Kawasaki has established its reputation in our market by offering a wide array of models, ranging from affordable underbones to high-revving four-pot screamers. One could argue that the Japanese bike manufacturer’s lineup here is basically complete.
That’s until the Eliminator arrived. This, ladies and gents, is Kawasaki’s newest cruiser, and we recently got to try it out. How was it? Let’s just say it filled a gap in the brand’s roster that we never knew was there.
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Styling
I’m just going to assume you know what the Vulcan is—the Eliminator is its true smaller sibling through and through. It looks tamer, but it still has that classic cruiser look. The Eliminator competes with the Honda Rebel 500 more so than the Vulcan does.
A round headlamp is present up front, and it’s matched by the side mirrors and the instrument cluster. I like how the trellis frame is exposed on the sides, though I would’ve preferred if the weld spots here were a bit cleaner. I’d also change the signal lights if I had the chance—why not go for circular ones for those, too? Or something that looks less aggressive.
Some of the plastic trim can feel a bit plasticky, too. But apart from those gripes, I have no other complaints about the Eliminator’s design. It looks bulky and has road presence. Kawasaki did a great job keeping the design subtle but not too subdued.
If you want to accessorize your bike a bit further, the higher SE trim (this one’s the Standard variant) adds a headlight cowl and fork boots to the package for an extra P20,000.
The saddle
The Eliminator’s seat is perfect for the average-sized Filipino, with a friendly 735mm seat height. The bike itself isn’t that wide either so it’s easy to straddle. I’m about 5’5”, and it’s a cinch to fling around—I’m sure even individuals slightly shorter than I am will still find this manageable.
Comparing the Eliminator to the Vulcan, the riding position here feels more orthodox. The footpegs aren’t positioned too forward and the handlebars not too high. Like I said, it’s a more direct Rebel 500 rival, and in this department, it shows. If you’re not used to big cruisers, you might find this easier to ride.
The seat itself, however, leaves a bit to be desired. The material feels a bit cheap and looks like it wears out easily. That said, I gotta hand it to Kawasaki—that seat’s also comfortable. But more on that later.
As for the pillion seat, it’s very much like that of the Rebel—it’s small, and the rear footpegs will have the pillion riding with his knees high up. Perhaps if you’re a taller-than-average individual, you might find that position uncomfortable.
Engine performance
At the heart of the Eliminator is a 451cc liquid-cooled, parallel twin engine that puts out 52hp at 10,000rpm and 42.6Nm of torque at 7,500rpm. On paper, it looks like it wants to be revved a bit high all the time, but in reality, it’s fine with a relaxed hand on the throttle.
There’s more than enough power across the rev range, and it cruises at 100kph with ease. And even if you’re at higher speeds and you need to overtake, it doesn’t feel like you’re asking too much from the engine unlike in, say, the Dominar—the Eliminator’s single-cylinder-engined stablemate. If you’re a seasoned rider who likes going fast, this may not be enough for you, but if you’re a beginner or just someone who wants to upgrade to entry-level big bikes, this Kawasaki’s performance won’t leave you disappointed.
As far as fuel economy goes, I got 15km/L in mixed non-ideal conditions. By non-ideal I mean heavy traffic and spirited riding on the highway. Strictly on the highway alone, I got 22-23km/L, which isn’t that impressive but isn’t that bad either.
Ride and handling
As I mentioned previously, the Eliminator is the (new) direct competitor to the Rebel 500. In the comfort department, I think the Kawasaki wins—take it from me, my old man has that specific Honda in our garage.
The ride in the Eliminator feels a bit plusher than its staunchest rival’s. Like I said, the seat is soft. It provides excellent cushioning and isn’t tiring at all to sit on during long rides. The telescopic front forks have enough suspension travel and the rear shock absorbers are sufficient for the usual highway rides.
Handling-wise, it’s more than decent. While I can’t really say if it handles better than the Rebel 500, what I can be sure of is that this bike feels nimble through corners. It’s really light once you get it going, and it’s a breeze to take bends at speed. Low-speed maneuvers are also easy with the way the handlebars are positioned. If either the grips or the footpegs were placed a bit farther front, it would’ve been a totally different story.
Extra features
You know how it goes with these retro bikes—manufacturers don’t normally stuff a lot of features into them. Be that as it may, at least the Eliminator has the essentials. ABS, for example, comes as standard.
The digital cluster—as small as it is—also has a fuel gauge, a rev meter, a gear indicator, and even a clock. For your regular rides, will you be needing anything more?
The specific unit I got also appears to be an outlier, as a steel rectangular bar was mounted on the front end. That’s probably for a front plate, something we don’t need yet at the moment so you can just completely disregard that piece of metal for now.
Verdict
Frankly, I never thought Kawasaki ever needed to build a smaller Vulcan. But it did, and what we got was a more beginner-friendly cruiser in an even more affordable package than what the Vulcan offered.
It’s an ‘entry-level’ bike in every sense of the word: it’s got simple styling, is low and lightweight, and is priced at just P360,000. If you’re a first-time big-bike buyer—and if you like classic two-wheelers—you should really check this one out.
SPECS: Kawasaki Eliminator 2024
Price: P360,000
Engine: 451cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Power: 52hp @ 10,000rpm
Torque: 42.6Nm @ 7,500rpm
Wet weight: 176kg
Seat height: 735mm (28.9 inches)
Fuel-tank capacity: 13 liters
Score: 8.5/10
More photos of the Kawasaki Eliminator 2024:
