Ninja Top Speed
Being profoundly knowledgeable in the world of engineering, Kawasaki manufactures some of the world's most sophisticated pieces of machinery, and the Ninja H2 is one among them. Kawasaki's foray into no man's land is just to showcase their insane engineering prowess. We couldn't help but think, why would any sensible automaker spend time and resources in developing an absolutely ludicrous machine.
The Ninja H2R is the fastest Kawasaki to date and is currently the flagship offering from the Japanese marque. When launched, the H2 revolutionized the way motorcycles were engineered with several accolades adorning this beast of a machine. The Ninja H2R is a hardcore version of the regular H2 with more power and less weight. To put that into context, the H2R has 50% more power than the fastest street-legal motorcycles out there.
The Ninja H2R is in fact 'THE' fastest production motorcycle in the world with a claimed top speed of 250 mph!
Kawasaki Ninja H2R: A Top Speed Of Over 250 MPH
In the heart of the H2R lies a 998 cc inline-4 motor. One of the highlights of this engine is its adoption of a supercharger. Yes, a supercharged motorcycle! In fact, the H2R is currently the only supercharged bike offered by any mainstream manufacturer.
The engine runs in two states of tune, the Ninja H2 makes do with 227 horsepower and 98.5 lb-ft of torque. In this configuration, the H2 runs the supercharger with 20.5 psi of boost. Move on to the H2R and power figures jump significantly. The motor puts out 310 horsepower and 115 lb-ft of twist, enough to rocket the brute over 250 mph. The figures can be improved if fitted with a ram air intake. The resulting boost of power is rated at 239 horsepower for the H2 and 326 horses for the H2R.
With the bike weighing in at 476 pounds (215 kg), you're looking at some insane power-to-weight figures. The Ninja H2R has a power to weight ratio of 1.663 hp per kg and bags first place in the list of top 10 motorcycles with incredible power to weight figures. In contrast, the Bugatti Chiron's power to weight ratio of 0.752 hp per kg looks rather paltry in front of the H2R.
Kawasaki Ninja H2R: Rides Like A Proper Kawasaki
Riding the H2R is far from a civilized affair. Although you have to bear with the aggressive ergonomics it's not as bad as some of its tier-two counterparts. The ride is nowhere near supple and the bike is largely tuned to run around racetracks. You won't be disappointed if you do happen to track this monstrous four-banger. The engine is incredibly tractable thanks to its torquey nature. The supercharged 998-cc unit is one of the most if not the most refined four-pot on the market. Power is more than adequate and is terrifying at full boost. Having a lose right hand might give a glimpse of what the HZR is capable of.
While the H2 is incredibly docile, the H2R isn't and it's not something we'd recommend to novice riders. Kawasaki has very kindly equipped the H2 with multiple power modes which cuts the available power so that the rider doesn't feel intimated with all the 227 horses. With such impressive capabilities, there's no other motorcycle in the market that could call itself a worthy competitor to the H2R. For the sheer amount of excitement and uniqueness, the Kawasaki H2R strikes a performance balance between performance and absolute absurdity.
Kawasaki Ninja H2R: Too Much For The Road
Here's the important bit, with great power comes responsibilities, and public roads are not where Kawasaki wants people riding the H2R. The construction of the bike with respect to aerodynamics and the engine is not road-legal so to speak.
Instead of rear-view mirrors, you have MotoGP-inspired winglets that help with aerodynamics. There are no catalytic converters, instead, you have straight-pipes that help shed weight and adds to unhindered exhaust flow. The bike comes standard with slicks which pretty much sums up the intention.
From an enthusiast standpoint, we'd rather use this on a track than anywhere else. Being a 300+ horsepower motorcycle, it really doesn't make sense to use it on public roads. That said, Kawasaki has managed to let it loose on some tracks and boy does it fly. In 2015, the H2R managed to clock 206 mph on the Sulby straight lending it a record for the highest top speed attained in the Isle of Man. This piece of absurdity can be yours for a mere $55,000. However, Kawasaki has been selling the H2R for quite a while and won't be expecting revisions anytime soon. That said, all 120 units of the Ninja H2R Carbon have been sold out.
For an obscenely impractical piece of sophistication, the Ninja H2R is far from the ordinary. The amount of engineering that went into the bike levels MotoGP-like precision and attention to detail. It's a testimony to how far we've reached in terms of two-wheeled motoring.
Sources: YouTube, Autowise, Kawasaki
NEXT: Here's What Made The Kawasaki GPZ900R Special
This Is What Happens When You Put A Maserati Engine In One Of Most Iconic Cars Ever
Like the idea of a DS but wanted a little more prestige under the hood? The SM could be the car for you.
Read Next
About The Author 
Kiran Menon (262 Articles Published)
A relatively naive bloke in every aspect other than cars. Ever since he was a toddler, cars fascinated him so much that he only ate when there's a magazine beside him. Although comprehension was a bit far-fetched, pictures were the focal point. Fast forward a few years, he graduated with a degree in automobile engineering and now pens down on all things motoring.
More From Kiran Menon
Source: https://www.hotcars.com/kawasaki-ninja-h2r-the-fastest-production-motorcycle-of-all-time/
0 Komentar