[Cliff Secord]

Just read on Gadson's FB page there might be a '16 model. I was guaranteed numerous times there would be no 2016 and that 'this was it'. I know nothing is set in stone but I'm gonna be pretty peeved if they go back on their word.

 

[pebble35]

Just read on Gadson's FB page there might be a '16 model. I was guaranteed numerous times there would be no 2016 and that 'this was it'. I know nothing is set in stone but I'm gonna be pretty peeved if they go back on their word.

Word (in the UK) is that there will be a 2016 production run - simply because existing demand for the H2 means that they cannot produce enough bikes in 2015 to meet demand

I understand they are looking at just 4 bikes per day from the factory - allow for weekends and that is probably 800 bikes a year to satisfy worldwide demand.

 

[GoFaster]

I am OK with it either way. If it's a big-production mass-market model, there will be more aftermarket parts available and likely easier OEM parts availability.

I didn't particularly buy mine to have it sit in the living room and not be ridden.

 

[ZX-14R_stealthrider]

Rickey Gadson on Facebook Dec. 18, 2014:


"Tomorrow December 19th is the very last day to be able to own the most innovative motorcycle on the planet and a piece of history. If Kawasaki doesn't decide to bring it back for 2016 the 2015's will sky rocket in value and become a collectors item. For those of you still on the fence, just know that there is a plan in the works by myself and other aftermarket companies... Were working to UNLEASH the beast within the standard H2's.
Trust me on this one!"

 

[ZX-14R_stealthrider]

Just read on Gadson's FB page there might be a '16 model. I was guaranteed numerous times there would be no 2016 and that 'this was it'. I know nothing is set in stone but I'm gonna be pretty peeved if they go back on their word.

A reminiscence of what FORD did regarding the 2007 SHELBY GT500.

Haven't bought a FORD product since.

 

[als 15 h2]

Just read on Gadson's FB page there might be a '16 model. I was guaranteed numerous times there would be no 2016 and that 'this was it'. I know nothing is set in stone but I'm gonna be pretty peeved if they go back on their word.

I would think if there is still a demand for the H2 & the H2R in 2016 Kawasaki (being in Profit making business) will bring it back & it doesn't bother me at all. At 800 or less units per year it is still going to be RARE.

 

[SilverbirdH2]

Interesting what Ricky said...sounds really positive about pumping the H2 motor.Regardless of a possible 'nother run in 2016...us guys will be assured we'll be able to pull out the stops...sounds like it from Ricky anyway...great news.His last word on this..."trust me on this one'...that's **** bold.That right there tells me he's already talked with Kawasaki about ALL the stuff us guys have been concerned about....I do believe they'll give him what he wants...he's a great PR guy...(and a great guy first of all).

 

[ZX-14R_stealthrider]

Interesting what Ricky said...sounds really positive about pumping the H2 motor.Regardless of a possible 'nother run in 2016...us guys will be assured we'll be able to pull out the stops...sounds like it from Ricky anyway...great news.His last word on this..."trust me on this one'...that's **** bold.That right there tells me he's already talked with Kawasaki about ALL the stuff us guys have been concerned about....I do believe they'll give him what he wants...he's a great PR guy...(and a great guy first of all).

Very interesting interpretation SilverbirdH2 has about what I posted from Rickey Gadson's Facebook page.

So Kawasaki as an OEM is going to provide its R&D information to Rickey Gadson so he and the aftermarket companies can manufacture their own products for the H2. How generous of Kawasaki.

Funny, I totally missed that in Rickey Gadson's statements.

 

[GoFaster]

Believe it or not, it actually works in their interest by doing it that way. The manufacturer builds an emissions-compliant and regulation-compliant (if hamstrung) vehicle, the aftermarket gets something to do, we get to build what we want. (And if you break it, it's now your problem, instead of the manufacturer's problem ...)

It's been commonplace in the auto industry for trucks and some cars. The auto manufacturer partners with selected aftermarket companies so that they can have their products ready to go when the new vehicle hits the market. New pickup truck comes out ... here's your trailer hitch, and your cargo box, and your tonneau cover, and your fender flares. New Mustang comes out ... here's your spoilers, suspension kit, supercharger kit, exhaust system, etc.

You have to be the cherry-picked supplier in order for this to happen. The trusted suppliers get the information that they need ahead of the vehicle introduction. Everyone else has to do it the old way, by reverse-engineering it afterward. You can tell who the preferred suppliers are, by when their products show up compared to when the vehicle shows up on the market.

It's pretty apparent that Akrapovic was a preferred exhaust system supplier in this case ... not that I'm particularly a fan of what they came up with ...

