Kawasaki Eliminator 900 - burnouts and ride review - Part 2

In this second Eliminator episode, I take a look at and ride Kawasaki's awesome 1985 Eliminator ZL900. There is more Eliminator history in Part 1. If you missed Part 1 click here: • Kawasaki Eliminator 90...
The first "factory custom" drag bike, the ZL900 Eliminator used a re-tuned Ninja 900 motor in a long, low, drag race inspired chassis. The result is shockingly fun to ride with one of the best stock exhaust notes in all of motorcycling! With 1/4 mile times in the high 10 second range, the Eliminator 900 backed up its drag racer looks with serious performance! This one has just is mostly stock - she's beautiful.
Many thanks to stunt rider (burnouts) and owner Bret for letting me ride and review this super nice machine!

[@mac2k2020]

I have one and it's so unique in everything, not the fastest thing anymore but damn it is so much fun to ride and you forget it is a 80's bike because it's quick

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Agreed, I'm always surprised by Eliminator's quickness and how much fun they are every time I get the chance to ride one!

[@gearhead682010]

Basically a “Ninja” 900 the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing 😉 from everything I’ve heard it was quite the performance cruiser

[@shaneb1313]

I used to have a black 1985 and, I absolutely loved that bike!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

They are nice machines!

[@shaneb1313]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 They are, I still kick myself for selling it!

[@marshallcollins8634]

I had an 85 in black. This is the ONLY thing ( bike,car truck ANYTHING ) that looks good in red. If I find one in red ,it will be in my shop, amidst all my blue bikes.This was a fun bike. The misses still talked about us running out of gas in coconut grove and I didn't have my wallet. I told her to leave the purse ( we were dating,2nd date almost the last😂. I am reminded of that night frequently. This was my only mode of transportation for 1 1/2 years. Lives in south Florida so it wasn't like up north. Thanks for the video.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

You're welcome Marshall - thanks for sharing the memories!

[@frankgraham8092]

Hey Dale Walker used them at his drag school for a reason..

[@voodoostroker]

I can’t wait to find one. Thanks for the ride along it was fun 👍🏻

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Glad you enjoyed it. Good luck in your quest!

[@oscarzavala5183]

I got one for sale 86 black

[@jamesfoster4291]

@@oscarzavala5183 what's the price on it?

[@shaneb1313]

Yeah, good luck with that, they only made it for two years in the people that have them aren’t giving them up!

[@voodoostroker]

@@shaneb1313 true enough. i did get a Yamaha XS1100 for a case of beer tho 👍🏻

[@aaronanhalt5088]

Stoplight to stoplight you can still beat anything out there with one. I roast 180hp bikes everytime in stoplight drags. Practice launching. That's what they're made for.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

They're beastly when launched hard!

[@davidanderson4500]

another great vid jon.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks David!

[@pczrvp]

It would be cool if you added the specs of the bike (in writing) to your videos. Love your work.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

I think that's a great idea. Unfortunately, it seems whenever I list specs, it becomes controversial. Not so much with weight or wheelbase type figures, but the performance figures differ widely depending on what source is referenced. Cheers!

[@pczrvp]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 That's true of looking up the specs online as well. I was looking at the specs on a XJ1100 and according to an Australian based website it had a 2.5 gal gas tank. A US site had it with 5+ gal. Carry on!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@pczrvp Yep, I run into it all the time! Cheers

[@raf900foss9]

1986 with Campbells mx3 pipes

[@mopar65pa]

I had an 85 ZL900 red. It is the fastest thing I have even ridden. If the tire hooked (since I only weigh 170#) I could keep the front tire off the ground about 6"s all the way through the gears. Dang it looks like you were riding through Lawn PA.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

They are quick bikes and still able to surprise a lot of more modern bikes. Lawn it was.

[@mopar65pa]

So you live local. Cool I'm on north colebrook rd just down from etown rd.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@mopar65pa Nice, it is a beautiful area.

[@frankgraham8092]

Thought it looked like Lancaster county, not sure where Lawn is.. Old Chester County transplant to Jersey now.

[@mopar65pa]

@@frankgraham8092 Lawn is between Lebanon city and Manheim PA Mt the Gretna area around the renaissance fair. Been in Chester co for work for years.

[@ppopovich2847]

Beautiful, bad bikes! I'll take one in black.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@daniellopez8301]

How much for that 900 right here right now $$ 👍

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

The one in this video is not currently for sale.

[@WilliamHunterII]

In my mind, this is a biker's bike. There are only two things I would change. I'd put spoked wheels on it and a kick start. A bike should have a kick start.