Motorcycle specifications KawasakiVERSYS 1100 SE 2025 Fast touring trail

Long ago, Kawasaki produced a very good tourer in the form of the GTR 1000; its success was as eloquent as its reliability. At the time, trail bikes were little more than lightweight, easy-to-handle, low-powered off-road machines.
Gradually, all that changed. Today, for many manufacturers, Grand Touring can only be conceived as a maxi-trail. Kawa has its Versys range for this purpose, with the 1100 S.E. at the top of the range.

For a dozen years, the engine of the big Versys cubed 1043 cm3 - that of the Z 1000 roadster. In fact, it was the first trail bike to be equipped with an in-line 4-cylinder. Previously rated at 120 hp, in 2025 the block was upgraded to 135 hp - 12% more power with a series of improvements.

Displacement increased by 56 cm3, revised intake, reprogrammed ECU, more torque between 4,000 and 7,000 rpm, linked exhaust manifolds, increased engine inertia, addition of a second balancer - the greens have taken their engine to greater strength and smoothness.

Torque is also up, with 1 mkg more in the basket to reach 11.4 mkg. Mechanical improvements also include an active shifter from 1,500 rpm and the addition of an oil cooler. Reliability will be appreciated, although it has always been up to Japanese standards.

But what brings the long-distance rider to the 1100 Verys S.E. rather than the S, which is already quite well off? Comfort... Superior comfort with semi-active suspension. Showa components and the KECS electronic module adapt the damping in real time to the profile of the road and the rider's requirements, with the latter being able to opt for a firmer or softer profile. On top of this, the Skyhook algorithm takes care of maintaining attitude, as if the bike wanted to float horizontally while the suspension worked.

that's what brings you to the track on the most exclusive of Versys (apart from accessorized versions like the Grand Tourer). The 1100 brings more watts, the SE takes care of the pilot-controlled suspensions. That said, the equipment goes out of its way to provide peace of mind on every journey, whether short or expeditionary. Kawasaki maxi-trailers feature heated grips, hand guards, USB-C socket, cornering lights, cruise control, adjustable bubble, luggage anchors, Smartphone connectivity, luggage rack and center stand.

Riding aids include 4 riding modes, 2 power modes, traction control, cornering ABS, an Up&Down shifter and 3 KECS profiles.

Let's have a chat about design, an area where Kawasaki must have been on strike. How can you tell the 1100 S from the SE? By the color of the forks and the wires protruding from the fork caps.
And how do you tell the 1100 from the 1000? The black color of the engine and the redesigned contours of the cylinder block. You've been waiting for a new Versys? You can't see it, but you can see it when you ride it...

M.B - manufacturer's media