In the past year it was denied in all keys, but thanks to new documents from the California Air Resources Board (Carb) we now know that there is indeed a new Z1100 coming, as a successor to the Z1000 taken out of production a few years ago.
To be honest, it surprised us at the time, Kawasaki’s decision to take the Z1000 out of production. Sure, with the Z900, Kawasaki had an amazingly fine bike in the house that has always been one of the best -selling engines since the beginning, and in that respect the Z1000 gave the check, but still … The bullies of the Z1000, with which you could drive away in sixth gear, and then was delicious from StationArtal and 35 km/h in six on the gas. That alone was an argument for us to let the Z1000 exist.
At first it seemed like that. Kawasaki even came with a Z1000R, equipped with better Öhlins suspension and brembo brakes, but with the switch from Euro 4 to Euro 5, the end of the Z1000 was ushered. While the Ninja 1000SX driven by the same 1,043 cc Vierinlijn, albeit with a slightly different power delivery, remained in production and that remained until the end of last year the Ninja 1100 SX as its successor was introduced.
The Ninja 1100 SX was the second model that was driven by the four -in line driven up to 1,099 cc, after the Versys 1100 with which we also had a scoop last year. Even then the model was leaked via Carb. The importer asked about it at the time we received the well -known “no response” as a comment, but when there was no escaping it, the new Versys 1100 was announced earlier than planned.
The joke is that on our question from then on whether a new Z1100 could also be expected, we got such a party in response “, but thanks to new documents from the Carb we now know that it will indeed be such a party. So a new Z1100 is coming, as the third model of the new 1100 platform.
Much is not yet known about the Z1100 (except that it is powered by the same 1,099 cc four in line actually nothing at all), but based on the Versys and Ninja we dare to make some predictions. For example, it is in line with expectations that the Z1100, just like the Ninja 1100, will have a top power of 136 hp at 9,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 113 Nm at 7,600 rpm, but thanks to a different couple and final transfer will feel very different.
That (just like with the Ninja 1100) is a little less top power than the Z1000, which was good for 142 hp and 111 Nm, but in all honesty we didn’t notice it in Spain last year. In addition, the time that manufacturers were playing each other with power and top speeds have been, the PKs of the past have now given way to advanced electronics.
That will soon be the big difference between the Z1000 and the new Z1100, which will be equipped with an extensive electronics package, thinking of adjustable driving modes and traction control, thanks to the well-known 6-axle IMU Hellingshoek dependent, just like the ABS. And of course provided with cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity via the Kawasaki Rideology app.
The importer for response asked of course we received the same “no comment” as last year, but we know better …
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.