Kawasaki Eliminator 900 Vs Yamaha FJ1200 - Musclebike Vs. Sportbike Showdown!

In this fun, back-to-back ride comparison video, we'll be looking at two great 1980s performance motorcycles! The 1985 Kawasaki Eliminator 900 was Kawasaki's entry to the Muscle Cruiser segment. Yamaha's 1986 FJ1200 was the best of the street-oriented Sportbikes. In this video, we'll take a look at the technological differences between these two bikes and then test ride them on some beautiful Pennsylvania back roads. Let's check out this Muscle Cruiser Vs Sportbike battle!

[@leviefrauim1425]

Man, you kill me w/all these great old bikes. Solid work, fun vids Jon.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks, Levi!

[@wombat1238marsupial]

Used to own a GPZ900R and would take the fight to the riders of the GPz1100 as the 900 was more compact and sportier than the long legged 1100. Also owning the same vintage FJ1200 now as you have there, they are such comfortable bikes and with a lazy sort of feel to the motor that can be deceptive and get you into all sorts of trouble if you let it😊😊👍👍

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@user-sh5dy5tr9d]

Beautiful bikes! I enjoyed the video! The FJ sport-tourer definitely more closely matches what I want for another bike...longer range, smooth performance, wind protection, and general touring capability, however I would probably throw all those thoughts out the window for the uncomfortable, poor range, impractical eliminator! I just love it! I really liked my XS and my V65. I would just continue to tell myself, "I'm going to get a wing" Eric in NC

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! The spice of life is not always making the most practical choice. Motorcycles are about passion and what makes you want to go for a ride. Cheers!

[@TheMarcball]

Loved the Eliminator but went with a vmax since 1994 in Singapore. I did ride a FJ in Rangoon, Burma. All i crave now is a 6cyl by Allen Millyard ! That FJ has a nice instrument panel though. Thanks for the inspiration and keep on trucking!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

The V-Max is another hooligan machine! The Millyard Six has me envious, too. He makes it look so easy to do the crazy modifications. Cheers!

[@michaelmartin7073]

And you my friend made the right choice, Vmax #1 I've owned mine 86 for 34 years and counting, and many more.

[@valuedcustomer5022]

I wouldn't have thought that FJ would be a good touring bike. I learned something.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

It's a sport-tourer for sure. Not in the same category as a Goldwing but still a great place to rack up the miles. Cheers!

[@neotree605]

Wow memories! 85 eliminator 900 was my second bike after Xl 600 That bike was bullet proof! Loved it so much I bought A new yammy v max in 94!! Thanks for the great content!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool! The V-Max was another great 1980's-1990's Muscle-Cruiser. Cheers!

[@henryhawk978]

Enjoyed the comparison Jon. Be nice to have both. RIDE SAFE OUT THERE!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks, Henry!

[@YasuhitoMiyazono]

Hi John, It's so nice to watch your video. All are familier bikes to me! My first one was Kawasaki Z400FX, 1980, back in Japan. Identical to KZ550 here in US except displacement. I'm now working on ZX7 1995 L3 I bought new and used for track ride but put to storage for a long time. So the brake and clutch master cilynders and the calipers all siezed... Luckly the engine runs. I hope to ride out by the fall season. In the meantime I will enjoy watching your riding through the rolling hills. Take care! Yasuhito Miyazono, New York, NY

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Hi Yasuhito! Thank you for sharing the memories. I love the ZX-7! It was the first sportbike that I fell in love with. Later, I had a 1997 ZX-7 in the Kawasaki Racing green and purple color scheme. It was an awesome machine. I hope your restoration goes smoothly. Cheers!

[@YasuhitoMiyazono]

Thanks John. Great to know about your ZX7 as well!

[@soraksan321]

I really like your reviews, neutral and honest, the good the bad the ugly no matter the brand? I also like your obvious love for the older bikes. Not sure where you find all the mint examples. But when you can own 6 of these for the price of one new one, the only problem is how many you can fit in your garage...

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

So true! I'm always looking for more room in the garage. Cheers!

