While it seems like more and more motorcycle manufacturers are emphasizing their entry-level and middleweight bikes in recent years to capture more market share with newer riders looking for motorcycles for sale, Kawasaki decided it’s time to upgrade two of its flagship models. The Ninja 1000 sport touring bike and Versys 1000 adventure bike both received a rather thorough overhaul for 2025. In addition to the usual array of more modern tech features, they were also upgraded with larger engines to create the new Ninja 1100 and Versys 1100. Those are some sizable engines for a Japanese manufacturer and could presage the beginning of a trend towards larger displacement bikes to catch up with the European brands, who have been offering larger engines for years.
Go Big or Go Home
While the larger engines in the 2025 Ninja 1100 and Versys 1100 certainly deliver more power, the jump is actually not as great as you might think. To begin with, the increase in displacement is a lot smaller than the names imply. While the new engines come in at 1099cc, almost exactly matching its name, the engines in the 2024 Ninja 1000 and Versys 1000 actually displaced 1043cc. This meant they were already significantly larger than the 998cc engine in the race-oriented Ninja ZX-10R, despite all three models technically being liter bikes. The reason why the slower bikes had larger engines is that the higher displacement allowed them to produce more torque, making for a more road-friendly riding experience than the rev-happy high-horsepower engine in the ZX-10R.
This takes us to the second reason why the increase in displacement has resulted in a smaller power increase than you might have expected. Kawasaki used that extra displacement to further enhance low-end torque and give the bikes some extra muscle lower in the rev range. All of the extra displacement comes from an additional 3mm of stroke rather than increasing the size of the cylinders, and a long stroke generally means more torque at the expense of horsepower. Overall, the Versys 1100 sees a 13 hp and 7 lb-ft increase over its predecessor, while the Ninja 1100 actually lost a few ponies in exchange for its broader torque curve.
You may think that seems like a lot of work from Kawasaki for some fairly marginal gains, and you would be right. The larger engines are less about improving performance, although that is certainly a nice side effect, and more about improving emissions. High-revving four-cylinder engines are absolutely terrible for emissions, which is why we have seen the collapse of the 600 super sport class and the beginning of the end for the liter bike segment. Introducing a larger, longer-stroke engine is Kawasaki’s way of improving emissions without sacrificing performance, and we may see more Japanese manufacturers following suit in the years to come.
Tech Features for the Modern Rider
It seems that more and more motorcycles are defined less by their engines and more by their tech features. The 2025 Ninja 1100 and Versys 1100 keep up with the times by offering a full package of modern electronics and a couple of new features for the new year. One of the headline features for both models is the addition of an improved Kawasaki Quick Shifter. This quick shifter allows for clutchless upshifts and downshifts, making for a more convenient riding experience. For the new models, Kawasaki has refined the shift logic to work more smoothly in the lower RPM ranges that most riders of these bikes spend the majority of their time in, making it more of a daily feature than something reserved for the track and weekend canyon carving.
Kawasaki has also enhanced smartphone connectivity, which can be a nice-to-have feature, although not a make or break for most riders. Both new models now have a USB-C port, continuing the market’s shift away from the older USB standard. The Versys 1100 gains Kawasaki’s “RIDEOLOGY THE APP” with voice commands (the Ninja 1000 already offered this feature). Like similar apps for cars, this lets you access information about your motorcycle on your smartphone, mirror calls to the TFT dash, and adjust bike settings from your phone. However, while nice in theory, most riders find this feature to be of limited use in practice.
In addition to these connectivity features, the new models offer a full suite of rider aids. The 2025 Ninja 1100 and Versys 1100 both come standard with ABS, two power modes, three traction control modes, and four ride modes, all informed by a compact six-axis IMU (inertia measuring unit). This IMU lets the system compensate for lean angle, dialing up traction control and ABS through corners to keep the bike safely within the limits of available grip. While these might not be the most powerful bikes on the market, they are intended for daily riding in all kinds of conditions, and this collection of rider aids does a good job helping to keep riders safe even when the roads aren’t perfectly dry and clean.
A More Sophisticated Sport Touring Bike
While the Ninja 1100 is a more relaxed ride than the Ninja ZX-10, it’s still a Ninja, and Kawasaki has sharpened the bike’s handling up a bit if you opt for the SE variant. This model now comes with a new Ohlins rear shock that includes a remote preload adjuster, allowing you to set preload quickly without any tools. This is a great addition for a sport touring model that might see you riding two-up with luggage one day and pushing the limits solo the next. The SE also gets new Brembo front brakes, including the discs, calipers, and master cylinder, plus braided steel brake lines for a superior braking feel.
While the 2025 Versys 1100 suspension hasn’t seen any major updates from the 2024 Versys 1000, it is still quite sophisticated. The standard SE LT version comes with long-travel front and rear Kawasaki Electronically Controlled Suspension (KECS). This system reads the road every millisecond and electronically controls both compression and rebound damping, adjusting depending on which of the four ride modes you are in. It also stiffens the suspension under braking, allowing for a softer ride without excessive dive when you get on the brakes. Rear preload is also electronically adjustable, with factory settings for rider only, rider with luggage, and rider with passenger and luggage. These can be further fine-tuned to give you the exact ride you need.
Opening the Floodgates?
While European manufacturers like BMW and Ducati offer many sport touring and adventure models with engines that far exceed one liter of displacement, the Japanese brands have largely restricted themselves to 1000cc bikes. While exceptions like Kawasaki’s own Ninja ZX-14R with its 1441cc engine certainly exist, they are few and far between. Now, Kawasaki might be opening the floodgates to a new wave of higher-displacement Japanese bikes. Not only will there be competitive pressure to have bigger numbers on the sides of their flagship models, but the same tightening emissions regulations that drove Kawasaki to introduce larger engines will also affect Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki. However, what those other brands are cooking up remains to be seen.
