My Z900 had some warranty work carried out the other day so I able to get out on the new Z1100, hears my thoughts on it.
From what I can remember, Kawasaki Made the first Z1000 in 1997 and the first Z900 in 1976 but if we concentrate on the last few years the Z1000 was dropped in favor of the Z900 as sales showed the Z900 was more popular., they looked much the same, performance was not that much different but price was lower for the 900. In 2025 the Z900 got a complete makeover with new electrotickery and styling. This proved to be a great sales success for Kawasaki as they sold like hot cakes. However this year Kawasaki decided there was a market for an 1100 version so they resurrected the Z1000 frame and body, shoved the motor out of the Z1100ST in it and gave it the updated electronics from the Z900. I think they should have used the same styling as the Z900, the old bodywork looks dated in comparison.
The demo bike was the SE spec so came with green wheels, brembo brakes and Ohlins rear shock. The fit and finish of bike was very good except for the USB charger which looks like an afterthought and spoils the look. It’s fitted with LEDs all round and has the same switch-gear as the 900 so there is only the start stop switch on the right bar and everything else is on the left bar, it all looks very familiar except the mirrors, they look better but are not quite as good, showing more of my jacket than what was going on behind. The TFT screen was the same with the same functions and menus.
I started the bike up, checked the mirrors and lever span and went out for my test ride. First thing I noticed was that this bike was not as smooth as the 900, especially the quick shifter which seemed to require more effort to change gear. A quick test of the brakes showed they were really quite powerful but no better than my nissins, handling was much the same but comfort was worse as the seat is lower.
As I cleared the congestion of Bristol and got out of town I started to push a bit harder when I noticed the vibes, there was a buzz through the bars and foot rests which are absent on my 900 which I find to be turbine smooth. Once I got into my stride the 1100 felt familiar (controls and overall feel) but different at the same time as the engine is stronger having about 10ft lb more grunt, so opening the throttle give more shove, and quicker. It’s also heavier so not quite as chuck-about-able as my 900. Primary reduction is different but the gearbox is the same so it’s still a rev happy bike pulling 60 at 4000 revs in top, the same as my modified 900.
So would I trade my Z900 in for the Z1100? No I would not. There a number of reasons for this, looks is the first thing, the 900 looks great with a sharp stance and looks quite mean in black where as the 1100 looks dated in comparison and the headlight unit is modelled on some saggy fat birds tits drooping down over the front wheel. The USB module on the 900 is tucked in behind the small clock cover while the 1100 has it bolted to a bracket which is bolted to the mirror clamp via a flimsy bit of metal that wobbles about in the wind, very cheap and tatty looking (I know I can relocate it but this is just my initial thoughts). The bike isn’t as smooth as the 900, the engine vibes a lot more and the gearbox is not as smooth. The mirrors look more trendy with the glass separate from the cover so you just move the glass to change the view but all I could see were my elbows. Yes it has more power and grunt which is probably better suited to riding with a pillion (which I don’t do) but the extra weight makes it less flick-able so it’s not as much fun for me and that’s the bottom line for me, is it fun to ride and the answer is not as much as my 900.
From what I can remember, Kawasaki Made the first Z1000 in 1997 and the first Z900 in 1976 but if we concentrate on the last few years the Z1000 was dropped in favor of the Z900 as sales showed the Z900 was more popular., they looked much the same, performance was not that much different but price was lower for the 900. In 2025 the Z900 got a complete makeover with new electrotickery and styling. This proved to be a great sales success for Kawasaki as they sold like hot cakes. However this year Kawasaki decided there was a market for an 1100 version so they resurrected the Z1000 frame and body, shoved the motor out of the Z1100ST in it and gave it the updated electronics from the Z900. I think they should have used the same styling as the Z900, the old bodywork looks dated in comparison.
The demo bike was the SE spec so came with green wheels, brembo brakes and Ohlins rear shock. The fit and finish of bike was very good except for the USB charger which looks like an afterthought and spoils the look. It’s fitted with LEDs all round and has the same switch-gear as the 900 so there is only the start stop switch on the right bar and everything else is on the left bar, it all looks very familiar except the mirrors, they look better but are not quite as good, showing more of my jacket than what was going on behind. The TFT screen was the same with the same functions and menus.
I started the bike up, checked the mirrors and lever span and went out for my test ride. First thing I noticed was that this bike was not as smooth as the 900, especially the quick shifter which seemed to require more effort to change gear. A quick test of the brakes showed they were really quite powerful but no better than my nissins, handling was much the same but comfort was worse as the seat is lower.
As I cleared the congestion of Bristol and got out of town I started to push a bit harder when I noticed the vibes, there was a buzz through the bars and foot rests which are absent on my 900 which I find to be turbine smooth. Once I got into my stride the 1100 felt familiar (controls and overall feel) but different at the same time as the engine is stronger having about 10ft lb more grunt, so opening the throttle give more shove, and quicker. It’s also heavier so not quite as chuck-about-able as my 900. Primary reduction is different but the gearbox is the same so it’s still a rev happy bike pulling 60 at 4000 revs in top, the same as my modified 900.
So would I trade my Z900 in for the Z1100? No I would not. There a number of reasons for this, looks is the first thing, the 900 looks great with a sharp stance and looks quite mean in black where as the 1100 looks dated in comparison and the headlight unit is modelled on some saggy fat birds tits drooping down over the front wheel. The USB module on the 900 is tucked in behind the small clock cover while the 1100 has it bolted to a bracket which is bolted to the mirror clamp via a flimsy bit of metal that wobbles about in the wind, very cheap and tatty looking (I know I can relocate it but this is just my initial thoughts). The bike isn’t as smooth as the 900, the engine vibes a lot more and the gearbox is not as smooth. The mirrors look more trendy with the glass separate from the cover so you just move the glass to change the view but all I could see were my elbows. Yes it has more power and grunt which is probably better suited to riding with a pillion (which I don’t do) but the extra weight makes it less flick-able so it’s not as much fun for me and that’s the bottom line for me, is it fun to ride and the answer is not as much as my 900.
