Kawasaki H2 & H2R on leno's Garage

[Cormanus]

Fantastic! Can't wait to see one in the flesh!

[the Ferret]

I had to laugh Hiker..it does rather sound like a cb 350 Honda twin with the pipes cut off below the footpegs.

[The Spaceman_imp]

Would you want just anyone riding around on 220+ HP? I know I sure wouldn't.
If you have the ability to handle that kind of power on the street, then you most likely 1. Have the experience to control the bike properly. 2. The money to be able to afford both it and the insurance (because that is going to be a KILLER). and 3. The common sense to not ride it like a total DB all over the place just to show off that "you can ride like a 'stuntah' bro".

My $.02

Leno made the point that "in his day" when the Vincent Black Shadow came out, it was considered to be a deathtrap widowmaker of a bike...with 55 HP. Likewise when I was really getting into bikes in the 80's and the VMax came out with 100 HP, we were sure theyd be ground-looping and shredding tires as they killed their foolhardy riders.

Today's paradigm shift is tomorrow's yawn.

[the Ferret]

That's true Spaceman. If they had known in 1968, that today we'd have a selection of 200 HP street bikes to choose from, would they have coined the phrase " superbike" for the 68 HP Honda CB 750?

Do have to wonder where it will end.

That's the reason I hate to see manufacturers using the term " ultimate" as in this is the " ultimate" sport tourer. NO it's not. In 3 or 5 years something better will come along, so that one obviously wasn't the ultimate.

[Django]

That's true Spaceman. If they had known in 1968, that today we'd have a selection of 200 HP street bikes to choose from, would they have coined the phrase " superbike" for the 68 HP Honda CB 750?

Do have to wonder where it will end.

That's the reason I hate to see manufacturers using the term " ultimate" as in this is the " ultimate" sport tourer. NO it's not. In 3 or 5 years something better will come along, so that one obviously wasn't the ultimate.

Beside, that this is just marketing speach, I think, all quality terms can only be stated for just a specific point in time. This applies not only to 'ultimate', but also to just 'good'. What is good today, there will be better in future by pretty fat chance (in terms of technology).