Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX Performance Tourer 2022 — Specifications

Fitting the Ninja 1000 SX into a single category is the most frustrating exercise imaginable. Sport-GT? Tourer? Supersport disguised as a long-distance machine? Kawasaki clearly refused to choose, and this 2022 model year version offered in the Performance Tourer pack pushes the concept even further, right to the edge of the grand touring territory it lays claim to.

The 1043 cc inline four-cylinder engine, derived in broad strokes from the Z 1000, puts out 142 horsepower at 10,000 rpm and 110.8 Nm at 8,000 rpm. Figures that place the machine in the same league as the Honda VFR1200 or BMW S 1000 XR, with a character clearly oriented toward the top of the rev range rather than the bottom. The aluminium twin-spar frame takes it all without flinching, while the 41 mm inverted fork and rear mono-shock adjust to suit the rider's mood and luggage weight. Because yes, there is luggage: two 28-litre side cases, visually well integrated despite the inevitable widening of the profile. The 241 kg fully loaded becomes easy to forget at cruising speed, less so when manoeuvring in an underground car park.

The Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX Performance Tourer banks on serious weather protection to win over the daily long-distance rider. Manually adjustable tinted screen, heated grips, engine case guard, anti-scratch adhesive film on the tank: Kawasaki had those who swallow kilometres in all weathers in mind, not just fair-weather Sunday riders. The 10.9 cm TFT dashboard, bidirectional quickshifter, assisted clutch, IMU, and multi-level traction control round out a generous standard equipment list for a motorcycle priced at €17,549. Add cruise control and smartphone connectivity, and you get a level of specification that puts some similarly priced rivals to shame.

For those wanting to enhance the exhaust note and trim the weight, the optional carbon Akrapovic silencer removes 2.7 kg from the package and lets the four-cylinder's voice breathe a little more freely. The Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX Performance Tourer 2021 already shared this philosophy, and the 2022 version refines the package without any mechanical revolution. The main criticism remains the official impossibility of combining the side cases with a top case, which genuinely caps the loading capacity when compared to a BMW R 1250 RT or Honda NT1100 that fully embrace their grand touring vocation. Budget around €2,500 for the full accessories pack, more if you add options individually, and you will understand that the final bill can climb seriously.

This motorcycle is aimed above all at the experienced rider who refuses to sacrifice riding pleasure on the altar of touring comfort. The 835 mm seat height and 241 kg steer it toward medium to tall riders. The 19-litre tank allows decent stages without a forced fuel stop. This is not a grand tourer in the strict sense, and Kawasaki makes no such claim. It is a sports bike that agrees to travel, which is an important distinction when choosing between it and a true full-fairing GT.