I owned the first version of this bike and put 20k miles on it through local mountain rides in CO and tours up to Wyoming and South Dakota. Amazing bike. Zach is spot on about the gas mileage, pretty good if you really baby it, but that is super challenging so don’t expect great mileage as you will want to feel the super charger kicking it. It handles great for street riding. You can really push it through turns really well, and it holds its line. It’s comfortable, but after about an hour to two it because uncomfortable and very hard to ride. Not a lot of options for more comfortable seats and no where else to put your feet to adjust your riding position. You’re pretty locked in so on a long day in the saddle you will be very glad to get off after about 200 miles at the most. Excellent bike though, the feel of the super charger kicking in really makes up for a lot.
As one of those "older" riders, (68) I so want this bike. I put a Druin supercharger on my 1974 Norton Commando around 1975. That turbine sound was just awesome. Only gained 15 to 20 HP but the sound was what made it so "cool". It completely ruined the handling. Everything was on the left side and you had to counter-steer to go straight. Took it off after some hairy high speed adventures. Factory designed is always better. I will just have to keep riding my FTR 1200 for now. Thanks for the great reviews as always.
I drove a Kawasaki Z650 for the first time today and that has 67 hp. And im allready blown away how fast it is hahaha i cant even imagine what this must feel like
@@Freemananana Yeah im thinking about getting a MT07 next year. I think the Z650 is a very fun nimble bike to ride but i personaly dont like the engine sound. The MT 07 with a nice custom exhaust just sounds soooo good really aggresive. Z650 is a bit of a lawnmower. But its a good bike though.
Hands down favorite bike. Bought it way too early in my riding career and paid for it. Makes about 180 hp at the rear wheel stock. More like 200 with an air filter, exhaust, and tune, which also gets rid of the dead spot in 6th.
Considered one of these and went BMW boxer after insurance quote 😂 I love that kawasaki knows Americans always want more, I think it's true to the original H1 and H2
I have this bike and let me tell you, the feeling of acceleration when the supercharger kicks in is unmatched. I've ridden plenty of fast liter bikesband they don’t come close to this acceleration. When you open the throttle it feels like you’re caught in a tornado
Yes finally a review of the bike I ride! Wooo! The Z H2 fits anywhere! Commuting, touring, light fire roads, light track duty! I've got the base model Z H2 before they made only the SE version. A rear suspension upgrade is a must! I dare not turn off the traction control, it is waaaaay too easy to accidentally loop yourself in normal traffic conditions. Did it once, hoo boy we turtlin'! Super easy to get into trouble by accident. Yes the throttle is limited by the ecm, you can def feel it preventing standing loops when you are taking off from lights. And depending on the mode, it will cut throttle once the front reaches some amount of degrees off the ground. 2.5 parking spaces! Man I thought I was having trouble doing super tight turns. Glad it's almost not a me problem xD Can't ever tire of the chirp! It sounds even better with an OEM ZX10R can! Lighter too!
This will be my first sport bike! Going from the largest Kawi V-Twin 2,053cc to this…..ahh gotta love Kawasaki! This should feel light weight after riding my 815 lb. cruiser with 144 ft. lbs. of torque.
I have a 2023 ZH2SE, and love it. I had a few ZX14Rs before it. It does feel like a bigger displacement. I use mine in town and in twisties. I suggest you take a test ride, if you get the opportunity.
I thoroughly enjoy daily rider. I get to experience bikes I'm not seriously interested in owning, but would love to throw a leg over for an hour ride. Keep up the good work and know I do use RevZilla for parts/accessories so your efforts are working!
I was hoping you’d mention it’s an ecu flash away from 40-50 more hp. Its potential is much higher than other bikes after a flash. Using the power would be near impossible in stock form but it has tons of restricted power waiting to be unlocked.
I'm thinking they should leverage the TFT screen and have a vertical green bar graph that rises and rings a bell when maximum boost is reached. In it to win it!
You younger riders and many older riders are going to flame me when I say high performance bikes are boring. Well, been there and done that and it is so true that riding slow bikes fast is much more more fun.
