal gain make the use of an Intercooler system unnecessary and it is lubricated by the same engine oil, thereby simplifying installation as much as possible.

As we already mentioned in its day, thanks to the planetary gear system connected to the crankshaft, a speed 9 is achieved, 2 times higher than that of the crankshaft itself, reaching almost 130,000 rpm. The turbine is composed of a forged aluminum block With a five-axis CNC machining center, which guarantees high precision and durability. The turbine is 69 mm in diameter and incorporates six blades at the end and 12 blades at the base.

Extending the point of view to include the complete engine, in this components chosen one by one have been used to fulfill their function and to be able to withstand the power of 300 hp of the "Full Power" version, which means withstanding voltages between 1, 5 and 2 times higher than in a 1,000 cc naturally aspirated engine. In fact, except for the camshafts, cylinder head linings and clutch, the engine unit is exactly the same as the one designed for the Kawasaki Ninja H2R.

The cylinder head has also been worked intensively, on the one hand a combustion chamber with flat crown at the top of the pistons, as used in Green Gas engines developed by Kawasaki's Gas Turbine & Machinery Company. The intake valves are made of stainless steel, while the exhaust valves are constructed of two different materials friction welded in the center to withstand the high exhaust gas temperatures of a supercharged engine. Inconel forms the bottom of these valves while high-resistance steel is the component that forms the top.

As we saw in one of the many videos, a dummy cylinder head has been used during the cylinder grinding process, thus more cylindrical surfaces are achieved so that low friction rings can be used and thus reduce mechanical losses. Pistons are cast rather than forged, in this way, units resistant to high temperatures are achieved.

In the gearbox, a different technology from the usual has also been used, in this case it is called straight-tooth movable rings. In a normal gearbox the gears move to the proper position, but in this case what moves is a ring with straight teeth, which weighing less than the gears themselves, allow faster changes and with less effort.

The clutch is hydraulic and has a anti-bounce limiter system. Here we find Brembo components in the lever and in the race pump as well as in the mechanism that operates the clutch itself. These parts have been checked at the Brembo factory before being shipped to Japan for assembly on the Kawasaki Ninja H2. The clutch anti-bounce system enhances stability by preventing the rear wheel from bouncing in downshifts.

Air, we need air

At this point we have to talk about the air flow, both for power and for engine cooling. On the one hand we have the Ram-Air that goes from the front entrance, on the left side, to the supercharger. The surface of this inlet is 6,500 mm2, about a third of the front surface of the Kawasaki Ninja H2.

This duct is designed so that the air follows the straightest possible path to the air filter located just in front of the supercharger. The intake chamber is made of aluminum and has a capacity of six liters. This has been made of aluminum for its great thermal dissipation capacity and its great rigidity against 2 atmospheres of pressure that the system has at that point.

Inside that intake box we find the injectors, which spray fuel on some stainless steel grilles located on the intake nozzles. In this way a more uniform mixture of air and fuel. The intake air is also cooled sufficiently and filling in this way is more efficient.

This whole system will not be possible without the use of a electronic throttle which is combined with other engine power control systems that we will see later. All intake ducts are polished and the exhaust ducts are straight and do not converge on the cylinder head, thus allowing the gases to exit the combustion chamber more efficiently.

The exhaust manifolds They have an oval shape to match the dual exhaust pipes of each cylinder. The shape of these collectors is achieved with hydroforming to go from oval to round. All these ducts, each measuring 45 mm in diameter, are connected to each other, which together with the pre-chamber located under the engine and reduced volume makes the radiated sound less. The exhaust, located on the right side of the motorcycle, ensures compliance with noise and emissions regulations.

Engine cooling

To achieve those 200 hp it is not enough just that the intake air reaches the coolest possible inside the cylinders, it is also necessary to dissipate the heat that generates that power and keep the rest of the engine at a stable temperature. For this, a water jacket has been incorporated into the cylinder head that circulates between the exhaust ducts, spark plugs and valve seats. These last two points are made of steel, which requires more cooling than if they were made of aluminum.

In the crankcase some oil jets that lubricate the supercharger chain and there is also a conduit that transports the oil to the supercharger to ensure proper operation. Two oil jets have been installed under each cylinder to cool the pistons, and transmission oil jets have also been installed for the first time on a Kawasaki.

All this heavy use of oil means that the Kawasaki Ninja H2 engine uses up to 5 liters of oil, 35% more than in a conventional engine. And with this we conclude the mechanical section, which is undoubtedly very important on this bike. If you still want to read, then we will talk about the dynamic behavior of the bike and the electronics it includes.

High speed maneuverability and stability

It is clear that this Kawasaki with 200 hp in its engine is not going to be what is called slow. And when the green brand talks about ultra-speed, I am sure that more than one person opens their meats thinking where the limit of this mechanics may be. On the basis that the chassis was designed to handle the 300 hp of the R version In the street version with 200 hp this seems that it will not have many problems.

In any case, the design has been studied to the last millimeter, playing with the curvature of the tubes and their position to achieve a piece of resistance according to the needs. The swingarm is not directly anchored to the chassis, but to a fastening plate that is screwed directly to the motor. Thanks to this system, a few grams are saved in the final weight and a rigid assembly is obtained to spare.

For the first time in Kawasaki used a single-arm swingarm, and thanks to this you can mount the silencer in a position very close to the central axis of the motorcycle. This achieves angles of inclination that would otherwise be impossible.

