[Breaking News] Is the Kawasaki "Ninja H2" coming back!? Kawasaki Europe releases "Return to Beyond Belief" teaser videos

Kawasaki Motors Europe has released two consecutive teaser videos titled "Return to Beyond Belief" on its official YouTube channel on September 2nd and 9th. While the motorcycle itself is not shown, the second onboard video features a meter display with a "BOOST" indicator, signifying the presence of a supercharger. "Beyond Belief" was the slogan used to tease the original "Ninja H2" in 2014, suggesting the return of the model.

Two 12-second vertical videos, one week apart

From Kawasaki Motors Europe official YouTube

The first video, released on September 2nd, is titled "A new chapter of 'Beyond Belief' begins." The words "RETURN TO BEYOND BELIEF" appear on a black screen, ending with the Kawasaki logo. That is the extent of the footage, and international media reports that it contains the sound of a supercharged engine.

The second video, released on September 9th, is titled "Ready for Beyond Belief. Coming Soon…". This one features onboard footage of a test track run, where the speedometer climbs rapidly from 61 km/h to over 200 km/h. Both videos include the hashtag "#ReturnToBeyondBelief" in the description.

"BOOST" indicator on the meter suggests a supercharged engine

From Kawasaki Motors Europe official YouTube

The meter shown in the second video features a layout combining an analog tachometer on the left and a color TFT LCD on the right. The LCD displays "GEAR 4," "KQS (Kawasaki Quick Shifter)," "SPORT," "KEBC (Engine Brake Control)," "LEAN (bank angle)," the "RIDEOLOGY" logo for smartphone connectivity, and a bar-graph style "BOOST" indicator above the speed display.

Having a BOOST indicator to show supercharging pressure is a unique feature of the H2 series equipped with a supercharger. The layout combining an analog tachometer and a color LCD appears to be in the same family as the meters on the current "Ninja H2 SX SE" and "Z H2 SE".

"Beyond Belief" was the catchphrase for the original Ninja H2

Ninja H2 CARBON (2021) A mega-sport model that debuted in 2015 as a high-performance machine consolidating the group's technology. Sales in Japan ended with the 2021 model, and it is currently traded as a premium model.

In 2014, prior to announcing the original Ninja H2 and the track-only "Ninja H2R," Kawasaki launched a teaser campaign with the slogan "Built Beyond Belief." The Ninja H2, equipped with a 998cc supercharged inline-four engine, became the starting point for the H2 series, which later expanded to the "Ninja H2 SX," "Z H2," and Bimota's "TESI H2 TERA". This "Return to Beyond Belief" is clearly a nod to that original slogan.

However, it is not definitive, as Kawasaki also used the "#BuiltBeyondBelief" hashtag for the supercharged side-by-side "TERYX H2" announced in North America in August. Nevertheless, since this teaser was released on a European motorcycle channel and shows the meter of a street-legal bike, it is natural to view it as a teaser for a motorcycle.

2027 Ninja H2 certification information reported in the US

The Ninja H2 ceased sales in Japan and Europe in 2021 because it did not comply with Euro 5 emission regulations. Currently, the only supercharged vehicle on the Kawasaki Motors Europe website is the track-only "Ninja H2R." In Japan, the domestic "Ninja H2 CARBON" ended with the 2021 model, and the H2 series currently in the Kawasaki Motors Japan lineup consists of the Ninja H2 SX/SX SE and Z H2/Z H2 SE.

Meanwhile, sales continued in the U.S. as it was not affected by those emission regulations. However, local motorcycle media reported in July that the 2027 Ninja H2 had received certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). According to reports, the 2027 model shares emission certification data with the Z H2 SE, and its maximum output will drop from the 2026 model's 228 hp at 11,500 rpm to 197 hp at 10,500 rpm. Australian type certification also reportedly confirmed new model codes "ZXT02W" and "ZXT02X," which differ from the current "ZXT02J."

Combining these factors, there is a possibility that a new Ninja H2, compliant with regulations and sharing specifications with the Z H2 series, could return to the Japanese and European markets. However, Kawasaki has not revealed the model name or the announcement date in the teaser. International media consider an unveiling at EICMA (Milan Show) in November to be likely.

Kawasaki Motors Europe: https://www.kawasaki.eu/