Kawasaki Eliminator 2025 — Specifications

Fifteen years of silence, and suddenly the name resurfaces in the green catalogues like an old score to settle. The Kawasaki Eliminator had disappeared from European radars in 2008, taking with it the last 125 variant of a lineage that began in the eighties. The family had character back then: taut lines, a strong personality, nothing like the polished softness of the Vulcan. For this comeback, Kawasaki is betting on a more accessible format, without disowning the visual identity that set it apart.

The engine chosen for Europe is the 451cc parallel twin, the very same unit that powers the Z 500 and the Ninja 500. This block derives from the former four-hundred, with the stroke extended by 6.8 mm to gain torque and flexibility at mid-range revs. The result: 45.4 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 42.6 Nm available at 6,000 rpm. These figures place the machine just below the critical A2 licence threshold, which is no coincidence. Kawasaki is openly targeting new licence holders, urban riders who want style without wrestling with an overpowered machine, and riders of smaller stature who will be immediately drawn to the low 735 mm seat height. At 177 kg fully fuelled, the Eliminator remains manageable where other customs make their bulk felt.

In its corner, the Honda CMX Rebel 500 has occupied the same territory for several years with a loyal customer base. The Royal Enfield Super Meteor plays in the same stylistic league, but carries around fifty extra kilograms and a more generous displacement that gives it a torque advantage. The Kawasaki Eliminator 2024 price was eagerly anticipated: at €6,499, it positions itself aggressively, undercutting the Rebel in its base version. That is a solid commercial argument in a segment where buyers compare extensively before signing.

The chassis makes no attempt to impress. High-tensile steel trellis frame, 41 mm telescopic fork, twin rear shock absorbers — the package is functional without being sophisticated. The long geometry, with a 1,520 mm wheelbase, ensures reassuring directional stability in town and on open roads. The 130/70-18 front and 150/80-16 rear tyres adopt the typical dimensions of the genre, with 150 mm of ground clearance that discourages any track-day ambitions in tight corners. ABS is standard on both wheels; the brakes are adequate without being remarkable — a 310 mm disc with a two-piston caliper up front, 240 mm with a single piston at the rear. No traction control, no colour screen: an LCD instrument cluster, LED lighting, and that is it. This deliberate simplicity suits the machine's philosophy, and honestly, on this type of motorcycle, nobody is asking for six riding modes.

The claimed consumption of 3.8 litres per hundred kilometres is consistent with the format, even if the 12.87-litre tank does not offer exceptional range for long hauls. The Eliminator is a daily urban machine and a bike for back roads, not a GT. Fans of the Kawasaki Eliminator 600 of old or the ZL 1000 will find it rather tame, but this model is not aimed at them. Kawasaki also offers an SE version with a headlight fairing, fork gaiters and a USB-C socket for those wanting a slightly more complete specification.

At its core, this Eliminator fills a genuine gap in the Kawasaki lineup since the end of the VN range. It is aimed at a public that wants an accessible custom, easy to handle, visually convincing, and whose maintenance will not ruin its owner. Against that precise brief, it ticks the boxes without false modesty.