Kawasaki Versys 1100 new flag carrier

Since its introduction in 2012, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 has evolved every year.
The bike scores on many fronts.
It handles great easily, offers a very smooth four-cylinder engine and tops that off with a pretty complete and ride comfort oriented equipment.
An ideal bike for those who want to make long journeys, use it for commuting or just want to have a nice ride.
And we already got to experience that, as you can see in this video.

Kawasaki Versys 1100 with 135 hp

Just for that jar of steering you crave just a little more power.
Kawasaki now offers that with a decent upgrade to the Versys 1000.
The displacement of the four-cylinder increases from 1,043cc to 1,099cc.
That results in increased power from 120 to 135 hp and maximum torque between 4,000 and 7,000 rpm increased from 102 to 112 Nm.
This provides even more smoothness and a snappier response to the throttle.

Driving comfort and safety

Logically, the name of this model has been renamed Versys 1100, which will be available in three versions.
Those are the Standard, the S and the SE.
This is basically the same as the current 1000 version.
With that, the SE is the most extensively equipped with a whole bundle of rider assistance systems that serve ride comfort and safety.

Quick shifter and cruise control

Kawasaki has refined the quick shifter.
You can use it from as low as 1,500 rpm.
While modified gear ratios of the higher gears along with electronic cruise control provide more touring comfort.
An important modification to the engine is that the inner intake skirts are now 45 mm longer than the outer ones.
This mainly accounts for the improved torque delivery between 4,000 and 7,000 rpm.

Souplesse to higher level

The intake ports have been matched to the new throttle bodies.
They are now narrower in proportion to the increased displacement.
This improves the inflow of air in the low to medium rpm range.
The engine management settings have also been adapted to the larger displacement, which mainly affects the operation of the throttle valves throughout the rev range.
Camshaft profiles with a lower valve elevator also contribute to the increased torque in the low and mid-range rev range.

Less vibration

Furthermore, the increased smoothness is due to a heavier flywheel that makes the engine pick up even finer.
An extra balance shaft eliminates vibrations.
Furthermore, there is now an oil cooler to keep the stronger engine thermally in line.
The rear brake disc is a tad larger: from 250 to 260 mm in diameter.

Comprehensive equipment

As a Standard, the Versys is already heavily equipped with a USB-C port and various electronic riding assistance systems, including KTRC traction control, KCMF cornering management and 4 different riding modes.
The top-of-the-line SE version offers electronically damped Showa suspension, plus Kawasaki’s Rideology smartphone App, which now features voice control.