Kawasaki to Introduce a Versys 1100 for 2025
Could a Ninja 1100 or Z1100 be far behind?
Kawasaki has submitted paperwork to homologate a new Versys 1100 model in Australia, suggesting a larger engine and potentially other updates to its adventuresque sports-tourer.
Only very preliminary information has been published as of this writing, so we don’t know any details about the new engine displacement or other changes. We expect further details to emerge in the near future, but here’s what we know so far.
Firstly, the homologation is specifically for an S model, which for many markets is considered to be a mid-tier option between the standard Versys and the SE. Trim levels and packages vary from market to market, with Kawasaki U.S.A., for example, only offering a Versys 1000 SE LT+. In Australia, the only option available is the Versys 1000 S, which adds a TFT display but lacks the SE’s electronic suspension.
The newly certified model is designated the Versys 1100 S, with the model code KLZ1100B. Rather than certifying it as a new model, Kawasaki opted to homologate it as a variant to the Versys 1000 S (KLZ1000B). This suggests that the changes won’t be too substantial, so those hoping for more off-road capability may be disappointed. That said, this applies specifically to the S model, and we don’t know how other variants may differ as the S is the only version currently offered in Australia.
Kawasaki has typically used the Versys platform to showcase its latest electronics, so we expect the Versys 1100 will offer new technology, perhaps including the radar-based adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection systems Kawasaki debuted on the Ninja H2 SX.
While we await confirmation on engine details, we expect the engine will be based on the 1,043cc Inline-Four powering the current Versys, but with a larger displacement putting it closer to 1,100cc.
Naturally, that leads us to wonder how soon we can expect the larger engine to make its way into a Ninja 1100, to replace the Ninja 1000SX. A Z1100 would also be an interesting prospect, as the Z1000 has been absent from Kawasaki’s lineup since 2021. The 948cc Z900 had essentially taken the Z1000’s spot, but a bump in displacement may be enough to give a Z1100 its own space in the market. It should be noted that the Ninja 1000SX was not among the returning models Kawasaki previously announced for 2025, nor has the existing 1,043cc engine appeared in certification filings with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or California Air Resources Board for the 2025 model year.
We expect Versys 1100’s certification filings will be updated with further information soon, while an official announcement from Kawasaki likely won’t take place until EICMA in November.
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Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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I've been saying the big V needs larger displacement for years. My ST riding is mostly 2-up, w/a heavy load. The extra displacement and grunt is always welcome. Furthermore, I'd love it if this model did NOT have the electronic suspension; too much complexity, weight, expense, maintenance, and uncertainty. Heck, they can even make it lighter and higher end components, if they want.
And, for the record, I love black bikes and a good twin cylinder. This is why they make different bikes for different folks. We're a fickle bunch.
I bet it's still 1043cc, but "1100" will indicate it's the latest model with the latest gadgets.