Kawasaki Eliminator 500 SE 2025 — Specifications

Kawasaki has always known how to play the naming game. Bringing the Eliminator badge back out of the closet is a deliberate marketing bet: the low silhouette, the exposed twin, the fat-walled tires — all of it evokes American customs from another era. Except that beneath the bodywork, the reality is more restrained than it appears. The 451 cc parallel-twin produces 45.4 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 42.6 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm, placing it squarely within the regulatory limits for A2 licenses. That's no coincidence. The Kawasaki Eliminator 500 SE is not here to frighten Harley-Davidson — it's here to win over newly licensed riders who dream of cruising without wrecking their wrists.

Against the Honda Rebel 500, the battle is direct. Kawasaki bets on a more aggressive look, a tauter line, a seat lowered to 735 mm that makes it easier to handle for average-sized riders. Honda plays more on soft retro styling, comfort, and versatility. The Eliminator lays claim to an attitude — almost a stance. The wet weight of 177 kg remains reasonable for the segment, and the claimed fuel consumption of 3.8 liters per 100 km suggests a decent range from the 12.87-liter tank. On the road, the top speed of 160 km/h is more than enough for everyday use, even if we're honest with ourselves: you won't be taking it onto the motorway looking for thrills.

The SE version, the one we're concerned with here, sets itself apart with a few welcome touches. The seat gets a stitched leather covering that reinforces the impression of careful finishing, the fork gaiters add a vintage touch consistent with the overall design, and a mini headlight nacelle dresses up the front end. Kawasaki also adds a USB-C port on the handlebar — useful in principle, even if the integration remains fairly basic. At a price of €6,899, it's the price gap over the standard version that justifies these comfort-oriented additions rather than any performance gains. The Metallic Matte Carbon Gray paired with Ebony colorway delivers a more exclusive look than the base model's gloss black.

The high-tensile steel trellis frame is supported by a 41 mm telescopic fork and twin conventional rear shock absorbers. Nothing revolutionary, but an architecture consistent with the bike's positioning. Braking relies on a front disc gripped by a twin-piston caliper and a rear disc with a single-piston caliper, the whole setup topped off with ABS. The instrument cluster integrates Bluetooth for pairing a smartphone, allowing some navigation information to be displayed without turning the dashboard into an A320 cockpit. It's minimalist — in keeping with the style.

The Kawasaki Eliminator 500 SE priced at €6,899 places it in a competitive bracket. It's not cheap, but it's consistent with the equipment offered in the SE trim. For an A2 license holder looking for a bike with visual character, accessible ergonomics, and an engine lively enough not to bore without ever intimidating, this Eliminator ticks the right boxes. It makes no pretense of being a true long-distance road cruiser — the tank size and riding position make that clear soon enough. But as an urban and suburban companion, with enough personality not to go unnoticed at a red light, it does the job honestly.