Kawasaki Z H2 SE (2021+, inc. Performance) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and service intervals for the Kawasaki Z H2 SE, Kawasaki’s supercharged naked bike — upgraded. It’s from the manual, with some reference points from service guides and parts catalogues.
The Kawasaki Z H2 SE is part of Kawasaki’s H2 supercharged line-up, all based on variants of a 998cc supercharged inline four-cylinder engine.
The Z H2 SE has high-performance brakes and suspension, and the Z H2 SE Performance has an Akrapoviç lightweight exhaust system, plus a few minor aesthetic upgrades.
Here are the motorcycles in the Kawasaki supercharged motorcycle line-up:
- Kawasaki H2 & H2 Carbon — base model superbike
- Kawasaki H2R — a highly exclusive, track-only superbike
- Kawasaki H2 SX — Base model touring bike
- Kawasaki H2 SX SE — Touring, SE
- Kawasaki H2 SX SE+ — Touring even more SE
- Kawasaki H2 SX SE+ Performance — Enhanced touring
- Kawasaki Z H2 — Base model naked bike
- Kawasaki Z H2 SE (+ Performance) — Naked bike with high-performance suspension + brakes
In the Z H2 SE this engine is tuned for a peak of 147.1 kW (197 hp) at 11000 rpm, or peak torque of 137 Nm (101 ft-lb) of torque at 9500 rpm. Big numbers. It’s no lightweight though, weighing 239 kg (527 lb) — Hayabusa territory.
Still, the Z H2 SE is a stomper of a bike, likely to go down in the annals of history as an anomaly that somehow legislators allowed to exist on the road, before we were forced to let robots do all the driving.
The Z H2 SE and Z H2 SE Performance share the same underpinnings of the 2020+ Kawasaki Z H2, but
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Kawasaki Z H2 Service Intervals
Generally, the Kawasaki Z H2 has 7600 mile / 12000 km or annual service intervals between oil changes.
Major maintenance intervals on the Kawasaki Z H2 SE are quite wide, with valve clearance checks every 24000 km or 15000 mi — similar to that of other liquid-cooled four-cylinder bikes from Kawasaki (like the Z 1000).
The main difference in the maintenance schedule is that you have to inspect the supercharger! Also you have a hydraulic clutch, which isn’t to be assumed.
What you need to service a Kawasaki Z H2 SE
To service your Kawasaki Z H2 SE motorcycle, you need some basic motorcycle maintenance tools.
Apart from that, you need the following consumables specific to your motorcycle.
Part | Kawasaki Z H2 SE Spec |
---|---|
Engine oil | You need 0.9L of SAE 10W-40 engine oil “with API SG, SH, SJ, SL or SM with JASO MA, MA1 or MA2 rating”, e.g. Kawasaki 10W-40 Engine Oil as a basic option. Or you could use a high-grade synthetic like Motul 7100 10W-40. |
Oil filter | Standard Kawasaki part number is 16097-009. You can also use a Hiflofiltro HF124RC. |
Air filter | Standard Kawasaki part number is 11013-0804. You can also use a K&N KA-9915 air filter or a DNA P-K10N20-ZH2. |
Spark plugs | The manual calls for NGK SILMAR9E9 spark plugs. |
Brake fluid | Spec is to use DOT-4 brake fluid, e.g. Castrol DOT 4. |
Chain maintenance | The chain needs to be lubricated quite often (especially if it gets wet or dirty). A Motul chain care kit is a good investment. |
Brake pads | Standard Kawasaki part numbers are 43082-0194 (front) and 43082-0185 (rear). EBC part numbers are FA630HH (front) and FA266HH (rear). (See screenshot from catalogue below). These are the same brake pads as on the non-SE/Performance models, despite the different calipers. |
Grease | Use a lithium soap-based grease for all the important greasing points. |
Battery | Dead battery? Swap it out with a Yuasa YTZ10S. |
Maintenance schedule for the Kawasaki Z H2 SE/Performance
Below is the full maintenance schedule for the Kawasaki Z H2 SE, adapted from the manual.
It’s simplified a little with regulatory information omitted (e.g. noting what’s an emission-related item, and without recommendations you definitely take some parts to the dealer for maintenance, as Kawasaki is wont to do).
Notes on letters used:
- I = Inspect, R = Replace, L = Lubricate
- At the end of the maintenance schedule, continue it in the pattern shown.
- Service the oil, chain, and air cleaner more often if riding in dusty or dirty environments.
