VOL. 55 ISSUE 14 APRIL 10, 2018 P115
Initial throttle response is soft, with power
readily available around the 4500 rpm mark.
Then comes a smooth transition from gentle
delivery to arm-pulling acceleration as the ta-
chometer needle climbs above 7000 rpm be-
fore quickly running into its limiter at 12,000.
Kawasaki's work here impresses me. The
broadness of the SX's powerband means that
the motorcycle will happily handle any sort of
touring-type riding, while still harnessing the
performance of its hyperbike siblings. It'll get
you to where you need to be in a hurry, but
has no problem taking a leisurely cruise either.
Team green made bold claims about the
H2 SX's improved fuel efficiency, and our test
ride only backed them up. It wasn't unusual to
see fuel averages reading upwards of 50 mpg
while on the open road, meaning that on a
laid-back ride, pulling about 180 miles out of a
tank is entirely possible. Good luck with that,
however. The SX's sheer potential for speed
makes it too easy to hammer on the throttle,
which drops the fuel range quickly.
The new ride-by-wire throttle and electron-
ics packages makes for a rather un-eventful
ride, which is a compliment to the precision
of the systems. With KTRC set in Mode One,
there were only hints of noticeable interven-
Even at 573 pounds
with a full tank of
fuel, the H2 SX is
nimble on its feet and
will prove its corner-
carving prowess.
