2025 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX SE Review | Motorcycle ...

2025 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX SE Evaluation

Sport bikes are all the time a compromise. They’re good on monitor and in your favorite backroad, they give the impression of being superior, and so they impart a sense to the rider different bikes merely can’t match. Cruiser riders would by no means get it.

Conversely, sport bikes don’t make good touring buddies. They’re cramped, uncomfortable, fairly garbage at carrying baggage and driving one on the posted velocity restrict looks like neutering a pitbull.

Kawasaki has recognized this for ages and has been pushing the Ninja 1000 as a substitute for knackered knees since 2011.

Based mostly on the Z1000 bare bike, over time the Ninja 1000 grew to become the Ninja 1000 SX, and, because the Z1000 noticed a quiet demise from Kawasaki’s line-up, the SX gained a foothold as certainly one of two machines to make use of that exact motor, the opposite being the Versys 1000.

For 2025, the Ninja (and the Versys for that matter), has gained capability from 1043 cc to 1099 cc. This improve in displacement is achieved by way of a 3 mm longer stroke, though a heavier flywheel, milder camshaft profiles and consumption work has seen peak energy decreased from 140 hp to 134 hp.

The excellent news is these adjustments have given the SX a stronger low to mid-range torque curve for extra sedate-speed driving. You’re not going warp velocity on a regular basis, proper?

When Kawasaki put new “excessive elevate”, not “greater elevate” cams of their ZX-6R again in 2024, the corporate stated was attempting to make an engine that was designed to have its nuts revved off extra tractable, and supply extra helpful efficiency for the road. However in actuality, it was additionally to appease the emissions gods. In any case, much less air and fewer gasoline means much less energy, much less emissions, and fewer melting ice caps.

It’s the identical factor once more in 2025 for the SX. Emissions management the sport right here, and with “milder” cams you want a bigger capability to make an analogous quantity of horsepower, in any other case your 1000 SX could be producing really woeful numbers. That is the explanation KTM can’t appear to sit down nonetheless for even one yr as they frequently up the capability of their avenue bikes.

So, welcome to your new 1100 SX.

As earlier than you’ve received 4 driving modes in Rain, Avenue, Sport and Rider, the final being the totally programable mode that allows you to fiddle round with traction management (ranges 1-3, plus Off) and select between Full or Low energy modes (Low energy provides you 75 per cent of the out there throttle with a softer response, by the best way).

In observe, nonetheless, Kawasaki’s delivered a peach of an engine for its given efficiency realm. It’s supremely easy at low rpm and punch at excessive rpm that makes pulling out and passing automobiles on the freeway means simpler than you’d consider.

Sixth gear roll-ons at 100 km/h has you sitting round 4500 rpm, which is true within the candy spot for some fairly spectacular acceleration. There’s oodles of mid-range torque in addition, however, and I’m sorry to say, the motor would profit from just a little extra character.   It’s undoubtedly a perfectly engineered energy unit, however maybe a pleasant aftermarket can would liberate just a little extra character. On the upside, not less than the induction roar the unique 1000 was so well-known for continues to be there.

Kawasaki’s refined the brand new quick-shifter to work from 1500 rpm and up, and it’s so rattling good at what it does it’s nearly robotic.

Get the motor spinning between 4000-7000 rpm and there’s greater than sufficient efficiency readily available. Torque for days, a very good noise to go together with it, and you’ll draw back from the lights in fourth gear simply. What’s to not like? A little bit of anger within the character maybe? I’ll go away that as much as you.

Suspension is conventionally-adjusted within the 41 mm Showa fork, adjustable 3 ways like every good fork (comp, rebound and pre-load). The 2025 SX mannequin positive factors an Ohlins S46 shock, the identical one which has resided in loads of previous Kawasakis, like my favorite Z900 RS SE, adjustable for rebound and pre-load.

