2024 Kawasaki Eliminator Review [13 Fast Facts]

September 17, 2023

The Kawasaki Eliminator has been offered in many different forms since the name debuted with the Eliminator 900 in 1985. This latest bearer of the power-cruiser banner, the 2024 Kawasaki Eliminator, is a gem powered by a 451cc twin, designed to suit the needs of new riders and those who seek the joy of an easy, relaxed ride whilst eliciting kudos.

The 2024 Kawasaki Eliminator is an all-new model. We covered the technical aspects in our First Look story, so there’s no need to go over them again. The short version is that the Eliminator has a Ninja 400-based 451cc motor, plenty of rake, a low seat height, weighs under 400 pounds, and the base configuration has a list price of $6649.

As I viewed the Eliminator for the first time, its long, low, and sleek look captured my eye. The fuel tank is slim and visually flows into the line of the seat, then your eye is taken right down to the tail, which is finished off with a slim taillight. This bike exudes retro-cool, with its elongated cruiser styling and twin shocks. An industrial feel emanates from the round LED headlight and overall big-bike demeanor, with the trellis frame pulling the look together. I tested the SE model, which is painted in the charmingly named Candy Steel Furnace Orange, perfectly complemented by Ebony accents. The SE also comes equipped with a headlight cowl, ABS, and a little cherry on top—a USB charger on the handlebars.

The 2024 Kawasaki Eliminator is the sort of motorcycle any new rider will be proud to own. When I stopped at ritzy Solana Beach to take in the sea view about 20 miles north of San Diego, I asked a few sunbathers what they thought, and they guessed at the Eliminator being an 800.

The Eliminator is easy to get astride and pull upright because it is low, offering a seat height of 29 inches. Optional seats can raise or lower the saddle by about an inch, according to your preferences or requirements. The seating position is closer to the Z400 naked upright sportbike than the relaxed Vulcan S, which explains why the Eliminator isn’t called a Vulcan. Its ergonomics are more pro-street than traditional cruiser.

Before raising the kickstand, I connected the Eliminator to my smartphone via Bluetooth and Kawasaki’s Rideology The App. Technology is not my forte, yet pairing it to my smartphone and adding a brief profile went well, which pleased me. Rideology The App is fun, and functional. The bike’s details are automatically shown, including your service and maintenance schedule details, so it’s a great way of keeping your motorcycle healthy. I recorded my ride for fun. Rideology shows the route, the time you leave and arrive, average mph, fuel consumption, and average speed. If you like, Rideology can share your details with other riders, and you can add other Kawasaki motorcycles to your personal profile.

Just as the 1985 Eliminator 900 used a Ninja engine, the 2024 Eliminator has its own Ninja-based powerplant. The Eliminator 900 boasted a superbike engine and was aimed at experienced riders. In comparison, the new Eliminator is unquestionably novice-friendly with a parallel-twin powerplant that is a stroked version of the Ninja 400 motor. With the extra torque, the Eliminator motor delivers a thrilling ride, and the still-short-stroke engine feels plenty powerful. You can pootle slowly, and it will forgive if you lazily stay in a higher gear a little longer than intended, or you can push it whilst ripping around the open countryside and share the grins I experienced.

The slip-and-assist clutch is great for new riders, ironing out any jerky gear changes even for the novice rider. The six-speed transmission makes for smooth gear shifts and effortless control. Additionally, Kawasaki’s proprietary Positive Neutral Finder takes the stress out of finding neutral at a stop—a struggle some new riders might feel. If you are in 1st gear at a stop and shift up, the transmission always goes into neutral—never into 2nd.

The Eliminator’s character is a boon, as working through traffic is a strain-free experience. The Kawasaki handles well and goes where you want it to go. In California, we can lane split to the front of the line at traffic lights. However, keeping on the move between other vehicles and constantly accommodating erratic car drivers can make you sweat. There’s plenty of low-end torque, and getting ahead of cars from a stop and keeping up with traffic flow is easy. Fortunately, the light clutch and the low-slung bike’s agility make riding the crowded streets painless. The suspension does allow some bumps to be felt, but that goes with the Eliminator’s roguish personality—I like the old-style look of the twin shocks. The retro-styled rearview mirrors do the job of clear rearward without that vibrating shimmy you can sometimes get.

Joining the freeway is always telling, and I wasn’t let down. The instant and swift acceleration on the onramp is matched by a nice low-volume, almost rumbling, low-key engine sound. I could keep up with fast-moving road users and overtake as desired. The Eliminator has a good road presence. Based on the body language of automobiles, I felt that drivers could see me coming in their mirrors.

The 2024 Kawasaki Eliminator also takes on the canyons. The Eliminator hugs tight corners like a boss, providing me with a sense of safety, control, and adventure all at once. Although I was unfamiliar with IRC Grand High Speed GS-23 tries, they are up to handling the power and cornering clearance of the Eliminator. That gives me the confidence to push my limits and take on every twist and turn with a big grin.

The 310mm front disc, 130mm wide front tire, and sub-400-pound curb weight combine to provide plenty of braking power. The front brake engages smoothly, offering efficient stopping power with a little more squeeze—great around town and for beginners, and plenty for friendly canyon riding. The rear brake is felt pretty strong, though not bitey at all.

Importantly for beginners, the riding position is relaxed and natural. The Eliminator ergonomics replicate how you naturally sit on a chair at home. My knees are aware of the tank, which adds to my confidence because I’m already poised to grip it, and there’s plenty of leeway for moving my arms. After riding all day with only one short break, I was still completely comfortable. The seat is slightly scooped, making it snugly supportive, and rubber-cushioned mounting minimizes vibration. There is a passenger pad, which I didn’t try out.

The 2024 Kawasaki Eliminator combines the attributes that a new rider wants in a cruiser-style motorcycle. It’s comfortable, has manageable power, and has a great look. Although the SE version I tested has a list price of $7259, you can get the standard Eliminator for an approachable $6649, so the price is yet another attractive feature on a broadly appealing motorcycle.

Photography Kevin Wing

RIDING STYLE