P108
RIDE REVIEW I 2025 KAWASAKI NINJA 1100SX SE ABS
S
portbikes are always a com-
promise. They're brilliant on
track and your favorite back-
road, they look awesome, and they
impart a feeling to the rider that
other bikes simply can't match.
Cruiser riders would never get it.
Conversely, sportbikes don't
make good touring buddies. They're
cramped, uncomfortable, pretty rub
-
bish at carrying luggage, and riding
one at the posted speed limit feels
like neutering a pitbull.
Kawasaki has known this for ages
and has been pushing the Ninja 1000
as an alternative to knackered knees
since 2011. Based on the Z1000
naked bike, over time the Ninja 1000
became the Ninja 1000SX, and, as
the Z1000 saw a quiet demise from
Kawasaki's lineup, it gained a foot
-
hold as one of two machines to
use that particular motor, the other
being the Versys 1000.
For 2025, the Ninja (and the
Versys for that matter) has gained
capacity from 1043cc to 1099cc.
This increase in displacement is
achieved through a 3mm longer
stroke, although a heavier flywheel,
milder camshaft profiles and intake
work have seen peak power reduced
from 140 horsepower to 134. The
good news is these changes have
given the SX a stronger low- to mid-
range torque curve for more sedate-
speed riding. You're not going warp
speed all the time, right?
SPORTBIKE
T H E G E N T L E M A N ' S
GROWN UP WITH SHAGGED
SLIDERS ALL YOUR LIFE?
STILL LISTEN TO THE
MUSIC YOU DID WHEN
YOU WERE 20? STILL
LOVE SPORTBIKES, BUT
YOUR KNEES AND WRISTS
CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE?
KAWASAKI MAY JUST HAVE
THE ANSWER.
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK I PHOTOGRAPHY BY RYAN NITZEN & KEVIN WING
