Kawasaki Ninja SX 1100 SE (2026) Review:

The flat front end, the streamlined side fairings and the single-sided aluminium silencer — available as an optional carbon Akrapovic end can — combined with the design-matched 2 x 28-litre “Clean-Mount” pannier system, give the bike, finished in Kawasaki’s signature “Emerald Blazed Green,” a genuinely stylish and rather sporty appearance. The 4-inch TFT display looks slightly dated, but remains uncluttered and easy to read at a glance. Three riding modes come as standard, and the mapping can also be individually programmed to suit the rider’s taste. As befits a touring machine, a standard cruise control assists the rider on longer stretches.

From the first few metres in the saddle, the Kawasaki Ninja SX 1100 SE proves remarkably approachable. After just a handful of kilometres, it already feels like familiar territory. The sport-tourer can be tipped into corners with very little effort, and the slightly forward-leaning riding position gives the rider a direct connection to the front wheel. Through faster, sweeping bends the Kawasaki remains rock steady, with no unwanted reaction to load changes. Road surface imperfections are no concern for the 41mm front fork or the high-quality, adjustable rear Öhlins shock fitted to the SE version. An active suspension system, now found on a handful of rival bikes, isn’t sorely missed given how well the chassis copes with the machine’s 235 kg kerb weight. The SE-exclusive radially mounted 4-piston Brembo calipers, paired with 300mm discs, deliver consistently convincing performance.

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Also read :

• The Kawasaki Z900 test
• The VOGUE DS900X test

We’d describe the four-cylinder engine as remarkably smooth through the low and mid rev range, an important quality on a touring bike. At low revs in a tall gear there’s no snatching, and once you open the throttle, the generous 1099cc capacity provides ample punch. Rev it out, though, and the Ninja’s sporting genes come through loud and clear: 136 horsepower send the green machine surging forward! The gearbox feels silky and smooth, and the quickshifter already works flawlessly from 1500rpm on both up and down shifts. The clutch is exceptionally light in operation. Fifth and sixth gears have been given longer ratios compared to the predecessor, the SX1000, a change that makes for relaxed motorway cruising.

Now for the criticisms: for taller riders, the two-position adjustable windscreen doesn’t offer quite enough shoulder protection for a touring bike, and turbulence can be felt around the top of the helmet. As for the manufacturer’s claimed fuel consumption of 4.8 l/100km, we were never able to get close to it — likely down to the added aerodynamic drag from the panniers, as well as the low mileage on our test bike’s clock.

Coming back to our opening question, whether the SX 1100 SE deserves its place among the sporty machines of the Kawasaki Ninja family: the answer is a confident yes. It’s genuinely impressive how the Kobe-based manufacturer has pulled off the balancing act between sportbike and tourer. The base SX is available from €14,990, while our SE-spec test bike, with standard Brembo brakes and adjustable Öhlins suspension, is priced at €16,990.

We Like / We Don’t Like

We like

The engine
The intuitive ergonomics
The agile handling
The sporty styling
Touring capability thanks to the removable pannier system

We don’t like

Wind protection
Fuel consumption, too high