A month ahead of EICMA, Kawasaki has revealed the new Ninja 1100 and Versys 1100 models. Both bikes use a larger motor, but styling is nearly identical to the previous 1000 models.
- Power is up on the Versys but lower on the Ninja, compared to 1000
- Ninja gets top-spec SE variant for the first time
- USB-C charger standard on both, design nearly unchanged
The big change on both bikes is the new liquid-cooled, 1,099cc, inline-four engine that makes 136hp on the Ninja and 135hp on the Versys, both at 9,000rpm. Compared to the earlier 1000 models, that’s a small 4hp decrease for the Ninja but a massive 15hp gain for the Versys. Both models make 113Nm of torque at 7,000rpm – a marginal 2Nm gain for the Ninja but a substantial 11Nm improvement for the Versys.
There have also been some changes to the gearing, with the 5th and 6th gears made longer for lower engine rpm while cruising. The Versys and Ninja now have the same final drive gearing with 15/42 setups (front/rear sprockets). This makes the final gearing taller on the Versys but shorter on the Ninja.
Both bikes now come with a USB-C charger near the left-hand switch cube. The usual raft of electronic rider aids, like riding modes, traction control, cruise control and dual-channel ABS, is expected to continue onto the 1100s.
For the first time on the Ninja, you get an up-spec SE variant. In typical SE variant fashion, the Ninja gets an Ohlins shock and Brembo M4.32 calipers, brake discs and master cylinder. The Versys gets S, SE and SE LT variants internationally, over and above the standard variant, but India has always gotten the base variant.
It remains to be seen if Kawasaki India brings in the higher-spec variants of the Ninja and Versys to India. Traditionally, higher variants are offered only for the models that come here as CBUs (like the Z H2 and Ninja H2 SX), not the CKD models (like the Z900 and ZX-10R). We shall see if Kawasaki India amends this policy when these bikes launch here sometime in 2025. These bikes have seen a minor price increase in international markets, and we expect a similar move when the Ninja and Versys 1100 launch here.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
