Kawasaki

Kawasaki Eliminator returns

By Ben Purvis

Kawasaki hasn't sold a bike under the 'Eliminator' name in years, but for 2024 it's back with a brand-new 451 cc parallel twin that takes the fight directly to Honda's Rebel 500.

The Eliminator was unveiled earlier this year in Japan as a 400 cc model, sharing its engine with the Z400 and Ninja 400, but for the rest of the world there's a more substantial change as its engine grows to 451 cc, making it a closer match to the 471 cc Rebel.

For Europe, the new bike importantly slides straight into the 'A2' licence category, limited to 35 kW/47 hp, with an output of 33.4 kW (44.8 hp). That's actually a fraction less than the Z400 and Ninja 400 manage, but it's due to a lower compression ratio and a tune that focuses on mid-range torque rather than outright power.

The Eliminator's styling is very clearly aimed at the Rebel, with an ultra-low seat that's just 735 mm off the ground to make it appealing to shorter riders. It's surprisingly light, too, at only 176 kg for the base model or 178 kg for the higher-spec SE version.

The proportions are arguably better than the Rebel's, with a smoother transition from seat to fuel tank and a more conventional 18-inch front wheel and 16-inch rear, where the Honda has 16-inch rims at both ends. The forks are simple 41 mm units, raked at 30 degrees, and there are twin rear shocks - simple stuff, but all that's really needed on a bike like this. On board, you get a dash with smartphone connectivity, and all the lights are LEDs, but there's not much else in terms of luxury. The SE model adds a small headlight cowl, a bar-mounted USB-C socket, two-tone paint, fork gaiters and a different seat design, but it doesn't feature the front and rear ride-recording cameras that are fitted to the Japanese market Eliminator SE.

The advent of the 451 cc parallel twin is likely to be a clue to the changes we can expect on future generations of Z400 and Ninja 400, too.