How Kawasaki made the First Hyperbike

Today we're looking at the development of the ridiculous Kawasaki Ninja H2R and H2
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[@alphafox400]

It is hard to imagine that the H2 will ever be profitable nor that the company had any illusions that it would. I surmise that it is primarily a showcase for Kawasaki’s technological prowess. It is also a limited production example of industrial design, a work of art way beyond the capacity of custom bike shops. Reminds me of Ford’s “cost be damned” development of the GT40. I cannot think of anything comparable in the last five decades.

[@justultrra3568]

Kawasaki doesn't need the money they make from their bikes. They get their funds from their heavy equipment, aerospace and defense equipment and ships. Kawasaki makes bikes because they want to, not because they need to.

[@mrcamelfrags]

​@justultrra3568 much like redbull sposoring extreme sports and race teams, kawasaki does the same for brand recognition I guess. The big 4 make their true money on smaller displacement motorcycles anyway.

[@Copesthetic-Aesthetic]

This is just good old fashioned Japanese bike wars folks. Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki Have been fighting for street bike supremacy for well over 50 years. This is the reason why Japanese Bikes are the best on the planet, and have been for along time.

[@tsubadaikhan6332]

Bugatti Veyron's didn't make the Volkswagen Group any money. And oddly, they revived the Bugatti name when they had current sport car Brands.

[@Yautah]

Someone else said Bugatti, but from the same group, the Phaeton, the Clio V6 from Renault, and many others. I think Rivian still loses money on some models for example.

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

Honda always reminds me of your granddad: Reliable, always there for you, a real steady -Eddie Kawasaki is like your alcoholic uncle. Sure, he's got his issues, but you always know fun is guaranteed in his company...

[@imunknownsource8696]

Suzuki = your friends with old looking fashion and weird but speed maniac riders Yamaha = a person who plays a guitar while riding the motorcycle.... Lmao

[@eurosonly]

What about Ducati?

[@user-sf9nw3vn3o]

... or ... Kawasaki is like the college girlfriend I had decades ago. Hot body and crazy fun but dangerous in the long run and likely to give you crabs in the short run.

[@richardconway6425]

First generation fireblade was no grandad bike. Some journalists said it was too fast.

[@Favk21]

⋆No one dares to challenge ZX-14R⋆ -Kawasaki: ''Fine. I'll do it myself.''

[@eirikaustad7580]

Hayabusa still better than ZX-14R imo

[@xgamershub]

How though? ​@@eirikaustad7580

[@Omnificuser]

@@eirikaustad7580 Nope, ZX14R stock quartermile king still after all these years, and WAY better to ride in the twisties than the top heavy Busa. Busa is a good bike, but ZX14R is better.

[@eirikaustad7580]

@@Omnificuser When I wrote my comment I didn't care specifically about performance and more about which bike is better, and I also think most people agree with me. Hayabusa is better both for long distance trips, and if you care a lot about speed then modify both bikes and the Hayabusa is the best performance wise once more 9 times out of 10. There is just so much more development and knowledge with the Hayabusa platform so it's rare to find a faster ZX-14R. Kawasaki also somehow managed to make a way uglier motorcycle than the Hayabusa, and while the performance may be better they have left it to rot for ages where as the Hayabusa now has a Gen 3 which actually looks kind of nice and has all the modern amenities and even though it has less horsepower than the other generations according to Suzuki's launch video it is also slightly faster. Still doesn't beat a ZX-14R in speed but at least it ain't slower.

[@carbonfiber492]

@@eirikaustad7580for a purely riders bike Honda has both beat the cbr1100xx started the battle and still rides better is more reliable and looks 10x better than both

[@keith5790]

as a kid i loved bikes but fell out it until when i was in highschool and BAM the Ninja H2R shows up out of nowhere and i was like "ILL DEFINITELY GET IT when im old". fast forward now that i grew up and saved up from high school, started being an adult and working, i bought the ninja h2 about 2 years ago and its something ill never let go! i love the concept of the bike period.

