Watch This Stock(ish) Kawasaki H2 Run a low-8 Second 1/4-mile Pass

Kawasaki made history with the H2R unveiling - the biggest hp number ever put out by a major manufacturer. A bunch of firsts for Kawasaki, it was big news and love it or hate it, it seemed right that it received as much attention as it did.

READ MORE: Clearing Up the Rumors: Kawasaki Ninja H2 | RideApart

Then the Kawasaki H2 was unveiled, to decidedly less accolades. The H2R rated at a whopping 300hp; the H2 was a letdown with 200hp (did we ever think we’d reach a day that 200hp on two wheels was a let down?).

BMW wasn't going to lay around and wait; they introduced an upgraded S1000RR, with 6 more horses matching the H2's output. But BMW did this with fewer pounds, 449 pounds (wet) to be exact, compared to Kawasaki's 524 pounds (curb weight). It would seem Mean Green has more competition than we expected.

The drama and Track Wars seemed to be over before they began, as excitement died down for the H2. Now, we have new hope!

The H2 Drag Bike

Yesterday at the New York International Motorcycle Show, Kawasaki unveiled their specially designed Kawasaki H2, built by eleven-time drag racing champion Rickey Gadson. Kawasaki won't release a ton of detailed information about the bike, but what we can tell so far is that it's basically stock - and that's a good thing.

Adam’s Performance in Mooreville, North Carolina helped build the bike using one of their famous Strong Arm extended swing arms, stretching the wheelbase from 57.3 inches to 67.5 inches.

The Ninja aluminum wheels were switched out for Brock’s Performance BST carbon fiber wheels, saving rotating mass. The new bike weighs 12 pounds less than the stock H2.

The guys also installed a handlebar-mounted air shifter that works with the Kawasaki Quick Shifter along with a JRI rear shock for more added bite. For a quick drag bike, that’s not a lot of upgrades.