Okay...
So the new H2 isn't so new anymore.
The marketing and hype for its release was substantial.
We heard whistles, we saw glowing pipes, and there were some big HP numbers being thrown around.

Now I have not heard a bad word about these bikes from people that own them and they are the ones I take most note of because they have first hand experience and can compare to other bikes including 14's.

But...
I have not seen a major video or article on the H2 or H2R leaving a relevant competitor for dead.
Wasn't that the point of building this supercharged machine?

If for example I can purchase a BMW S1000RR for less outlay dollars and a fraction of the maintance with "similar performance" to the H2, what is Kawasaki's point?

I know there has been much positive comment on the "user experience", but I'd like to see superior numbers and results against the competition.

So the challenge is does anyone have any conclusive information that this bike is built beyond belief from You Tube, trusted sources, official results that shows standout results on the race track, on the drag strip or on the road.
Not user experience, but bettering competitors as the bike was designed to do.

It's a beautiful motorcycle that breaks new ground, no doubt.

But I really want to believe and I'm starting to question...

* Last updated by: yannih on 5/17/2015 @ 8:18 AM *

"I have not seen one video or read one article on the H2 or H2R where the bike leaves a relevant competitor for dead.
Wasn't that the point of building this supercharged machine?"...no.One of the misbeliefs about this bike was just that."Supposed to CRUSH the 'competition'".The H2R is putting out over 300 hp on a 500 something lb frame(maybe less).The H2,after flash and pipe..right now...243+on a less than 500lb frame.Which basically...will give almost any owner the ride of their life,aside from flying a jet.

It's the RIDE experience.Never having ridden a 1000,I have no way of knowing just how unique MY ride experience is with my H2.I can only compare it to my 14.I didn't honestly get it to blow the 'competition' away.I got it because the trust I have in Kawasaki...that it would deliver just what they were saying.It has,and will even more when this Flash comes back.Yeah..it's true that derestricting is an 'over and above' 'extra' cost.We all have to do this to our bikes to get the MAX out of em...EVERYONE knows that a new bike like these(14's,sportbikes in general)are NOT gonna be full on opened up.So that's really not a fault of the bike per se.

I think Somefun could bring some nice input into this thread.He's ridden 1000's.He's already warned me..."be careful" once my flash gets here.He's been riding these types of bikes for however long...if he says that...he means it.

The H2 is a STREET bike.A 1000 streetbike.With a SC that ups the fun factor.It has to be ridden to be 'appreciated'.Numbers on a tech sheet won't explain this bike.It's a Kawasaki.Top of the line like the 14.EVERYONE(here)that owns the 14 can attest to the quality of materials and ride it gives.The H2 is NO different.

Did we all get a 14 cause it'll blow away the competition?Not most.Nothing but praise for our 14's.Whether it kills anything around it or not.Same with the H2 IMO.It's the RIDE.That's what makes both bikes so cool.

Boosting a 14 will not allow it to rail through the corners like a 1000.It just can't.But the H2...it's designed to rail through the corners.And it does.I have to say...when riding kind of aggressive,I've several times found myself NOT breathing.My 14 no matter how hard I rode her...has never done that with me.This H2 is like NO other bike I've ever ridden.Maybe it's just that this bike handles so well,and stays SO planted that there's a certain 'fear' factor happening..like expectations of it losing it.But it doesn't.It just keeps holding and challenging.It's amazing(to me anyway).I come out of a nice deep curve(or several in a row)...I'm holding my breath.Enter into a straight portion...it's like..."GEEZ...what the hell just happened".She's that smooth...that reliable.And I'm no racer...we all know that.Plus it's the street...there ARE limits that have to be taken.For everyone's sake.She'll do a lot more than I dare.I don't think anyone wants to be able to outride their bike.I don't think there's a chance for me of that happening.Which is what makes it even more fun.