This was why I ended up selling my RSV4, yet I am now eyeballing a 2024 Hayabusa. For me, the main difference is that the RSV4 just didn't feel right unless you were doing at least 90-100 mph. The Busa, on the other hand, can be okay doing regular speeds and the gobsmacking torque is the fun factor here. We'll see, though. I have not quite taken the plunge yet, just toying with that idea in my head.
Maybe a dumb question but : since the bike is pretty heavy (240kg) why didn’t Kawasaki go for an aluminum frame ? Rigidity purpose ? Lowering price ? Both ?
So many bikes are special. I'm guessing that I would enjoy racing a Grom on a small track as much as getting this thing up to 100 mph on the open road. But as a boomer I'm pretty happy with anything that can do highway speeds and doesn't require big maintenance or payments.
Love these reviews and practical info. Love this bike if only because it is different and innovative in many ways! Don’t see too many around our neck of the woods but when ya do!!!
What’s with dealers only getting the SX and SE versions of the H2? I’ve never seen one online unless it was an older used one. Definitely my dream bike though
DO NOT but one of these. If you go from this to any other bike you are going miss it so much lol. Nothing beats the comfortable position and that supercharger
Rode one of these and found that the more comfortable upright riding was down right dangerous. if I were to own an H2, I would definitely want a sport bike angle of attack. Without it, the front end feels like it’s all made of helium.
I've shopped this exact bike twice since it came out and even though I really wanted to pick one up, both times. The accompanying insurance cost was too prohibitive for me. It was double what the RSV4 & CB1000r (what I bought), V4, R1, etc. were/are. 3-4x what a speed triple would be. It's the only reason I didn't grab one.
26:27 Does the supercharger share the same oil with the crankcase? I would want to know if it's got a separate oiling system and if so, how hard is it to change? That's one of the reasons why I bought my 2023 Yamaha MT10. Ease of maintenance. My 2nd generation Hayabusa was a pain to service because of the plastic you had to remove. I found out that the new Hayabusa has a removable panel for easy oil changes. Finally lol
@@Neketre I guess there's a difference between ease and frequency. If there's simple, direct access to the drain and filter, then how often isn't always a problem - but if you have to spend an hour removing and replacing a bunch of bodywork that could get scratched or cracked if you're not careful...that's not easy, and can cost you as much for labour (in money or time spent) over time. Personally, if I had a choice, I'd rather do it more often and not have to fight the bike in the process.
When I first heard about this, I thought it would be a ZX10R with a supercharger. But it seems more like an expensive and less reliable ZX14R. I do like the trellis frame and overall looks but this is a tough sell for me.
It doesn't just sound like an inline 4, it sounds like a Kawi I4. Not sure what this accomplishes that they didn't already have with the ZX 14, though. A little lighter?
Let me point out years ago 2 strokes had power valves, basically super charger and those where 250 cc so yes a 450 cc with a super charger would make sense, back then my suzuki 250 rgv vj22 went 235kph show me a 400 today that does that
I definitely prefer symmetry. Asymmetrical bikes make me think that the design was either an afterthought or done in stages by different designers, neither of which inspires confidence.
The faired version the SX SE makes a lot more sense. Well as much sense as 200hp bikes can make. The open road demands wind protection over 60mph unless your a masochist or willing to make the compromise. Come to think about it, compromise what?
A supercharged literbike isn't really built for Los Angeles at all. I know where this bike would be good: out in the Central Valley, Sierras and foothills. Lots of long straight roads after stop signs, not many people around, climbing long steep hills. The opportunities to roll on the gas and really go for it are out there.
These aren't faster than the Super Duke, 1290R despite the added horsepower. They're considerably heavier, and my friend and I have raced many times. A (2023) Super Duke will pull a car length immediately and they just hang out side by side until the speed is high enough that it no longer matters for a naked bike(150mph+) To date, it's been exactly the same thing each time. FYI. The Kawasaki also needs tire pressure sensors, as on a ride, the KTM's front tire went down and the dash immediately warned of it, while the ZH2 lost both tires and as really sketchy to stop (looks like someone threw a handful of roofing nails on the road!) His ZH2 has 90K+ on it now and has been very reliable.
woah, didn't the Z H2 used to cost like $18k?? i think they did away with the base model and now only offer the SE version. pretty sure the base model used to be like 17.9 or something. ah, he mentions it at the end. i couldn't find the base model on their website, even for the '24.
