This is an AI-generated digest of global and domestic motorcycle news. For full details, please read the original article.
Kawasaki will continue its supercharged supersport Ninja H2 for the 2027 model year, but rated output falls from 228hp in 2026 to 197hp to comply with new emissions regulations, including California's. The bike adopts the same exhaust system and catalyst as the Z H2 SE to meet the rules.
What matters coming out of a corner is torque in the end. Some are complaining about losing 31 horsepower, but how many riders in the world can truly control 197 horsepower anyway. A supercharged monster surviving within regulations is already exciting enough for me. Rather than the numbers, we should be glad we still get to enjoy that kind of acceleration.
É preciso entrar para comentar
Does a supercharged bike actually ride differently from a regular naturally aspirated one?
A supercharger hits hard from low revs. The character of acceleration is completely different from naturally aspirated.
Losing power for regulation compliance can't be helped. If anything, the era of brute-forcing high output with a supercharger is winding down.
They could recover the power by bumping displacement, but Kawasaki won't do it. The H2's stubbornly sticking with the supercharger.
Iconic machines getting defanged by regulations... I guess the H2's subject to the times too.
So they used the same exhaust and catalyst as the Z H2 SE to pass regulations. Kept costs down by skipping dedicated development.
Dropping from 228 to 197 is a 31hp loss? That kind of undermines the point of the supercharger.
197hp is still plenty monstrous. The supercharger feel doesn't change either.
