Left : The Eliminator ’ s 451cc parallel-Twin produces fun power across its rev range , although we ’ d prefer an equally fun exhaust note to match . Middle : A 310mm front disc with a Nissin dual-piston caliper sheds speed adequately . The $ 300 extra for ABS is money well spent . Right : The LCD screen shows rpm , speed , gear , clock , and fuel level .
of the more popular and rumbly 270- degree , so it doesn ’ t have a deep exhaust note befitting a cruiser .
What the engine lacks in sound , it makes up for in the riding experience . The liquid- cooled 451cc parallel- Twin with DOHC gets its extra displacement from 58.6mm stroke , 6.8mm longer than on the Ninja 400 , which adds low-end torque . Although Kawasaki doesn ’ t slot the Eliminator into the “ sport- cruiser ” category , the engine ’ s attitude certainly does . This is a bike that is happy to lope through town and sit comfortably in a cruiser rev range with nice low- end pull . That is , until you decide to twist that throttle for a little more pep , at which point you ’ ll discover that this engine has so many revs to give . Redline is 11,000 rpm , and the power keeps building until that limit .
Easy Peasy
The riding position of the Eliminator is sportier than most cruisers . The footpegs are mid- mount , which gives a sense of control that is lacking on forward- mounted cruiser pegs . The 28.9- inch seat height is also a little taller than many cruisers . At 5- foot- 1 , I was not able to flat- foot on the Eliminator , but I felt stable enough that I would be comfortable on it as a new rider . Accessory seats are available that raise or lower the height by 1 inch . The stock seat is plush with a slightly scooped- out design .
The Eliminator ’ s brakes are uninspiring but get the job done . Up front is a single 310mm disc with a 2- piston caliper , and in the back is a 220mm disc with a single- piston caliper . The ABS version of the Eliminator adds $ 300 to the base price and 2 lb to the wet weight . The 41mm telescopic fork has 4.7 inches of travel , and the twin shocks have 3.1 inches of travel , and there is no adjustability . The suspension felt well-balanced and absorbed all but the most egregious road bumps .
The round instrumentation screen also harkens back to Eliminators of yore . The LCD screen has a tachometer up top along with a speedometer , gear indicator , clock , fuel gauge , and the
While this bike fits into the cruiser box , its midmount footpegs and slightly leaned-forward position edge toward the ergonomics of a standard .
HELMET
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44 / FEBRUARY 2024 / RIDERMAGAZINE . COM