A small cruiser with sporty DNA. Kawasaki is bringing back the Eliminator name with a pair of 400cc, mid-mount foot control cruisers based on the parallel-twin Ninja and Z400. Is this most approachable cruiser yet?
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https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/kawasaki-eliminator-first-ride-review/
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Full Story
https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/kawasaki-eliminator-first-ride-review/
Read more from Cycle World: https://www.cycleworld.com/
Buy Cycle World Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/cycleworld
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Is the new Kawasaki Eliminator the easiest cruiser to ride?
00:03 We're going to find out.
00:04 The all-new Kawasaki Eliminator is based off the Z400 and Ninja 400 platforms.
00:19 They share similar motors, but this one has an increased stroke, making it a 451cc engine.
00:25 The chassis is a little bit revised, you know, make it a bigger motorcycle, kind of stretch out
00:30 some of the styling aspects, but for the most part it shares a lot of the same bones.
00:34 Kawasaki recognized they had a missing spot in their lineup under the Vulcan S.
00:39 They realized through market research that many beginner and entry-level riders are
00:43 uncomfortable purchasing or riding motorcycles at 500cc or larger.
00:48 So they rolled out the 451cc Eliminator to please the masses.
00:54 So that's where this thing really I think will excel to new and beginning riders.
00:58 It has a seat height of just under 29 inches.
01:01 I am 5'8" and I can easily plant both feet on the ground, which is something I can't do on most motorcycles.
01:08 So we've done about 70 miles today.
01:10 I've noticed that, you know, it's something you can ride all day.
01:13 It's very comfortable.
01:14 It's more of a standard riding position with some cruiser styling that's tossed in.
01:20 We start off the day riding around through some of the urban landscape.
01:23 The low-end torque of this bike made it really nice to just kind of blip around and split through traffic.
01:29 Then we got out into the canyons and it became apparent that this thing is derived off a Zia Ninja 400.
01:35 It's got top-end power to really stretch its legs from one corner to the next.
01:39 And you know, you can get pretty aggressive because it's got a very light and flickable chassis with that good engine package.
01:46 And so it's something that is going to be really fun around town,
01:49 but then it also has a good performance aspect for when you go out on the canyon rides.
01:54 The Eliminator has a 41-millimeter non-adjustable fork up front and twin shocks in the back with preload adjustment.
02:00 It's really something that I've come to find in a lot of the Kawasaki models is that it has enough plushness in the top of the stroke to absorb some of the bumps and bruises on the road.
02:10 When you get out into the canyons or you're braking hard,
02:13 it has good bottoming resistance where it doesn't really blow through the stroke and feel like it's wallowing mid-quarter.
02:19 You know, other than just a lack of ground clearance in the canyons, this thing can go really well.
02:24 Behind me is the Kawasaki Eliminator SE.
02:27 It's the top-of-the-line Eliminator with a few additional styling and accessories thrown on.
02:32 It comes with a headlight cowl, fork boot legs, a USB port, and a two-tone stitched seat.
02:37 The other standard models don't come with that.
02:39 This price is just over $7,000 and it's ABS only.
02:43 They also offer the Eliminator in the standard model with or without ABS.
02:47 You have two color options.
02:49 Is the Kawasaki Eliminator the easiest cruiser to ride?
02:52 I'd say yes. It's one of the easiest motorcycles I've ever ridden.
02:55 It's got a very manageable engine. That's something new beginners are not too overwhelmed with.
02:59 But experienced riders will also appreciate it for its lively performance in the top end.
03:04 I mean, it's based off the Ninja and Z400, so you know there's some performance there.
03:09 The ergonomics are very approachable for small riders.
03:12 If you're a little taller, you'll probably want to go with the taller seat.
03:16 It's a very light and flickable chassis. It handles really well.
03:20 We're going to put some more miles on the thing, do a little bit more testing.
03:24 Look for the link in the description where there'll be a full written article, a lot more in-depth.
03:28 And of course, if you enjoyed this video, hit the like button, subscribe,
03:31 and let me know what you think in the comments down below.
03:34 [engine revving]