I've never ridden a bike that had the balance qualities this one does.It stays where you lean it,and adding or subtracting lean is so simple and safe feeling.It just is.I don't know how to really say it...being a street guy.I did my reservoir run a few days ago...that vid.Curves and such that I would have been easing out of the gas with my 14 I found myself adding and shifting midcorner,and moving much faster than my beloved 14.The perception of speed is different with this bike...it's so smooth and sticks(handles) so well.And I certainly was 'trying' to not get too crazy.It is amazing how it rides.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 5/17/2015 @ 7:32 AM *

You might have missed this thread, yannih. here's a link to p 3 where we have video of a much smaller rider on an S1000 taking a shellacking from a big guy on an H2.

ZX-14

The H2 walks the walk but you are right, why all the silence except for this single owner posting videos? Maybe the #1 reason is that there are SO few H2s out there. Another possible reason is that most of the people who could spend that kind of money on a bike don't race. People who do spend big bucks on racing already own a turbo 14 or busa and I think the performance with those machines would be similar to the H2 (albeit with a LOT more problem solving). No one ever thought the H2 would dominate in road racing but looked promising for LSR and drag racing. The turbo 14 and busa might be better designed for launching and depending on the boost setup, simply a faster accelerating bike. I'm willing to wait another few months for some LSR videos with the H2. Somefun will be doing that. I wish him all the best and I won't be surprised at all if he tops 200. I still don't think his bike will go a lot faster than most boosted LSR bikes but even a couple mph faster is a big achievement.

I believe the H2 and H2R are for guys who want a boosted bike and they want it now, free from all the hassles of performing their own build on a NA bike. I don't think it was possible to make it more than competitive with the custom built machines that have been around for years.

Boosting a 14 will not allow it to rail through the corners like a 1000.It just can't.But the H2...it's designed to rail through the corners.

I suppose we're back to the same problems of a custom turbo build but why not boost a Gen 4 ZX-10? That should be a lot faster than a NA ZX-14 and come in at about 450 lbs. LOL it's all about "do you really want to go through all the hassle?"

Strictly for performance purposes, I think Kaw could have built the H2 a lot closer to the 10. That would have been just too daring for a factory bike...450 lbs and 300 hp. Also, the H2 had to be designed with people over 40 years old in mind to mesh with the price tag. Most of us would rather stay away from a ZX-10 for an everyday street bike.

I'm basing my weight estimate on a turbo or SC weighing about 25 lbs. I'm sure they can't add more than 50 lbs and that would still put the ZX10 under 500 lbs total.

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/17/2015 @ 8:23 AM *

Good point about that boosted 10.I haven't seen any(heard of).They're track bikes...you can't run boost like that on a track bike.Maybe that's why?IDK.Perhaps the guys that run the 10 on the street realize that possibly it'd be too much that they're not willing to go(performance that is).I'll Google 'turbo 10's'...see what that gets.They are light.As a track bike needs to be.Possibly the internals can't deal with it?Could be VERY expensive in maintenance.

The thing about the H2...it was designed to perform 'almost' the same as the H2R.Yet it has the maintenance and reliability factor that the H2R doesn't....I mean...parts replacement schedules.You have to tear down the H2R's motor and all that within a particular amount of RPMs and such.The H2 doesn't.Just an aside..the plugs on the H2 don't get changed until 30K miles.NO bike that I've heard of has this kind of schedule.That's just one thing.There's others as well.

"Strictly for performance purposes, I think Kaw could have built the H2 a lot closer to the 10"...they could have.That isn't what they wanted.This bike was a dream of one of the early founders of the motorcycle line at Kawasaki.It isn't a knock off of a previous model.It IS it's own build.

"faster accelerating bike"...I don't agree here.You have to LEARN how to launch this thing...it doesn't have the same mass and all of a Busa or a 14.It's a handful(not that those aren't).Most guys that've bought this bike aren't drag racers.I had to put her on KTRC 3 to be able to punch her with my limited abilities and attempt to keep the front down.Which it did,but I lost the power once the KTRC kicked in.So they designed a launch mode.I haven't tried it.It doesn't have the weight issue happening.It's 'light' considering the engine output available.It'll loft in 5 gears...with the flash unleashed and the pipe/muffler replaced.Maybe 6th.IDK...

