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For 2027, Kawasaki is expanding both its Versys and KLX lines to four models by filling a big hole in the lineup of "versatile system" sport-touring bikes and by throwing some accessories and a few upgrades at its popular dual-sport thumper.
I think the most intriguing news here is the new Versys 900 SE LT ABS, which is now the fourth entry in the Versys line. Built around the 948 cc inline-four engine used in the Z900, it fills a big gap between the competent and popular but relatively basic Versys 650 and the flagship Versys 1100 SE LT, which costs nearly twice the price of the 650 and is loaded with just about every feature you can imagine on a touring motorcycle.
The Versys 900 SE LT ABS is also very well equipped, however. The 900 comes with what Kawasaki calls Adaptive Cruise Control Lite, which means the cruise control will automatically reduce speed by rolling off the throttle if you get closer than your preset preference to another vehicle ahead, but unlike some other systems it won't apply the brakes for you. The radar for the ACC Lite is also used to inform forward collision warning and blind spot detection systems. And there's plenty more tech.
An inertial measurement unit (IMU) informs the ABS and traction control systems so they are lean-angle-sensitive. The Versys 900 offers three preset riding modes plus a customizable Rider mode. A quickshifter is standard and information is displayed on a five-inch TFT color display with Bluetooth connectivity available via Kawasaki's RIDEOLOGY app.
And the features aren't limited to electronics. Standard items include everything from frame-mounted LED fog lights to a radiator guard, from heated grips to a center stand, and more. For touring, the Versys 900 SE LT comes with 8.5-gallon side cases made by Shad that are also keyed to the ignition and a 12.4-gallon top case is optional if you need more capacity.
Basically, the Versys 900 SE LT gives you all of the features of the flagship Versys 1100 except the electronically adjustable suspension on the flagship model, but at an MSRP of $13,599, which is $6,200 less than the 1100. I expect the Versys 900 will be an attractive option to many riders who may have looked at the Versys 650 but wished for more power for two-up travel, or cruise control, or more sophisticated safety features, but didn't want to jump all the way up to the Versys 1100 in the $20,000 neighborhood.
Kawasaki did not immediately make available all of the specs on the Versys 900, and as I try to determine exactly where the new motorcycle slots into the Versys spectrum, two crucial pieces of information are missing: horsepower and weight. Kawasaki lists the Versys 1100 at 133 horsepower and 591 pounds with panniers. How much will the Versys 900 undercut the 1100 in weight? This 948 cc inline four in the Z900 is listed at 123 horsepower, and while it's clear when reading between the lines of the Kawasaki news release that the engine has been retuned for Versys duty, how will it work in its new frame?
Those are questions we'll answer when we get a chance to ride the fourth Versys.
KLXpanding options
Kawasaki has added some updates to its KLX line and two new variations. Probably the biggest change is the addition of ABS at the front wheel, giving the KLXes a feature some competitors, such as the similar Honda CRF300L, already offered. The front-wheel ABS default setting is on but it can be turned off with a switch on the left handlebar.
Kawasaki made a few internal tweaks to the 292 cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine and added a catalyzer for cleaner emissions. What do the changes add up to? Last year, Kawasaki claimed 25.0 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and this year claims 26.8 horsepower at 8,000 rpm. The 2027 models also get a new LCD display that shows more information and Bluetooth connectivity is added to allow riders to monitor vehicle information on their smartphones using Kawasaki's RIDEOLOGY app.
Those changes apply to the entire KLX line, which Kawasaki is expanding for 2027 beyond the base KLX300 dual-sport and the KLX300SM supermoto by adding two new variations: the KLX300 XPL ABS and KLX300 DF ABS.
The XPL edges a bit away from dual-sport territory toward adventure-touring territory. With riders already migrating from large adventure-touring bikes to middleweights, it makes sense that some think about going smaller still. In fact, it was a personal project of the late Evans Brasfield, one of the good guys in the industry who I miss, to farkle a KLX300 into a kind of adventure-touring light motorcycle.
Kawasaki's version of that concept, the KLX300 XPL ABS, adds some comfort and versatility with a tall, clear windscreen, handguards, and a rear rack that makes it easier to pack gear for a ride that lasts longer than just a typical dual-sport day ride. The XPL also gets a new look, with a round, LED headlight that combines modern performance with a more traditional appearance. The XPL comes in black and the MSRP is $6,499, which is $500 more than the base KLX300 ABS.
The KLX300 DF ABS offers a different look with blacked-out engine, frame, and swingarm and a color scheme labeled Medium Cloudy Gray, which Kawasaki calls "understated" (and I won't dispute that because I can't think of anything less flashy than medium-gray clouds). In terms of equipment, the DF comes with a rear rack and handguards. The MSRP is $6,299.
|
2027 Kawasaki Versys 900 SE LT ABS |
2027 Kawasaki KLX300 XPL ABS |
|
|---|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $13,599 | $6,499 |
| Engine | 948 cc, liquid-cooled, 16-valve, inline four | 292 cc, liquid-cooled, four-valve, single |
|
Transmission, final drive |
Six-speed, chain | Six-speed, chain |
| Claimed horsepower | TBA | 26.8 @ 8,000 rpm |
| Claimed torque | TBA | 18.4 foot-pounds @ 6,800 rpm |
| Frame | Steel trellis | Steel perimeter |
| Front suspension | 43 mm inverted cartridge fork, adjustable for preload and rebound damping; 5.9 inches of travel | 43 mm inverted fork, adjustable for compression damping; 10 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension | Single shock, adjustable for preload and rebound damping; 6.3 inches of travel | Uni-Trak shock, adjustable for preload, compression, and rebound damping; 9.1 inches of travel |
| Front brake | Dual four-piston radial-mount calipers, 310 mm discs with ABS | Single two-piston caliper, 250 mm disc with ABS |
| Rear brake | Single-piston caliper, 260 mm disc with ABS | Single-piston caliper, 240 mm disc |
| Rake, trail | 24.5 degrees, 4.2 inches | 26.7 degrees, 4.2 inches |
| Wheelbase | 61 inches | 56.7 inches |
| Seat height | 32.5 or 33.3 inches | 35.2 inches |
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 gallons | 2.0 gallons |
| Tires | Metzeler Sportec, 120/70ZR17 front, 180/55/ZR17 rear | Dunlop D605F, 3.00-21 front, 4.6-18 rear |
| Claimed weight | TBA | 313.1 pounds wet |
| Available | March 2027 | January 2027 |
| Warranty | 24 months | 24 months |
| More info | kawasaki.com | kawasaki.com |