On my first big rally i went on, there was a sport bike group, and one of the guys there had a Z H2. Lets just say he did not know how to handle all of it
I don't know how you guys get me watching videos about bikes I thought I'd have zero interest in. If high-school teachers could figure out your wizardry we'd be a country full of engineers.
It's a war horse. If you live in a windy wet climate and intend to be doing speeds above 90mph on a regular basis (surviving the commute on a motorway full of company car drivers) then defo get the ninja version, because the wind pushback by the wind and rain will render the superb performance potential useless.
I really wish Kawasaki made their Z line look better. My ninja 650 was my favorite bike ever and I would love to get something like this but the fake aggressive sharp lines and long nose is so ugly
Read more about the Kawasaki Z H2 on Common Tread: rvz.la/3YMzVct
Check out all of the newest motorcycle gear available: rvz.la/3Uz3Ty6
Ah yes, the perfect starter bike.
You gotta be kidding about being this bike as a starter bike 😅
Yep. Perfect for newbies. Just wring the throttle and go weeee😅
@@jimmydishkawntmore pooooo than weeee
Yes, very friendly all around starter bike. ❤
My starter was a zx12r. I've been riding it for the last 10 years. At least this has optional abs...😂
I owned the first version of this bike and put 20k miles on it through local mountain rides in CO and tours up to Wyoming and South Dakota. Amazing bike. Zach is spot on about the gas mileage, pretty good if you really baby it, but that is super challenging so don’t expect great mileage as you will want to feel the super charger kicking it. It handles great for street riding. You can really push it through turns really well, and it holds its line. It’s comfortable, but after about an hour to two it because uncomfortable and very hard to ride. Not a lot of options for more comfortable seats and no where else to put your feet to adjust your riding position. You’re pretty locked in so on a long day in the saddle you will be very glad to get off after about 200 miles at the most. Excellent bike though, the feel of the super charger kicking in really makes up for a lot.
Agreed.
As one of those "older" riders, (68) I so want this bike. I put a Druin supercharger on my 1974 Norton Commando around 1975. That turbine sound was just awesome. Only gained 15 to 20 HP but the sound was what made it so "cool". It completely ruined the handling. Everything was on the left side and you had to counter-steer to go straight. Took it off after some hairy high speed adventures. Factory designed is always better. I will just have to keep riding my FTR 1200 for now. Thanks for the great reviews as always.
A motorcycle Zack finds challenging to wheelie. Truly terrifying!
I drove a Kawasaki Z650 for the first time today and that has 67 hp. And im allready blown away how fast it is hahaha i cant even imagine what this must feel like
Had a MT07, very similar. It was insanely fast for a first "big" bike for me. The Z650 is a great place to be.
@@Freemananana Yeah im thinking about getting a MT07 next year. I think the Z650 is a very fun nimble bike to ride but i personaly dont like the engine sound. The MT 07 with a nice custom exhaust just sounds soooo good really aggresive.
Z650 is a bit of a lawnmower. But its a good bike though.
Hands down favorite bike. Bought it way too early in my riding career and paid for it. Makes about 180 hp at the rear wheel stock. More like 200 with an air filter, exhaust, and tune, which also gets rid of the dead spot in 6th.
I've ridden one a bit, thrashed it in canyons and drag raced it (10.4) Only way I could describe the ZedH2
"The Thing That Should Not Be"
Hi Zach, can you do a daily rider on the Kawasaki Z900RS?
I love when you get a bike and you can tell they put extra care into building it / the proverbial halo bike.
Considered one of these and went BMW boxer after insurance quote 😂 I love that kawasaki knows Americans always want more, I think it's true to the original H1 and H2
It's the equivalent of deer hunting with an M134 Minigun.
Which in both cases is guaranteed extremely fun overkill
Always grateful when a new ride comes up in my feed. Thank you for what you do.
6:08 Fight the intrusive thoughts! Fight the intrusive thoughts!!!