km x 1000 | 1 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 48 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mi x 1000 | 0.6 | 7.6 | 15.2 | 22.8 | 30.4 | Every |
Air cleaner element | I | I | I | I | 2 years, R | |
Idle speed | I | I | I | I | I | |
Throttle control system (play, smooth return, no drag) | I | I | I | I | I | Year, I |
Engine vacuum synchronization | I | I | I | I | ||
Fuel system | I | I | I | I | I | Year, I |
Fuel filter | R | R | ||||
Fuel pump | R | |||||
Fuel hose | 5 years, R | |||||
Evaporative emission control system (if fitted) | I | I | ||||
Cooling system | I | I | I | I | I | Year, I |
Coolant, water hoses, and O-rings | R | 3 years, R | ||||
Valve clearance | I | I | ||||
Air suction system | I | I | I | I | ||
Clutch operation (play, engagement, disengagement) | I | I | I | I | I | Year, I |
Clutch fluid, hose, and pipe | R | R | R | R | R | Year, I |
Clutch fluid | R | R | 2 years, R | |||
Clutch hose/rubber parts of clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder | R | 4 years, R | ||||
Engine oil and oil filter | R | R | R | R | R | Year, R |
Wheel bearing damage | I | I | I | I | Year, I | |
Drive chain wear | I | I | I | I | ||
Drive chain guide wear | I | I | I | I | ||
Brake system | I | I | I | I | I | Year, I |
Brake operation (effectiveness, play, no drag) | I | I | I | I | I | Year, I |
Brake fluid (front and rear) | R | R | 2 years, R | |||
Brake hose | 4 years, R | |||||
Rubber parts of brake master cylinder and caliper | R | 4 years, R | ||||
Suspension system | I | I | I | I | Year, I | |
Steering play | I | I | I | I | I | Year, I |
Steering stem bearing | L | L | 2 years, L | |||
Electrical system | I | I | I | I | Year, I | |
Spark plug | I | R | ||||
Chassis parts | L | L | L | L | Year, L | |
Condition of bolts, nuts, and fasteners | I | I | I | I | I | |
Supercharger oil screen | R | R | ||||
Supercharger impeller axial play | I | I | I | I | – |
Kawasaki Z H2 SE daily checks
Kawasaki also recommends the following daily checks for the Kawasaki Z H2 SE. Do these with the annual service, too.
Item | Thing to check |
---|---|
Fuel | Adequate supply in tank, no leaks |
Engine oil | Oil level between level lines |
Tyres | Air pressure (when cold), install the air valve cap Tyre wear |
Drive chain | Slack: Every 1000 km (600 mile) Lubricate: Every 600 km (400 mile) |
Bolts, nuts, and fasteners | Check for loose and/or missing bolts, nuts, and fasteners |
Steering | Action smooth but not loose from lock to lock No binding of control cables |
Brakes | Brake pad wear Brake fluid level No brake fluid leakage |
Throttle | Throttle grip free play |
Clutch | Clutch fluid level correct No clutch fluid leakage |
Coolant | No coolant leakage Coolant level between level lines (when engine is cold) |
Electrical equipment | All lights (head, city, brake/tail, turn signal, license plate, warning/indicator) and horn work |
Engine stop switch | Stops engine |
Side stand | Return to its fully up position by spring tension Return spring not weak or not damaged |
Rear view mirrors | Rear view sight |
Tire sizes and pressures for the Kawasaki Z H2 SE
The manual specifies the following tire sizes and pressures (cold).
Tyre | Size | Tyre pressure (cold) |
---|---|---|
Front | 120/70 ZR 17 (58W) | 36 psi / 250 kPa (2.5 bar) |
Rear | 190/55 ZR 17 (75W) | 42 psi / 290 kPa (2.9 bar) |
The Kawasaki Z H2 SE ships with Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tyres stock, though swap these out with any tyres you like (probably sport tyres).
About the Kawasaki Z H2 SE
The Kawasaki Z H2 SE is the latest in Kawasaki’s stable of supercharged motorcycles — this time in naked/streetfighter form, with huge power and torque, and a lot of rider aids.
Basically, the Kawasaki Z H2 SE, like the Z H2, is a “luxury” muscle bike, something like a modern B-King (which was a naked bike based on the Hayabusa’s engine).
The Z H2 and H2 SE are both based on a 998cc supercharged liquid-cooled DOHC/16 valve inline-four engine that in both motorcycles makes 147 kW or 197 hp at 11000 rpm, a huge number that any motorcycle would be proud to be able to display. But in a naked bike, it’s even more huge!
The supercharger adds some minor complication to servicing, as it has to be inspected to make sure it’s operating and that it isn’t leaking oil.
Aside from that, maintaining the Z H2 SE is much like maintaining any other naked bike with an inline four-cylinder engine bike. Valve inspections are every 24000 km (15000 mi), and done in the same way.
The main differentiator between the Z H2 SE and the standard Z H2 is the upgraded brakes and suspension.
- Brakes: The Z H2 SE gets Brembo Stylema brakes, an upgrade from the mid-spec (but still great) Brembo M4.32 brakes on the Z H2
- Suspension: The Z H2 SE gets “Skyhook” suspension, which takes input from the IMU to dynamically adjust damping so that the motorcycle stays stable under all conditions — braking, sudden changes in road smoothness, bumps, acceleration. It’s essentially “tethered to the sky”. You have to ride it to believe it, it’s very, very confidence inspiring.
Brakes and suspension on the Z H2 were already great, and more than adequate for almost all riding. But the Z H2 SE takes it to an incomparable level of stability.
The rear wheel on the Z H2 SE is on double-sided swing-arm, as opposed to a single-sided swing-arm on the rest of the H2 series.
The Kawasaki Z H2 SE comes with the kitchen sink of rider aids, with everything from full cornering ABS, a quickshifter, launch control, and cruise control. As mentioned above, the IMU feeds input into the dynamic damping for stability under all conditions — the damping adjusts in as little as 1 millisecond.
Manual for the Kawasaki Z H2 SE
The above maintenance schedule was transcribed from the manual for the Kawasaki Z H2 SE, also consulting parts catalogues etc.
You can view the manual online at Kawasaki’s website here.