Intake

Intake

GODZILLA -> A NINJA SCRAMBLER? -> A REAL PATRIOT -> SHOULD ROADRACERS GET DIRTY?

KICKSTART THE CONVERSATION

I’ve owned three Kawasakis over the years, including the original H2.1 wanted to thank Mr. Yamada and Kawasaki for the vision to stomp production power levels again. Godzilla may rest for now.

STAN SIN EX EVERETT, WA

INHALING GREEN

The H2 has been described as another high-tech answer (for a question that was not asked) for those with a lot of disposable income. How ’bout an H1, with a direct-injected, water-cooled, two-stroke triple with an off-the-shelf chassis for the masses? Something under $13K.

I would happily put down my 10 percent pre-delivery deposit for that.

WILLIAM STUART ST. AUGUSTINE, FL

Just read “Big Green Finger” (Up Front, December 2014) where Hoyer states Kawasaki’s true premium target: Ducati.

I am sure Ferdinand Piëch, VW Group chairman and new owner of Ducati, is chuckling, “Bring it on.”

DEAN KLEIN ASHEVILLE, NE

Superchargers on bikes? The next technological breakthrough? A sign of things to come? Fm old enough to remember these words uttered for two other motorcycles. Recall the Yamaha GTS1000 with its forkless front end

and the Kawasaki GPZ750 turbo. Both of these bikes offered technologies that were believed to be the next step in motorcycle evolution. In the end both suffered the same fate. Both manufacturers decided any performance gains offered by forkless front ends or turbocharged engines were not enough to offset the complexity, weight, or cost of such systems. Today fork tubes are still the norm, and increased displacement of naturally aspirated engines is the method of choice for performance gains.

I can’t help but feel the new H2 and H2R are nothing more than a marketing gimmick. It wouldn’t surprise me if they lose money on each one they sell.

JOSEPH VASCONCELOS ATTLEBORO, MA

NINJA H2...SCRAMBLER?

I thought I knew what defined a street “scrambler.” It was the upswept-crossover exhaust pipes and cross-braced handlebar like on my first one, a 1968 Honda CL350. And it was those same pipes on my last one, a 2007 Triumph 900 Scrambler. True, Triumph didn’t include the cross-braced

handlebar, but it was otherwise faithful to the style. And so, I give Ducati a pass on the bar and applause on the fuel tank... but not for those pipes and that MotoGP muffler! But wait: That Ducati muffler looks identical to the one on the new Kawasaki H2 and H2R. Maybe Kawasaki can just add some handlebars to its new bike and create the H2 Scrambler!

STEVE LIGON BASTROP, TX

TEAM AMERICA!

Could you please refrain from giving EBR anymore unwarranted press? They build underperforming, underwhelming, and overpriced bikes that just happen to be made in ’Merica and are somehow considered “sport” bikes. Where is the dealer network, the parts, the servicing for these bikes in five years, when another Erik Buell effort sinks into history? Most Harley service departments won’t even work on Buells anymore. There isn’t going to be any world-beating USA-made sportbike, ever. Just let it go already.

HATORIHANZO CYCLEWORLD.COM

That’s just the never-say-die attitude that’s made this country great.

ROADRACING + GNC

Great piece on the new roadracing series (“MotoAmerica,” Race Watch, December 2014) and particularly the sidebar on dirt track. Is there any way one of those classes in the new series could be integrated with the AMA Grand National series to connect dirt and pavement skills? Maybe the XR1200 class?

KURTSUNDERBRUCH EL SOBRANTE, CA

Comments? Suggestions? Criticisms? Write us at intake@cycleworld.com.