We’ve already seen that Kawasaki is replacing its trusty 1,043cc inline-four in the Versys 1000 for a new 1,099cc version in 2025. Now the same change has reached the Ninja 1000SX, which becomes the Ninja 1100SX and is joined by a higher-spec Ninja 1100SX SE for next year’s lineup.
Don’t go hunting for huge visual changes to differentiate next year’s bike from its predecessor. Colors aside, they’re identical in appearance. The changes are under the skin and led by that revised engine, which grows in stroke (now 59mm against 56mm for the old model), while retaining the previous 77mm bore. While a similar change to the Versys 1000—which also becomes an 1100 for 2025—has led to a big hike in performance, that doesn’t apply to the Ninja, which previously used a higher-compression, higher-revving version of the 1,043cc motor than the Versys spec. For 2025, the two converge, so while the Versys has seen its power rise substantially from 118 hp to 133 hp, the Ninja 1100SX drops from 140 hp for the old model to 134 hp in 2025.
Power isn’t everything, though, and the changes to the Ninja bring a fatter midrange and more peak torque, changes that might actually make it feel brawnier than the previous version. Engine changes go beyond the simple capacity hike and extend to new cam profiles with less valve lift than before, plus revised intake ports, all aimed at increasing gas velocity into the combustion chambers, resulting in better torque. The raw figure is now 83.2 lb.-ft., a fraction more than before, and it peaks at 7,600 rpm instead of 8,000 rpm. Max power now arrives a full 1,000 rpm lower in the rev range at 9,000 rpm instead of 10,000. With more midrange, Kawasaki has been able to give the bike longer fifth and sixth gear ratios for more relaxed cruising and better fuel economy, and there’s a heavier flywheel to further boost the feeling of torque.
The new engine sits in a chassis that’s unchanged in the standard Ninja 1100SX compared to the old Ninja 1000SX, with an identical fully adjustable 41mm inverted fork and a monoshock at the rear with rebound and remote preload adjustment. The standard bike’s front brake calipers are the same four-piston radial-mount units, but now clasp conventional discs instead of the old model’s petal-style rotors. The rear brake gets a bigger, 260mm disc to boost performance over the old 250mm version.
If you want improvements away from the engine, you need to look at the new Ninja 1100SX SE. It swaps that standard rear shock for an Öhlins S46 unit and trades the Kawasaki-branded calipers of the base model for Brembo M4.32 Monoblocks, along with matching Brembo discs, stainless braided brake lines, and a Brembo master cylinder for improved feel and response. The SE also benefits from heated grips as standard, something that’s missing from the base model.
Both bikes carry over the same strong tech package from the previous Ninja 1000SX, including a Bosch six-axis IMU that enables cornering traction control and ABS, along with four riding modes, including Sport, Road, Rain, and Rider configurable. There’s also a four-position adjustable screen, smartphone connectivity that adds voice control for 2025, and cruise control as standard.
The new bikes start at $13,699 MSRP for the standard Ninja 1100SX, while the SE version begins at $15,399.