Meet the Ninja H2 SX Kawasaki's 201-HorsePower Cruiser - EICMA 2017

Ninja touring: How fast do you want to see the planet?

The Kawasaki H2 family, first revealed to the world in Sep 2014 was a revolutionary machine in the eyes of many motorcyclists around the world. It brought with it many innovations to the world of motorcycling.  The 998cc supercharged engine was the most important innovation at Kawasaki.

Now, Kawasaki brings the innovations to the world of Sport-Tourers, a category that the younger audience generally sees as boring and old. All that is about to change with the introduction of the Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX and it's more premium sibling, the SE model delivering this 201-horsepower supercharged cruiser.

Supercharged touring is here, and it looks like fun

The star of the moment is the supercharged heart, know for its manic acceleration. Kawasaki knew the engine's character needed some taming to do touring duties and that is what they set out to do with this bike.

New components help the engine become more street friendly and usable, which include new pistons, cylinder head, cylinder, crankshaft, camshafts and throttle bodies. There is also a new exhaust that is lighter. With all these changes we also get a 3 kg reduction in weight!

The new engine is claimed to flow less air and hence is quieter and smoother. There is a redesigned intake system along with a new impeller for the supercharger aimed at providing a more usable power delivery and better touring experience. But the best news is this: all these changes haven't affected the power output. The engine produces 200 ps at 11,000 rpm and 137.3 Nm at 9,500 rpm.

The numbers mean that while the new engine will offer a different experience from the outgoing sporty H2, it will most definitely not be a slow experience. The gear ratio too have been revised to be more in-line with the touring focus of this motorcycle, and we also get a slip/assist clutch. Kawasaki claims to have improved the heat management and fuel economy, with the later being in the same ball-park as the Z1000 SX.

Full-fledged electronics package

Suspension is taken care of by 43mm inverted forks that are fully adjustable. The fully adjustable KYB shock feature a revised Uni-Trak linkage to better serve the nature of the machine. Brakes are 320 mm brake discs, radial-mount 4 piston front calipers, and a 250 mm disc at the rear paired to a 2 piston caliper. Being an H2, the new bikes get top of the line electronics too.

The list is comprehensive, with an IMU assisted KTRC, Kawasaki's six-axis traction control system, KIBS, engine-braking control electronic cruise control, three power modes (Low, Middle, Full); KQS(up and down quick shifter) and even launch control. The bikes also feature full LED lighting and a cornering light function too, while the more premium SE version also adds a TFT dash.

True to its nature as touring machine, there are more specialized changes to the H2 SX. Additions such as the wider fairing and a taller wind screen improve aerodynamics and takes away rider fatigue. A revised rider triangle and better padded seats add to the comfort too. The trellis frame has been redesigned to better serve the intended purpose with greater rigidity to handle the higher payload. Kawasaki also included an easy to use pannier system.

With all these addition to the already excellent package, this is going to be a very potent inter-continental ride. Prices are yet to be known, but how these machines stack to the established players will be an interesting topic to watch out in 2018.