By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Tourer vs Sport Tourer
Honda NT1100 (MY2022) vs Kawasaki Versys 1100 (MY2025)
Honda NT1100 vs Kawasaki Versys 1100: which one you'd rather spend the big miles on.
Over a broken stretch of pavement, the Honda NT1100 and Kawasaki Versys 1100 don't take the hits the same way. On the SE version, the Versys 1100's semi-active suspension reads the surface constantly and keeps changing its damping. The hits barely reach the seat.
So which one do you buy?
The Versys 1100 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Edges it: Versys 1100
For the Monday-to-Friday grind, the Versys 1100 pulls a nose in front. Your own commute could easily flip it.
Keeping running costs low
By a nose: Versys 1100
For the money you spend after the purchase, the Versys 1100 nudges ahead. The gap is too small to plan a budget around.
Which one's the smarter buy
Apples and oranges
The NT1100 and Versys 1100 do different jobs, so neither is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
NT1100
The NT1100 sits you upright behind generous wind protection on a wide, thickly padded perch, and long days in the saddle don't wear you down. Despite its size, the bike doesn't feel bulky. The parallel twin just eats miles.
Versys 1100
A passenger rides along easily on the Versys, with room to stretch out behind you and a screen that keeps the wind off both of you. There's hardly any buzz. Despite its tall, upright stance, the bike's still quick to dive into Black Hills bends. The throttle wakes clean pull from the inline-four's bottom end.
Nils rode the Versys 1100 in Croatia/Dalmatia in 2025 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The NT1100 has the lower seat: 32.3 in (820 mm) vs 33.1 in (840 mm).
- The NT1100 has the lower wet weight: 549 lb (249 kg) vs 562 lb (255 kg).
- The Versys 1100 makes more peak power: 135 hp (99 kW) vs 102 hp (75 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not built for this
Neither one is where you should learn. Get a season on something gentler first.
On twisty roads and long days, these two are a wash. That's where your budget and your inseam get the final say.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
NT1100
What owners say
Strengths
- Comprehensive standard feature set
Versys 1100
What owners say
Strengths
- Creamy, torque-rich engine
- Exceptional two-up comfort
- Plush electronic suspension (SE)
What they cost used
These prices compare a 1-year-old NT1100 with a 1-year-old Versys 1100.
- NT1100
- about $11,000
- Versys 1100
- about $18,000
At one year old, the Honda NT1100 sits around $11,000 while the Kawasaki Versys 1100 holds near $18,000. That's a $7,000 gap in the NT1100's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Torque
- 83 lb-ft (112 Nm)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| NT1100 | Versys 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.3 in (820 mm) | 33.1 in (840 mm) |
| Wet weight | 549 lb (249 kg) | 562 lb (255 kg) |
| NT1100 | Versys 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1084 cc | 1099 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin | Inline-four |
| Power | 102 hp (75 kW) | 135 hp (99 kW) |
| Peak power at | 7,500 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| Peak torque at | 5,500 rpm | 7,600 rpm |
| NT1100 | Versys 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.4 US gal (20.4 L) | 5.5 US gal (21 L) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| NT1100 | Versys 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
