Kawasaki seems ready to shake up its line-up once again. After recently introducing the Versys 1100 and the Ninja 1100 SX in India, the company is now preparing to launch a new flagship naked model — the Kawasaki Z1100. Expected to arrive in 2026, this bike will take the place of the older Z1000 and sit above the hugely popular Z900, which has long been Kawasaki’s best-selling model in India.
Engine and Performance
The Z1100 will borrow its heart from the Versys 1100 and Ninja 1100 SX — a 1,099cc inline four-cylinder engine. Performance figures are likely to be very close to the Ninja 1100 SX, which currently delivers 134 bhp at 9,000 rpm and 113 Nm of torque at 7,600 rpm.
Since the Z1100 won’t have a full fairing and could get a lighter sub-frame, it should feel sportier and more agile than the 238 kg Ninja 1100 SX, making it a proper streetfighter-style machine.
Weight and Dimensions
Leaked European approval documents reveal that the Z1100 will share the same 1440 mm wheelbase as the Ninja 1100 SX. Fully fueled (with a 90% tank), the Z1100 is said to weigh 220 kg, making it 18 kg lighter than the Ninja SX. It’s also expected to reach a top speed of 247 kmph, just slightly below the Ninja’s 251 kmph.
Pricing and Market Position
Currently, the Kawasaki Ninja 1100 SX is priced at ₹13.49 lakh (ex-showroom), while the Versys 1100 costs ₹12.90 lakh (ex-showroom) in India. If Kawasaki manages to price the Z1100 slightly below the Versys 1100, it could become a huge hit — much like the Z900, which enjoys immense popularity among Indian riders.
Launch Timeline
The global debut of the Kawasaki Z1100 is expected by late 2025, most likely at the EICMA 2025 show in Italy. After that, the bike will make its way to key international markets, including India, sometime in 2026.
