I bought a Kawasaki Z H2

[runnerhiker]

I have been interested in this bike since it first came out as a 2020 model, I bought the 2022 Z H2 with the standard suspension. The SE model has the electronic suspension and the green accent color, I wanted the e suspension but I didn't like the green treatment.

For a long time I thought I wanted to own a Yamaha V Max, I was interested in that monster engine, but that bike had way too many limitations that kept me from pulling the trigger. When Kawasaki came out with this Z H2, it replaced the V Max in my wish list because it had a great, powerful engine but also modern electronics and normal riding ergonomics (not sport, not cruiser like the Duc Diavel)

As many of you know I also have an S1000 XR and this Z H2 is most comparable to that. It is not comparable to the RS.

Engine: 1000cc with a supercharger. Very powerful, lots of torque, lots of HP, very quick rev'ing, very smooth. Really, really, very smooth. I like it better than the S1000 engine in every way except gas mileage.

Comfort and ergonomics: Very, very good. The riding position is great, the seat is good for 3+ hours so far (might work for even longer rides), wind protection is weak but ok for a naked bike. Kawasaki makes a great accessory heated grips that is not available (so I guess they don't really "make one"). So no heated grips for now.

Electronics: Excellent, comparable to BMW. No TPMS, like my XR. 6 axis IMU with a full array of functions. The quick shifter is not as good as the XR but better than the RS, the up shifts are great but the downshift require some technique I have not mastered yet.

Suspension: very stiff and harsh. I have not had a chance to make any adjustments yet, but I doubt it will ever be as good as my XR or RS.

Appearance: a matter of personal preference. I don't particularly like the origami lines of the bike. For looks, I would much rather prefer the retro Z1 they make, the Z900RS.

Bottom line. I am thrilled to have this bike. The engine, ergonomics, and electronics makes it a great bike for me.

Bruce and Dawn, if you are watching, I imagine this supercharged engine is what your Tesla is like - lots of instant torque and power, and very smooth. I love it. Unlike your Tesla, it gulps gas like crazy. Darrell, go make some more ethanol!

   
   
   

[Grumpy Goat]

Ohhhh ... nice Ron! Didn't think that you were this close to actually buying the Kawi. I know that you liked it and was sweet on the H2 but here you are ... a new owner!

Nice colour choice too - black and grey, with the red frame that a certain someone frowns on (but I like on this bike). I must say, you and I do have very similar tastes in bikes - both have RSs, both had/have Yamaha Tracer 900 GT (same colour as well!), I had the S1000R vs your new H2, and the first BMW that I was dying to get (but ultimately did not, back in 2015) ... the S1000XR.

The torque on that bike is amazing at 101 lb.ft to go with that 167 hp! Be careful! When I had my S1000R I found that you could crash really really quickly. It did everything quickly but like this Kawi was very comfortable. It was a good 50 lb lighter though with similar horsepower but much less toque at 82.6 lb.ft. My S had a wheelbase that was a tad over an inch shorter, with similar rake and slightly less trail, so maybe the S would be a tad more flickable, but both bikes are similar overall.

But I like what you said ... "S1000 XR and this Z H2 is most comparable to that. It is not comparable to the RS." Other bikes are nice yes but nothing compares to the RS. I has what NO other bikes I have owned has, and that is character ... in spades.

[Liteitup]

[Lee]

Red frames rule

[Lee]

that 167 hp!

And that's at the rear wheel.

[runnerhiker]

My XR is at the dealer right now getting a new fuel pump under warranty. I am looking forward to riding them back to back. But the seat of the pants right now says the H2 has the torque of the RS with the RPM's of the XR. Kawasaki has really hit it out of the park with this engine. And it is as smooth as my '04 K1200 RS, a bike I needed to look at the dash to see what gear the gearbox was in. This H2 is like that.

The weight of the H2 is 529 lbs, very similar to the RS and the XR. But it feels much lighter, it is very easy to flick back and forth. I am guessing it is the front end geometry. Anyway, I like it.

I am at 300 miles right now.

[Lee]

And it is as smooth as my '04 K1200 RS, a bike I needed to look at the dash to see what gear the gearbox was in.

That was the smoothest bike we have owned.

The K1300S had similar HP and Torque. 175 HP and 103 ft lb.
The 175 was at the crank so the 167 of the H2 is probably a little higher.

[runnerhiker]

The awesomeness of this H2 engine comes from lots of energy from the gas, it converts a lot of gas into a lot of fun. My first two gas tanks were 34 mpg, but I saw 40 and 42 mpg at times. I think it will get a little better as it breaks in but I doubt it will ever reach the 45 mpg of the XR. I don't care, that's not what this bike is about.

Kawasaki claims 101 ft-lb of torque, that's probably at the crank. I have not found a dynamometer run yet, but many claims in write ups say 198 HP. The torque curve on the XR has a big bump up around 6K rpm, the H2 is more linear with massive torque every where.

I've had two Kawasaki ZX 14's, also a fantastic engine, but this H2 is much smoother, it gains rpm's faster, and it's about 75 lbs lighter. Better ergonomics, too.

[Grumpy Goat]

The awesomeness of this H2 engine comes from lots of energy from the gas, it converts a lot of gas into a lot of fun. My first two gas tanks were 34 mpg, but I saw 40 and 42 mpg at times.

My old S1000R was stuck on 37 mpg and that was the best I got. Lots of fun with that bike as I said, but the Tracer also is a lot of fun too and occasionally give me close to 51 mpg if I ride it like a granny ... typically get 48 mpg or so.

The mileage of the H2 should improve as it gets broken in, but not by much ....

[Lee]

Kawasaki claims 101 ft-lb of torque, that's probably at the crank. I have not found a dynamometer run yet,

Here's a dyno test on a 2021. Is the 2022 engine the same as the 2021?

https://youtu.be/-DBadI3KJ6A

[runnerhiker]

Thank you Lee. That dyno test from CW has lower numbers than I expected, and there is no change from '21 to '22. Kawasaki is know for not making small changes from year to year. As far as I can tell, only colors have changed for the three years that this model has been made.

I hope a mag or a website does a comparison of the Z H2 with other super naked and does a dyno comparison, a series of tests on the same dyno using several bikes would give me a better idea.

[runnerhiker]

I found a Brock Enterprise video on You Tube, the Z H2 is stronger than the Ninja H2 SE SX that Cycle World tested. He got 184 HP and 94 ft-lb of torque out of the Z H2, that's more like what I thought it was doing. On this video, Brock also put 3 dyno runs on the same screen - the Z H2 makes 30 HP more than the ZX 10 for most of the RPM range, the ZX 10 almost catches up at red line, in another part of the video he adds the H2 SE SX. That's what I feel riding this bike - so much torque everywhere. Bye Bye Yamaha V Max, I don't need you.

   

[Lee]

I hope a mag or a website does a comparison of the Z H2 with other super naked and does a dyno comparison, a series of tests on the same dyno using several bikes would give me a better idea.

Same dyno, with different bikes would help.

[Grumpy Goat]

Motorcycle.com seemed to like it. Check out their super naked shootout - Link starts at the Z H2; rewind to see the whole video.

[runnerhiker]

quick update - it just keeps getting better.

I've had a chance to make some adjustments to the suspension and it is getting better. Front fork - reduced compression dampening and reduced spring preload. Rear suspension - reduced rebound damping, I don't have the right tools to adjust the rear spring preload so that's pending.

Gas mileage is improving dramatically, 40 mpg last tank.

[Grumpy Goat]

Anything above 40 mpg would be great on a bike with that power.