More Details On 2025 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX Leak
Kawasaki teases announcement for Oct. 1
Earlier this month, we broke the news about a new 2025 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX, which will replace the 1000SX model with a larger 1,099cc engine. Kawasaki has now started teasing an announcement for Oct. 1, which we presume will be for the Ninja 1100SX and a Versys 1100SX, but while there’s still more than a week to go, Motorcycle.com has obtained further specifications for the new Ninja.
Our initial report was based on homologation filings made in Australia (not Austria, as some geographically confused motorcycle publications have stated). Those filings listed only the “Ninja 1100SX” model name as well as the model codes ZX1100H and ZX11002J, but little else. A separate filing for the Versys 1100 listed an output of 99 kW (133 hp) and an engine code suggesting it would be shared with the Ninja 1100SX.
Preliminary type approval information released in Switzerland paints a more complete picture of what to expect from the new Ninja. The new data lists a peak output of 100 kW (134 hp), which is close enough to the Australian figures to be a difference in rounding and converting between different units. The Swiss data lists that 134 hp peak coming at 9,000 rpm. This is actually down from the Ninja 1000SX, which last received type approval in January, claiming 104.5 kW (140 hp) at 10,000 rpm.
The decrease in peak power is somewhat mitigated with an increase in torque, with the Swiss data listing the Ninja 1100SX at 83.3 lb-ft. at 7,600 rpm compared to 81.9 lb-ft. at 8,000 rpm for the 1000SX.
The Swiss data lists the 1100SX as having similar dimensions to the 1000SX, with no change to the height, length, wheelbase or weight. There is a change to the sprocket ratios however. The Ninja 1000SX has a 15-tooth front sprocket and a 41 tooth rear sprocket for a ratio of 2.73. The Ninja 1100SX, however, is certified with a ratio of 2.80, which is easiest to achieve by swapping in a 42-tooth sprocket for the rear.
What’s interesting is that despite producing less power, having a similar weight and having a larger sprocket ratio, the 1100SX is listed in the Swiss filing with a top speed of 251 kph (156.0 mph), up from the Ninja 1000SX, which has a claimed top speed of 249 kph (154.7 mph). Assuming the wheel and tire sizes stay unchanged, we expect Kawasaki made some changes to the transmission ratios to account for the increased top speed.
While we continue to learn more and more about the Ninja 1100SX, there’s still quite a bit we don’t know, such as the electronics, suspension, and brakes. We may not have to wait much longer, if the Ninja is part of Kawasaki’s Oct. 1 announcement.
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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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100cc engine increase. 6hp loss, 1 lb/ft gain. 1mph gain. Ummm, that seems a damn expensive engineering exercise for those figures.
Is the Z 1100 really progress. I've got an original ZX 1100 (ZZR1100 in UK) which we use as a sports tourer. It's the 1990 C1 model which puts out 147 bhp at crank (approx 135 at the rear wheel) . The new ZX has a bigger engine yet, is nowhere near as powerful or as fast. I've seen 180 mph on the speedo at 11000 rpm but the new one just squeezes past 150 !! Yes, might have more toys on it and, handle better but, come on. Hardly progressive, is it?