[@chrismoody1342]

As a kid of the 60’s I was all about Honda motorcycles. You wouldn’t catch me on anything but. That is until the late 80’s when I happened upon a 75’ Z1. The seller was clueless to its legendary status much like a 69’ Camaro. I gave her every thing I had in my pocket to purchase it; a whole $50. I’ve been on Kawasaki’s ever since. Present day ride is a ZX6R, which if I was to sell it would get every penny back. The ZX6R smokes the legend. But the legends value is, what is 300 to 400 times what I paid for it. It has 5 times the value of the ZX6R. 😎

[@tetedur377]

I had a '76 Z1 that also had a Pops Yoshimura kit, which was completely unnecessary. It sure was fun, though.

[@gregorysteffensen3279]

It's funny, as someone who only started riding in 2019, I also made the Honda-Kawasaki jump. On paper I feel like I *should* like the Honda and Yamaha offerings more but something about the Kawasakis I've had just works. Though my old CRF250L Rally still had my favorite ergos of any bike I've owned

[@Anonymouseys]

Out of curiosity, what made you choose the ZX-6R over the ZX-10R?

[@williamwintemberg]

There's nothing like forced induction when it's done correctly. Kawasaki accomplished this over their entire H2 line up. It all started with the H2R. As usual, great video!

[@williamrobertson8962]

I had a 750 turbo with 810cc, 1100 intakes, that made 185rwhp, and 60k miles on it when I sold it with no big issues. Clutch dampers broke down and caused me to have to rebuild the turbo. But that was it.

[@akmalrusydi2730]

@@williamrobertson8962 how did you rebuild the supercharger? i thought it was a specific designs and meticilous part only made by kawasaki themselves? or did you just makeshift your own supercharger? if so how was the performance/speed, still same as you first bought it?

[@williamrobertson8962]

@@akmalrusydi2730it’s a Hitatchi HT-10B turbocharger. Charlie Evergreen in Florida is the go to for turbo rebuilds and upgrades.

[@punchbuggyyellow7097]

Poor Honda didn’t even get a shout out. The Honda Blackbird was the bike that started this ridiculousness. Without it we probably wouldn’t have the Hyabusa or the H2.

[@salvadordollyparton666]

as a honda man, i'll agree they should've been mentioned... suzuki just came in and threw another 200cc at the blackbird to get ahead and kawasaki would've quickly slapped them back down to earth if there hadn't been talk of regulation that brought on the gentleman's agreement. but the blackbird didn't start it. the zx11 was untouched by the other 3 for years, the zx10, gpz900... which suzuki came in the first time with 200 more cc's, but then was knocked out by the cbr1000f. goin back to the damn magna, which was the fastest for several years as a shaft drive cruiser... since their inception, suzuki has had 2... yamahe had a few, and some europeans here and there. but honda and kawasaki were one upping eachother for years before the blackbird. and they probably would've stayed in it. i'd damn sure take a 1200 bandit in a heartbeat, or a katana. but my long list of dream bikes is pretty much all honda and kawi from there... and some ducatis and old buells... there are more vfr's on the list than total suzukis probably... then vtr, rc-51, blackbird of course... z900, gpz900, zx10,11,12, zrx, on and on and on... suzuki had the original katana, gsxr1100, 750, bandit and busa, bout it.

[@tesmith47]

Nope, the kawasaki Gpz series which was the root of NINJA FAMILY❤❤❤

[@loganraj3557]

I love how history is explained. I didn't know the supercharger in the motorcycle goes way back. Damn. .. Bart, make one for honda vfr, please 😬

[@Krosis_]

Yes, pls do the VFR, it deserves it

[@sooyster4033]

"Talk to me Kawi"

[@xani666]

It's wild to see those big engines on something that today looks like 125cc bike frame

[@mr1bienvenu1]

Your videos are very well put together. Some of the best on KZbin 👍

[@tedecker3792]

I’m 76yo now, but back in the day I had a 71 Mach3, then in 73 one of the very first Z1s. What a bike. I still think it’s one of the best looking bikes ever.