Oh sure, there are plenty of turboed literbikes including the ZX-10. IDK if the latest Gen has been boosted, it must have by now. True, maybe you need to replace engine parts more so than you would on a larger bike. Maybe that would bump the weight up more. Still, I can't see a built, turboed Gen4 ZX-10 weighing over 500 lbs. Maybe after all the weightloss mods are done to an H2, it will be close that weight as well.

Yannih, I have to agree with Gen here, it is more about the total experience than the hard numbers. The H2 brings a lot to the table, good handling and over the top HP when flashed. It's never going to set any records on the racetrack, that's not it's forte. The H2 has proven that stock, it's at least a match for the top literbikes in a straight line. After flashing and adding a pipe and tune it should handle all comers, at least on the straights. We buy these machines for the experience, I'm looking hard at the KTM 1290, for some reason it just flips all the right switches for me. It won't outrun my ZX-6R in a straight line, quarter mile times are similar and the ZX-6R will out corner it but that isn't the point. The 1290 has that mega motor that has torque everywhere and handles well enough so the hard numbers don't really matter, the ride experience is everything.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 5/17/2015 @ 11:12 AM *

Heck...we all KNOW the HP and torque figures stock on these bikes.If it doesn't meet anyone's wants...either don't buy it,or look to the aftermarket BEFORE buying.The H2...there WAS no aftermarket.Companies were too scared to invest in this bike.Now we're seeing aftermarket all OVER the place.For a flop,they're sure linin up to take our cash.One of the reasons I got this bike...but it wasn't a deal breaker...was I KNEW guys(some)would strive to unleash the potential it has.It had to happen.Do Dads to add on...nope...I don't need em.She's complete for me.(pipes and flash are not do dads IMO).I will say..I had to ditch the seat and build my own.I also changed out the grips for something 'softer'.Spent this morning fabbing my Radar detector fitment.I decided when I got it for my 14,it was a totally cool item to have..definitely gives a great warning for wiley coyote.But it's gonna be on my H2 now.

There were BUNCHES of guys complaining about the on-paper figures...you know,criticizing it unmercifully.I say...don't get it then,be happy.Get something you DO want.Just cause it has a SC on it doesn't mean it's gonna lift off the flightdeck.As Kruz says...it's the RIDE.For me...always the ride.The H2 stock is PLENTY of fun times as is.

And Kruz...I think you should get that 1290...they're VERY well liked.For the reasons you stated.Fun bikes...for sure.In fact,a guy I know here has one...I've seen it parked at the store a time or two...it IS badazz...;)He loves it.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 5/17/2015 @ 1:21 PM *

Guys, I get it.

The user experience is impressive.
But if the seat of your pants is telling you the bike is so fast, it should also be fast against competition as well and that just doesn't seem to be the case.

I'm not bad mouthing the H2. I actually love the bike.
I'm just trying to understand.

By this stage I was expecting reports of "H2 out performs here" and "H2 beats there" but there seems very little if any of that.
Why go to the complications of adding a super charger if the performance doesn't increase well over the non supercharged competition?

I already know about the user experience. I've read that over and over and I'm happy the guys that are fortunate enough to own these bikes are so satisfied. But these are opinions only.

I'm simply trying to see in black and white what the H2 will bring to the table performance wise against the competition.

Isn't that a huge part of what it's all about?

But if the seat of your pants is telling you the bike is so fast, it should also be fast against competition as well and that just doesn't seem to be the case.

The 2 videos are enough for me. Sure would be nice to see more but those were decisive victories against an S1000 which can give the 14 a big problem from a rollon.

