Kawasaki’s Latest Crotch Rocket Ninja Super Bike Is So Power It’s Not Street Legal
Occasionally we'll report on stories that are off the beaten path for a PC and technology website, and though it doesn't happen often, some announcements and happenings are just too big (or awesome) to ignore. This is one of them. If you're a fan of technology in general or of motorcycles or of Kawasaki (and especially if you're a fan of all three), get ready to dribble your coffee all over your keyboard as we talk a bit about the Kawasaki Ninja H2R motorcycle.
This marvel in motorcycle technology is so completely badass that it's not street legal. Yes, you read that right -- it's not legal to ride this particular Ninja on public roads, which puts out an insane 300 horsepower from its 998cc supercharged inline-four engine with liquid cooling. The chassis responsible for holding everything together as this thing zips across the pavement is a steel-tube trellis design with high-tensile steel.
"The objectives for the Ninja H2R’s chassis were to ensure supreme stability at ultra-high speeds, offer cornering performance to be able to enjoy riding on a closed course, and finally to have a highly accommodating character. Ordinarily, high-speed stability can easily be achieved with a long wheelbase, but a shorter wheelbase was selected to achieve the compact overall package and sharp handling that were also desired," Kawasaki explains. "The frame needed not only to be stiff, but also to be able to absorb external disturbances—which, when encountered while riding in the ultra-high speed range, could easily unsettle a lesser chassis. A new trellis frame developed using the latest analysis technology provided both the strength to harness the incredible power of the supercharged engine, and the balanced flex to ensure the stability and feedback for high-speed riding."
While the Ninja H2R is not street legal and intended solely for track racing, Kawasaki plans to unveil a toned down version for public riding, though details at this point are in short order. Regardless, the true purpose for this bike's existence is to "offer the kind of acceleration no rider had experienced before," and also to showcase what Kawasaki's engineers are capable of building.
This marvel in motorcycle technology is so completely badass that it's not street legal. Yes, you read that right -- it's not legal to ride this particular Ninja on public roads, which puts out an insane 300 horsepower from its 998cc supercharged inline-four engine with liquid cooling. The chassis responsible for holding everything together as this thing zips across the pavement is a steel-tube trellis design with high-tensile steel.
"The objectives for the Ninja H2R’s chassis were to ensure supreme stability at ultra-high speeds, offer cornering performance to be able to enjoy riding on a closed course, and finally to have a highly accommodating character. Ordinarily, high-speed stability can easily be achieved with a long wheelbase, but a shorter wheelbase was selected to achieve the compact overall package and sharp handling that were also desired," Kawasaki explains. "The frame needed not only to be stiff, but also to be able to absorb external disturbances—which, when encountered while riding in the ultra-high speed range, could easily unsettle a lesser chassis. A new trellis frame developed using the latest analysis technology provided both the strength to harness the incredible power of the supercharged engine, and the balanced flex to ensure the stability and feedback for high-speed riding."
While the Ninja H2R is not street legal and intended solely for track racing, Kawasaki plans to unveil a toned down version for public riding, though details at this point are in short order. Regardless, the true purpose for this bike's existence is to "offer the kind of acceleration no rider had experienced before," and also to showcase what Kawasaki's engineers are capable of building.
Mission accomplished. Now if only we could convince Kawasaki to send us one for review...
