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New Delhi: Kawasaki has officially introduced the new Z1100 in India, adding a more powerful machine to its naked sportbike line-up. Priced at ₹12.79 lakh (ex-showroom), the Z1100 replaces the Z1000 and brings in noticeable upgrades in engine capacity, electronic features, and overall riding setup.
While the older Z1000 had already earned a strong fanbase for its aggressive street presence and sharp throttle response, the Z1100 now seems to push things further, at least on paper. The bike arrives at a time when the 1000cc supernaked segment is seeing fresh action, with rivals like the Honda CB1000 Hornet SP already in the market at ₹13.29 lakh (ex-showroom).
The Z1100 carries over Kawasaki’s Sugomi design language, keeping the signature sharpness intact. It still looks angry. Twin-pod LED headlamps give it that pouncing animal look, and the sculpted tank adds bulk visually. I personally never liked the stubby tail on the older Z, but it kind of works with this design. The pointed tail section now looks sleeker than before, and somehow the whole silhouette feels more planted.
Where the Z1000 packed a 1,043cc motor, the new Z1100 gets the 1,099cc inline-four engine from the Ninja 1100SX. This unit makes 136bhp and 113Nm of torque. No major changes in character are expected, but this bump in displacement should offer better mid-range pull. The six-speed gearbox gets a bidirectional quickshifter as standard. For daily use and traffic, that should be a blessing.
Kawasaki didn’t skimp on electronics here. The Z1100 gets a new 5-inch TFT dash that connects to your phone via Bluetooth. It displays turn-by-turn navigation, call alerts, messages and allows tweaking the electronics.
Riders can switch between two power modes, three levels of traction control, and cruise control. There's a five-axis IMU under the skin helping manage all these systems. Dual-channel ABS comes standard, and the Z1100 also gets a bidirectional quickshifter, making gearshifts smoother in both directions.
The addition of cruise control might seem like overkill for a naked sportbike, but it could help on longer highway rides. I’ve done short highway hops on the Z900, and having cruise would’ve made life easier on the wrists.
Underneath the bodywork, the frame and suspension setup are directly borrowed from the Ninja 1100SX. That includes an aluminium chassis and fully adjustable Showa suspension front and rear. Braking comes from Tokico, while the rubber is Dunlop Sportmax Q5A. I haven’t tried these tyres yet, but they’re said to offer better grip during spirited cornering.
The Kawasaki Z1100 enters a small but competitive field in India. Its biggest rival for now is the Honda CB1000 Hornet SP, which costs around ₹50,000 more. Both bikes appeal to similar buyers looking for litre-class streetfighters with real-world usability.
With the Z1100, Kawasaki seems to be banking on brand loyalists and those upgrading from the Z900. It’s a well-rounded machine for those wanting naked aggression mixed with daily usability and electronic safety.