[@spaceflight1019]

For me, the question is which one would I like to do a 250 mile day with? I got my last ride of the season in last Sunday, a ride from Pittsburgh to Roaring Spring via US 22 and back home via I-99 and PA 31. Sightseeing hint: get off 22 east of Ebensburg and ride the "forgotten 22" to Altoona. It's well-maintained and mostly empty.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! The choice of bike often comes down to the type of ride I'm looking to do. Cheers!

[@ericromeiro6688]

Always Great Video s 1980s bikes Rock 👍😊

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks, Eric! I agree about the 1980s bikes!

[@davidanderson4500]

great bikes jon. like the kaw . good vid too.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks, David!

[@shinethelight01]

When you speak of mid 80's power cruisers, you really haven't lived until you've whacked open the throttle on a Yamaha V-Max with Kerker slip-ons.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

I have (minus the slip-ons). And I would love to review a V-Max for the channel in the future. Cheers!

[@spaceflight1019]

You don't need the slip one to experience the transwarp drive on the V-Max! Just whack it open and when the tach hits 6000 it's game on!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@spaceflight1019 Yep. I was king of the mountain when going uphill on the V-Max. The handling and braking were helped by the incline and it wasn't overly wheelie-prone. I could power out of low-speed corners with authority. Downhill was another matter. I let everyone else go ahead. The weight combined with wooden feeling brakes and front suspension gave no confidence on the curvy mountain roads coming back down. Cheers!

[@spaceflight1019]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Maybe I've missed it, but I haven't heard you comment about any of the bikes you've tested having a distinct "powerband", that RPM number where the engine "gets on the cam" with a tactile kick in the pants. Every Japanese bike I owned had it, and even my Sportster grows beer muscles when the tach gets past 4000 and the Buell XB heads and cams wake up.

[@davidanderson4500]

@@spaceflight1019 ..........or game over. its fast

[@sylvainfilion3822]

The cadran and the sound Nevers forget my eleminator ,ride 8-9 years ❤️❤️ is in my barn ,retreat project, he will be be like brand new , 700$ for the plates !! 😡

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on, Sylvain!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on, Sylvain!

[@ricardoberterame5950]

Hola Jhon.excelente tu prueba!! Creo que en conclusión seria para viajes largos iria en la Fj y para divertirse un rato escogeria la eliminator..!! Me encanta como hace chirriar la cubierta trasera la 900... me acuerdo cuando lo filmaste a tu cuñado..!!ja.saludos y gracias por el comparativo

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Hola Ricardo, ¡me alegra que hayas disfrutado la reseña! Me divertí haciendo el video. ¡Salud!

[@shinethelight01]

Rather than a crotch-rocket, FJ's are more cruise missile.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@countryjoe3551]

Well said!! I find being behind the windscreen of a FJ 1200 to be a really nice place to rack up some miles.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@countryjoe3551 Right on!

[@wdhewson]

I hope the FJ1200 is more fuel efficient than my 1981 XS1100SH, which has a prodigious thirst !!!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

It's supposed to be pretty efficient. I imagine it should be around 40 mpg. Time will tell. Cheers!

[@countryjoe3551]

I ride a 1993 FJ1200 that has the original exhaust system, Uni Pod airfilters and a Dyno Jet jetting kit installed by the previous owner. It pulls flawlessly from walking speed to redline. I consistently get 43 to 48 mpg riding pretty quickly through the twisty roads of the Arkansas Ozarks. I'm quite happy with that kind of mileage. When I ride flat, straight roads at sport touring, some might say extra legal speeds, the mileage drops to 38-40 mpg.😁😁

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@countryjoe3551 Thanks, Joe!

[@stevebrzosko9793]

How do you get yor hands in all of those classic Beauties?

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Great question, Steve. Patience and persistent looking will eventually pay off.

[@countryjoe3551]

First in!!!!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@straightchad8059]

How about Kawasaki Eliminator 900 vs Honda CB 900 comparison test , equal size and similar body style .

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

I recently sold my CB900C, but it would be a fun comparison. Though they are very similar in many ways, they couldn't feel more different from the saddle. Cheers!