The front fork is a Kayaba KYB AOS-II of high performance that is used for the first time in a street motorcycle. Its original design is based on the oil-water separation fork that the brand developed for moto-cross tracks. Its operation includes a 32 mm diameter floating piston located at the bottom that, when the suspension is activated, pumps oil to a sealed area between the inner and outer tubes to form a film that minimizes friction between the tubes.

The rear suspension is also Kayaba's signature, and features a rear shock anchored directly on the swingarm-to-engine anchor plate, while the bottom is supported by a uni-track anchor.

This creature's brakes are said to be the best option available for stock models. Ahead we find a couple of 330mm diameter Brembo semi-floating discs and 5.5 mm thick. On them two monobloc Brembo racial anchor calipers made of cast aluminum act. These calipers feature four opposed 30mm diameter pistons. The radial pump is also Brembo and is thoroughly checked at the factory before being shipped for installation. Behind we find a 250 mm diameter disc.

The wheels, which have been specially designed for the Kawasaki Ninja H2, have ten spokes that form a five-pointed star and they have a knurling on the inside of the throat where the tire is housed to prevent it from moving due to the torque developed by the motor.

Aerodynamics

The physical principle says that aerodynamic drag increases exponentially when speed increases, so in order not to hit a wall of air, and thanks to the Kawasaki Aerospace Company experience, a sculpted body was designed that maximizes the aerodynamics of the bike.

Every straight and every curve that we appreciate on the Kawasaki Ninja H2 has been designed to achieve a position Neutral and flat aerodynamics almost like that of a Formula 1 car. That's why the upper cowl helps direct the flow of air over its surface, and the Ram-Air occupies an efficient position.

The side and bottom fairings have also been designed to allow the dissipation of hot air from the engine area, and the rear features the figure of the pilot to achieve a aerodynamic flow that reduces drag.

The upper part has been conceived as a spoiler that reinforces stability at high speeds. The mirror mounts also feature aerodynamic profiles for added stability and even feature Gurney fins for increased efficiency.

Ergonomics

If you spend the money that this Kawasaki Ninja H2 costs you will not be able to convince anyone that it is to enjoy it as a duo, because only one person fits in the seat and the driving position is very similar to that of other supercar models. So sporty is the position that a pair of hip support pads have been included on either side of the back of the seat.

The instrumentation, which we also got to know in one of the many videos we have seen in this time, combines a Fully digital LCD display with an analog tachometer. The information is presented on the screen by means of white characters on a black background and, in addition to the digital speedometer, the other indicators necessary to know what is happening are presented. The tachometer needle is initially hollow, but as revs increase, the backlight fills it in to accompany the numbers.

electronics

What would a motorcycle of this type be without electronics? Well, surely nothing, because thanks to her we can tame and control each and every horse of power generated by the engine in any situation that comes our way. Although in this section there are not many novelties to mention, since we know everything used from other models.

On the one hand we find the Kawasaki system of adjustable traction control in three modes, and in each of these three modes we find three more options to increase or decrease the intrusion of the system in our driving. There is also a Rain mode, which can be switched on or off regardless of which mode is selected.

Output control, the system that ensures that you can accelerate smoothly from scratch and prevents the front wheel from lifting off the ground while the rear wheel does not slip. This system can also be modular by choosing from three available modes. The engine brake control system prevents the rear wheel from locking on downshifts and can be configured to even reduce engine brake when driving on a track.

We also have a system of intelligent anti-lock braking, or what is the same, a super sports ABS that is very similar to the one used in the Kawasaki ZX-10R and that allows controlling situations such as the rear wheel lifting during braking, that the lever does not go back when it comes into action and has a rebound control.

Another gadget is the semiautomatic shift that allows you to change gears in record time thanks to the architecture of the gearbox with straight tooth rings that move instead of the gears themselves.

Finally we find the electronic steering damper signed by Öhlins, a shock absorber that adjusts itself to suit the speed of the bike. This system was developed jointly with the suspension brand and its management is integrated into the motorcycle's own control unit.

Functional beauty

With these words, functional beauty, at Kawasaki they want to explain to us that all Kawasaki Ninja H2's body lines have a why. There are parts that seek to help at high speed, others channel the air around the engine and the motorcycle itself to collaborate in cooling. In short, what is sought is to offer a high quality product that ranges from the general vision to the details such as the bolts or nuts that we see in it.

In the lighting part, a LED headlight located lower than usual but in the central area of the front. The position lights have been positioned so that they look like fangs waiting to bite and the taillight also incorporates surface emitting LED type position lights. The rear indicators also use LEDs, but they are behind a textured lens to make them more discreet.

Finally, the painting of the Kawasaki Ninja H2 is also special, under the name of silver mirror a painting is hidden that appears black in the shade, but as soon as it is exposed to the sun it gives the impression that the motorcycle blends into the surrounding landscape.

The technology used is part of a chemical reaction between a solution of silver ions to which a reducing agent is applied. Unlike other types of paints, this one offers a uniform metallic effect. To finish curling the curl, the paint is applied by hand by expert painters, ranging from the base to the final layers of varnish. Two layers of this varnish are applied to the pieces without drawings and four to those that contain a drawing. The tank also receives a special treatment with an anti UV coating, and it is the only piece that is not painted by hand. At the moment the only color available will be this silver mirror black.

It only remains to indicate that the production of this Kawasaki Ninja H2 is carried out in a special assembly line in which only the best artisans of the brand work. At first it does not seem that thousands will be produced, but the few that come out are sure that they will not leave anyone indifferent in the whole world.

Kawasaki Ninja H2 - Technical sheet

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Topics

Sports

• Kawasaki
• Motorcycle news 2015
• Kawasaki ninja h2
• Milan Hall 2014
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