The Emperor’s new clothes (H2 SX)

[kman0066]

These things are always hard to troubleshoot remotely. Having no clue about the relative level of your experience with other equipment and your machine's actual performance, here are some basic thoughts I would ask anyone saying their H2 didn't feel powerful:

Power Modes - It does have low power modes which neuter the bike, make sure you're in F Power Mode.

Electronic Throttle - Being marketed as a sport TOURING bike, they've mapped the throttle to react VERY slowly, even in full-power mode. You really have to ham-fist the throttle to get a big reaction out of the bike if you're used to riding a direct-wire/single-throttle plate bike that reacts directly to your inputs. For instance, the H2 throttle grip may be at 25% but the throttle plates could actually be at 5% vs. a direct correlation on an older bike. They really put a HUGE focus on making the throttle gentle/smooth on this bike. It's not going to be aggressive like any supersport bike is. (If this is the problem, this could be "resolved" with a flash)

Tire Grip - The tires are pretty grippy, so don't expect a lot of wheel spin. I get a lot of TC activation in 1st gear, but it's pretty stable after that, even with my modified/flashed bike. They're full-fledged supersport tires mounted to it, so they work well, just wear out fast.

Supercharger - It does have a supercharger, but it doesn't make a ton of extra power at low RPM. It's not terribly more powerful than a equivalent liter-bike of the same size at lower RPMs. It's NOT slow by any means but it's low-end won't compare to a big-displacement bike like the 1299, 14R, or Hayabusa. So if it's just not Wowing you at low RPM, that may be normal, but if it's just plain slow like a little-bike engine, that may be a different story. Even without the supercharger, it's still a liter-bike and it's got a high-compression ratio (unlike the regular H2). Have you watched the boost-gauge on the dash? Is it building boost? It should feel substantial at low-RPM (not breath-taking, but like Ninja 1000 fast), progressively get REALLY fast from 7k-10k, and then fall flat up top (stock tune).

Assuming something is wrong with the bike - Trying to guess at what could actually cause low-RPM slowness but not affect high-RPM, and not cause check-engine lights or any other noticeable symptoms.... The only thing I can think of would be software in the ECU, and I'm not sure how that could actually happen. Kawasaki loaded the wrong data onto your particular ECU (Doesn't seem probable, though it would be possible)? If that were the case, a flash would resolve that as well.
-Intake and exhaust issues affect all RPMs
-Compression issues would affect all RPMs
-Timing retard from the ECU could do this, but the only reason the ECU would do that is if it detected a lot of Knock, and that would throw a code/error on the dash
-TPS sensor issues could possibly affect, but they tend to get worse with more RPMs
-Exhaust valves get stuck, but that affects randomly, not consistently at certain RPMs

Anyways, may just be my rambling above. Looking forward to hearing how you resolve this one. Good luck! Sounds like a trip to a Dyno is the next best step for you. Hope you get it sorted.

[Bengarzy]

These things are always hard to troubleshoot remotely. Having no clue about the relative level of your experience with other equipment and your machine's actual performance, here are some basic thoughts I would ask anyone saying their H2 didn't feel powerful:

Power Modes - It does have low power modes which neuter the bike, make sure you're in F Power Mode.

Electronic Throttle - Being marketed as a sport TOURING bike, they've mapped the throttle to react VERY slowly, even in full-power mode. You really have to ham-fist the throttle to get a big reaction out of the bike if you're used to riding a direct-wire/single-throttle plate bike that reacts directly to your inputs. For instance, the H2 throttle grip may be at 25% but the throttle plates could actually be at 5% vs. a direct correlation on an older bike. They really put a HUGE focus on making the throttle gentle/smooth on this bike. It's not going to be aggressive like any supersport bike is. (If this is the problem, this could be "resolved" with a flash)

Tire Grip - The tires are pretty grippy, so don't expect a lot of wheel spin. I get a lot of TC activation in 1st gear, but it's pretty stable after that, even with my modified/flashed bike. They're full-fledged supersport tires mounted to it, so they work well, just wear out fast.

Supercharger - It does have a supercharger, but it doesn't make a ton of extra power at low RPM. It's not terribly more powerful than a equivalent liter-bike of the same size at lower RPMs. It's NOT slow by any means but it's low-end won't compare to a big-displacement bike like the 1299, 14R, or Hayabusa. So if it's just not Wowing you at low RPM, that may be normal, but if it's just plain slow like a little-bike engine, that may be a different story. Even without the supercharger, it's still a liter-bike and it's got a high-compression ratio (unlike the regular H2). Have you watched the boost-gauge on the dash? Is it building boost? It should feel substantial at low-RPM (not breath-taking, but like Ninja 1000 fast), progressively get REALLY fast from 7k-10k, and then fall flat up top (stock tune).

Assuming something is wrong with the bike - Trying to guess at what could actually cause low-RPM slowness but not affect high-RPM, and not cause check-engine lights or any other noticeable symptoms.... The only thing I can think of would be software in the ECU, and I'm not sure how that could actually happen. Kawasaki loaded the wrong data onto your particular ECU (Doesn't seem probable, though it would be possible)? If that were the case, a flash would resolve that as well.
-Intake and exhaust issues affect all RPMs
-Compression issues would affect all RPMs
-Timing retard from the ECU could do this, but the only reason the ECU would do that is if it detected a lot of Knock, and that would throw a code/error on the dash
-TPS sensor issues could possibly affect, but they tend to get worse with more RPMs
-Exhaust valves get stuck, but that affects randomly, not consistently at certain RPMs

Anyways, may just be my rambling above. Looking forward to hearing how you resolve this one. Good luck! Sounds like a trip to a Dyno is the next best step for you. Hope you get it sorted.

