Comparo 600 hp: Ninja H2 Vs Panigale 1299 S Vs Hayabusa
With its supercharged 200 hp 4-legged, the spectacular Kawasaki H2 is a “ K ” apart, between hypersport and hyper-road. To better understand it, MNC opposed it to the Ducati Panigale 1299 S and Suzuki Hayabusa. Comparo under high (com) pressure !
Bestial Kawa, refined Ducat and profiled Suz ‘
MNC was eager to measure the potential of this motorcycle with its singular lines, in particular its "stealth" front face pierced with an LED headlight and its profiles anything but fluid, for lack of lower fairings. Even in its "civilian" version – with mirrors in place of the fins of the H2R – and its enormous exhaust eclipsing its superb star rim, this distant descendant of the H2 with the 2-stroke engine of 1971 has a sacred look !
Intimidating, the H2? "Karrement"! And apprehension goes up a notch at the sight of the words "Super Charged" above its clutch housing … "Welcome to the – small – world of supercharged engines", seems to indicate, mockingly, the 4-cylinder 998 cc !
Concretely, the admission of the Ninja is boosted by a compressor with fixed geometry, housed behind the cylinders. This part, made up of an aluminum turbine, does not need an exchanger to gain in compactness and weight. This is why a tubular trellis frame was chosen instead of the usual perimeter: to promote the "natural" cooling of this mechanism lubricated by engine oil..
This compressor is directly driven by the crankshaft at a rotation ratio of 9.2. Its action is therefore constant and proportional to the speed. In short: when the breaker is reached at 13,500 rpm, the turbine swirls at almost 125,000 rpm (!). It then displaces more than 200 liters of air per second to multiply the pressure of the flow sent into the engine by 2.4! Obviously, this mill will not run out of air !
A host of other details set this strictly single-seater motorcycle apart, such as its single swingarm, its clutch box, its magnificent Brembo M50 monobloc calipers (the same as the Ducati) or its fully adjustable suspensions, including in slow and fast compression. So many generously sized parts because they were taken as they are from the H2R which spits up to 326 hp. There is no doubt that rigidity and efficiency will be there !
Its mirror-effect paint is just as striking: its deep hue changes according to the light and reveals glittery reflections in full sun. Astonishing and qualitative! On the other hand, the ducts surrounded by tape and the ends of multicolored wires visible in the cockpit are unworthy of the price, as is the passable integration of the injection controls under the tank and the false edges of the polished rims at the rear (in reality, gray stickers: only the side of the sticks is machined).
These types of small imperfections, the sensual 1299 Panigale S has none. A real beauty, all in finesse and distinction. No need to turn around its pots elegantly integrated under its V-twin (top for weight distribution): the Ducati outclasses its rivals in terms of presentation, finish and refined parts (single-arm and splendid frames, casings of clutch and magnesium oil, etc.).
Its very high-end peripherals impose it, as does the ingenuity of some of its technical solutions such as its aluminum monocoque frame fixed directly on the cylinder heads of the "Superquadro". The contrast is striking between this minimalist chassis – which incorporates the airbox – and this enormous 1285 cc mill whose pistons have 116 mm of bore. The equivalent of the diameter of a CD !
Last of this static classification, the GSX-R1300 Hayabusa quite logically shows the weight of the years: the Suzuki "surface-to-surface" missile dates back to 2008 (passage from 175 to 197 hp via a bore to 1340 cc), while its silhouette Extremely profiled refers – apart from a few stylistic details – to its release in 1998…
Almost 20 years later, it is not insulting its designers to note the old feeling taken by the whole, quite massive. However, the curvy pencil stroke remains remarkable … and noticed: the first production bike to have exceeded 300 km / h still exudes performance at full speed and many are still sensitive to it, if we trust the number of thumbs raised as it passes.
