By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Hyper Naked vs Supersport
Kawasaki Z H2 (MY2020) vs Bimota Tesi H2 (MY2020)
Kawasaki Z H2 vs Bimota Tesi H2: where they split, and which one to buy.
Down at low revs in top gear, the Kawasaki Z H2 doesn't fuss and pulls smooth and even under its supercharger whine. The Bimota Tesi H2 builds a shove that won't let up. It's still charging hard toward the top end.
So which one do you buy?
The Z H2 has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
Inches ahead: Z H2
The Z H2 nudges ahead once the miles pile up. The reason: a better reliability record and more range per tank. Still, it's a narrow gap.
Keeping running costs low
A touch ahead: Z H2
Over a year of riding, the Z H2 noses ahead on running costs. A neglected example would wipe that out.
Daily commuting & city riding
Nose ahead: Z H2
The Z H2 makes slightly more sense as a commuter. Most of that is easier everyday riding. Don't read much into a gap this small.
The Tesi H2 has the edge if…
Racetrack use
Slight edge: Tesi H2
On a closed course, the Tesi H2 edges ahead. What tips it: more suspension adjustment and more lean clearance. Not by enough to settle it.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Narrow edge: Tesi H2
On a winding road, the Tesi H2 comes out a touch ahead. It's down to better suspension and stronger brakes. You wouldn't bet much on a gap like that.
Which one's the smarter buy
Two different jobs
These bikes sit in different classes, so there's no clear better buy for the money. The choice is a trade-off between a hyper naked and a supersport.
What makes each one tick
Z H2
Every roll-off draws a chirp from the Z H2's engine, and the drive back up rides on a whistle you won't hear from a naturally aspirated naked. Bumps don't kick through the seat. The suspension soaks them up and keeps the ride relaxed whenever you're not chasing the redline. At high speed, its weight keeps the bars quiet.
Nils rode the Z H2 in Austria in 2020 (1000PS test report).
Tesi H2
A hub-center steering arm carries the Tesi H2's front wheel, and the chassis wrapped around it looks like nothing you'd find on a conventional superbike grid. Inside sits Kawasaki's force-fed four. The four answers the throttle with an explosive hit.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Tesi H2 has the lower wet weight: 472 lb (214 kg) vs 527 lb (239 kg).
- The Tesi H2 makes more peak power: 231 hp (170 kW) vs 200 hp (147 kW).
- The Z H2 has the larger fuel tank: 5.0 US gal (19 L) vs 4.5 US gal (17 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Z H2
What owners say
Strengths
- Distinctive supercharger sound
- Excellent electronics package
- Surprisingly compliant road manners
Tesi H2
What owners say
Strengths
- Supercharged engine with immense power
What they cost used
Both bikes priced used at the same age: 6 years old.
- Z H2
- about $15,000
- Tesi H2
- about $67,400
At six years old, the Kawasaki Z H2 sits around $15,000 while the Bimota Tesi H2 holds near $67,400. That's a $52,400 gap in the US market. These are estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Displacement
- 998 cc
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Z H2 | Tesi H2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.7 in (830 mm) | 33.1 in (841 mm) |
| Wet weight | 527 lb (239 kg) | 472 lb (214 kg) |
| Z H2 | Tesi H2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 200 hp (147 kW) | 231 hp (170 kW) |
| Torque | 101 lb-ft (137 Nm) | 104 lb-ft (141 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 8,500 rpm | 11,000 rpm |
| Z H2 | Tesi H2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 39 mpg (US) / 6 L/100 km | 36 mpg (US) / 6.5 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 US gal (19 L) | 4.5 US gal (17 L) |
| Z H2 | Tesi H2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) | Leading-link |
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 | 200/55-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Z H2 | Tesi H2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Not offered |
| USB Charging Port | Option | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
