Kawasaki Ninja H2...750 cc supercharged.

[Brian P]

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Wings were tried in the past by Ducati in racing to hold down the front end, the problem is that down force is weak below 150 mph and then you have this added force in fast cornering. Bad experiment. They were then adapted to redirect cooling air extraction, then they just took them off. Aero aids like this on road bikes or cars is a gimmick.

That is not necessarily true. Audi got in trouble for rear-end instability with the original TT, and one of the fixes included a rear spoiler.

It's trickier with bikes because the surface areas involved are much smaller and there's no huge, flat under-body to work with ... but aero is not just about drag and lift, it's also about cross-wind stability. I am getting the impression that Kawasaki has put a lot of R&D into this project.

 

[RedDogDarren]

It sticks out and one low side with just snap them off, besides, wings like that have no use at road speeds, and don't add anything at race speeds on a bike.

Just don't low side so often.

 

[CafeRay]

That is not necessarily true. Audi got in trouble for rear-end instability with the original TT, and one of the fixes included a rear spoiler.

It's trickier with bikes because the surface areas involved are much smaller and there's no huge, flat under-body to work with ... but aero is not just about drag and lift, it's also about cross-wind stability. I am getting the impression that Kawasaki has put a lot of R&D into this project.

You cannot compare auto and motorcycle aero. Kawasaki put a lot of marketing into this project. Still, they are doing R&D, which is more than we can say for the other big Japanese manufacturers.

 

[CafeRay]

Just don't low side so often.

Well, on track bikes, low sides are facts of life.

 

[mxs]

You cannot compare auto and motorcycle aero. Kawasaki put a lot of marketing into this project. Still, they are doing R&D, which is more than we can say for the other big Japanese manufacturers.

Sure you can .... The only thing you can state with certainty right now is that you have no clue why they have done from the little they have shown so far. Maybe just maybe you will have to retract a lot of things you have written.

 

[Brian P]

Well, on track bikes, low sides are facts of life.

... and track bikes generally aren't running stock bodywork.

 

[caboose56]

And the H2 is most likely not intended for extensive track usage.


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[CDN-GTR]

From all the videos (specially the last one) I think the new H2 will be a limited addition for those with big bank accounts it's gonna be another
Ducati Superleggera. I'm expecting $75K Canadian and a world wide production of less that 500.

And as for bikes they have aerodynamic looks and all but then you put a rider on it and it all turns to ****.

 

[Psycho_Biker]

There's supposedly going to be an H2 for the road and H2R for track only. I guess this would be the H2R then...

 

[Kevin M]

Wow!

 

[muay_thai_dan]

There's supposedly going to be an H2 for the road and H2R for track only. I guess this would be the H2R then...

cant tell if i love it or hate it...

 

[GreyGhost]

Someone explain where the problem in my logic is. It a bike has wings perpendicular to the wheels, the downforce will increase traction in a straight line (when going ridiculously fast) where it isn't really needed and in a corner, assuming a 45 degree lean angle, half of the downforce will increase traction while the other half tries to make the bike go wide. This seems like there is little positive effect (and it may actually be worse). If the wings were mounted close to the contact patch and pivoted to remain perpendicular to the road I could see a big increase in cornering traction, but damn that's complicated and fragile.

The wings could be for stability (ie if they were at the back of the bike and the rear wheel lifted, the wing would try to push the bike back down) but I doubt you could get a big enough wing to make much difference. Or they could actively change the angle to aid in braking, but that seems expensive/complicated.

 

[kellen]

Someone explain where the problem in my logic is. It a bike has wings perpendicular to the wheels, the downforce will increase traction in a straight line (when going ridiculously fast) where it isn't really needed and in a corner, assuming a 45 degree lean angle, half of the downforce will increase traction while the other half tries to make the bike go wide. This seems like there is little positive effect (and it may actually be worse). If the wings were mounted close to the contact patch and pivoted to remain perpendicular to the road I could see a big increase in cornering traction, but damn that's complicated and fragile.

The wings could be for stability (ie if they were at the back of the bike and the rear wheel lifted, the wing would try to push the bike back down) but I doubt you could get a big enough wing to make much difference. Or they could actively change the angle to aid in braking, but that seems expensive/complicated.

You're over thinking it. My guess is that the bike can actually fly.

 

[Brian P]

Something like this could likely use some downforce on the front end. Think about going over the crest at Mosport's back straight. Most current superbikes don't keep the front planted there. For cornering, adding downforce is a wash, but most corners on most tracks are not at top speed. Downforce could help a little with braking, too.

 

[STR]

If wings on a bike had any positive effect on performance wouldn't they use them in F1?

 

[DECIMIS]

Reminds me of a samurai? Mirrors, headlights and turn signals required before I get emotionally involved!

 

[LoneRonin]

^^ I thought the same thing, it looks like some badass warrior's helmet. This one came to my mind....

 

[Shaman]

I'll just leave this here:

http://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/kawasaki-ninja-h2-and-h2r

 

[inreb]

tubular dude

 

[TwistedKestrel]

Someone explain where the problem in my logic is. It a bike has wings perpendicular to the wheels, the downforce will increase traction in a straight line (when going ridiculously fast) where it isn't really needed and in a corner, assuming a 45 degree lean angle, half of the downforce will increase traction while the other half tries to make the bike go wide. This seems like there is little positive effect (and it may actually be worse). If the wings were mounted close to the contact patch and pivoted to remain perpendicular to the road I could see a big increase in cornering traction, but damn that's complicated and fragile.

The wings could be for stability (ie if they were at the back of the bike and the rear wheel lifted, the wing would try to push the bike back down) but I doubt you could get a big enough wing to make much difference. Or they could actively change the angle to aid in braking, but that seems expensive/complicated.

The wings could just be to cancel lift at high speeds. They certainly aren't very substantial - it's possible they don't do much of anything at or below projected cornering speeds.

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