 

[Greenguy]

That exactly what I thought. It would be way to complicated and subject to failure to do a systeme that change the ratio each time you cross a dedicated RPM and over that it would need to be different from the H2R and H2. A lot easyer and cheaper to work with a electrovalve (wastegate) and the good new is that a simple change in the parameter in the ECU will let you change the desire output pressure at a given RPM even a third party company could altered the voltage from the pressure sensor and the electrovalve to obtain a desire output pressure from the supercharger exactly the same way they do with fuel injector.
I am sure Kawasaki know that and that why they did produce the H2R, to show us the capability of the H2 but couldn't produce a 300 HP street legal motorcycle and by this way they just give us the recipe to get near there.

I was suspecting that already. I was convince that Kawi produce the H2R for the only purpose of showing the capability of the H2 but to me to have Ricky saying that it just confirm that Kawi and some aftermarket compagny will work together to give us what we want...

 

[OKH2]

A reminiscence of what FORD did regarding the 2007 SHELBY GT500.

Haven't bought a FORD product since.

And the 2001 Mustang Bullitt

 

[OKH2]

Like H2R I was told this was a one time release. This is one of the reasons I purchased the bike, I too plan on riding it but I have multiple bikes and the mileage will be kept low. The exclusivity is one parameter that helped in my decision making to purchase this $25K bike.


Will I be bitter towards Kawi if they release it next year? No, but I will be disappointed.


I just hope if it is released again they do it in the same fashion and only offer it within a certain window of time. If it is released as a production model sold from show room floors where a person can negotiate the price down, then I will be bitter.

 

[Bazza]

Well perhaps the H2R is a one time release and the streetable H2 will live on? The original did have a 3 year production run after all.

Can anyone offer a legitimate reason Kawasaki should not be producing a second or third model year? And I mean a logical explanation, not the tried and true BUT, BUT EXCLUSIVE....THEY SAID SO...

 

[SilverbirdH2]

ZX14Stealth wrote...."So Kawasaki as an OEM is going to provide its R&D information to Rickey Gadson so he and the aftermarket companies can manufacture their own products for the H2. How generous of Kawasaki"...

LOL...somehow methinks the wires got crossed here....you were close...but not quite...try it againNo...that's not what I meant....the word here is "IF"...and them building these bikes for a 2016 run.And Kawasaki(NOT AFTERMARKET) offering to the FIRST owners the parts to upgrade their H2's...instead of having to actually OWN a particular model of it(that's still up in the air..even though they've said..."No H2R?No H2R parts for your H2")(they've as we know already extended the ordering window in the UK).They're getting info from Ricky probably daily as he tests their new bike...this is my thinking...I may be completely wrong....IDK..does anyone except Ricky really know?

It's a no brainer that aftermarket companies will start making aftermarket parts.Akrapovic already has...Kawasaki surely had some input to Akrapovic seeing the bike is offered in the UK with their muffler on there...but they can't dictate to others really after this bike is out what or what won't be offered for it...the gist of what I meant is...with Ricky's statements...for one...he isn't talking about aftermarket cams,head gaskets and clutches being designed....2...he's assuring the NOW owners that he's speaking with Kawasaki(without coming right out and saying that) and telling them what guys really want...the unleashing of the power....which means...factory cams,head gaskets,ECU settings and that.I mean...that's my take on his statements...I still think he's not just running his H2 for his own findings....I would imagine his bike was GIVEN to him...to test and whatnot.

Kawasaki KNOWS which way this bike is heading...who's gonna be buying it...IF they release another run.They know owners paying 25K or more would be very upset about seeing this bike released as a production machine with the same or better specs...for something well below the 25K number.You think they're willing to do this?I don't.

They know what they're doing...have well before they released or even built this bike...I would imagine they've got projections well out ahead of 2016...wouldn't you if you had a multi-billion dollar company?(trillions probably).Ricky's their go to guy for input....at least in America.

Any aftermarket company like say..Brocks or whatever...yeah...they'll find out about the bolt on stuff...what to make...all that...but they don't need Ricky for that...all they need is an H2 or H2R...


Think about this...this bike touted as legendary...rivermarked...exotic...limited production...new engine design,Supercharged...everything.For said amount of money.Part(probably a big part)of the sales were based on it's exclusivity.Say now in 2016 they release this bike for say...19K.....what happens now to the first owners who were assured this bike is actually a part of history and sought after...we just say...oh well....????I don't think so.We probably would NEVER buy another Kawasaki...probably would tell anyone interested in dealing with Kawasaki...DON'T...you get my drift here...

 

[Cliff Secord]

I'm hoping, like the Veyron, the H2/H2R is a money loser for Kawi so that it is not economically feasible for them to continue to make them. I almost waited for the release to buy a bike somebody bailed on or wait for one to pop up second hand and save the taxes - but the decision to pull the trigger was the 'extremely limited quantity' and 'one year only' promise. That's the case, an H2 for sale should be near impossible to find with any regularity. If this is going to be a regular production thing I could've just waited and picked one up with a few miles on it next summer when they announced the '16.