Kevin Duke "So, how much power does this thing have? Kawi claims 200 PS (197.2hp) at 11,000 rpm and 133.5 Nm (98.5 lb-ft) at 10,500 when rated at its crankshaft. Big numbers, but not any bigger than those claimed by Ducati for its new 1299 Panigale: 205 hp and 106 lb-ft.We think Kawi’s numbers are quite pessimistic. Our friend Brock Davidson at Brock’s Performance recently tested an H2 on his dyno, logging peaks of 194 hp and 96 lb-ft. of torque at its rear wheel. Lopping 10% off Ducati’s figures to convert crank hp to rear-wheel hp would translate to about 184 hp and 96 lb-ft., which can’t quite measure up to the 287cc-smaller H2"

Stock.Those stock numbers are actually about 6 HP low for the H2.And the TQ.It's been dynoed with 198-199 HP at the rear wheel.

I hear what you're saying but be patient Yannih, build it and they will come, I think Yoda said that or maybe I'm paraphrasing but I digress. Too early in the game right now, aftermarket is just starting to spool up for these things. When these bikes get juiced they should be faster than just about anything out there. Time will tell.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 5/17/2015 @ 8:59 PM *

Right now the H2 fills a particular niche, it's neither fish nor fowl, it is what it is but it is fast no doubt. I was expecting to hear more from Gadsen though, he's been quiet lately.

"If you build it, they will come!"
The voice from Field of Dreams...

Kruz, I think you are right.
Give it some time.

But the Gadsen call is what I'm talking about.
Surely Gadsen is an absolute priority to Kawasaki and the H2?
Show some ridiculously kick arse numbers and "they will come"!
But nada...

Again, I am not bad mouthing the bike.
I love it.

I'm just trying to understand.

* Last updated by: yannih on 5/17/2015 @ 9:54 PM *

build it and they will come, I think Yoda said that or maybe I'm paraphrasing

Kevin Costner, Field of Dreams, crc. 1990. Lets hope the H2 does better than that movie which didn't hurt KC's career, nonetheless.

Kevin Costner/Yoda, that cracks me up! Imagine Kevin Costner speaking in a Yoda voice!

"If build it you do, come they will!"

That's more like it!;)

I don't know what's holding up Ricky either.I'd think by now...he'd be posting some great 1/4 mile times and such.He does not have an H2 engine.He has an H2 frame...the motor's an H2R.It is odd he hasn't relayed any stats.Oh well...his bike...his show.I don't even really care about numbers for an H2R...that aint my bike...if ya know what I mean.

I understand where Yannih is coming from here, it's been quiet, almost too quiet after all the pre-release market hype. I think we were all expecting mind blowing performance numbers which hasn't happened yet. If the H2R had been released as a street bike, this might have had the mind blowing effect we were all anticipating. I think another problem is that we are starting to bump up against the limits of technology, the development curve is definitely starting to flatten out. We most likely won't see a bike ever again that changes how we view performance in the way the Hayabusa did back in 1999.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 5/18/2015 @ 9:40 AM *

Here's your answer Yannih:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iY4u2sLvckc

Holy Schneikies

http://www.superstreetonline.com/features/1505-2015-kawasaki-h2r-vs-bugatti-veyron-spe-gtr-and-mclaren-12c-airstrip-races/?sf38194677=1

I would expect the H2R to win the race with the Veryan in a mile.

The other vid is too long for me to watch. What happened?

H2 smoked a string of bikes, 14 wouldn't run him.

Rook, the article does have a tl/dw explanation of what happened. H2R destroyed the McLaren and Veyron, and after initially beating the GTR in the first few runs came up a hair short against it later.

I like watching the speedo blow through 200. Gentleman's agreement? H2R is no gentleman. Is the 'vanilla' H2 regulated?

No mistake, the H2R is a total beast.

The race prepped GTR won by 4 mph against a stock H2R. Now a proprly lsr prepped unit say lowered and stretched might be a little different being able to start in first and build speed right away.