The Quickshift
- The Kawasaki Versys is an old name in Team Green’s stable, but an update seems long overdue.
- This seems to be the case right now, as Kawasaki is working on a new Versys 1100, at least according to the homologation documents in Australia.
- The slightly larger engine could soon find its way into other models, such as the Ninja 1000 SX.
The Kawasaki Versys has been a mainstay in Team Green’s stable for nearly two decades, and it’s easy to see why. It’s by no means the flashiest, sportiest, or most powerful motorcycle on the market, but its charm lies in its versatility. I mean, that’s where its name “Versys” comes from.
Having had quite a bit of experience with this bike, in both the 650 and 1000 configurations, I can say that it’s a jack of all trades that can do nothing properly. But hey, for people who want a little bit of everything, it might just be the right bike for the job.
Still, a Versys update seems to be on the horizon, and I’d say it’s long overdue, as both the Versys 650 and Versys 1000 use engines whose architecture is at least two decades old, and it’s safe to say that bikes like the Suzuki V-Strom and Yamaha Tenere have long left the Versys far behind.
The upcoming updates for Kawasaki’s Versys adventure tourer come to us from Down Under, where homologation documents highlight a new Versys 1100 S model, designated KLZ1100B. For reference, the existing Versys 1000 has the model code KLZ1000B. Furthermore, the S trim level in Kawasaki’s model range usually indicates a mid-range trim option, usually between the base model and the top-of-the-range SE model.
If we look at the Kawasaki Versys 1000 in the global market, we will see that it is offered in numerous trim levels in several markets. And while the Versys is only sold in the premium SE LT variant in the US, enthusiasts in markets in Europe, Asia and Australia have a wide range of models to choose from, from the base model to the mid-range S model and the SE model with electronic suspension.
Other than that, it doesn’t look like the new Versys 1100 will be much different from the existing Versys, so expect a road-going setup with 17-inch front and rear wheels. Expect an 1100-class four-cylinder engine with slightly more displacement and hopefully a significant increase in power as well.
In addition, a new engine in the Versys 1100 could also indicate updates for the rest of Kawasaki’s 1,000cc range. It is more than likely that the Ninja 1000 SX will also receive an updated engine in the near future. Perhaps Kawasaki’s Z1000 will also make a comeback as the Z1100.
This will certainly be a welcome update for Team Green fans, as other Japanese manufacturers’ litre-class offerings – such as the Yamaha MT-10 SP and Suzuki GSX-S1000GX – are proving to be powerful and capable machines.
Unfortunately, it seems that we are yet to see an off-road adventure bike with the green team’s stripes. This is a real shame, because bikes like the V-Strom 800DE, Tenere 700 and XL750 Transalp have been very successful in recent years, and it’s clear that Kawasaki is missing out on one of the most lucrative segments in the industry.
But what do you think? Is an update to Kawasaki’s 1,000cc motorcycles long overdue? Would a larger engine make the Versys 1000 more attractive to you, or would you prefer Kawasaki to have less displacement and more off-road capability? Let us know in the comments.