Nahhhh, send it bro hahah
YOLO
I have this bike and let me tell you, the feeling of acceleration when the supercharger kicks in is unmatched. I've ridden plenty of fast liter bikesband they don’t come close to this acceleration. When you open the throttle it feels like you’re caught in a tornado
Yes finally a review of the bike I ride! Wooo! The Z H2 fits anywhere! Commuting, touring, light fire roads, light track duty! I've got the base model Z H2 before they made only the SE version. A rear suspension upgrade is a must!
I dare not turn off the traction control, it is waaaaay too easy to accidentally loop yourself in normal traffic conditions. Did it once, hoo boy we turtlin'!
Super easy to get into trouble by accident.
Yes the throttle is limited by the ecm, you can def feel it preventing standing loops when you are taking off from lights. And depending on the mode, it will cut throttle once the front reaches some amount of degrees off the ground.
2.5 parking spaces! Man I thought I was having trouble doing super tight turns. Glad it's almost not a me problem xD
Can't ever tire of the chirp! It sounds even better with an OEM ZX10R can! Lighter too!
Ive been riding for a ninja 400 (first motorcycle) for 6 months. I think this video is my sign for an upgrade 😅
Maybe mid grade…?
This will be my first sport bike! Going from the largest Kawi V-Twin 2,053cc to this…..ahh gotta love Kawasaki! This should feel light weight after riding my 815 lb. cruiser with 144 ft. lbs. of torque.
I have a 2023 ZH2SE, and love it. I had a few ZX14Rs before it. It does feel like a bigger displacement. I use mine in town and in twisties. I suggest you take a test ride, if you get the opportunity.
I thoroughly enjoy daily rider. I get to experience bikes I'm not seriously interested in owning, but would love to throw a leg over for an hour ride. Keep up the good work and know I do use RevZilla for parts/accessories so your efforts are working!
I was hoping you’d mention it’s an ecu flash away from 40-50 more hp. Its potential is much higher than other bikes after a flash. Using the power would be near impossible in stock form but it has tons of restricted power waiting to be unlocked.
But also keep in mind a ZH2 has weaker engine internals than a H2. So turning up power will suffer reliability where the standard h2 remains reliable.
@@larryhouse3776it’s the same engine when it comes to material/quality. Only difference is the piston for more compression on the Z.
I've owned this bike since may, 2020.
Mine is uncorked and intercooled.
240 rear wheel horsepower.
It's the Bugatti veyron of motorcycles!
23:18 thought zack nearly looped it, it wasnt too bad but did give me a heart attack tho
Got mine in 2021 still a blast everytime I get to ride it. WAY TOO much bike for me - but that's what makes it fun 🤷♂
4:53 for 2024 they do not make a HP claim, only torque. but for 2025 they do... on their website they claim 197hp @10.5k, and 101lbft @8.5k.
Disappointed..... No off-road jump test. I want that suspension to bottom out. I want to know what I'm dealing with for my next scrambler
Wow a two wheeled bullet!😮😮😮😮
Amazing as always revzilla. Cant wait for the big 100
The only bike I've ridden that has Turbo Hayabusa energy bone stock.
You should start a youtube channel or something 🤔
I'm thinking they should leverage the TFT screen and have a vertical green bar graph that rises and rings a bell when maximum boost is reached. In it to win it!
Zack, if you had your choice between the 2024 Z H2 and the 2024 Suzuki Hayabusa, as a daily rider, which one would you choose?
Great video Zak. Really waited long time for this one.
I think that's a good spot on the leaderboard.
Not for me, but enjoyed learning about it.
You younger riders and many older riders are going to flame me when I say high performance bikes are boring. Well, been there and done that and it is so true that riding slow bikes fast is much more more fun.
I agree. Got way more enjoyment out of the ninja 300 vs the mental gymnastics of the zx12r for me
Agreed. My ZX14R was a real treat. But you couldn't run it out and experience it 99% of the time.
This was why I ended up selling my RSV4, yet I am now eyeballing a 2024 Hayabusa. For me, the main difference is that the RSV4 just didn't feel right unless you were doing at least 90-100 mph. The Busa, on the other hand, can be okay doing regular speeds and the gobsmacking torque is the fun factor here.
We'll see, though. I have not quite taken the plunge yet, just toying with that idea in my head.