Kawasaki even given you a distant pre-load adjuster for these days whenever you’re taking the missus on the again—tremendous useful given the suspension doesn’t include wires and digital switches just like the Versys SE LT does (which we sadly don’t get in Australia).

Street holding is great—particularly so given the Bridgestone Battlax S23 rubber that comes as commonplace. Given the claimed moist weight of 234 kg, you’ve received a bit to play with and it isn’t as nimble as one thing like a Tracer 9 GT, however the Kawasaki will hustle alongside your favorite backroad lots properly.

A couple of turns of pre-load will do most riders the world of fine to cease the chassis working extensive beneath energy on nook exits, however for probably the most half, I had zero complaints within the dealing with division. It’s a sporty prospect, however simply because it has a fairing doesn’t imply it corners like a ZX-6R. Do not forget that and also you’ll be simply positive.

Given the raised handlebar place (a trademark of the 1000/1100 SX), the mid-level seat top of 817 mm, and an affordable bend within the knees due to the footpeg place, lengthy days are simpler on this than many different bikes in the marketplace.

Even the display, adjustable to a few positions, doesn’t buffet your head like a few of the bike’s class rivals. Rating 4 for the Kawasaki.

I not too long ago accomplished a 300 km spherical journey high meet a mate for lunch, and it struck me as odd midway house that I couldn’t consider a motorcycle I’d somewhat be on for the mixed process of some good backroads, Los Angeles site visitors, and boring as batshit freeways.

Kawasaki’s performed splendidly properly to craft a sport-touring steed that’s glad in every of the aforementioned circumstances, and I received off on the finish of the day with hardly an ache—which is de facto saying one thing for my damaged physique.

Again to the efficiency.

The SE positive factors Brembo M4.32 radially-mounted four-piston entrance brake calipers and metal braided brake traces which supply loads of good stopping energy. Really feel is just a little diluted due to the master-cylinder and the actual fact the facility must undergo an ABS unit earlier than it reaches the caliper. That’s the identical for just about everybody who sells a motorcycle in 2025, however the Kawasaki’s really feel on the lever nonetheless leaves a bit to be desired.

One notable change is the rise from 250 mm to 260 mm for the rear brake. The 2024 rear brake disc was already larger than most different bikes in the marketplace, which normally keep across the 240 mm mark, however Kawasaki determined to up it just a little additional. It really works. The previous one labored. I can’t actually inform the distinction to be completely trustworthy with you.

Sadly the 1100 doesn’t come commonplace with my take a look at bike’s 28 litre onerous circumstances, which is a bummer contemplating the sticker value of the bottom bike. You’d be mad to not choose these up at buy as they maintain sufficient for a weekend away and can match a full-face helmet no worries, until you’ve received a type of helmets with a bunch of ineffective wings on the again.

And also you’d additionally need to choose up the heated handgrips from the accent catalogue.

Kawasaki’s been pushing their Rideology The App (to present it its full and correct title) smartphone app for years and if you happen to have been to select up a 1100, I’d counsel taking the time to be taught the system.

Mission management continues to be the 4.3-inch TFT show, and means that you can use turn-by-turn navigation, calls, and varied experience logs like distance, gasoline consumption, and loads of different techy bits.

The Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX SE could include much less horsepower than the previous 1100, however don’t let that idiot you.

It’s an excellent sport touring steed with extra efficiency within the areas that matter, and if you happen to possibility the experience up so that you’ve received some baggage, this can be a bike you’ll be capable of cowl many, many miles on and by no means tire of.

The longer I had it, the extra I appreciated it, even when its character at first look is just a little vanilla. Seems to be can certainly be deceiving. Whereas a number of extra trinkets as commonplace could be good, that is nonetheless numerous very succesful bike for 20 ok, or 22 ok experience away as soon as the federal government has taken their minimize.

For extra data see the Kawasaki Motor Australia website (link).

2025 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX SE Specs

2025 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX SE Pictures

Pictures by Kevin Wing Photograph