Now we all know the H2 is detuned, so what happens when you tweak it? Can I rent one to go for a spin?
The bike is pretty much what I originally thought: a drag bike. It would be cool to see it properly matched up against a ZX10 around a circuit. I think the H2 or H2R (both I don't think would be good in circuits) would lose to a ZX10.
Well it doesnt matter what your HP or top speed is when cornering .... all about handling ability etc
even the 2016 zx10 is making 185hp at the wheel and it comes really restricted from factory. from what online reviews say the h2 is a worst handling zx10 on steroids.
I respect the technology mainly because I think that supercharging, especially the centrifugal variety, is how it should be done. Naturally aspirated performance is just a waste of time and money. You can build an engine for a MotoGP bike for peanuts if forced induction were allowed. Instead they use piles of naturally aspirated garbage that cost millions and have to have another million dollars worth of electronics to control their peaky power delivery. Why is forced induction banned in MotoGP? Probably for the same reason that EFI was banned for two-strokes, politics. So despite all of its shortcomings, the H2 is a milestone and will always be remembered for that.
It doesn't matter what technology is allowed or banned, they will spend their budget in Moto GP, as in any racing. F1 put an engine freeze in place to stop big money going to engine development, so they spent it on aerodynamics instead. Left small budget teams behind, still. Moto GP bikes get up to 360+ km/h in a race, why would you supercharge that? The electronics would be used if they had only half the HP: wheely control and traction control mean you can you the throttle are the computer will save you from your overenthusiasm. :-D
No one would suggest bolting a supercharger onto the existing engines. The point being that it is very difficult to argue against electronics when they are needed to control the violent power delivery of naturally aspirated engines tuned to such a high state. Forced induction can create the same or more peak power with a much more linear delivery and at a greatly reduced cost. Just because racing teams, especially the factories, will continuously spend money on trying to find an edge does not mean that there is no need to make an effort to control costs and make the racing open to more possible entrants. We are the fans, don't we count? If they propose to get rid of the riders and just have robots like Yamaha's prototype, should we all just say "Oh well, the rules are the rules". When capacity in MotoGP was cut to 800cc, I ranted about it on many forums. Most people responded with a "it is here to stay" and "no point in talking about it". Another example, according to a prominent US motorcycle magazine, two stroke dirt bikes have been all but wiped wiped out in the USA due to lobbying by Honda. Such is the value of mass opinion that now many think that these highly strung and expensive four strokes are a better choice for dirt racing. I don't. I cannot see one argument in favour of the four strokes. It just becomes accepted because that is the way it is. cheers Blair
I fully agree about the four stroke dirt bikes. I go dirt riding with WR450, WR250 and a couple of KTM four strokes, all water cooled and much peakier power than my old (1981 air cooled two stroke) Maico. I am often at the top of hills with loose surface/mud waiting for the 'grunty' four strokes to get up and stop boiling. They seem to pick up revs/power too quickly in the loose stuff and just spin. Of course they all blast past me when the road is flat and open.
It is not the peaky/smooth power delivery that warrants the electronics, it I'd having the bike on the raggered edge or power to wheelstand that warrant it. If you increase the rotational mass (heavy flywheel, crank, etc) you can reduce some of the effect. But how does a supercharged engine get limited? Otherwise they will turn the 300hp H2R into 400hp, or more. That will certainly require aforementioned electronic aides. What they have for cost saving measures are engine limits, seasonal engine freezes, and restrictions for certain materials in key components. I like the progress that has occurred, and would be disappointed if it were supercharged HD ironheads in the premiere class of racing.
