It was déjà vu all over again.
As I walked around the 2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT ABS, preparing for my first ride, I couldn’t help but think it looked exactly like my 2022 version. Almost everything is the same—styling, bodywork, windscreen, seat, suspension, side cases, and even the tires. Usually, this doesn’t bode well for a newly launched motorcycle.
The previous Kawasaki Versys 1000 is an excellent touring motorcycle. Multi-day, long-distance touring is what I do most on a bike, and I’ve really enjoyed my Versys 1000 on longer trips—especially with a passenger. Its smooth inline-4 engine, great suspension, comfortable seating position, and excellent pillion accommodations make the Versys 1000 well-suited for enjoyable two-up touring. Kawasaki engineers knew they had a solid foundation, so they didn’t change everything for 2025. Instead, they focused on a few key areas with room for improvement, with power output getting the most attention.
To put the touring capabilities of the 2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT ABS to the test, the Kawasaki team set up a two-day itinerary from its Orange County, California, headquarters, across the border to the Baja California wine country, and back. ¡Adiós, Estados Unidos!
- The inline-4 engine is incredibly smooth and flexible, making for an easy, enjoyable ride—especially when you have a passenger. One of my few gripes with my 2022 model is that, while it’s silky smooth, it lacks a bit of midrange punch, making it sometimes feel pedestrian. Kawasaki felt the same way, and made several changes on the route from being a 1000 to 1100 status. These updates include increasing displacement by 56cc to 1099cc via a 3mm-longer stroke, adjustments to piston shape and cylinder head position, a new 38mm throttle bore, narrower intake ports, changes to the cam profile, new valve springs, a heavier flywheel, and revised ECU settings. Whew, that’s a mouthful.
- All that fancy engineering translates to 133 peak horsepower, a 15-horsepower bump. More importantly, torque is now more potent in the midrange, right where the engine spends most of its time. The result is a bike that feels zippier and more fun to ride.
- The 2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 carries over its sophisticated electronics package. Choosing between ride modes—Sport, Road, Rain, or customizable Rider—adjusts traction control, power delivery, and suspension settings on the fly. The system is seamless, continuously pulling data from the IMU, and the three preset modes work as intended. The shock’s spring preload is also electronically adjusted separately as payloads change. This helps the chassis when switching between solo and two-up riding.
- The smooth engine is paired with plush, semi-active suspension from Showa. A great engine is essential for long-distance touring, but an equally good suspension is just as crucial. Thankfully, Kawasaki left the suspension alone—an already excellent setup featuring 5.9 inches of wheel travel at both ends. This combination delivers a smooth ride, requiring little thought—exactly what you want when touring with luggage or a passenger.
- It can carve a canyon or two if you feel frisky. Sometimes, comfortable suspension doesn’t quite hold up when pushing it hard; not so with the 2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT ABS. Putting the bike into Sport mode and leaning it over in the corners translates to a lot more fun than you would expect from a sport tourer that can also be impressively accommodating.
- The gearing has been tweaked for better highway cruising. Kawasaki lengthened fifth and sixth gears for more relaxed highway riding. Even so, I still found myself instinctively trying to shift past sixth gear. Trading on the additional power, Kawasaki raised the overall gearing of the Versys 1100 via longer primary gearing and shorter final gearing—math!
- The quickshifter has been slightly improved. The Versys 1100’s quickshifter operates at engine speeds down to 1500 rpm—a 1000 rpm floor drop—and is more precise. While I never had significant issues with the previous iteration, this one worked flawlessly for me on the ride. When the clutch is needed, the assist and slipper functions are there when called upon. At a stop, Kawasaki’s proprietary Positive Neutral Finder means finding neutral from 1st gear is effortless—just shift up, and into neutral the transmission goes.
- Kawasaki upgraded the Versys 1100’s brakes, increasing the rear rotor diameter by 10mm to 260mm. It might not sound like much, but the improvement is noticeable. The Bosch ABS works transparently, getting info from the throttle, motor, transmission, and clutch.