[@tesmith47]

Ever see a Gpz ??

[@ninji5226]

As if the bike isn't crazy enough there's an SX model with panniers and more comfortable ergos. So, if you want rip you face off speed but still want to carry stuff....they got that covered too.

[@DatJamesYT]

Detuned though - May aswell get the tried and true ZX14/ZZR1400 for far less money (May be bias as an owner of one 😅)

[@ninji5226]

@@DatJamesYT Always had a soft spot for the ZX14, awesome bikes.

[@marksmit8112]

Ive never owned a kwaka but have been trying to track down an H2 to buy. They are so awesome, just wish they made more of them

[@jeremyh172]

The day I got my H2 after years of waiting and savings it was an emotional ride home. Weather was perfect and it was such an experience. I stayed off other H2’s that my friends have because I wanted my first experience on my own. I’ve owned it about a month now and I’ve already swapped most of the stock parts out and my dyno number came back at 271 wheel Hp. I have more to go but you are truly king of the streets when you throw your foot over an H2. Everyone stops and asks for a picture or the “what is that” at a local cars and coffee the h2 had a bigger crowd around it than most of the super cars even super car owners stop and talk

[@juliuscarlopoblete2092]

Kawasaki hit th nail in the head with this one.. its like almost a decade since they released this and they are still selling as of today... Insane motorbike.. Im just curious, if they made this bike with a counter rotating crankshaft will it be more manageable?

[@bennyz1971]

The difference between H2 and Veyron is, that almost 2 tons is still heavy for a car.....

[@jpoo4572]

When talking about what machine they made to overcome Suzuki you forgot the ZX14. It was kicking Busa ass long before the H2 was

[@awesom6588]

Eh. Pretty evenly matched bikes

[@marksmit8112]

Nope kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4CqipeXpLuamtE

[@GarouOfficial]

12:30 its the only picture of a motorcycle in my room except for valentino rossi, hearing you say that was perfect, i just looked at my wall and laughed.

[@johnlaw5762]

Your videos are always great quality and very well researched. The only thing I’d want added is a sound clip of the bike’s sound 🙏🏼 But yeah, great video thanks

[@pa4tim]

I had a Kawa 250cc mach 1. Used it 3 months to daily drive to school (80km) I broke down at least once a week. But when it did not break down it was pretty "frightening" (in winter with snow) In the mean time I made one Honda CB550 out of 2 (one crashed with good engine, one with a dead engine)

[@trip5003]

My 1975 Kawasaki H1-F 500 never left me on the road once back in the day . I am still riding it by the way and it's the most reliable motorbike of any motorbike I have owned . Have a H1 ,, time for a H2 I believe ;-)

[@PA-Tammy]

@@trip5003 140k miles on a 74 H2 Kaw had it way back then...

[@imkay]

My fav bike🤌🏽

[@kylethenoobssnoobie2737]

Bro your h2r was here

[@bk83082]

This skips a lot of Kawasaki's flagship performance motorcycle lineage. Kawasaki consistently set top speed benchmarks in the decades leading up to the gentleman's agreement with the Z1, GPz900, ZX10, and ZX11. This video doesn't mention Kawi's original Busa fighter: the ZX12R. Realeased post agreement, it was slightly more powerful and lighter than the Suzuki and has the reputation of being the most extreme bike of the early 2000s. Oh and Honda produced a technological showcase bike in the same vein as the H2 in 1992 with the NR750.

[@moon_wingo]

Crazy to think the H2R has 10years, yez, this thing is 2014

[@thewatcher5271]

That Was Great! If That Don't Make You Pucker Up, Nothing Will! Isle Of Man Guys Are Probably Saying, "Hold My Pint"! Thank You.