Its build quality is very satisfactory – if not as polished as on the Ducati – and the addition of Brembo radial calipers (and ABS) adds a welcome note of sportiness. Suzuki could however have installed braided hoses, as on the H2 and the Panigale: in view of the mass to be stopped and the speeds reached, it would not be luxury !
Other slightly obsolete details still penalize it against its modern adversaries: if its mirrors are, for example, the most efficient of the three (those of the Ducati are almost useless!), Their maousse format contrasts with the chiseled elements – with turn signals at Integrated LEDs – Ducati and Kawasaki.
The same goes for its instrumentation made up of four dials with needles and a central digital screen, like the dashboard of cars from the 90s. The whole is certainly readable – more than on the Kawa, of which some information is small -, but less sexy and functional than the "tablet" of the Panigale. The absence of controls on the handlebars, present on its two rivals, confirms this conflict of generations.
Finally, the equipment of the Suzuki also appears to be behind in the face of the technological debauchery on board the H2 and the 1299 S. Surprisingly devoid of anti-skating – while the yet half as powerful has it! -, the Suzuki only has its ABS, its anti-dribble clutch and its three injection maps that can be operated on the handlebars to make use of in terms of assistance (see our)
A somewhat sparse endowment to compare with the adjustable and disconnectable traction controls of the Kawasaki and the Ducati, their starting assistant and engine brake control functions, their shifter or their Ohlins steering damper, including the The action is managed electronically. Real "flea bags" !
The Italian is still illustrated in terms of sophistication thanks to its ABS and anti-skating provided via an inertial unit (therefore sensitive to the position and angle of the motorcycle), its suspensions controlled in real time and its shifter operating at upshifting as when going down (only when getting on the H2).
And if not, it gallops quickly 600 hp? Oh yeah ! See you on the next page for the "dynamic" part of this match at the top !
Related articles
-
Comparo 600 hp: Ninja H2 Vs Panigale 1299 S Vs Hayabusa With its supercharged 200 hp 4-legged, the spectacular Kawasaki H2 is a “ K ” apart, between…
-
Comparo 600 hp: Ninja H2 Vs Panigale 1299 S Vs Hayabusa With its supercharged 200 hp 4-legged, the spectacular Kawasaki H2 is a “ K ” apart, between…
-
Comparo 600 hp: Ninja H2 Vs Panigale 1299 S Vs Hayabusa With its supercharged 200 hp 4-legged, the spectacular Kawasaki H2 is a “ K ” apart, between…
-
Comparo 600 hp: Ninja H2 Vs Panigale 1299 S Vs Hayabusa With its supercharged 200 hp 4-legged, the spectacular Kawasaki H2 is a “ K ” apart, between…
-
Comparo 600 hp: Ninja H2 Vs Panigale 1299 S Vs Hayabusa With its supercharged 200 hp 4-legged, the spectacular Kawasaki H2 is a “ K ” apart, between…
-
Ducati 1299 Panigale S and Kawasaki Ninja H2 in comparison test
Ducati 1299 Panigale S and Kawasaki Ninja H2 in comparison test Mountains of torque The torque curves of the two test motorcycles reach lonely heights….
-
2018 Superbike comparison: Aprilia RSV4 RF Vs BMW S1000RR Vs Ducati Panigale V4 S A year after having compared the four Japanese Superbikes, Site opposes…
-
Euro 3 classic: Ducati 1299 Panigale
Euro 3 classic: Ducati 1299 Panigale The long-awaited The Ducati 1299 Panigale should actually fall victim to the Euro4 standard, at least one thought….
-
Generation comparison Ducati 1299 Panigale R Final Edition 2017 and Ducati 1199 Panigale from 2012
Generation comparison Panigale 2017 and 2012 1299 Panigale R Final Edition vs. 1199 Panigale Content of We still can’t quite believe it: After decades,…
-
2018 Superbike comparison: Aprilia RSV4 RF Vs BMW S1000RR Vs Ducati Panigale V4 S A year after having compared the four Japanese Superbikes, Site opposes…