Are you ready for the sonic boom?
Kawasaki has always strived for motorcycle innovation focusing on critical areas like riding performance and engine durability. One of their key recent steps is introducing the supercharged engine which we see within the entire H2 range - capable of impressive performance and blood pumping power. We're deep-diving into the machine and its performance to review some of the remarkable engineering brilliance Kawasaki has achieved.
Scroll down for more on the H2...
"Everything in this project was difficult. Not any single part, but everything."
- Satoaki Ichi (H2 & H2R Project Leader)
Discover a new feeling of speed
The H2 range
Concept
The main aims of this engine were to give a true sense of acceleration and provide a wow factor that offers a fun-to-ride experience. Although the concept was simple, keeping in-line with environmental performance requirements meant conflicts in aspired designs. This meant the Kawasaki development team now needed to adapt and overcome. Adopting compressor technology for superchargers, Kawasaki was in development to create its own compressor to achieve new heights of motorcycle technology.
Development
Turbochargers are commonly found within passenger cars, however because of the way these engines work it becomes difficult to achieve zero turbo lag. This means it is difficult to achieve the characteristics we would normally find and want from a motorcycle. Electric superchargers are available but require a large battery - too large in fact to be mounted in such a small space on the model. So for multiple reasons, a mechanically driven linear supercharger was selected and installed. The Kawasaki centrifugal supercharger is designed to be driven by the crankshaft, which is compact and lightweight, but has a high rotation rate - meaning it can quickly follow changes in the engine speed. Due to the complexity of the design of this engine, Kawasaki started to not only develop, but also manufacture their superchargers themselves - putting the quality control over machining, assembly, adjustment and performance into their own hands.
Refinement
After producing the H2 revolutionary supercharged engine, the next step was to create a balanced version of the engine. Instead of focusing only on speed and power, Kawasaki decided to focus on fuel economy and torque within the low rev range. To do this, significant development within the compression ratio was needed from 8:5 to a more sustainable 11:2 balance. Extending from the compression ratio, Kawasaki needed to optimize the attack angle of the impeller blade to ensure a cooler running temperature was executed.
We see this balanced engine within the Z H2 - a model specifically built for road use and everyday travel.
If you'd like further information about any of the models, contact us...
Maidstone: 01622 681765
Ashford: 01233 665520
New Bike Sale: Offers are applicable to in-stock models only and are subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Bikes will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Bike colours available may differ to those featured on this page. Offers are subject to change.
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Laguna Motorcycles
Hart Street
Maidstone, Kent
ME16 8RA
Telephone: 01622 681765
Laguna Performance Centre
Brunswick Road
Ashford, Kent
TN23 1EN
Telephone: 01233 665520
Laguna Triumph Ashford
Ashford Road
Ashford, Kent
TN23 3EN
Telephone: 01233 636699
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Forstal Road, Aylesford
Maidstone, Kent
ME20 7XA
Telephone: 01622 585666
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Forstal Road
Aylesford
Maidstone, Kent
ME20 7XA
Telephone: 01622 711680
Maidstone Honda
Forstal Road
Aylesford
Maidstone, Kent
ME20 7XA
Telephone: 01622 713950
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Dover Road (A2)
Barham,
Canterbury, Kent
CT4 6SA
Telephone: 01227 832601
Manufacturer offers can not be redeemed in conjunction with any of the Laguna exclusive offers.
Laguna Motorcycles Limited (which include multiple trading names: Laguna Motorcycles, Laguna Performance Centre, Laguna Triumph, Maidstone Honda, Maidstone Harley-Davidson® and Kent Motorcycles is an Appointed Representative of Automotive Compliance Ltd who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No. 497010). Automotive Compliance Ltd’s permissions as a Principal Firm allow Laguna Motorcycles Limited (which include multiple trading names: Laguna Motorcycles, Laguna Performance Centre, Laguna Triumph, Maidstone Honda, Maidstone Harley-Davidson® and Kent Motorcycles to act as a credit broker, not a lender, for the introduction to a limited number of lenders, and to act as an agent on behalf of the insurer for insurance distribution activities only.
We are a credit broker and not a lender. We can introduce you to a lender on our panel, which includes lenders of vehicle manufacturers. We have commercial arrangements with lenders and credit brokers which are likely to influence who we introduce you to. We are not an independent financial adviser and don’t give you any advice or recommendations. It is your choice whether you enter into any finance agreement. Our approach is to introduce you first to the manufacturer lender linked to the franchise offering you the vehicle. They will usually offer the best available package for you, taking into account both interest rates and other contributions (but we do not guarantee they do). If they are unable to offer finance, we then seek to introduce you to someone else on our panel. We will usually receive a commission for your introduction. This will be either a fixed fee, or a fixed percentage of the amount that you borrow. This may be linked to the vehicle model you choose. Lenders of vehicle manufacturers may also provide preferential rates to us for the funding of our vehicle stock and also provide financial support for our training and marketing. But any such amounts they and other lenders pay us will not affect the amounts you pay under your finance agreement. Before we propose you to a potential lender, we will tell you of the likely amount of commission we will receive and seek your consent to receiving this commission. The exact amount of commission will be confirmed before you sign your finance agreement.
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