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2018 KAWASAKI NINJA H2 SX SE FIRST TEST P116 tion, and even those came with some serious greediness of the throttle. The bi-directional quickshifter provides seamless gear changes, especially mak- ing getting into corners quickly a thoughtless process. One of my only gripes about the SX is a very slightly abrupt throttle response at slow speeds, but switching to the middle power mode (which softens the re- sponse and reduces total output to roughly 70 percent) cleared any issues. Along with the updated chas- sis, team green fitted the SX with a set of fully adjustable 43mm KYB forks up front and fully adjustable rear shock out back, along with a new, more-progres- sive linkage. The result is a ride quality I'm comfortable saying is the best in the business. The package provides ample amounts of feel from both ends of the motorcycle at pace, while maintaining the ability to soak up harsh bumps or severe imper- fections in the road surface. The Bridgestone Battlax S21 tires compliment the chassis, offering superb grip and feedback to the rider. SPORT TOURER? WELL… The Ninja H2 SX SE is a com- fortable motorcycle. A large front fairing eliminates nearly all wind buffeting, and the ergonomics are far more comfortable than the typical sportbike. The reach to the handlebars is relaxed and the getting your feet on the pegs won't force a leg cramp either. And for being 573 pounds fully fueled, the SX car- ries its weight well, so much that I'd bet it can keep up with some "true" sportbikes in the twisties, no problem. Calling the H2 SX a "sport tourer," though, is a difficult thing to do. It lies somewhere in the middle ground between being an all-out sportbike and a big-mile sport tourer. The breaking point for me was right about the 200- mile mark, when fatigue began to set in. Kawasaki's choice of seats for the SX proves to be uncomfortable for anything more than a few hours, and even with cruise control and a more relaxed ergonomic setup, my wrists began aching as time went on. team green could make this mo- torcycle more comfortable as the miles pass, but that would likely take away from its true perfor- mance potential. The balance is a difficult thing to find. So, who is this motorcycle meant for? The Ninja H2 SX SE is the dream build for the older gentlemen that are still looking for pure sportbike performance, while wanting to be comfortable riding it for more than a few miles at a time. It's downright fast, nimble on its feet, and comes with all the luxuries that make a long day on the bike enjoyable, rather than a chore. Hell, if I had a considerable savings, I wouldn't mind parking this next to any supercar on the lot. CN 2018 KAWASAKI H2 SX & SE ($19,000, $22,000 SE) ENGINE: ...............................Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, 4-valve, supercharged DISPLACEMENT: ..............................998cc BORE X STROKE: ...................76 x 55 mm COMPRESSION RATIO: ...................... 11.2:1 CLUTCH: ............................Wet multi-plate TRANSMISSION: ........................... 6-speed CHASSIS: ..Trellis, high-tensile steel, with swingarm mounting plate FRONT SUSPENSION: ..... 43mm inverted, fully adjustable REAR SUSPENSION: ....................Uni-Trak, gas-charged shock with piggyback reservoir, fully adjustable FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: ....................4.7 in. REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: ..................... 5.5 in. FRONT BRAKE: ............ Dual radial-mount, opposed 4-piston monobloc calipers, dual semi-floating 320mm discs, KIBS ABS REAR BRAKE: ............... Opposed 2-piston calipers, single 250mm disc, KIBS ABS FRONT TIRE: ............ 120/70 ZR17 (58W) REAR TIRE: ............... 190/55 ZR17 (75W) RAKE: .................................................. 24.7° WHEELBASE: ..................................58.3 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ................................32.9 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ............................5.0 gal. WEIGHT (WET, CLAIMED):............ 573 lbs. COLOR: ....Metallic Carbon Gray/Metallic Matte Carbon Gray; Emerald Blazed Green/Metallic Diablo Black (SE) S P E C I F I C A T I O N S