Kawasaki Ninja H2R
Merry Xmas everyone. This is my last build of 2017, the Tamiya 1/12 H2R.
To label the bike a Ninja is somewhat misleading… One would just assume another Ninja would be an evolution of Kawasaki’s flagship sports bike… The H2R is a non street legal, supercharged track bike, generating 310 brake horse power. It is the fastest production motorcycle in the world by a long shot with a top speed of 250 mph plus.
I’ve been lucky enough to see this bike in action twice. I first saw it at the Birmingham bike show on a rolling road, back in 2015 when it was first unveiled. I hadn’t heard too much about it at the time, and was a bit confused as to why they were handing out earplugs… The noise was phenomenal! The whistle of the supercharger could be heard clearly above the scream of the exhaust, and the manifold started to glow all the colours of the hot metal rainbow as the throttle was wound on. The blue flames coming from the back were a nice little touch as well!
My second encounter was in 2016. I was stood in someones garden at the bottom of Bray Hill when James Hillier took it on a flying lap of the Isle of Mann TT. You could hear the bike roar as he accelerated away from the grandstand long before there was any visual confirmation. The bike came flying into view and he hit Ago’s leap in front me at the round about speed of 170 mph (as they do). As the front wheel of the bike reared up high and the exhaust baffle pointed a bit more toward the ground, fire and sparks bounced back up from the tarmac easily six feet into the air. I remember thinking to myself, “now that’s why it’s not street legal !”. It was the first time he had ever rode the H2R and he set the fastest speed ever recorded on the island through the Sulby speed trap.
There really isn’t much more I can say which sums up the bikes performance. I recommend watching a few youtube videos of it in action if you have time. In my personal opinion, it is the most jaw dropping production motorcycle ever built.
The kit was fantastic to put together. Tamiya have set the bar really high with their newer bike kits. Most noticeable is the lack of glue needed. The sub-assemblies all screw together with minimal effort, and the finished model can easily be dismantled again to show detail.
I used the carbon fibre decals from Studio 27 which was time consuming but worth it. I used an H2R paint set from Zero paints which included a silver buffering powder for the two tone fairings. It’s hard to get a good impression of this in the photos, but the fairings change from black to silver as you look round the model. For more info on the build stages and techniques used, feel free to have a look at the work in progress over in groups.
Thank you for looking, and a big thanks to everyone who followed the work in progress. Happy new year as well If I don’t see you before then! Cheers!
17 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Simon Whitney said on December 22, 2017
A very nice build Richard.
One to be proud of sir.
Hell of a powerful beast mate, I remember the Z1300 coming out pushing 120 bhp, thats nothing nowadays, from smaller engines too.
Wishing you a Happy Xmas and jolly good New Year.
Richard Mcstay said on December 24, 2017
Cheers mate, thanks very much.
You get more than 120 bhp from a 600cc these days!
Merry Xmas!
Anthony Conway said on December 22, 2017
Nice job Richard . All the best.
Richard Mcstay said on December 24, 2017
Cheers Anthony, Merry Xmas.
Jeff Bailey said on December 22, 2017
WoW!! Great model, Richard! Your write up is interesting, as well. With all the sparks & flames you described, it sounds like they have figured how to miniaturize a rocket for the powerplant! 250+ MPH !?! Amazing!
Richard Mcstay said on December 24, 2017
Thanks Jeff, much appreciated. It pretty much is a rocket!
Johannes Gerl said on December 22, 2017
Richard, Iโm standing speechless. It was foreseeable from the build report that the model would be great, but the fotography is really blowing me away.
Iโm looking forward to your next project.
Richard Mcstay said on December 24, 2017
Cheers mate, thanks very much, really appreciated! The 918 spyder is next, but I’ve only assembled the engine as of yet.
Johannes Gerl said on December 22, 2017
I canโt stop looking at this.
Allan J Withers said on December 22, 2017
Great build Richard, merry Christmas.
Richard Mcstay said on December 24, 2017
Cheers Allan! Merry Xmas, all the best.
George Williams said on December 22, 2017
Terrific finish to 2017, Richard, I wonder what 2018 will bring, hopefully some more bikes from Tamiya.
Richard Mcstay said on December 24, 2017
Cheers George, I’ve still got the RC213V to do, but a couple of builds away yet! I’m really looking forward to building the Tamiya LaFerrari… Have a good Xmas mate.
Louis Gardner said on December 22, 2017
WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Merry Christmas my friend.
Richard Mcstay said on December 24, 2017
Thanks very much mate! Merry Xmas.
Craig Abrahamson said on December 22, 2017
Man, that looks like a speedin’ ticket waitin’ to happen, don’t it? ๐
Johannes Gerl said on December 23, 2017
๐
Richard Mcstay said on December 24, 2017
Maybe if they could catch you to give you a ticket…
Michel Verschuere said on December 23, 2017
Amazing build, followed it with great interest. Merry Xmas Richard!
Richard Mcstay said on December 24, 2017
Thank you very much Michel! Merry Xmas to you too.
Rob Pollock said on December 23, 2017
The first six photos could be a steampunk project! Excellent, Richard.
Richard Mcstay said on December 24, 2017
It definitely looks futuristic. Thanks Rob, cheers.
Dirk Derks said on December 23, 2017
Hello Richard,
Master Modeler as far as concerning this bike.
I did read the full story and can conclude that you put everything that is available into this build. Merry Christmas to you and be safe on your bike in 2018.
Regards, Dirk / The Netherlands.
Richard Mcstay said on December 24, 2017
Thank you very much! Really appreciate that. I tried my best! Merry Xmas to you too. I only have a mountain bike at the minute so I should be safe enough! Cheers.
Greg Kittinger said on December 23, 2017
Very sharp build! Merry Christmas!
Richard Mcstay said on December 24, 2017
Cheers mate! Merry Christmas to you too!
Robert Royes said on December 23, 2017
Real nice!!!!
Richard Mcstay said on December 24, 2017
Cheers Robert, thanks very much!