By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer
Kawasaki Versys 1000 (LZT00B) vs Triumph Tiger Sport 1050 (NH01)
Roll on the Kawasaki Versys 1000 and every bit of power reads clearly, and that's why you'll push it hard. The Triumph Tiger Sport 1050's pull doesn't surge or hesitate.
So which one do you buy?
The Tiger Sport 1050 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
By a nose: Tiger Sport 1050
Over a year of riding, the Tiger Sport 1050 noses ahead on running costs. A neglected example would wipe that out.
What makes each one tick
Versys 1000
There's room to stretch on the Versys 1000's upright, well-padded seat, and its big windscreen keeps the weather off rider and passenger. Its odometer keeps turning all season.
Nils rode the Versys 1000 in Austria in 2015 (NastyNils Testride).
Tiger Sport 1050
A corner doesn't need asking twice on the Tiger Sport 1050, whose steering goes in immediately and stays alert without getting nervous. Off the brake lever it holds the arc it chose, and the riding position sits more upright than a naked bike's and a touch further forward than a full enduro's. The suspension isn't settled on either job: it can float a little on smooth pavement and turn firm once the surface breaks up. By evening you're still riding it.
Nils rode the Tiger Sport 1050 in France in 2016, and in France in 2026 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Tiger Sport 1050 has the lower wet weight: 518 lb (235 kg) vs 551 lb (250 kg).
- The Tiger Sport 1050 makes more peak power: 125 hp (93 kW) vs 120 hp (88 kW).
- Cruise Control: standard on the Tiger Sport 1050, not offered on the Versys 1000.
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both miss here
If this is your first motorcycle, keep looking. Neither one makes learning easy.
For commuting, twisty roads, and long days, you won't find daylight between them. Let the test ride settle it.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Versys 1000
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Swallows A Full Touring Load
- Built To Run Long
- 120 hp, Plenty In Reserve
- Controls You Stop Noticing
- Willing From Low Revs
Trade-offs
- No Cruise Control Fitted
- Fork Seals Can Weep
- Steering Head Bearings Wear
- Neutral Light Plays Tricks
Tiger Sport 1050
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Throttle You Can Trust
- Steers Quick, Stays Calm
- All-Day Riding Position
- Build Quality Holds Up
- Sharper and Comfier Than It Looks
Trade-offs
- Suspension Never Picks a Side
- Spec Sheet Runs Lean
- Stator Can Burn Out Early
- Linkage Needs Regular Grease
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Versys 1000 | Tiger Sport 1050 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.1 in (840 mm) | 32.7 in (830 mm) |
| Wet weight | 551 lb (250 kg) | 518 lb (235 kg) |
| Versys 1000 | Tiger Sport 1050 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1043 cc | 1050 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | Inline-three |
| Power | 120 hp (88 kW) | 125 hp (93 kW) |
| Torque | 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) | 78 lb-ft (106 Nm) |
| Versys 1000 | Tiger Sport 1050 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 US gal (21 L) | 5.3 US gal (20 L) |
| Versys 1000 | Tiger Sport 1050 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 59.8 in (1520 mm) | 60.6 in (1540 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Versys 1000 | Tiger Sport 1050 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise Control | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