[@abdiazeezmohamed8020]

bart please do a video on the bimota tesi h2

[@CatRacer1A2A]

I want an H2 SX something BADDD

[@darrenfitzpatrick6490]

i just got the zh2 and i can tell you first hand, its incredible

[@cpuuk]

Description of Kawasaki innovation is- "they looked at what the other manufacturers were waving and decided they would make the same, but an inch bigger".

[@martinfisker7438]

I cant believe its been 10 years - buy i remember the time just before launch, and the hype was real! I would periodically update kawasakis different medias to see if there was any news out. I remember sitting on my dads staircase watching that ferocious dyno video with the cherry red headers

[@pillagergaming]

there is now only one company making 750cc inline 4s suzuki and every other 750cc is a parallel twin cp2 these days

[@vinnyvinson]

👀aircraft aerodynamics…..Damn. Level up

[@billybattsshinebox8559]

How can you of chose the old ninjas series yet no mention of the ZZR 1100 which was the original as you said "Hyperbike" not the Hayabusa

[@gopherchucksgamingnstuff2263]

Thank you Bart. This was well timed.

[@gur262]

It would be cool if they could bring the performance aspect into the hybrid bikes. A 600cc 110-140 hp bike with 20-40 electric hp boost pulling from 0 like a 1200cc twin. I hear that the mere 10 hp boost their 63 hp total one has at least feels like something down low. A really high revving 250-400cc engine cranking out 65-90 hp with nothing in low revs could be fun too, supported by 10-30 hp electric to fill that torque gap.

[@Beanerds]

In one word , ' SCARY ' .

[@judih.8754]

Great video!

[@AridersLifeYT]

The progression has always been (IMO): Sport < Super < Hyper Sportbikes were ~600-650cc Superbikes were 750-1000cc Hyperbikes were 1000cc+

[@axelkilander3079]

Apparently Harley’s are hyper bikes

[@1.8T20V]

Brilliant brilliant video. Enjoyed every second

[@rhyswerner8749]

Awesome video bart!

[@robinv2758]

The comparison between the bikes and cars is a bit funny, because while the H2 stepped away from the norm of speed focused bikes being bulky and not that good at handling corners, the Veyron did the exact opposite. The F1 was a light agile car with a lot of race wins to its name meanwhile the Veyron is this big, heavy, kinda bloated car that's just focused at top speed

[@royvice666]

This is on my bucket list for sure, and altho i've owned and ridden Hondas, Kawas and many many more i'm ultimately a Hayabusa fan.

[@HowardKnewe]

Different between sport bike and illegal but completely registered under military contract super road bike. Introducing the H2 a full breed of their legal speed.

[@treborif]

I had a Kwak H1 back in 1976 - it would break the back wheel loose when the throttle was whacked open because tyres then were fucking hopeless. The bike wasnt at fault at all. Tyre - round black rubber hoops. Tire - to become tired. Fucking US spelling.

[@ekspatriat]

The H2R is surely a dead end. Built for the track yet I have not heard of it winning any races or setting any lap records.

[@richardconway6425]

Yes, good point. But not winning any races will be a moot point for kawasaki - show me a motorcycle racing class that allows forced induction? It's simply not allowed, those are the rules. It's probably too powerful, but also too heavy (certainly compared to motogp bikes) for most riders. Would love to see what Valentino Rossi could do on it though. Just for fun.

[@BlueSquatchproductions]

Would never own one but it's definitely cool 😎

[@wkins]

Would you ever make a video about the Honda CBR125? It's a cult classic in the UK

[@ntdscherer]

People call the original Hayabusa ugly, but I think the H2 makes it look like a work of art.

