VOLUME 56 ISSUE 43 OCTOBER 29, 2019 P59
But Kawasaki has not
pushed the boat entirely out
with the new Z, preferring to
run conventional, rather than
electronically monitored/
adjusted suspension in the
Showa Big Piston Fork (BFP)
and Brembo's radially mount-
ed, four-piston M4 front brake
calipers.
Like the rest of the super-
charged Kawasaki range, the
Z H2s don't run an intercooler,
with Kawasaki saying, "With its
assist and slipper clutch plus
dog ring gearbox technology,
clever use of oil as a coolant to
eliminate the need for a bulky
intercooler and manifest oil jets
playing on key components,
KHI engineers have married
reliability to rideability in a way
only they know how."
The electronics are gov-
erned by a Bosch Inertial
Measurement Unit (IMU) for
traction control, intelligent
anti-lock braking, cornering
management function, select-
able rider, power modes, and
anti-wheelie control, and all ac-
cessed via a new TFT display.
And Kawasaki has fitted cruise
control to the Z H2.
The Kawasaki Z H2 is the
first new release from the com-
pany ahead of EICMA in two
weeks, so we haven't seen the
last of what's new for the big K
for 2020. CN
K
awasaki used the Tokyo
Motor Show to unveil its
brand new supercharged
motorcycle in the Z H2.
Based heavily off the H2
SX sport touring bike but with
fairings and luggage turfed and
new, angry looking aesthetic
and sporting LED lights front
and rear, the Z H2 is every bit
as mean as it sounds. The Z
H2 will run a 998cc, ram air
assisted inline four-cylinder
motor, with power at a claimed
197 horsepower at 11,000 rpm
and 101 lb-ft of torque hitting
at 8500 rpm. The six speed
gearbox runs an up and down
quickshifter.
Chassis tech is typical H2,
with the metallic lime green
tubular steel chassis on full dis-
play, as is the now iconic "super
charger" logo on the impeller on
the right side of the motor.
