Kawasaki Eliminator 2024 — Specifications

Sixteen years of silence. Since the Kawasaki Eliminator 125 took its final bow in 2008, the name had disappeared from European catalogues. A long stretch in the wilderness for a lineage that had nonetheless made its mark throughout the 80s and 90s, with variants ranging from the Kawasaki Eliminator 250 to the Kawasaki Eliminator ZL 1000, by way of the Kawasaki Eliminator 600. Machines with a low stance and a sharper character than the Vulcan range. For its return in 2024, Kawasaki chose to revive the name in a custom market that was bubbling with activity, with a different but coherent recipe.

The engine, first. Gone is the four-cylinder of the early generations, replaced by a 451 cc parallel twin derived from the Z 500 and the Ninja 500. This unit, evolved from the older 400 cc engines but with a 6.8 mm longer stroke, puts out 45.4 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 43 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm. Modest figures, sitting right at the A2 licence threshold, with no pretence of making the asphalt tremble, yet delivering honest, smooth urban progress. A top speed of 160 km/h clearly positions the machine for daily commuting and short getaways rather than high-speed holiday runs. The Kawasaki Eliminator 2024 price sits at €6,499, which remains reasonable for the segment.

Facing the Honda CMX 500 Rebel, its direct rival and the benchmark of the category, the Kawasaki plays a confident stylistic card. The 715 mm seat height makes it easy to touch the ground for shorter riders, while the steel trellis frame supports a 41 mm telescopic fork and twin rear shock absorbers. The 130/70-18 front tyre delivers that stocky profile characteristic of the urban custom. Braking relies on a single front disc with a twin-piston caliper and a rear disc with a single-piston caliper. Nothing sophisticated — no electronic aids, no traction control. An LCD display, LED lighting units, and that's about it. The Royal Enfield Super Meteor, with comparable power but around fifty kilograms heavier, offers more torque thanks to its larger displacement, yet demands considerably more space and effort in the city.

The Kawasaki Eliminator is aimed primarily at young A2 licence holders and urban riders who want style without breaking the bank or wrestling with a cumbersome machine. The 12.87-litre tank is sufficient for everyday use without adding unnecessary weight. An SE version is available, featuring a headlight cowl, fork gaiters, and a USB-C port for the more accessory-minded. It is a credible contender in a custom range that had shrunk considerably since the end of the big VN models. The Eliminator name deserved better than sixteen years of obscurity; at this price, it makes a serious attempt to prove it.