[Cliff Secord]

I'm shocked that there seem to be no first hand accounts of actually having ridden one from anyone other than RG. Is there an embargo on reviews or are they just being denied a ride?

If that turns out to be the case, anyone considering giving a trusted journalist a go at their bike? I might've given mine to Fast Bikes if I were in the UK and I could be there for the part where they shoot the centerfold pic. > Don't know that there's much point in giving it to a US mag because their writing styles are all so sterile, cynical and vanilla.

If you are going to do it, please break it in first. The 00 12R got killed by journalists because none of the press bikes were run in. Even better, should you not want yours anymore, make sure your insurance is paid up, then do the world a favor and loan it to one of the idiots at Jalopnik. I vote Patrick George or Andrew Collins. In the immortal words of AOL, Goodbye.

 

[pebble35]

No press have been allowed near the H2 or H2R yet as far as I know.

Selected Kawasaki staff (including some from Kawasaki UK who I have spoken to) have ridden it and are 'cautious' about just what they can say, even to Kawasaki dealers. Our rep is a guy I trust and my decision to purchase was largely swung not by what he said, but more by the enthusiasm with which he said it and what he didn't say (but instead hinted at ......................)

I am sure Kawasaki UK will have press bikes available (or more likely a press bike) but the mags will be fighting hard to get their hands on it. I know the guys at FB quite well and they have ridden one of my bikes before without crashing it so I may give them a shout once it's run in and the first service done ..................

 

[GoFaster]

I know several people within the Canadian motorcycle-journalist scene. In 20+ years of roadracing I can state with precision how much the journalists have done for me (aside from simply being listed in the finishing order when they bother reporting on them): 0.

And that is precisely the odds of me letting any of them touch my bike.

 

[SilverbirdH2]

Yeah,another racer rode one....TroY somebody...

 

[Clover]

I have no intention of giving my bike to journalists. THey are journalists. Shouldn't they be able to get access without the help of a layman like me?

 

[pebble35]

I have no intention of giving my bike to journalists. THey are journalists. Shouldn't they be able to get access without the help of a layman like me?

I am sure that most country importers will have a single H2 'press' bike available - in the UK there will be 8 or 9 major magazines all fighting to be at the front of the queue to get the exclusive 'first' test. They will all want it for a week or so with a couple of days turnaround to allow time for the bike to be checked over/cleaned/serviced at the importer between tests.

Work out the timing - first bikes arrive in February/March so some of the major magazines may not see a bike to test until nearly June ! A bit late and way past the point where a test report will help sell magazines.

I am sure magazines could be persuaded to incentivise owners to help them get reports in earlier - magazine journalists often have a lot of very useful contacts and can often make things happen if you ask - want VIP tickets for Moto GP in return for loan of your bike for a day or so ?

 

[GoFaster]

Lend out your bike, or lend out your girlfriend ... they both come back f**ked. No thanks.

 

[Bazza]

I am sure that most country importers will have a single H2 'press' bike available - in the UK there will be 8 or 9 major magazines all fighting to be at the front of the queue to get the exclusive 'first' test. They will all want it for a week or so with a couple of days turnaround to allow time for the bike to be checked over/cleaned/serviced at the importer between tests.

Work out the timing - first bikes arrive in February/March so some of the major magazines may not see a bike to test until nearly June ! A bit late and way past the point where a test report will help sell magazines.

I am sure magazines could be persuaded to incentivise owners to help them get reports in earlier - magazine journalists often have a lot of very useful contacts and can often make things happen if you ask - want VIP tickets for Moto GP in return for loan of your bike for a day or so ?

Agreed, it all comes down to use value. If you can get the rags to exchange something worth more (to you) than your 1 hour of worry go for it. They have insurance, as will you, so the re-waiting time would be the only concern.

I'd LOVE to see someone hand their bike over to Cameron at Cycle World, love his technical insight, although I suppose that doesn't do much for first rides...

 

[SilverbirdH2]

Looked at the bike mags yesterday at my job....NOTHING about the H2 except one teensy TEENSY picture and a comment about 'how far bikes have come'....plenty on the R1 though...props that is.Last month(well,a few weeks ago )one of em had a really killer write up about it(H2)...with nice pics and everything...now...nothing.Was actually on the front cover...

 

[Bazza]

Looked at the bike mags yesterday at my job....NOTHING about the H2 except one teensy TEENSY picture and a comment about 'how far bikes have come'....plenty on the R1 though...props that is.Last month(well,a few weeks ago )one of em had a really killer write up about it(H2)...with nice pics and everything...now...nothing.Was actually on the front cover...

I can't remember if it was Motorcyclist or Cycle World but one of them had the H2 on the cover of their November issue (they're both at home, in the bathroom) Both did have a feature piece on the bike though... Hype may of passed as they're now publishing January issues...

 

[Rock Ape]

LOL...would never. Be like me getting a Ferrari from someone and told it's fully insured, knock yourself out - no liability. I'm going to f**king give it everything. But hopefully a load do get out there and it get judged against the new breed of bikes coming out. It will happen.

Rock.

 

[Clover]

Is this something that has ever happened before? I have never heard of a bike or car being so exclusive that owners need to give it up to the press.

 

[SilverbirdH2]

Built Beyond Belief

 

[Cliff Secord]

Is this something that has ever happened before? I have never heard of a bike or car being so exclusive that owners need to give it up to the press.

Do you watch Top Gear? It happens all the time - namely with Ferrari. Heck, the even had buy a Challenger when it came out for a special.

 

[Fireball36]

I offered the Top Gear guys my SRT, Viper ACR . I requested that they have insurance and put new tires on it when they were done. Oh, and that they pay shipping from Canada. I don't think they ever did test one.

I doubt I'll offer my H2 to anyone though.....

It's mine! All mine!

Greg

 

[Fireball36]

I offered the Top Gear guys my SRT, Viper ACR . I requested that they have insurance and put new tires on it when they were done. Oh, and that they pay shipping from Canada. I don't think they ever did test one.

I doubt I'll offer my H2 to anyone though.....

It's mine! All mine!

Greg

The Top Gear guys never responded - I never did hear from them.
Greg

 

[Cliff Secord]

The Top Gear guys never responded - I never did hear from them.
Greg

Booo. I think they got mad at Dodge after the Challenger fiasco. They also never reviewed the SRT8 Jeep which was the most face meltingly awesome truck I've ever owned. I sold mine in 2010 - it's worth more now than what I sold it for. Some of the 2010's with low milage are still trading over what you could buy them for new. It's unprecedented. TG is totally cutting their nose off to spite their face.

 

[ninja boy]

I'm shocked that there seem to be no first hand accounts of actually having ridden one from anyone other than RG. Is there an embargo on reviews or are they just being denied a ride?

If that turns out to be the case, anyone considering giving a trusted journalist a go at their bike? I might've given mine to Fast Bikes if I were in the UK and I could be there for the part where they shoot the centerfold pic. > Don't know that there's much point in giving it to a US mag because their writing styles are all so sterile, cynical and vanilla.

If you are going to do it, please break it in first. The 00 12R got killed by journalists because none of the press bikes were run in. Even better, should you not want yours anymore, make sure your insurance is paid up, then do the world a favor and loan it to one of the idiots at Jalopnik. I vote Patrick George or Andrew Collins. In the immortal words of AOL, Goodbye.

I'll tell ya what. If they put $26,000USD in my hand first, as collateral,
and I get the bike back just the way I gave it to them (mint), then I will
consider it. Then I will give them back the 26K.

 

[edinlr]

One of my racing contacts told me that Cycle World wanted to "borrow" a hacked H2. He tried to volunteer my new bike when it was delivered, but I think logistics will rule this out for me.

 

[Juggernaut]

Do you think that Top Gear has to borrow from owners because they don't always do the nicest things with those cars, whether in the activity or in their opinions of it. Giving Top Gear a car for free would be a huge gamble.