H2R with Pro MC rider Melissa Paris

"but the minute you start to lean the bike over the relationship changes".
I think that's the difference between the H2's airfoil shaping and the H2R's.You're not going to be going 270 mph leaned in on this bike...maybe...but probably not(the H2R).The H2 however...you probably WILL be leaning this bike in at over 200 mph..maybe...perhaps not that much...but the stability effects of the H2 aeros will be working at those lower speeds...that's what I think anyway.




I think they were actually designed to work at very high speeds.As you imply...they MAY have zero effect at street speeds...but then...you don't buy the H2R for the street

From looking at the pics of both bikes...it really appears the wings are interchangeable between the two.Couple of bolts removed....there ya go.Those mounting points(covered with a cap it looks like) on the H2 are the mount points for the H2R aeros.

Interesting that the H2 has small 'flaps' designed into the foils on their trailing edges.The H2R doesn't have these.A small canard at the tips...that's it(and WHY do you think the canard is going downward instead of having the canard equal at the tip(both up and down).Leads me to think...the ones on the H2 actually ARE designed to work at lower speeds....the 'flaps' are actually...upside down(aerodynamically speaking that is).Which would cause the front to be pushed down as well as speed increases.Whereas the H2R's...they're noticeably angled down more on the leading edge.The shape is actually the same as a helicopter blade profile...it creates 'force'(lift) by it's angle(which in this case,is 'pulling' the front down instead of up)...not it's shape necessarily.The shape of the airfoil is equal on upper and lower surfaces...producing the same lift capabilities on both surfaces.The flap on the H2 allows the upper surface to lose it's lifting ability.In other words...creating downforce.What's interesting about this design...it doesn't HAVE to be going 250mph to have this effect happening.

If you notice a modern airliner..or business jet...the upper airfoil surface has small adjustable 'gurney flaps' that help shape the air passing over the upper surface(which moves the lifting force either fore or aft of the centerline of the airfoil)...while the large lower flaps disrupt the lower airflow in a big way.Killing lift.

If you look at the whole mirror assembly on the H2...the foils...the mirror shape itself...it's a single airfoil structure...the bottom half of the mirror itself is shaped more 'roundish' than the upper portion.This creates 'reverse' lift on the lower part of the design.Pulling the front down the faster you go.The upper half is the same shaping as the central airfoil.


That tells me..the H2R is in it's element at VERY HIGH SPEEDS...and the H2 is 'possibly'able to be fitted with those same aeros...for VERY HIGH SPEEDS.Kawasaki has done a marvelous job at creating the 'best' package aerodynamically for these two models.They didn't just throw stuff on there for looks.It's a seriously performance designed bike....'probably'....most guys riding a sportbike wouldn't even think of these kinds of small design features...but then...most guys wouldn't BUY this bike.....Kawasaki knows this already.It isn't for the masses..nor the faint of heart