The Lightweight Kawasaki Cruiser Nobody Knows About

Chase didn't know this bike existed until he walked into Wow Motorcycles and saw one. The Eliminator is Kawasaki's answer to the Honda Rebel 500. A 451cc parallel-twin cruiser at $6,649 MSRP, 388 lb wet, 28.9" seat height, aimed at the new-rider / shorter-rider market.

Chase's honest close: "This is not going to be a standout motorcycle, but I think this is a solid bike to just have in the garage." It's competent, it's lightweight, it's priced right for the segment. What it lacks is standout character.

Performance highlights

451cc parallel-twin (same base engine as the Ninja 500 / Z 7 Hybrid), 44 horsepower, 31 lb-ft of torque, 388 lb wet, 28.9" seat. Throttle response scores 5. Smooth at low speeds, needs revs to find real power.

Acceleration earns 4. The parallel-twin wants you past 6,000 rpm to tap real power. Which is counterintuitive on a cruiser where torque-down-low is typically the whole point.

Agility is 6. 388 lb is the lightest cruiser on the leaderboard, which matters. Lane changes in traffic are effortless.

Brakes rate 5. Medium bite, spongy feel, adequate stopping.

Suspension is 6. Softer-than-ideal but holds up better than expected thanks to the light weight.

Rider experience & tech

Comfort is 4. Cramped leg angle (the seat/peg geometry Chase flagged as crunched-up) plus a too-soft seat that wears on you past ~3 hours. Both are adjustable via aftermarket or size fit, but stock isn't class-leading.

Tech scores 4. Basic LCD dash with odometer / trip / fuel / gear indicator / range-to-empty. No ride modes, no cruise, no TFT. Depending on trim, ABS standard. Honest budget-class tech.

Ease of use is 6. Simple, approachable for new riders. The one knock: getting into neutral is a persistent struggle, even after 5,000 break-in miles on the test unit.

Versatility is 5. City: excellent. Highway: passable. Canyon: not the mission. Touring: no. Fun-for-the-money is 6. $6,649 puts it in fair competition with the Rebel 500 and CFMoto 450 CLC.

The Chase Score & final thoughts

With a Chase Score of 51/100, Meh Tier, the Eliminator is a bike that earns a middle-of-the-road score by being competent in every category without excelling in any. 26 ride points + 25 usability points = a balanced-to-a-fault machine.

Buy it if you're a shorter/newer rider shopping the sub-500cc cruiser segment, if you want Kawasaki-brand reliability on a commuter, or if the 28.9" seat height is a must-have. Skip it if you want the Honda Rebel 500's refinement or the CFMoto 450 CLC's aggressive value. Chase's close: "This is a solid bike to just have in the garage." Honest. The Eliminator is the answer to "what's a cheap Kawasaki cruiser?" and that's pretty much its whole niche.