One problem with trying to keep a new model under wraps as long as possible is that in this age of "instant information" on the internet, all it takes is one misstep and the whole world will soon know. That appears to be the case with a video recently posted on YouTube that apparently is the official teaser video for the 2015 Kawasaki H2, the street legal version of the supercharger-equipped, 300-hp H2R that has generated incredible buzz among the industry and sportbike enthusiasts across the world. The official release date for the H2 teaser video was supposed to be October 6, but apparently someone got their hands on the video file and posted it. The official release of the H2 is reportedly going to be on November 3 at the EICMA show in Milan.
The video starts with two darkened profiles of motorcycles, with a "Track" designation shown before the H2R is shown, and then a "Street" moniker before a darkened profile image of the H2 is shown, followed by the question "Track or Street?" A license plate hanger, larger double-stacked muffler similar in design to the Ninja 1000's, and mirrors in place of the airfoils on the H2R clearly show the street legal intentions of the H2. Kawasaki is claiming "only" 200 horsepower for the H2, versus the claimed 300 horsepower of the track-only H2R, which is likely a nod toward keeping boost levels in check to ensure avoiding engine-life-threatening detonation in the stop-and-go and lower octane pump fuel environment of the street, as well as attempting to keep the H2 from being too visible on the radar of platform-pounding politicians and governments.
The video posted on YouTube can be seen below: