Analysis paralysis is the inability to make a decision when presented with an overwhelming number of options. You’d have experienced this with Netflix, but if you want to experience it on two wheels, check out the Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE. On paper, it promises to be an excellent touring motorcycle with superbike-level horsepower and cutting-edge tech, but the same thing becomes the bike’s Achilles heel, too.
It’s just an unconventionally extreme touring bike that, by the looks of it, does not meet the basic criteria of what a touring motorcycle should be. That has made it one of the most overlooked tourers in the segment. But look past the complicated tech and engine architecture, and you’ll see a touring bike that is efficient, adaptive, and safe. Here’s how this forgotten touring bike still looks the business and overdelivers on what you’d need from your tourer, for the most part.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from authoritative sources, such as Kawasaki.
The Ninja H2 SX SE Is Unconventionally Extreme But Still Relevant In 2025
Starting Price: $29,100
After making a massive wave on the internet after its launch, the Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE has largely gone under the radar today. While it’s an excellent touring motorcycle, not many touring customers actually care about it, and that is due to its unconventionally extreme nature. It’s essentially a supercharged missile on two wheels with a plush seat, which puts it in a niche where many traditional tourer buyers don’t even look. Add to that its association with the H2’s wild performance, which scares the conventional touring crowd. In short, not many tourer buyers are looking for something so powerful and extreme.
That does not mean it’s a bad sports tourer by any margin. It’s one of the most advanced sports tourers you can buy today, and it features the highest standards of technology, performance, and comfort. Kawasaki says the supercharged engine is tuned for long-distance comfort and daily riding, and it’s controlled by a range of electronics, including radar-based Advanced Rider Assist System. It also gets Showa EERA semi-active suspension, top-spec Brembo Stylema brake calipers, and so much more. For some owners, such complexity may mean that more things can go wrong, but which modern high-end touring bike doesn’t come with so much tech?
Speaking of, the Ninja H2 SX SE is often overshadowed by bikes that take a more conventional approach to achieving extreme performance, such as the BMW M 1000 XR, KTM 1290 Super Duke GT, and Ducati Multistrada V4 RS. These bikes offer superbike levels of performance but simply can’t match the supercharged versatility of the H2 SX. That’s what makes the H2 SX the forgotten sports tourer that, if given the chance, will blow your mind with what it has to offer. Its stellar performance, H2-inspired design, and features combine to make it ideal for someone who’s looking for the ultimate mix of wild performance and long-distance comfort.
Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE vs. Rivals
|
Model |
Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX |
Ducati Multistrada V4 RS |
BMW M 1000 XR |
KTM 1290 Super Duke GT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Engine Type |
Inline-four, supercharged |
Desmosedici Stradale V4 |
Inline-four |
V-twin |
|
Displacement |
998cc |
1,103cc |
999cc |
1,301cc |
|
Power |
207 HP |
180 HP |
201 HP |
173 HP |
|
Torque |
101 LB-FT |
87 LB-FT |
83 LB-FT |
104 LB-FT |
|
Starting Price |
$29,100 |
$37,995 |
$25,375 |
$20,499 |
It’s A One-Of-A-Kind Supercharged Hyper-Sport Touring Motorcycle
Power Output: 207 HP @ 10,000 RPM
The H2 SX takes its powerplant from the venerable H2 and H2 R hyperbikes, featuring a groundbreaking supercharger that makes this one of the most advanced motorcycles in the segment. Unlike other aftermarket or automotive superchargers, this unit features an efficient design that keeps the compressed intake air minimally heated, eliminating the need for an intercooler. At the same time, the RAM air intake routes fresh air into the supercharger in as straight a line as possible. Finally, it features an impeller that spools up to 130,000 RPM to produce optimal airflow. The result is a wild performance of over 200 horsepower… in a sports tourer!
Fortunately, the H2 SX does not unload all of its power on the rear wheel like its hyperbike siblings. Kawasaki says this supercharged engine is tuned for versatility and fuel efficiency. So, this now delivers power where it’s most useful on a touring bike: low- to mid-range torque. As a result, the motorcycle should be relaxed at high-speed highway cruises and tractable at low speeds, while still offering exhilarating acceleration to blow your mind.
As a sports tourer, Kawasaki has also prioritized fuel efficiency. The supercharger is designed with high-efficiency operation over a broader range of conditions, and its design ensures the compressed intake air is minimally heated. As a result, the H2 SX returns 43.55 MPG in combined conditions, which ideally gives it a range of over 200 miles on a single fuel tank. Finally, you also get to enjoy the whistle of the engine every time you rev it up.
