Kawasaki Z H2 Performance 2020 — Specifications

Imagine a combustion engine that breathes so strongly it needs a supercharger to feed it. Now, graft this crazy mechanism onto a naked roadster, without fairings. You get the Kawasaki Z H2, a unique proposition that defies physics with its 200 horsepower from its supercharged four-cylinder engine. It's the ultimate weapon for those who think a normal motorcycle lacks ferocity. In Performance trim, it gains a few assets to sharpen its already well-tempered character.

The first change, and not insignificant, is sonic. The laser-engraved titanium Akrapovic exhaust replaces the original. The power gain is marginal, but the three-kilo weight saving and, above all, the liberated voice make all the difference. The sound of the supercharger blends with a deep metallic growl, a mechanical symphony that clearly announces the color. The kit also includes a larger windscreen and aesthetic parts, but let's be clear, at 280 km/h, you will still be plastered to the tank. These additions are cosmetic; the real subject remains the indulgence of energy under the 19-liter fuel tank.

Faced with competitors like the Ducati Streetfighter V4, which is lighter and more cumbersome, or the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR, which is more exclusive, the Kawasaki Z H2 Performance plays a different card. It focuses on delivering monstrous torque, 137 Nm, available very early thanks to the supercharger. It's not the most agile with its 236 kilos in running order, but its cutting-edge electronics – quickshifter, traction control, cruise control, KIBS braking – make this colossal power surprisingly exploitable. It's a civilized hypernaked, a monster on a leash.

Who is this supercharged roadster for? Certainly not a beginner. It's the bike for the expert who has already seen it all, who is looking for a unique sensation, that of turbocharged acceleration that presses your shoulders into the seat. The price of this controlled madness is 18,499 euros, almost double that of a Z 900. A high entry ticket, but justified for such a unique machine. The Kawasaki Z H2 Performance is not the easiest, nor the lightest, but it offers a personality and a push in the back that you won't find anywhere else.