‘The Z H2 is happy to saunter, but will turn your mind to mush should you let it’

Verdict

There’s every chance you’ll experience the same cycle of feelings with a Z H2 that we did. On a test ride it’ll impress with smoothness, ease of control, steadfast confidence and dimension-shifting performance. Oh, and the chirping, fluttering supercharger noise between 5000 and 6000rpm. You’ll then feel deflated when you discover that though the engine is amazing the rest of the Zed is merely normal, and that deploying the supercharger at every opportunity highlights the limitations of its suspension and handling (and fuel consumption).

Stick with it though, because you’ll come out the other side and realise that it’s not supposed to be a supernaked. Instead, this is a larger, heavier bike for real humans and real roads, and which excels in ‘normal’ use. Low-speed manners are flawless, it’s stable, has a presence that brings confidence, and you never tire of the inline four’s rollon thrust. The Z H2 is a bike that’s happy to saunter, a friendly partner in regular riding – but that crucially will exhilarate and turn your mind to mush should you let it. This 2020 Z H2 Performance has an on-the-road price of £16,747. This is a lot of cash (the 2021 bike is £17,147 in tastier black and green, there’s also a semi-active SE for £18,497), but you need to remember that it’s also got a supercharger. And after more than 1000 miles and several months in its company, this very fact means the Z H2 still makes me go gooey inside. There’s nothing quite like it.

Hold the page close to your ear and you can hear the supercharger chirp and flutter

Clockwise from above: compact and easy to use; Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ ‘Water Mark’ badge is only used on H2s; these don’t enjoy winter slop; taillight is supposed to look like a ‘Z’