The Kawasaki Z1100 sits at the very top of Kawasaki’s naked Z lineage, a full-size supernaked engineered around the brand’s aggressive Sugomi design philosophy for riders who want the most potent, most commanding streetfighter Kawasaki builds. Sugomi styling is about looking coiled and ready to strike even standing still, and the Z1100 carries that flagship status with real intent, its crouching stance and muscular tank shrouds signalling exactly what sits beneath, whether it is parked outside a cafe or being wheeled out for a Saturday morning ride.
That intent is backed by a 1,099cc liquid-cooled inline four, a DOHC 16-valve unit with a 77.0mm bore and 59.0mm stroke producing a serious 136PS at 9,000rpm and 113Nm of torque at 7,600rpm. Power runs through a slick six-speed gearbox and a wet multi-disc manual clutch to a chain final drive, with an 11.8:1 compression ratio, four 38mm throttle bodies and digital ignition combining to give the sort of urgent, top-end rush that defines a proper supernaked, all backed by electric start and forced wet-sump lubrication built for hard use.
Underneath, a twin-tube aluminium frame keeps the chassis taut and precise, working with a 41mm inverted fork offering 120mm of travel with compression and rebound damping plus spring preload adjustability, and a Horizontal Back-link rear shock giving 136mm of travel with its own rebound and preload adjustment. Braking comes from dual 310mm semi-floating discs gripped by radial-mount, monobloc opposed four-piston calipers, with a 260mm rear disc backing them up, all riding on a 120-section front and 190-section rear tyre pairing for serious grip out of corners. At 221kg with a 2,055mm overall length, a 1,440mm wheelbase and an 815mm seat, it feels planted rather than intimidating, and a 17 litre tank means that performance does not come at the cost of range.
Comprehensive electronic rider support keeps that power usable, shaping delivery without dulling the drama, and the Z1100’s 125mm ground clearance and purposeful ergonomics keep the whole package feeling every inch the range topper. It suits experienced riders who already know what a Z can do and want the ultimate expression of it, whether that is a weekday commute or a weekend blast further afield, and it comes with Kawasaki’s four-year manufacturer warranty for genuine peace of mind. Find the Z1100 at GT Motorcycles, your Kawasaki dealer in Plymouth, where finance and test rides are available to riders across Devon and Cornwall.
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