Maybe a dumb question but : since the bike is pretty heavy (240kg) why didn’t Kawasaki go for an aluminum frame ? Rigidity purpose ? Lowering price ? Both ?
I think i need one of these
A shot of adrenaline on every freeway entrance ramp. So much better than a shot of coffee to wake up in the morning.
So many bikes are special. I'm guessing that I would enjoy racing a Grom on a small track as much as getting this thing up to 100 mph on the open road. But as a boomer I'm pretty happy with anything that can do highway speeds and doesn't require big maintenance or payments.
Love these reviews and practical info. Love this bike if only because it is different and innovative in many ways! Don’t see too many around our neck of the woods but when ya do!!!
What’s with dealers only getting the SX and SE versions of the H2? I’ve never seen one online unless it was an older used one. Definitely my dream bike though
Been waiting for this beast!
DO NOT but one of these. If you go from this to any other bike you are going miss it so much lol. Nothing beats the comfortable position and that supercharger
Feels like more Palos Verdes and less LBC. Super bike and video
Also San Pedro, and ends up in Carson.
Rode one of these and found that the more comfortable upright riding was down right dangerous. if I were to own an H2, I would definitely want a sport bike angle of attack. Without it, the front end feels like it’s all made of helium.
I've shopped this exact bike twice since it came out and even though I really wanted to pick one up, both times. The accompanying insurance cost was too prohibitive for me. It was double what the RSV4 & CB1000r (what I bought), V4, R1, etc. were/are. 3-4x what a speed triple would be. It's the only reason I didn't grab one.
That's odd, in Canada it's only $200 per year more than my mt09. Anything with an R in the name here gets much higher insurance rates tho.
I like that jacket.
13:32 Yellow FJ is back!
Hi, i'm 16 and i think this is the perfect starter bike for me, thanks zack!
26:27 Does the supercharger share the same oil with the crankcase? I would want to know if it's got a separate oiling system and if so, how hard is it to change? That's one of the reasons why I bought my 2023 Yamaha MT10. Ease of maintenance. My 2nd generation Hayabusa was a pain to service because of the plastic you had to remove. I found out that the new Hayabusa has a removable panel for easy oil changes. Finally lol
I guess it’s relative, but MT-10 having 4k maintenance intervals is not what I would call “ease of maintenance”
@@Neketre I guess there's a difference between ease and frequency. If there's simple, direct access to the drain and filter, then how often isn't always a problem - but if you have to spend an hour removing and replacing a bunch of bodywork that could get scratched or cracked if you're not careful...that's not easy, and can cost you as much for labour (in money or time spent) over time. Personally, if I had a choice, I'd rather do it more often and not have to fight the bike in the process.
@@Neketre 4K oil changes that are easy to do because it's not covered in plastic. How often do you change your oil on your bike?
Everything you said about how you feel the bike is performing - similar to my first impression of riding Hayabusa after 600-th😅
I pressed like button, even before watching this video !
thanks Zack!
Love how the opening unboxes me like a Wayfair kid meeting his new celebrity daddy.
Hoped to see some exclusive R9 in the episode 99 of DR
When I first heard about this, I thought it would be a ZX10R with a supercharger. But it seems more like an expensive and less reliable ZX14R. I do like the trellis frame and overall looks but this is a tough sell for me.
Just as reliable. It's a Kawasaki.
Didn't know there was a naked variant. I'm down.
It doesn't just sound like an inline 4, it sounds like a Kawi I4.
Not sure what this accomplishes that they didn't already have with the ZX 14, though. A little lighter?
6:37 with that bike how can you not jump over that truck ;). My man needs to play more GTA 🤔
Spicy commute
I would love to take this or the ninja h2 and customize it into a cafe racer.
No
Would love a 400 with supercharger
Perfect next bike from a mountain bike and a great first motorcycle 😂
I like the fact that it probably has worse mileage than my MT10!
Let me point out years ago 2 strokes had power valves, basically super charger and those where 250 cc so yes a 450 cc with a super charger would make sense, back then my suzuki 250 rgv vj22 went 235kph show me a 400 today that does that
20 something mpg is crazy, I rag on my Street Triple like crazy no regard to the fuel mileage and average 50mpg...
