Kawasaki's flagship Versys gets more power and capacity boost to 1100 for 2025

At a casual glance, you would be forgiven for thinking that the changes to the big-capacity Versys touring models are limited to new paint schemes. However the name gives the game away – there is more to the 2025 Versys 1100 models than first meets the eye…

Described by Kawasaki as ‘under the surface changes’, the upgrades to the Versys 1000 models mainly centre around increasing the crossover model’s usability. With this in mind, the inline-four engine sees its capacity increased from 1043cc to 1099cc through a 3mm longer stroke.

While peak power is boosted from 118.3bhp to 133.1bhp, Kawasaki have focused the brunt of its development on improving the Versys’s mid-range performance and ease of use.

Within the motor a heavier flywheel and a secondary balancer have been introduced to reduce excess vibrations while a new oil cooler has been added to improve cooling performance. And that’s not all, the central intake funnels are 45mm longer than the outer funnels, a move that alongside narrower intake ports and lower lift cams improves the engine’s torque characteristics between 4000 and 7000rpm.

These changes are matched to new ECU settings and connector pipes between exhaust headers 1-4 and 2-3. Kawasaki claim the Versys now makes a peak of 82.7ft.lb of torque compared to the outgoing model’s 75.3ft.lb, however it should feel stronger throughout its mid-range. And the updates don’t stop there.

• Related: Kawasaki Versys 1000 long-term test

Kawasaki have altered both the Versys’s internal gear ratios and its final drive ratio to make it easier to tour on with it now running a smaller 42-tooth rear sprocket, which is one tooth fewer than before.

The Kawasaki Quick Shifter (KQS) now functions from a lower shift limit of 1500rpm, the rear brake disc is 10mm bigger at 260mm, a bar-mounted USB-C port is standard and Kawasaki’s Rideology App (only the S and SE’s model’s instruments have connectivity) is now voice command function ready.

Kawasaki will hope the changes are enough to put the Versys in the frame with a new generation of tall, road-focused, adventure-styled sports-tourers. Its most direct rivals will be the Suzuki GSX-S1000GX and Yamaha Tracer 9 GT but it also shares a marketplace with spicier models like the BMW S1000XR, KTM 1290 Super Duke GT and – despite its 19in front wheel, the Ducati Multistrada V4S.

The Versys 1100 will be in dealers in December and as before will be available in a variety of models. The standard Versys 1100 is £11,899, the higher-spec Versys 1100 S is £13,649 and the Versys 1100 SE with its Showa electronically damped suspension costs £15,649.