Thanks for the comprehensive reply, interesting.
My experience is fairly comprehensive, I have had a huge number of big capacity 4 cylinder bikes, twins and a triple, I have raced bikes and up until a couple of years ago would do track days for fun, before that I was instructing for a few years, 2 a week sometimes...... this bike is slow from idle to 6500 revs in any gear, more noticeable as they get higher, at 6500 it changes and goes well. I haven’t had a 4 cylinder bike with as little grunt as this one up to 6k and the K 1300 would leave it for dead and as it has already been said the H2 pulled 2 seconds on one of those on a roll on I know it has a fault.
Tomorrow I have an hour on a dyno and a standard H2SX read out to compare what we get.......more tomorrow night.
By the way I absolutely love everything else about the bike, can’t fault it, even the seat seems to not dislike my bum as much as it used too

[Some Guy]

After reading your post and other similar posts of disappointed new H2 SX SE owners, I decided to chime in.

I've still intended on a nice review, but I am waiting until my trip in June to really get into details.

I just want to first say that prior to my 2019 H2 SX SE+, my previous bike was a 2008 ZX-14 (Gen 1). It's been modded with a complete Brock's system and Brock's maps on a Power Commander.

After diligently posting my first 600 miles break-in, my son and I went out one Saturday afternoon to try it out. He was on the ZX14 and I was on the H2. We tried roll-on tests from every gear at or around 40-50 mph. I totally expected him to run away from me. It wasn't even close, the H2 absolutely walked away from the ZX14 in every gear. Unbelievable!! We pulled over and switched bikes. I thought maybe he wasn't 'doing it right'. We tried again and it didn't make a difference, the H2 simply trounces my ZX-14.

I plan on giving it another try later. My 14 feels like it's going to rip my arms out of my sockets over 9000 RPM and the H2 simply doesn't have that intensity. Yet, no matter what we tried that day, the smooth running H2 was unbeatable. No real WOW, no unmistakable roar, just walking away. I don't get it, but I'm not giving up on the 14...

[Bengarzy]

After reading your post and other similar posts of disappointed new H2 SX SE owners, I decided to chime in.

I've still intended on a nice review, but I am waiting until my trip in June to really get into details.

I just want to first say that prior to my 2019 H2 SX SE+, my previous bike was a 2008 ZX-14 (Gen 1). It's been modded with a complete Brock's system and Brock's maps on a Power Commander.

After diligently posting my first 600 miles break-in, my son and I went out one Saturday afternoon to try it out. He was on the ZX14 and I was on the H2. We tried roll-on tests from every gear at or around 40-50 mph. I totally expected him to run away from me. It wasn't even close, the H2 absolutely walked away from the ZX14 in every gear. Unbelievable!! We pulled over and switched bikes. I thought maybe he wasn't 'doing it right'. We tried again and it didn't make a difference, the H2 simply trounces my ZX-14.

I plan on giving it another try later. My 14 feels like it's going to rip my arms out of my sockets over 9000 RPM and the H2 simply doesn't have that intensity. Yet, no matter what we tried that day, the smooth running H2 was unbeatable. No real WOW, no unmistakable roar, just walking away. I don't get it, but I'm not giving up on the 14...

Those results are the opposite to what I have seen, the ZX1400 walked away from the H2 in any gear...... you would have to ride my bike to see how little grunt it has under 6k to believe it

[DarkFlow]

MCN test awhile ago, had the SX marginally ahead of the 14 in the 50-120 mph top gear roll on comparison.

[DarkFlow]

The SX does however 'feel' aneamic low down compared to a 14 or a busa even if its not necessarily the case. Good luck resolving your issue.

[Bengarzy]

The SX does however 'feel' aneamic low down compared to a 14 or a busa even if its not necessarily the case. Good luck resolving your issue.

Took the SX to Cambridge Motorcycles for re flash, really good guys, it’s a set up that Kawasaki have on the latest bike, there is a lot to adjust/reset and the ECU is different because of the electronic suspension etc. Had to leave the bike as no one has done one yet in the U.K, be done middle of next week. I said to concentrate on low to middle where it isn’t on the case and take out the limiters etc when the lower 6k are sorted........more soon. At least someone else can profit from my guinea pig re flash if they go to Cambridge.

[DarkFlow]

Fingers crossed. Roll on next week. Will be interesting to see how much of an improvement the work makes. If it's night and day I may be tempted myself!

[Racer-X]

Have you checked that your exhaust valve is functioning? A wide open (disconnected??) exhaust valve would cause the symptoms you describe ... weak bottom end but normal top end. Hope I'm not being captain obvious here ... worth checking if you haven't already.

[cOoTeR]

If you're comparing the H2 SX to the ZX14R here is a dyno run by motorcycle news dot com comparing the 2. The red is zx14 both are supposedly stock.