[@spaceflight1019]

My late brother in law had a CB900C when I had a GS850G. Every time we went out he got slightly better gas mileage than I got. Our rides were typically 200+ miles around western Pennsylvania. The longest trip we did was from Pittsburgh to Arlington National Cemetery, where his parents are buried. We visited The Wall too.

[@straightchad8059]

@@spaceflight1019 His bigger engined machine got better fuel mileage than you - is it because you were thrashing your GS at high revs a lot ? And how's the long range comfort between the CB900C and the GS850G ?

[@spaceflight1019]

Good questions. Long range comfort was about equal. John rode his CB out to Montana and other Western states and I used the GS for field service trips up to 300 miles each way. Both bikes spun around 4800 RPM at 55 mph. The CB had the Honda Tour-Pak and the GS a National Cycle Plexifairing. I got 48-49 mpg, he got 51-52 mpg. In comparison, my 2005 Sportster Roadster 1200 with the HD Super Sport detachable windshield will return 60-65 mpg at 60 mph.

[@BiGDeE3]

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thank you!

[@donmason356]

I think your stii scared of the FJ. Take the yam to red line first gear 2nd gear 3rd gear 4th gear to red line and tell me who feels quicker with the seat of your pants. Its obvous your comfy with the 900 shaft. You dont even know if your clutch slips yet. Its called the kookaloo zone. Even 2nd gear, crack it to red line hit 3rd and feel and compare to the 900 shaft drive. The FJ keeps pulling harder and harder and your missing the boat here. Love your vids but please find out if your clutch slips.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Trust me, the clutch doesn't slip 😉. The FJ1200 is the more powerful, faster, torquier bike. It's 2 seconds quicker from 40-80 in top gear - that's an eternity. And it pulls REALLY hard up top, like you said. The Yamaha has it when I want it, but it doesn't pressure me to use it - and I really like that restrained, relaxed feel. The nature of the Kawasaki is different. It's like the small dog at the dog park, barking and straining at the leash, wanting to fight with every other dog there. It's the Tasmanian Devil, which is entertaining, but in a different way. Cheers!

[@flexjay87]

The Yamaha looks fast sitting still ! I am not a fan of the Kaw instrument look, those lights on the headlight, in between the " clocks " look cheap. The Yamaha instruments are some of the best of the era i believe , in symmetry, size, and function. For me, if you can only have one bike, and wanna ride more than 5 miles at a time, the Yamaha wins, hands down.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

The Yamaha is a great all-around, real-world motorcycle. But the Kawasaki is a thrill ride! Cheers

[@spaceflight1019]

I wouldn't mind taking both bikes out on my last 250 mile ride. Fuel mileage and fuel capacity seems to be an issue with both bikes. Neither one seems to be capable of 50 mpg, so more frequent stops are a necessary evil for the Eliminator. However... The motorcycle magazine testers of the time praised the Eliminator for its open-road handling, seat, and overall ergonomics. They panned the small gas tank as being a hindrance. Kawasaki took the hint and redid the bike as the ZL1000... which was a huge sales flop.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@spaceflight1019 I agree with your comments. Being 6'-4" tall, the Eliminator and FJ1200 can both get cramped for me over time. Each bike would be more comfortable for shorter riders. The ZL1000 just didn't look right compared to the ZL900. Cheers!

[@spaceflight1019]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I'm 6'4" as well, and have a similar perspective. I saved a "Mad Max" themed ad for the ZL1000 from a motorcycle magazine. It featured a Mel Gibson MFP lookalike fueling his ZL while a post-apocalyptic cadre of folks look on.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@spaceflight1019 Very cool!

[@jimakard2185]

The fj will smoke the eliminator in everyway on everyday

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

They are roughly equal in 1/4 mile acceleration, and it would be a toss-up on a tight back road (believe it or not). The FJ is a much better sport tourer, it's the roll-on king, it has much better range and it's better at extended high-speed runs. Cheers!

[@aamirmalik9053]

Beautiful❤Beautiful❤ Beautiful❤Beautiful❤ ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤Beautiful❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks, Amir!