Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1533377
P98 RIDE REVIEW I 2025 KAWASAKI VERSYS 1100 SE LT of the Rideology app integration that allows riders to connect their smartphones to the bike via Bluetooth, providing access to ride data, vehicle settings, and notifications. Voice command (one that learns your accent) functionality has been introduced in the latest update, enabling hands-free operation of cer- tain features. Although we didn't get to try this option on the test as there's a bit of messing around to get it all working, I'm sure riders who cover the kind of miles that the engineers had in mind for the Versys 1100 will find it more than helpful. The 2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT ABS will primarily go against the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT (2025 the Tracer 9 GT+ isn't on Yamaha USA's website anymore) and Suzuki GSX-S1000GX+, Japan's premium sport- touring machines, seeing as Honda isn't really playing here right now. I'll stop short of saying which one I prefer until I get them in a test together, but Kawa - saki has placed itself pretty high in the price point compared to the $12,599 MSRP Yama- ha (minus a number of optional features like a quickshifter and cruise control), although the Suzuki is only $1000 less at $18,599. For that money, however, the Kawasaki gives everything you could want for your long-distance sport touring game except a top box (none of these bikes offer one as standard). You can pick one up in the Kawa- saki aftermarket catalog, but the two 28-liter saddlebags come included. That makes the Kawasaki not as harsh a value concept as it may seem at first. A quick look further up the chain at optioning up the $17,995 BMW S 1000 XR into the same spec as the Kawasaki yields a price of around $21,000, but this is just a ballpark figure for a bike far sportier than the Kawasaki. Kawasaki may not have prioritized the sport touring game to the extent they prob - ably should have in the past, but, in the Ver- sys 1100 SE LT, they have a bike that offers everything the competition does and, in some cases, more. Which, for under $20K, isn't something to sneeze at. CN 2025 KAWASAKI VERSYS 1100 SE LT ABS ($19,499) ENGINE Inline 4-cylinder VALVETRAIN DOHC, 16-valve COOLING SYSTEM Liquid DISPLACEMENT 1099cc BORE X STROKE 77.0 x 59.0mm COMPRESSION RATIO 11.8:1 FUELING Electronic fuel injection system w/38mm throttle bodies, Ride-by-Wire throttle EXHAUST 4-2-1 TRANSMISSION 6-speed, chain drive CLUTCH Wet, multiplate slipper; hydraulic actuation CHASSIS Aluminum twin-tube FRONT SUSPENSION 43mm inverted Showa fork with KECS-controlled rebound and compression damping, manual spring preload adjustability and top-out springs REAR SUSPENSION Horizontal back-link, Showa BFRC-lite gas-charged shock with piggyback reservoir, KECS-controlled compression and rebound damping electronically-adjustable spring preload FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.9 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.9 in. FRONT BRAKE Dual 310mm petal discs with radial-mount 4-piston monobloc calipers, Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Brake System (KIBS) REAR BRAKE Single 260mm petal disc with 1-piston caliper, Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Brake System (KIBS) FRONT TIRE 120/70-17 in. REAR TIRE 180/55-17 in. RAKE 27° TRAIL 4.0 in. WHEELBASE 59.8 in. SEAT HEIGHT 33.1 in. FUEL CAPACITY 5.5 gal WEIGHT (CURB, CLAIMED) 571 lbs. S P E C I F I C AT I O N S