We’d like to start off by thanking you for showing so much love for the most value-for-money Kawasaki superbike article. Naturally, we had to come up with a follow-up, and what better than the much-popular touring bike segment to take on next? Finding the most VFM Kawasaki tourer proved harder, though, considering how vast the lineup is today. After all, there are tour-capable bikes of three different kinds in Team Green’s lineup, ranging from retro-type examples to bikes with a supercharged inline-four engine.
Kawasaki Has A Handful Of Touring Bikes On Sale Today
As mentioned, Kawasaki’s touring lineup has a decent variety today. You can have the Vulcan 1700 series with its old-school V-twin engine and heavy focus on simplicity. Then, we have two crossovers that wear the Versys badge, look like adventure bikes, and feature understressed engines. At the top lies the H2 SX SE, which continues to blow our minds harder than its supercharger blows air into the engine.
If you want maximum value-for-your-money, though, your pick should be a motorcycle plonked right between all these. Yes, it wears a Ninja badge, but the focus is on touring comfort first, sportiness second. The package also has very little compromise in other areas, like performance and features.
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The Ninja 1100SX Is The Most Value-For-Money Kawasaki Tourer In 2026
Price: $13,999
If you haven’t guessed already, we’re talking about the Ninja 1100SX. This is Kawasaki’s second-cheapest touring bike, priced at $13,999. That makes it around $3,000 pricier than the Versys 650 LT, but $5,500 cheaper than the Versys 1100 SE LT. The difference is even larger for the Vulcan 1700 range, and the Ninja H2 SX is priced well over twice the 1100SX’s price ($29,999). While the MSRP is aggressive, you get a lot of likable equipment for the price.
For instance, the engine is the same as the near-$20,000 Versys 1100, while the suspension has Showa elements with full adjustability. At the same time, there are cornering-equipped electronic aids derived from the world of racing. These are similar to the $29,999 H2 SX SE, too. If you want more oomph, Kawasaki sells a Ninja 1100 SX SE as well. It costs a fair bit more ($15,799), but for that money, you get a few extras, such as:
- Ohlins S46 monoshock
- Brembo monobloc calipers
- Brembo disc brakes
- Steel braided lines
- Heated grips
- Deep blue livery
Other than the 1100SX, the next best VFM Kawasaki tourer would be the Versys 650 LT. Yes, the equipment is a bit basic for a $10,000 bike, but the basics are bang-on here. You get hard saddlebags (with Kawasaki’s quick-release system), a TFT instrument cluster, smartphone connectivity, and dual-channel ABS all as standard. The engine is impressive, too, since there is a lot of usable power, and the reliability is arguably the best in the segment. This is, however, an aging platform in dire need of a sizable update.
A New Inline-Four engine Powers The Ninja 1100SX
As mentioned, the Ninja 1100SX features the same engine as the Versys 1100. This is an upsized version of the 1,043cc inline-four mill we saw on the Ninja 1000SX and Versys 1000, thanks to a 59 mm stroke (three up from before). The capacity now lies at 1,099cc while the inline-four layout remains the same. You also get liquid cooling, a new piston shape with a higher compression ratio, a new intake funnel length, a new intake port shape, and a new cam profile.
But You Get Less Power Than Before
Even with all those changes, there is a drop in power. While the Versys became more powerful than its previous model with this engine, the SX now has six ponies less (134 for the 1100SX Vs 140 for the 1000SX). The headlining figure is the torque, however, lying at 83.2 pound-feet. This kicks in at just 7,600 RPM, meaning you have more torque than the Ninja ZX-10R but almost 4,000 RPM earlier. A rehashed six-speed transmission puts all the power down, and Kawasaki says the gearing is now even better for touring duties.
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Adjustable Suspension Helps Manage Different Payloads And Tarmac Variations
Under the skin, the engine joins hands with a sporty twin-spar aluminum chassis. While this should enable impeccable feedback on the road, the adjustable Showa suspension will help you fine-tune the riding experience on the go. The setup comprises 41 mm USD forks with preload, compression, and rebound adjustment at the front, joined by a gas-charged monoshock with rebound and preload adjustment. A neat touch is the remote adjuster at the rear.
Like the suspension, the wheels and brakes are sporty as well. You get 17-inch cast aluminum alloys with 120/190-section road-biased tires. These houses dual 300 mm front disc brakes and a 260 mm rear disc. ‘Kawasaki’ branded calipers bite these discs instead of fancy Brembo monoblock units. You’ll need these brakes, too.
Tips The Scale At Almost 520 Pounds
Why, you ask? Because even with its aluminum wheels and chassis, the 1100SX isn’t easy on the weighing scales. It comes in at 518 pounds fully fueled, which is 20 pounds higher than its arch-rival (the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT). Saddlebags or luggage will only make matters worse. Rest of the bike is a bit accessible, though, thanks to bits like a 32.3-inch seat height, 56.7-inch wheelbase, and a 5.3-inch ground clearance.
A Six-Axis IMU Ensures A Contemporary Electronics Suite
Finally, there is the electronics package. Kawasaki has thrown in some impressive bits here, all of which are quite fancy for the price. It starts with a Bosch six-axis IMU that enables cornering ABS and cornering traction control. This is topped with two power modes, a two-way quickshifter, and four ride modes (Sport, Road, Rain, Rider).
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Sweetening the deal is a set of creature comforts, such as cruise control, all-LED lights, quick-release luggage mounts, adjustable levers, an adjustable windscreen, a USB port, and smartphone connectivity with the TFT instrument cluster. However, you should know that this has the old 4.3-inch display, not the bigger one we see on the new Z900.