Kawasaki Could Debut a Powerful, High-Performance Z1100 Streetfighter Next Year

A recent filing with a U.S. environmental agency suggests Kawasaki could be developing a beastly streetfighter motorcycle for 2026—one that packs a larger engine than any of its current supernaked offerings.

CARB Filing Hints at Upcoming Z1100 Naked Bike

The clue comes from a California Air Resources Board (CARB) executive order certifying four upcoming Kawasaki models powered by the company’s 1,099cc inline-four engine. Among them is a ZR1100HT, a model code that, per Motorcycle.com, aligns with Kawasaki’s typical naming convention for Z-series naked bikes.

The CARB certification offers limited details, so we’ll look to recent Kawasaki 1100 models for clues. The Ninja 1100SX sport tourer, for instance, delivers a solid 134 hp at 9,000 RPM and 83.2 lb-ft (112.8 Nm) of torque.

A lighter, stripped-down naked version might produce similar or slightly higher performance figures and feel quicker off the line due to reduced weight—especially considering the Ninja 1100SX weighs in at a hefty 516 lb (234 kg). It could also cost much less than its fully faired, feature-rich sibling, which is priced at US$15,000.

Unsurprisingly, Kawasaki will significantly upgrade the Z1000 with the Z1100, which is available in markets like Australia, Canada, and Thailand. At 487 lb (221 kg), the Z1000 packs a 1,043cc engine that generates 135 hp and 80 lb-ft (109 Nm) of torque. In Canada, it costs CAD 14,499, or roughly US$10,500.

Kawasaki’s Big-Bore Naked Legacy: A Return After Two Decades

Kawasaki hasn’t produced a naturally aspirated naked bike over 1,000cc in quite some time—the last ones being the the Zephyr 1100 in the 1990s , popular in Europe and the UK, and the muscular ZRX1100, which was available until 2005.

Kawasaki may have hinted at this back in October with a shadowy teaser video that offered brief glimpses of a naked bike. One notable clue was a gray engine killswitch on the handlebar, resembling those found on other 1,100cc models.

If Kawasaki launches the Z1100, it may strongly challenge  Yamaha’s aggressive-insect-faced MT-10, which sells for under US$15,000. 2026 can’t arrive fast enough.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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