Supercharger Highlights
- Supercharger operates in sync with the engine, allowing high-efficiency operation over a range of riding conditions
- Supercharger’s design keeps compressed intake air cool, so no intercooler is required
- RAM air intake increases supercharger efficiency and is located on the left side of the upper cowl
- Complex impeller can spool up to 130,000 RPM and is made with a forged aluminum block using a 5-axis CNC machining center for precision and durability
- Grooves etched into the impeller surface help direct airflow
- Planetary gear train runs off the crankshaft with speed stepped up by an intermediary gear, ultimately producing an impeller rotation of 9.2x the crank speed
Performance Specs
|
Engine Type |
Inline-four, DOHC, 16-valve, liquid-cooled, supercharged |
|---|---|
|
Displacement |
998cc |
|
Compression Ratio |
11.2:1 |
|
Torque Output |
101 LB-FT @ 8,500 RPM |
|
Fuel System |
DFI with 40mm throttle bodies (4), Kawasaki Supercharger |
|
Transmission |
6-speed, return shift, dog-ring |
|
Final Drive |
Sealed chain |
The Ninja H2-Derived Chassis Is Re-Engineered For Passenger And Luggage
Chassis Type: Trellis, High Tensile Steel
Like the engine, the H2 SX also shares its chassis with the H2 hyperbike, which is engineered to support the bike’s incredible power-to-weight ratio. Moreover, on this sports tourer, the chassis has been re-engineered to accommodate a passenger and luggage for long-distance travel. Still, Kawasaki assures you that it is agile and should be able to handle everything from highway touring to canyon carving, and it shouldn’t feel like you’re wrestling a boat while pushing it into corners.
What adds to the bike’s comfort even more is the Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension (KECS), which features high-quality components with cutting-edge electronic control technology to adjust damping in real-time according to the riding conditions. In other words, the Showa Skyhook EERA electronically equipped ride adjustment adapts to the road conditions on the fly, keeping the bike composed and comfortable at all times. You no longer have to fiddle around with the adjustment screws every time the road surface changes.
That’s not where it ends for the H2 SX, though. It also features a high-end Brembo braking system to pull in the reins. It features two massive 320 mm semi-floating discs clamped by dual radial-mount 4-pot Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers. Braking force is applied via a radial pump brake master cylinder, offering strong braking force and superb feel, at least according to Kawasaki. Even the cast-aluminum wheels are designed for optimal rigidity and high-speed performance for highway touring.
Chassis And Dimensions Specs
|
Rake/Trail |
24.7 degrees / 4.1 in. |
|---|---|
|
Front Suspension |
43mm inverted Showa fork with KECS-controlled rebound and compression damping, manual spring preload adjustability and top-out springs, 4.7 in. travel |
|
Rear Suspension |
Uni-Trak, Showa BFRC lite gas-charged shock with piggyback reservoir, KECS-controlled compression and rebound damping electronically-adjustable spring preload, 5.3 in. travel |
|
Front Tire |
120/70-17 |
|
Rear Tire |
190/55-17 |
|
Ground Clearance |
5.1 in. |
|
Curb Weight |
590.9 LBS |
It’s Essentially A Computer On Two Wheels
The Kawasaki H2 SX also features one of the most advanced electronics management suites in the industry, and you’d have to be smooth-brained to make it crash without any external anomalies. It’s led by an Advanced Rider Assistance System (ARAS), which features a Bosch radar system with surround-sensing tech. This radar enables Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), and Blind Spot Detection (BSD).
Further rider aid support is added by a six-axis IMU, which is the first Kawasaki to integrate an FI-ECU with torque-demand capabilities. Without getting too technical, the IMU enables the easy coordination of both engine output and brake force, allowing speed to be changed with precision and smoothness. It enables safety aids such as Kawasaki Cornering Management Function (KCMF), Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC), and others. Rounding out the tech package is a 6.5-inch TFT display with SPIN connectivity, three riding modes, and an auto high-beam headlight.
Electronics And Rider Aids
- Advanced Rider Assistance System (ARAS)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
- Six-axis IMU
- Vehicle Hold Assist
- Kawasaki Intelligent Proximity Activation Start System (KIPASS)
- Kawasaki Intelligent Anti-Lock Brake System (KIBS)
- Kawasaki Cornering Management Function (KCMF)
- Kawasaki TRaction Control (KTRC)
- 6.5-inch TFT display with SPIN
- Three power modes: Full, Medium, and Low
- All-LED lighting with auto high-beam
- Kawasaki Engine Brake Control
- Kawasaki Quick Shifter (KQS)
Comfort Is Somewhat Lost Amidst Performance And Features
Seat Height: 32.9 in.
Such class-leading performance and cutting-edge features are all most people talk about when discussing the H2 SX SE, not comfort. And the latter is what a typical tourer buyer is looking for. Still, that’s not to say the H2 SX SE is uncomfortable. Kawasaki has given the bike relaxed sport tourer ergonomics, featuring taller clip-ons and large saddles. Plus, the full fairing is said to direct air around you, improving highway comfort even more. The bike also comes with standard heated grips. Unlike its sportier siblings, the H2 SX also accommodates a pillion with a seemingly large saddle.
Improving its long-distance touring capabilities is its storage, which includes the Kawasaki KQR saddlebag system. This system features a pair of clean-mount 7.39-gallon hard saddlebags that can be easily attached and removed using the flip key inside the KIPASS fob. Unfortunately, this is also where the H2 SX SE’s biggest gripe comes in. This saddlebag system is available as an optional feature. Many owners also complain that the optional accessories Kawasaki offers are not enough for their touring needs, because all you get is a helmet lock, comfort seats, a center stand, frame sliders, and tank pads.