By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Hyper Naked vs Supersport
Kawasaki Z H2 (MY2020) vs Ninja H2 (ZXT00X)
Kawasaki Z H2 vs Ninja H2: different classes, one choice. Here's how to make it.
Rolling slow through town, the Kawasaki Z H2 doesn't fight you and settles right down. The Kawasaki Ninja H2's angular fairing and bare trellis frame won't blend into that crawl. Every eye on the sidewalk tracks it past.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the Z H2 if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Gets the nod: Z H2
As a daily commuter, the Z H2 gets the nod, and it isn't close.
Buy the Ninja H2 if…
Racetrack use
Clear pick: Ninja H2
If you'd rather be at the track than anywhere else, the Ninja H2 is the one. The difference is more suspension adjustment and more lean clearance.
The Ninja H2 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Small edge: Ninja H2
On a winding road, the Ninja H2 comes out a touch ahead. Most of that is better suspension and a sportier chassis. You wouldn't bet much on a gap like that.
What makes each one tick
Z H2
From low revs the Z H2's supercharged inline-four shoves hard, and there's no step in the pull as the tach climbs. At corner entry you'll find the Brembo brakes and the suspension holding the bike steady as it steers in. Its weight steadies the bike at high speed, where it doesn't get nervous. Off the throttle, the supercharger chirps.
Nils rode the Z H2 in Austria in 2020 (NastyNils Testride).
Ninja H2
Explosive thrust pours out of the Ninja H2's supercharged inline-four and doesn't let up. The throttle gets a ferocious answer, and there's no seam in the powerband on the way up. The compressor whines over all of it. The lightweight steel chassis steers sharply.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Z H2 has the larger fuel tank: 5.0 US gal (19 L) vs 4.5 US gal (17 L).
- Cruise Control: standard on the Z H2, not offered on the Ninja H2.
- Smartphone Connectivity: standard on the Z H2, not offered on the Ninja H2.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither one fits
Long-haul comfort is a weak spot for both. If you tour, shop with that in mind.
For running costs, you won't find daylight between them. Let the test ride settle it.
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
Ninja H2
What owners say
Strengths
- Explosive supercharged power
Known problems to check before you buy
Z H2
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
Ninja H2
- Camshaft chain tensioner recall (2017-2018 units) Recall 22V912000 A defect in the camshaft chain tensioner relief valve could cause it to stick, leading to chain slippage and engine stall. NHTSA campaign 22V-912 (22V912000) affects certain 2017-2018 Ninja H2 models.
What they share
- Seat height
- 32.7 in (830 mm)
- Displacement
- 998 cc
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak power at
- 11,000 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Wheelbase
- 57.3 in (1455 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| Z H2 | Ninja H2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 527 lb (239 kg) | 525 lb (238 kg) |
| Z H2 | Ninja H2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Torque | 101 lb-ft (137 Nm) | 98 lb-ft (133 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 8,500 rpm | 10,500 rpm |
| Z H2 | Ninja H2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 US gal (19 L) | 4.5 US gal (17 L) |
| Z H2 | Ninja H2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 | 200/55-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Z H2 | Ninja H2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise Control | Standard | Not offered |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
