Bigger capacity for Kawasaki’s premium sporty tourer, plus new SE model with Brembo brakess and Öhlins rear shock, here is your first look at the 2025 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX.
It’s probably not a huge surprise considering the changes to the similarly-engined Versys 1000. But Kawasaki has given its popular Ninja 1000SX sport tourer the same basic upgrade for 2025, with a larger engine capacity and other mods.
The Ninja’s inline-four DOHC 16-valve motor grows from 1043cc to 1099cc, and the motor has other detail tweaks, all aimed at improving torque output across the rev range.
Now, by definition that would mean more peak power – the current 1000 makes around 141bhp – but the Kawasaki press release is a bit vague on power increases, which generally means no change. To be fair, 140-odd ponies is fine for the task in hand here – long distance two-up tours with luggage – and a bit more grunt in the low- and mid-range will make for a better tourer, as will new longer 5th and 6th gears.
The up/down quickshifter is also modified, and now operates as low as 1500rpm allowing seamless changes at lower engine revs than before. The firm also claims even better fuel economy from the 2025 Ninja 1100SX, no doubt as part of a Euro 5+ emissions-compliant tune.
Away from the engine, there’s new rider and pillion comfort kit, with a handlebar mounted USB-C port as standard along with electronic cruise control, power modes, cornering management, K-TRC traction control and intelligent ABS brakes.
Kawasaki’s also given the bike a larger rear disc for even better stopping power and there’s a tyre upgrade, with the latest Bridgestone Battlax S23 as standard fitment – very good tyres in wet and dry conditions.
The big news though is that the Ninja 1100SX range now comes with the choice of a fancier SE variant for the very first time. The posh special edition model comes with Brembo M4.32 front brake calipers, Brembo master cylinder and disc rotors plus braided steel brake hoses, as well as an Öhlins S46 rear shock absorber with remote hydraulic preload adjustment. As a final touch, the SE model comes with heated grips as standard rather than as an optional fit.
Other handy components available on the new 1100 include a height adjustable screen and a range of colour-coded luggage options, and there’s also a number of special edition models that can be ordered direct from your dealer.
Both standard and SE models are also compatible with an updated version of Kawasaki’s Rideology phone app that allows riders to adjust aspects of their motorcycle, gather machine information via their Smartphone and also see ridden routes on their phone screen.
For 2025, Rideology is now voice command application ready anticipating the next generation of motorcycle and rider interactivity.
The Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX will be in dealers from December, priced at £12,249 for the standard model, which comes in Metallic Carbon Gray / Metallic Diablo Black colours.
The SE costs £13,999 and comes in Emerald Blazed Green / Metallic Diablo Black or Metallic Matte Graphene Steel Gray / Metallic Diablo Black. More info: www.kawasaki.co.uk