By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer
Kawasaki Versys 1100 (MY2025-SE) vs Ninja 1100SX (ZX1100H-SE)
Kawasaki Versys 1100 vs Ninja 1100SX: which one's easier to live with on a long trip.
One bend after the swap from the Kawasaki Versys 1100, the Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX's chassis is what you'll notice first. The Ninja turns in neutral and stays hooked up once it's leaned over. The bike settles and holds its arc.
So which one do you buy?
The Versys 1100 has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
Edges it: Versys 1100
Hour after hour, the Versys 1100 feels a little kinder to you. Credit a better reliability record and more range per tank. It's a close-run thing, though.
The Ninja 1100SX has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Narrow edge: Ninja 1100SX
On the way to work, the Ninja 1100SX asks a little less of you. The reason: lighter steering. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Inches ahead: Ninja 1100SX
On a twisty road, the Ninja 1100SX edges ahead. The difference is more feel through the bars and a sportier chassis. Not by enough to settle it alone.
Which one's the smarter buy
No clear advantage
The Ninja 1100SX costs less, but that doesn't make it the better buy. Neither bike is the clear winner on value at these used prices.
What makes each one tick
Versys 1100
Down low in the revs, the Versys's inline-four pulls hard, and it's free of any roughness. A small twist of the throttle gets an instant answer: the shove doesn't need the engine wrung out to build. The tall sixth gear trims the buzz at highway speed, where the motor's happy to lope along. The tach needle barely climbs.
Ninja 1100SX
The Ninja's bars pitch you far enough forward to weight the front tire in fast sweepers, yet there's room to sit up for a whole day aboard. Its inline-four draws clean from the bottom of the rev range and doesn't need the top end to feel quick on the road. On the SE, the brake lever's backed by radial Brembo calipers with real feel. Every stop reads through the lever.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Ninja 1100SX has the lower wet weight: 516 lb (234 kg) vs 569 lb (258 kg).
- The Versys 1100 has the larger fuel tank: 5.5 US gal (21 L) vs 5.0 US gal (19 L).
- Electronic Suspension: standard on the Versys 1100, not offered on the Ninja 1100SX.
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Look elsewhere
As first bikes, both are a stretch. Starting smaller isn't a step down.
Count running costs as a draw. The deal on the table and the condition of the bike matter more here.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Versys 1100
What owners say
Strengths
- Velvet-smooth, torquey engine character
Ninja 1100SX
What owners say
Strengths
- Silky-smooth, torque-rich inline-four
- Refined electronics package
- Premium Öhlins & Brembo hardware
Trade-offs
- Peak power reduced vs predecessor
What they cost used
These prices compare a 1-year-old Versys 1100 with a 1-year-old Ninja 1100SX.
- Versys 1100
- $18,000
- Ninja 1100SX
- $13,000
At one year old, the Kawasaki Versys 1100 sits around $18,000 while the Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX lands near $13,000. That's a $5,000 gap in the Ninja 1100SX's favor. These are recorded figures from the used market, not live prices.
What they share
- Displacement
- 1099 cc
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak power at
- 9,000 rpm
- Peak torque at
- 7,600 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Versys 1100 | Ninja 1100SX | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.1 in (840 mm) | 32.9 in (835 mm) |
| Wet weight | 569 lb (258 kg) | 516 lb (234 kg) |
| Versys 1100 | Ninja 1100SX | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 135 hp (99 kW) | 136 hp (100 kW) |
| Torque | 83 lb-ft (112 Nm) | 83 lb-ft (113 Nm) |
| Versys 1100 | Ninja 1100SX | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 US gal (21 L) | 5.0 US gal (19 L) |
| Versys 1100 | Ninja 1100SX | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 190/50-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Versys 1100 | Ninja 1100SX | |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
| Manually Adjustable Rear Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| Navigation | Option | Standard |
| Electrically Adjustable Windscreen | Not offered | Standard |
| Luggage System | Standard | Option |
| Cornering Lights | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
