It appears the updated Ninja H2 will be suffering a similar, near-inevitable fate as some other elite sport bikes.Thanks to recent Instagram and YouTube posts on Kawasaki's European channels, we feel pretty confident the brand will be rolling out a new Ninja H2 for 2027.The 12-second Insta clip holds a lot back, with only white-on-black text reading "Return To Beyond Belief" accompanied by the sound of a ferocious engine. Kawasaki's European social channels strongly suggest a new Ninja H2 is coming for 2027. - Credit: KawasakiContext is key here: as motorcycling.com points out, Kawi first teased the Ninja H2 in 2014 with the phrase "Built Beyond Belief."AdvertisementAdvertisementAs tasty as this little bite of the apple is, the bike itself is likely to be a downgrade from its predecessor in at least one respect, for a semi-respectable reason.Emission impossibleThe H2 appears to be facing a similar situation to Suzuki's liter-class Gixxers, which have also been absent from the European market of late.We can only hope the new H2 retains the current version's gorgeously contoured, uniquely stunning tank. - Credit: KawasakiThe latest versions of both bikes do not comply with Euro 5 emission standards, so their availability has been limited to the US and other parts of the world.Now that Kawi is bringing the H2 back to Europe, certification filings with the EPA and the California Air Resources Board indicate it has the same emissions data as the brand's Z H2 hypernaked street bike.Kawasaki is sacrificing peak power to get the H2 back into more markets, a clear business decision aimed at boosting global sales. - Credit: KawasakiWhich means it has the less powerful supercharged inline-Four engine, with a claimed output of 197 horsepower versus the current H2's 228 horsepower.AdvertisementAdvertisementIn other words, Kawasaki is making a clear tradeoff here: wider availability for the bike (and higher sales) but a less potent version for the US and other markets.The new H2 will presumably reprise the loaded display and IMU-enhanced electronics, with some extras thrown in to compensate for the loss of power. - Credit: KawasakiAll in all, it is an understandable business decision, one we will likely get more clarity on at EICMA in November, when the new H2 and a probable carbon variant are likely to be revealed.It will be interesting to see what other features the new edition boasts and what the price point is.At 197 hp, the incoming Ninja H2 will still be a serious machine, just no longer the 228-hp benchmark it once was. - Credit: KawasakiOne assumes Kawi will throw in something to make up for that 31-horsepower dropoff, even if that number matters more to those interested in winning a pissing contest than anyone else.AdvertisementAdvertisementAbout the Author:Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men's Health, Men's Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone's bike seat is at the proper height.Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.