The Ninja H2R is a closed-course racing motorcycle developed and manufactured by Kawasaki Motorcycle & Engine Company of Japan. Classed a “hypersport” motorcycle by Kawasaki, the H2R is the fastest production motorcycle ever made. Intended for track riding only, it can attain a speed of 250 miles per hour and is renowned for its blazing acceleration. Kawasaki has manufactured it since 2015.
Kawasaki developed the H2R (along with its street-legal sibling, the H2) to deliver next-generation levels of performance. Engineers merged the very best of all relevant technologies to forge a synergized racing machine with unparalleled speed and handling from a production motorcycle. This included choosing the lightest and strongest materials, the latest high-performance engine and other mechanical technologies, and state-of-the-art electronics.
The H2R is powered by a 998 cubic centimeter, 4-stroke, supercharged, inline 4-cylinder engine that generates up to 326 horsepower at 14,000 RPM. The 16-valve powerplant features advanced liquid cooling, digital ignition control, and digital dual fuel injection. Its pistons are cast, not forged, for optimum thermal properties. It uses a digital engine control unit optimized for maximum horsepower, electronic throttle valves, and electronic engine brake control.
The heart of the H2R’s power lies with its 2-stage centrifugal supercharger. Its design requires no weight-adding and horsepower-robbing intercooler. The impeller of the supercharger spins up to 130,000 revolutions per minute (RPM) and it forces air into a 6-liter aluminum plenum chamber (airbox). The aluminum airbox is designed to act as a radiator, obviating the need for an intercooler. Air enters the engine’s intake ports at up to 2.4 times atmospheric pressure; this boost is instantaneous as the system is a mechanically-driven supercharger, not an exhaust-driven turbocharger. The powerplant is mated to a 6-speed transmission that uses Kawasaki’s advanced quick shifter technology.
The Ninja H2R’s frame is a steel trellis design. It has an inverted telescopic fork front suspension with adjustable rebound and compression damping and a monoshock-dampened, single-sided swingarm rear suspension. It uses racing slick tires and high-performance anti-lock disc brakes.
The motorcycle features a broad suite of electronic aids, including a chassis orientation awareness system based on solid state IMUs (inertial measurement units), advanced traction control, and cornering management. It also includes a launch control mode that keeps both tires on the ground during high-performance acceleration.
The Ninja H2R accelerates from 0 to 180 miles per hour in just over 13 seconds, 0 to 200 miles per hour in just under 17 seconds, and has a top speed of 250 miles per hour.