- There are no ergonomic changes, and that’s a good thing. The 2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 retains its upright seating position, tall seat height, rider triangle, and a commanding view through the large, adjustable windscreen. The large, well-cushioned rider and passenger seat make the Versys a comfortable place to spend hours on the road. Having just recently crossed the country on my Versys, I can vouch for its excellent ergonomics. That said, after three or four hours, something about the seat gets me a little antsy—not uncomfortable, just noticeable.
- The fairing does an excellent job managing wind at all speeds. The result is a smooth, turbulence-free cockpit. Also, cornering-aware LEDs are incorporated into the fairing for after-dark illumination where you need it in the twisties.
- The TFT color display gets the job done, though it is looking a bit dated and the switches aren’t backlit. Fortunately, the layout is clear and easy to read. Scrolling through the menu is generally hassle-free. The Versys 1100 offers smartphone connectivity and now includes voice command features for hands-free control of Kawasaki’s Rideology smartphone app when paired with a compatible communications system.
- The standard hard cases also remain unchanged. The 2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 is fitted with 28-liter side cases. They’re easy to use, lock with the ignition key, and are simple to remove and remount for hotel stays.
- The USB-C dongle looks like an afterthought. Despite having a nicely positioned cigarette lighter port that can accept a powered USB port, Kawasaki added an ugly dongle onto the left handlebar.
- At $19,499, the price of the 2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT ABS does get your attention. However, the number of open-class adventure sport-touring bikes with 17-inch wheels is limited. The most notable direct competitor for the new Versys 1100 is the BMW S 1000 XR, which is a formidable foe. Of course, if you open it up to adventure-style sport-tourers with a 19-inch front wheel, you invite a broad range of competitors.
- Motorcycles are about the visceral experience—the engine, the sound, the ride feel, the aesthetics. A bike that does so much smoothly and effortlessly may not always tug at the heartstrings. However, the 2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT ABS delivers a versatile, well-rounded package designed for stress-free touring, with enough punch and excitement to keep you grinning.
RIDING STYLE
- Helmet: Arai XD-5
- Sunglasses: Ray-Ban Wayfair II
- Jacket: Alpinestars Zaca Waterproof
- Pants: Alpinestars Raider V2 Drystar
- Gloves: Alpinestars Corozal V3 Drystar
- Boots: Xpd X-Venture H2Out
2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT ABS Specs
ENGINE
- Type: Inline-4
- Displacement: 1099cc
- Bore x stroke 77.0 x 59.0mm
- Maximum torque: 75 ft-lbs @ 7500 rpm
- Compression ratio: 11.8:1
- Valvetrain: DOHC; 4 vpc
- Fuel management: EFI w/ four Keihin 38mm throttle bodies
- Transmission: 6-speed
- Clutch: Wet multiplate w/ slip and assist functions
- Final drive: Sealed chain
CHASSIS
- Front suspension; travel: Fully adjustable Showa semi-active inverted 43mm cartridge fork; 5.9 inches
- Rear suspension; travel: Linkage-assisted, fully adjustable Showa semi-active Balance Free Rear Cushion shock; 5.9 inches
- Tires: Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T31
- Front tire: 120/70 x 17
- Rear tire: 190/50 x 17
- Front brake: 310mm semi-floating discs w/ radially mounted monobloc calipers and radial-pump master cylinder
- Rear brake: 260mm disc w/ single-piston caliper
- ABS: Bosch ABS
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
- Wheelbase: 56.7 inches
- Rake: 27.0 degrees
- Trail: 4.0 inches
- Seat height: 33.1 inches
- Fuel capacity: 5.0 gallons
- Curb weight: 571 pounds (+20 pounds for side cases and handguards)
- Color: Metallic Graphite Gray / Metallic Diablo Black
2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT ABS Price: $19,499 MSRP