Comparing a Street Triple to a H2 is like a comparing a Mustang to a Ferrari lol
50 MPG ridden hard?
Can you review a Indian Roadmaster? Specifically the 2024 Elite if you can find one. I'm really curious to see your take on it.
My next bike
The beast🔥
Dr. Jekeil, Mr. Hide Bike? Fast but not Sport Bike?
I definitely prefer symmetry. Asymmetrical bikes make me think that the design was either an afterthought or done in stages by different designers, neither of which inspires confidence.
The faired version the SX SE makes a lot more sense. Well as much sense as 200hp bikes can make. The open road demands wind protection over 60mph unless your a masochist or willing to make the compromise. Come to think about it, compromise what?
One Flash and exhaust system away from 225 horsepower to the back wheel. Which is to say, 247 horsepower at the crank.
Want one so bad
Oh I’ve been waiting for this one😁
The H2 is a Bonkers bike- more in a segment with the Rocket 3 and Diavel V4. If KTM does a 1390 SMT, would probably also fit.
23:00 did you have the anti wheelie turned on? cause it looks like the bike was doing everything to *NOT* wheelie
Nothing about the mirrors and the dashboard? Also, this or the superduke for sheer instant, murderous torque?
A supercharged literbike isn't really built for Los Angeles at all. I know where this bike would be good: out in the Central Valley, Sierras and foothills. Lots of long straight roads after stop signs, not many people around, climbing long steep hills. The opportunities to roll on the gas and really go for it are out there.
AWESOME
23:48 did the grey Kia beat the red light?
need the h2sx review m8
It requires very expensive turbo service periodically, but I guess that's not a problem if you can afford $30k bike.
These aren't faster than the Super Duke, 1290R despite the added horsepower. They're considerably heavier, and my friend and I have raced many times. A (2023) Super Duke will pull a car length immediately and they just hang out side by side until the speed is high enough that it no longer matters for a naked bike(150mph+) To date, it's been exactly the same thing each time. FYI. The Kawasaki also needs tire pressure sensors, as on a ride, the KTM's front tire went down and the dash immediately warned of it, while the ZH2 lost both tires and as really sketchy to stop (looks like someone threw a handful of roofing nails on the road!)
His ZH2 has 90K+ on it now and has been very reliable.
woah, didn't the Z H2 used to cost like $18k??
i think they did away with the base model and now only offer the SE version. pretty sure the base model used to be like 17.9 or something.
ah, he mentions it at the end. i couldn't find the base model on their website, even for the '24.
Kawasaki getting expensive. They're high end retro is now over $14K !
Stage 1 btmoto with the air filter upgrade is so unnecessary as well but god be damned if I need to control the bike
I'll take a 2024 MT-09SP over this any day of the week!...
On my first big rally i went on, there was a sport bike group, and one of the guys there had a Z H2. Lets just say he did not know how to handle all of it
Great review! But brown gloves with a black leather jacket?! High, HIGH, fashion crime!
I don't know how you guys get me watching videos about bikes I thought I'd have zero interest in. If high-school teachers could figure out your wizardry we'd be a country full of engineers.
Why is anyone paying any dealer maintenance money? What? Motorcycles are simple as pie.
I sadly dont have space to work on my bike besides basic stuff.
100 should be a versys 650 to show who the true king is
Hear me out. An H2 engined power cruiser! Think V-Max like
I've heard "supercharged" so many times that I had to superchargedly see myself out.
buckle up?? my motorcycle doesn't have any buckles... mount up maybe lol
Based on the leaderboard, I conclude that Zack is a BMW fanboy. 😄
I always remember Peugeot used to make a supercharged 125cc scooter, the Jetforce. Lord knows why, but I've always wondered what it was like.
It's a war horse. If you live in a windy wet climate and intend to be doing speeds above 90mph on a regular basis (surviving the commute on a motorway full of company car drivers) then defo get the ninja version, because the wind pushback by the wind and rain will render the superb performance potential useless.
I really wish Kawasaki made their Z line look better. My ninja 650 was my favorite bike ever and I would love to get something like this but the fake aggressive sharp lines and long nose is so ugly
H2 sx review when?