Seriously Kawasaki, please be good on your word on this one. It can't be a legend if it's easy to get your hands on and mass produced.

 

[SilverbirdH2]

I don't think they'll burn now owners...I just don't.Even if they did...you can't get away from the reality of this bike...whether mass produced or whatever...I won't feel any remorse at all if they offer this to the public mass produced(which I doubt they would anyway)...it wouldn't really be the same machine,would it?Perhaps a different model...but not THIS one.


None of that matters to me...I know I've got the FIRST of a kind coming...that's fine with me...

 

[OKH2]

It's always been my belief that this bike was built as a showcase piece to be released in limited quantities and not meant to necessarily be profitable. It was built as R&D for technology that will trickle down to other production models in the future. It is huge advertisement for Kawasaki as a whole. I firmly believe this is it, and no others will be built.


Sure they extended the ordering period in Europe but the demand is there. They most likely would have done the same here in the US and Canada but the demand simply was not as strong as it was in Europe.

 

[Frio]

In my view the H2/H2R is almost certainly a loss leader. The engineering required to design and fabricate the engine alone will probably surpass any income they will generate from selling these machines...

 

[Cliff Secord]

After further consideration I've decided that if there is a 2016 model, I will not be buying any more bikes new from Kawasaki. I understand the 'vague' performance numbers but to sell it as 'extremely limited' and then allow 'no 2016 model' to be used as a sales tool, only to then turn around and sell a 2016… I just don't ever need to see the inside of a Kawi dealership again. Talking about waiting for next year; dealer looked me in the eye and said 'It's now or never. This is it. It's a one shot deal' were his words exactly. It's natural to assume any other production bike will continue if the numbers are good but that's NOT how the H2 was advertised or sold. The whole point of paying this much for a bike was the idea that it'd retain some exclusivity and value. Right now I potentially own a 25K albatross - but I bet on Kawi because I trust them and I'm a gambling man. They drop a blown 10R in 2016 and call it the H3, I get it. They make a 2016 H2 in any form my trust is gone. Fool me once.

Kawasaki needs to quash this definitively so I don't have to sit around and wonder about it. It's kinda taking the sheen off the fun. First I start hearing guys paid under sticker now I'm hearing 2016 model - getting that 'taken advantage of' feeling that makes enemies for life.

Negativity aside, nice part is so far all of the information I've gotten from my guy amidst the rumors has panned out to be deadly accurate. SO there's still a chance this will be a one shot deal. Fingers crossed.

 

[SilverbirdH2]

"Kawasaki needs to quash this definitively so I don't have to [sit around and wonder about it]. It's kinda taking the sheen off the fun. First I start hearing guys paid under sticker now I'm hearing 2016 model - getting that 'taken advantage of' feeling that makes enemies for life"....nah man...rumors...that's all...aint nobody paid LESS here...or anywhere...that comment on this forum was a crock...total BS to get guys upset...same as the rumor about making a 2016 production model.Building more of this bike for particular clients is all it's gonna be....the general public had their shot....some went all in...some didn't...that's it.

Don't sit around and wonder what's true or not concerning what KAWASAKI originally said....they're staying with what they said....and this bike is gonna retain it's status.Consider this...IF they DID build again...and offered 'it' to the public...I can virtually guarantee...any reproduction is NOT going to have that Rivermark on it....does that mean anything to anyone?...**** yeah it does....that's the mark of the ORIGINAL H2.And it means a heck of a lot to Kawasaki as well...a heck of a lot.Don't fret...you're getting a killer machine...one of a kind...and you're first in line of a limited bike....man...stay in the groove...rumors...don't let em chill ya out....you're getting a great bike.That's what it's REALLY about....the bike...the fun....the ride.


"nice part is so far all of the information I've gotten from my guy amidst the rumors has panned out to be deadly accurate"..there ya go...even if a thousand voices say this or that....trust the good stuff.


"Kawasaki needs to quash this definitively so I don't have to [sit around and wonder about it]. It's kinda taking the sheen off the fun."...people talk...they think by saying things that it'll either be true...or upset people who believe it'll be true...Facts are facts...Kawasaki ended the ordering runs....period.Except in the UK...because the main money and interest was there...and that's okay.They can do that.It's their bike.I talk a lot of "I think" stuff...but actually...if anyone is following how this whole deal has gone down so far....there IS a method to it...and I say again...Kawasaki IS going to stick with their word on what you're saying....for the very REASON you're saying it.There's a multitude of guys that bought this bike...for the reasons you said...and for a business that sells motorcycles...it's critical to keep your customers happy and satisfied...they aren't gonna go out and say one thing...then turn around and change it.Not with this bike....stay up man....rumors...I hate rumors.