ALBUQUERQUE. NEW MEXICO. Phoenix to Albuquerque isn’t that far. Six hours in an automobile if you’re traveling on the Interstate, or just fifty-six minutes if you opt for a flight. But when I decided to put some miles on the 2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT that’s been sitting in my garage for the last few weeks. I figured, why not take the long way to ABQ? For science.
I’ve spent some time on sport touring motorcycles in the past, including a ride from Bologna, Italy, to Almeria, Spain, on a Multistrada 1260 in search of forgotten Spaghetti Western movie sets. I also spent the summer of 2023 on the smaller sibling of this 1100cc machine, the Versys 650 LT. So, when the opportunity to pick up the bigger, faster, more feature-laden iteration of the Versys platform presented itself, I took it as a chance to test a theory more thoroughly – that the best touring bikes are sport touring bikes.
The 2025 Versys 1100 SE LT is Kawasaki’s top-of-the-line sport touring motorcycle. It’s equipped with a 1099cc in-line 4-cylinder electronically fuel-injected motor that makes 133-hp at 9,000 rpm and 82.5 ft-lbs of torque at 7,600 rpm. And it’s outfitted with electronically controlled suspension and Showa Skyhook EERA technology, Kawasaki’s updated quick shifter, traction control, corner management “function”, and an intelligent anti-lock braking system. So, it’s basically a superbike with saddlebags, down a bit on power to make the ride more manageable.
