For 2026, the Z family has grown teeth again with the launch of the brand-new Kawasaki Z1100 and Z1100 SE – a pair of heavy-hitting supernakeds designed to sit at the very top of Team Green’s naturally aspirated hierarchy.
Sugomi, if you’ve forgotten, is the design and riding philosophy first baked into the 2014 Z1000. It’s about menace in the metal, aggression in the riding, and a sense of presence that borders on intimidating. Kawasaki has carried that torch ever since, and the new Z1100s are billed as the fiercest expression of the idea yet.
Just look at them – sharp LED eyes glaring, bodywork pulled tight around the motor, and a new finned under-cowl adding to the low, predatory stance. They’re the sort of bikes that look fast even when they’re parked outside a café.
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It’s not just theatre. Both versions use a rigid aluminium twin-tube frame, Showa’s big-piston SFF-BP forks up front and a horizontal back-link shock at the rear, delivering stability, precision and plenty of feel.
The Z1100 SE pushes things further with an Öhlins S46 rear shock and a remote preload adjuster – plush when you want it, dialled-in when you don’t.
Braking matches the chassis spec: the standard Z1100 gets monobloc calipers on big 310mm discs, while the SE rolls out with Brembos, braided lines and the sharp, consistent bite you’d expect from a trackday toy. Dunlop Sportmax Q5A tyres come as standard – a clue that Kawasaki expects these bikes to be hustled, not just cruised.
At the heart of both bikes is Kawasaki’s latest evolution of its iconic inline-four. The engine has been stretched to 1,099cc, producing 136PS at peak and 11.5kgm of torque. The powerband has been fattened in the low-to-mid range thanks to a longer stroke, revised cams, fresh pistons and beefed-up valve springs.
A heavier flywheel gives the motor a punchier, meatier delivery that still zings when you let it climb. With 5th and 6th gears stretched out, riders get the dual benefit of relaxed high-speed cruising and hard-hitting acceleration everywhere else.
The 4-2-1 exhaust system with a pre-chamber tucked away keeps weight down, lines clean, and adds a visual kick to the bike’s already aggressive silhouette.
No modern litre-class naked is complete without a suite of electronics, and Kawasaki hasn’t held back. A crisp 5-inch TFT display dominates the cockpit, offering turn-by-turn navigation, Bluetooth pairing, voice-command functions and full Rideology app integration.
Electronic throttle valves enable cruise control and Kawasaki’s latest dual-direction KQS quickshifter, while a six-axis IMU unlocks cornering management, traction control, integrated ABS, power modes and selectable riding maps covering Sport, Road, Rain, and fully custom Rider mode.
Ergonomics have been carefully refined, too. The handlebars now sit 22mm wider and 13mm further forward, making the Z1100 feel lighter, more responsive and sharper across all speeds. It’s the little changes like this that separate a naked bike that just goes fast from one that feels truly alive under you.
Both machines hit UK dealers in October 2025. The Z1100 is priced at £11,099, while the uprated Z1100 SE comes in at £12,699.
With styling, hardware and an ethos that continues a line stretching back over a decade, Kawasaki reckons the Z1100 is more than just the next chapter in the Z story – it’s proof that the Sugomi spirit isn’t just alive, it’s evolved.