[@AridersLifeYT]

What about the y2k or the y2k 420rr? surely that counts as its a precuser to the h2r

[@theslowdeathoftheuniverse]

why Kawa is not in motoGP? I would love to see them do something fucking insane

[@Drobium77]

TBH, the hyperbikes are taking the soul out of motorcycling, and turning it in to a social media flex fest. who cares if your bike can do 230mph, once you've done it, you've done it and it's not practical in the least. Save the plus 200mph bracket for planes and trains, there's really no point in bikes other than bragging rights, and everyone hates braggarts

[@pjb4653]

I had 09 zx6r it was nasty asf

[@vincedibona4687]

…so? And? “I Have to make this about me somehow, me me ME!” 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Kumyar]

​@@vincedibona4687 The video is about amazing Kawasaki ability to make incredible bikes, PJB rides one, hence the comment.

[@fj5434]

​​@@vincedibona4687 Maybe mind your business and don't judge people for no reason

[@pjb4653]

@@vincedibona4687 what do you ride besides your mom ?

[@legs8262]

May I dare to suggest the VF750F Interceptor for a spotlight?

[@bobz1736]

You didn't seem to mention the Honda Blackbird? 🤔

[@arindamn4880]

I wish the h2 had two air intakes like the h2r

[@miljororforsprakpartiet290]

Kawasaki? It started with the Blackbird.

[@mgpBLARG]

Hyperbike is a bit extreme. 5-15 hp more than a Hayabusa is not very Hyper...

[@CliffGulle-dx8ey]

A Voxon is very much capable of defeating the H2R in speed! It has an Electric Motor! 😆😆😆

[@rolandyancydorol4635]

Think that the H2 would be the first and the last of its kind?

[@Byrdznyst]

Got 71 & 91 500s .. Ben Rite at 160 MPH on Tha 92 *

[@estevangarcia2690]

ZX-14R? ZX-14R? The Busa Killa? C'mon man.

[@truthreignsforever9286]

Bartholomew knows best ☝️😎

[@jingochesh]

The H2 is the modern day akira bike change my mind

[@dogdynogamingyt]

we need a vfr vid bro

[@kenkitson_ap]

You seem to not know about the xz14r that Kawasaki made to beat the Suzuki. The H2 wasn't the first hyper bike. Anyone who knows anything knows that both the Suzuki and the zx14r were called hyper bikes.

[@halloyoutubers7047]

Ok that was 10yr ago, whats next in 2024 the hybride motocycle.

[@zenmoto369]

The Hayabusa was probably the first hyperbike

[@mercoid]

I’ll seeee youuu.

[@32ModB]

❤Less is more &❤ more but better❤

[@nwbasson]

Saying Kawasaki not being a primarily moto manufacturer is what differentiates then from other Japanese manufacturers is a false statement

[@TheWilliamHoganExperience]

Needs more cowbell

[@elemar5]

H1 was the Widowmaker. These youngsters always get it wrong

[@caboose6411]

Plenty of motorcycles and cars get that nickname

[@Angel_EU34]

Also the 2004 ZX-10R Nobody talks about that particular bike and it was a scary monster of a machine. There are very few in the market because a lot of them were totaled, along with their riders. The powerband was just pure violence.

[@elemar5]

@@caboose6411 The H1 was produced well before the H2 and was named Widowmaker.

[@LoneWanderer905]

You realize these are regional things, right? There's a whole wide world other than where you live lmao. Where I live, the RD350 was called the widowmaker. It also had the nickname "coffin lid". Kawie didn't even dream of producing/exporting bikes here at the time.

[@elemar5]

@@LoneWanderer905 Did they call the RD400 the Widiwmaker? If not why not?

[@TriAngles3D]

38 years of riding... Honda's the best Only have and ride Yamaha's Suzuki is the Yamaha option But when it come to Kawasaki... I have to think about cars, not bikes. Kawasaki are the absolute best looking bikes that focus on max HP, Torque and image like its the muscle car years of the late 60's. The ninja from the 80's was the Pontiac GTO of 1964 No surprise that Kawasaki would deliver the H2. Brute and bold.

