Hold on tight. Kawasaki has announced it’s bringing its balanced supercharged 998cc inline four to its Z lineup of naked motorcycles with a new flagship model, the 2020 Z H2.
Read our Road Test Review of the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE here!
More detailed information will be made available at the Z H2’s U.S. debut later in November, but for now we know that it will feature a specially designed trellis frame, Showa suspension, Brembo Monobloc brake calipers, LED lighting, a full-color, switchable TFT display, smartphone connectivity and a full suite of IMU-based electronics (riding modes, power modes, KTRC, KCMF, KIBS, KLCM, KQS and cruise control) and an assist-and-slipper clutch.
The 2020 Kawasaki Z H2 will be available in Metallic Spark Black/Metallic Graphite Gray/Mirror Coated Spark Black at an MSRP of $17,000. Stay tuned for further details.
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I hope the “mirror coated spark black” color turns out to be identical to the signature black chrome of the H2. Love that color.
Also interested in the weight of the Z H2. Read elsewhere that this moto is 525 lbs wet. Was hoping it would come in at sub-500 lbs. The supercharger system no doubt adds some weight. In comparison, the H2 SX SE is 577 lbs wet (w/o saddlebags). One notable distinction between those two bikes is that the H2 SX SE has a single-sided swingarm whereas the Z H2 does not. That would have trimmed a little weight from the Z H2.
I’m interested in both bikes, but neither quite hits the sweet spot. My main application is sport touring, emphasis on best-in-class sport performance (i.e., not a Ninja 1000). Z H2 lacks capacity for any sort of luggage, much less luggage and pillion. Yeah I realize it’s not a sport tour bike, per se. I might be able to live with that, limit Z H2 riding to day trips, but still would want capacity for tire repair kit, rain gear, stuff like that. Hmmm.
H2 SX SE is heavier than I would like. I sat on one but dealer wouldn’t allow a test ride. Ergos were not super comfy. Didn’t exactly connect with the bike; might be different if I was able to actually ride one. Hmmm.
I ride a 1290 Super Duke GT right now and would absolutely keep it, it’s outstanding in every respect. But I miss the top end of an inline four and have room in the garage for another bike. Kawasaki is tempting me with its latest models.