Kawasaki H2

[The Spaceman_imp]

This is really big news:

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news...25467.html

The article doesn't say it, but this will be the first forced-induction motorcycle in what, 30 years? A true paradigm shifter.

Now if Suzuki would just put their Recursion into production...

[the Ferret]

Next collectible after the turbos of the 80s.

[CIP57_imp]

Supercharger have even more lag than turbos, wonder how they will get the low RPM range to perform.

[disorientedpilot_imp]

Supercharger have even more lag than turbos, wonder how they will get the low RPM range to perform.

No. Superchargers give instant boost based off drive % and RPM as they are direct drive. Turbos need to spool. However, turbos are more thermodynamically efficient.

[kDiqq_imp]

I've always seen superchargers make more boost at lower RPMs in similar applications... almost zero lag when compared to turbos... would this change in such a small engine? The smallest motor I've seen both on is only a 2.0L

Sent from my Z30 using Tapatalk

[Cormanus]

Honda: "The Power of Dreams"

Kawasaki: "Making Dreams Come True"

This "evocatively named" bike will be really interesting.

[flynrider]

When I saw "Kawasaki" and "H2", I had an entirely different post in mind.

Although one of my favorite bikes ever was the GPz 750 turbo of '83, I'm not a general fan of unnaturally aspirated engines on motorcycles. Probably because most have been attempts to bolt an aftermarket turbo/supercharger to an engine that wasn't designed to use it.

Looks like Kaw is going for a ground up build with resources that actually know a lot about compressing air with turbines (aerospace dudes). I'll be interested to see what they come up with.

Tradition is fine, but they should have at least considered calling it the H3.

BTW, my first ride on the original H2 was simultaneously the most exciting and frightening bike I ever rode up to then.

[Houtman_imp]

I used to own a 1975 purple H2 , exciting bike ,terrible mileage .
The one thing that I did not like was the " surging " when closing the throttle.

[CIP57_imp]

Below is a good read.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question122.htm

Supercharges need HP to produce HP therefore most of the HP gains are at the top of the RPM range. There will be dead spots unless they can figure out how to get torque up at the lower rpm range.

"The biggest disadvantage of superchargers is also their defining characteristic: Because the crankshaft drives them, they must steal some of the engine's horsepower. A supercharger can consume as much as 20 percent of an engine's total power output. But because a supercharger can generate as much as 46 percent additional horsepower, most think the trade-off is worth it."

[cb400four_imp]

This is really big news:

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news...25467.html

The article doesn't say it, but this will be the first forced-induction motorcycle in what, 30 years? A true paradigm shifter.

Now if Suzuki would just put their Recursion into production...

My bet is that forced induction will eventually become standard because ever-increasing emissions regulations (which will become even much MORE restrictive now that electric bikes are being sold and regulators can claim that 'zero-emissions vehicles' are viable) will force all motorcycle manufacturers to eventually run forced induction, water cooling, super lean fueling, expensive and trick alloys to handle high normal operating temps, and fewer cylinders with smaller total engine displacements. Even Harleys will be forced to toe the line.

Buy your literbike normally aspirated air cooled CBs while you can!