Bike Files: Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX

Kawasaki’s sports tourer is a popular choice with British riders

Ninja? They’re the famous superbikes, right?

They certainly are. First introduced on the 1984 GPZ900R, the Ninja name was initially applied by Kawasaki to its raciest bikes, including the ZXR750, ZX-6R and ZX-10R – bikes which enjoyed a lot of success on the race tracks. These days, the Ninja name is applied to all Kawasakis with a fairing (roadsters get the Z designation) and the 1000 SX is more tourer than superbike. That’s no bad thing, but you won’t be finding many on the racetrack.

So what’s the story behind this one?

The 1000 SX Ninja can trace its roots back to 2011. Originally known as the Z1000 SX, it took the Z1000 naked and added a fairing for more practicality. In truth these early bikes were mongrels, and were a bit bulky and ponderous. They sold well though, as they offered loads of power and practicality for not too much money. It has evolved though, and the latest one is a very different proposition.

So what’s the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX all about?

It’s something of a rarity these days, being a practical all-rounder with plenty of power and good build quality.

Where the Z1000 SX felt a bit like a roadster with a fairing, the latest Ninja 1000 SX feels a lot more purpose built. It’s a smooth sports tourer that does everything decently well. The engine is lusty, the electronics are good and, while the chassis is still on the long and stable side, it can be hustled along when the mood takes. It’s a 140bhp motorcycle, so it’s certainly not lacking.

But is it sports or touring?

A bit of both. Kawasaki market the SX as ‘the best of both worlds’ and while critics will say it’s flawed as a tourer and flawed as a sportsbike, the truth is it does everything pretty well. Not everyone wants an adventure bike, and if you want an all rounder that’s purely road focussed you won’t go far wrong.

Is it popular?

Yes, it’s been one of Kawasaki’s best sellers in recent years and is usually Britain’s best selling sports tourer. It’s traditionally been very competitively priced. You get a lot of bike for the money and that’s a major appeal to many buyers.

What else is out there like it?

Not too much really. Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GT is a similar vibe, and you could argue Ducati’s Supersport and the Yamaha Tracer 9 fulfil a similar role, but most other alternatives are going to be bigger adventure bikes or taller crossovers, like Kawasaki’s own Versys.

What’s the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX like to ride?

It’s actually pretty good. It’s a big and heavy bike, at 235kg, but with an 835mm seat height it is still pretty accessible for a wide range of riders.

If you’re used to riding sports bikes it might feel a bit long and slow to turn, but in the real world you’ve got a gutsy engine which pulls like a train. That length and stability comes from the fact that it’s designed to carry luggage and a pillion, which makes it a very capable bike when it comes to covering big miles. Kawasaki fit the SX with sticky Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22 tyres, which shows their intended purpose for the bike, while good quality brakes and adjustable suspension give a more premium feel than the price tag might suggest.

What’s the spec like?

Actually very good. In addition to the high quality cycle parts you get full LED lighting, a four-way adjustable windscreen, cruise control, quickshifter and four riding modes. It’s a comfy place to be, the ergonomics are relaxed for a sports bike and you’ve got a really smart TFT dashboard in front of you. It’s got smartphone connectivity and even has a lean angle indicator – pointless but pretty cool nonetheless. If you go for the ‘touring’ upgrade then you’ll get a bigger windscreen and a pair of 28 litre panniers, which work pretty well.

Why should I buy the Ninja 1000SX?

Want a sporting all rounder but can’t bring yourself down the adventure bike route? If you answered yes, the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX is definitely worth consideration. It’s more comfortable than a race replica and more flexible too. This is a bike which will happily take you to work each day, haul you and a friend on a touring holiday and still have enough about it for a fun Sunday morning ride out. Not many bikes have that kind of all-round ability these days and not many motorbikes tick as many boxes as the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX.

Bigger in ’25!

Kawasaki replaced the Ninja 1000 SX with a new model, the Ninja 1100 SX for the 2025 model year. It gets a 46cc capacity hike, to 1099cc, while a more expensive SE version adds updated stoppers, in the form of Brembo M4.32 front brake calipers, and a more upmarket Öhlins S46 rear shock absorber. The bigger engine has more torque, with taller gear ratios contributing to better fuel economy, while the SE also gets headed handlebar grips as standard equipment.