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NEW BIKES KAWASAKI NINJA H2 SX SE
p Forced induction is great
for delivering power as
well as efficiency
Q Do I need
a super-
charger?
Of course not. The ZZR1400
replicated the same beautiful thrust
from a normally-aspirated motor
with more cubes but there is
something special about knowing
you have a supercharged engine
beneath you. And for 2022 it has
been refined to the point that there
is now no disadvantage to smaller
capacity with forced induction.
Although Kawasaki says it has only
altered the cam timing and fitted a
new exhaust can to help the motor
meet Euro5 regulations, we suspect on the throttle after shutting it which at small throttle openings and is
it has also done a touch of refining now seems to have been smoothed easier to ride as a result. Despite the
on the throttle and engine maps. On off, making it more pleasant to ride. option of three power modes, this
the older generation, there was a bit It is still blindingly fast and full of revised fuelling meant we were
of abruptness when you came back midrange but feels more controllable happy to ride it in ‘Sport’ all day long.
Q Is it more sports or tourer?
Kawasaki products tend to be quite straighten out, however, the H2 SX is Q What are
aggressive and the Ninja H2 SX SE more than happy to cover miles; the my options?
certainly sways more towards the semi-active suspension is beautifully
sporty side of sports touring, something damped, the seat and riding position You can opt for the base H2 SX
that the disappointing lack of comfortable for long distances, inbuilt for £21,635 or the X2 SX SE for
adjustability in its screen hints at. pannier mounts are standard and the £24,635 with the SE adding
Aim it at a twisty road and the Ninja 19-litre tank should be good for over 160 Showa semi-active suspension
handles impressively well considering its miles, with 200 potentially on the cards. and a few cool extras such as
weight and length and you can certainly So while it is undeniably a sporty Brembo brakes. On both models
hustle on one in a way that a ZZR1400 sports tourer, it is still more than happy there is the option of ordering
struggles to replicate. Once the bends to cover big miles. either the Tourer, Performance
Edition or Performance Tourer,
which add £750, £1100 and
p It’ll do sports and
touring, with the £1850 respectively. Tourer adds
emphasis on sports 28-litre panniers with inner bags;
the Performance Edition has a
road-legal Akrapovic slip-on
silencer, tinted screen and frame
sliders; and the Performance
Tourer (below) combines both. If
you are prepared to sacrifice the
supercharger, semi-active
suspension and radars, the Ninja
1000SX costs £11,885 (plus £200
for colour options) and can be
bought in the same three options.
32 SEPTEMBER 2022