[@dougiequick1]

Personally I think Kawasaki BLEW IT by failing to make and H1 and H2 TRIPLE....I mean granted they could not use 2 stroke these days but DAMN they AT LEAST should have stayed with the TRIPLE! I would have liked to see the H1 be maybe a 900 triple and the H2 an 1200 ....they really would not even need to be supercharged to be plenty cool and worthy of the name .....but whatever if supercharged even a triple would make gobs of power.....more torque and lighter than a 4 cylinder of same discplacment

[@jacobdesailles6135]

Yeah but you would loose out on the top end benifits that the entire bike was based around. Don't get me wrong I really like triplesbut I don't think it really suited the goal of just all our performance.

[@frisk151]

The disgusting part of all of this is that "gentleman's agreement" to limit motorcycles... Where has that been for 4 wheeled insanely fast vehicles??? I'm serious.. Here in the good ole' USA... They test Koenigsegg and other records in NV. Has there ever been a ban on supercars? Nope.. I'm nothing to nobody in the racing scene today.. However, after winning a national title(s) on the water... Honda wanted to give me a full ride with their Aquatrax.. Completely limited by Honda! You cannot pay me any amount of money to lose racing anything.. It was infuriating! I signed and when flashing / changing the ecu's were locked out... I quit watercraft racing all together.. (Not the only reason). Honda can kiss my arse.. They are scared little pu$$ies after the 3-wheeler crap in the 80's.. Well after I quit racing pwcs/watercraft, Kawi came out with their Ultra's that could destroy.. I have a legit love for Kawasaki and how they handle business..

[@littleshopofelectrons4014]

I'm a little confused with the claims for the H2. A Yamaha R1 also produces 200 HP from that same 1000 ccs without a supercharger and is considerably lighter, so why does the H2 deserve the title of hyperbike but the R1 does not? The H2R, with 300 HP, I can understand but the H2?

[@swoondrones]

Search K1300R street fighter.

[@rdt1104]

looks cloaked

[@flavitz02]

Lol, it's litter bike not leader bike, you don't know anything about motorcycle and it shows, you just read everything from the internet..

[@sonnyarandia1700]

. M..st

[@Tonedwhistle844]

2nd

[@vincedibona4687]

No you weren’t.

[@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443]

**coughs in MTT Turbine bike**

[@TheFunkhouser]

Still rather have the Ducati, the H2's stock pipes look HORRIBLE!

[@flavitz02]

Lol, H2 is not the first hyperbike

[@jimcurt99]

Looks like WAY too much aero crap slapped on- I'm sure it's a fine machine-very fast- but it's FUGLY

[@dougiequick1]

I get it has more power but how are modern 4 cylinder liter SPORTBIKES not hyperbikes?? I mean 200ish hp with lightweight great handling chassis bike NOT "hyper bikes" already? I mean they ALREADY are more than mere mortals can effectively even use? Unless one is talking drag strip or speed runs? Who CARES? H2 is too heavy! Kinda a gimmick

[@ZedNinetySix_]

Aww. He's scared of the H2, cute.

[@JohnWayne1107]

But suzuki did it first with the busa tho

[@vincedibona4687]

🤦🏻‍♂️

[@KevinLader]

Zx 12

[@EliasCGro]

This Video Sounds a Bit to much Like a commercial

[@peterolofsson9871]

Hey Flump! Just letting you know I got here from a @SunlessKhan shout out. Sweet channel!

[@Unclefacts]

The busa was king until the zx14r showed up and dry humped it into submission

[@Keith-hc9js]

Really are no comparison of the gpz superbikes eleven hundreds and up wards the even one thousand h series and two stroke H2 750 pretty much flew apart and was Hypnotized from the Erie exhaust purplish girly colors in disappearing horizon see ya around by way you guys are pretty good sells reps pressures cooker sells hell Ive met some and free of charge helped explain more parts you bolt on don't make motorcycle run faster or Beter cheap is not the answer Beter to check different manufacturers and solicite on websites maybe pay someone to let ride ther motorcycle.by way if that route and are legit can get full insurance coverage even though motorcycle belongs to other to sell