Test Ride: 2024 Kawasaki Eliminator 450 SE

[@andrewsipling2531]

I bought the standard non Abs version of this bike and I love it. My first bike, lots of fun, and it's low enough for my short legs to walk it if i need too. I've put 500 miles on it in the last 2 weeks and plan on a lot more.

[@kartikshankar5790]

Hello Quasi.. Nice to see you back.. Hope you have completely recovered and back in action. Greetings from Karthik, India

[@QuasiMotard]

👊 Thanks for the support! 😉👍 --QM

[@Matthewsmith-2024]

Excellent video, and very nice bike. I've had mine for a few months now, and it's great on twisty roads as well as getting me to and from work.

[@rfl35]

good to see you back I hope you are feeling much better !

[@roywalls5595]

Thank you again for awesome videos Mr Aaron and I hope you doing well too!🙏🍺

[@Dsanrides]

I’ll comment the same thing again. It’s great to see you come back from that crash ✌️

[@QuasiMotard]

👊 Thanks for the support! 😉👍 --QM

[@blankdavis4904]

The random Vitas 7th element at the very end "Ahhhh ahh ahhh" lol. Good looking bike. 5mph discrepancy is little to be desired though. Hopefully easy fix! Glad to see you riding again brother!

[@ExcelsiorDDZ]

I use that as my notification alert on the phone.

[@serious_in_seattle6917]

I think I want one of these. I sat on one and it’s really comfortable for a super short guy like me.

[@andrewsipling2531]

I bought mine in January, first bike, and I love it. I'm a 5'3 short fucker myself, and while I can't perfectly flat foot it, it's good enough for me

[@NoFrictionZone]

Nice looking bike, but even nicer to see you up and running. Congratulations!

[@QuasiMotard]

👊 Thanks for the support! 😉👍 --QM

[@rclines001]

Shifting a little early at the start of the video.

[@FrankDux-rq7go]

it's a solid commuter. I dig it. I would probably choose this guy over the Rebel.

[@QuasiMotard]

The Eliminator's ergonomics beat the Rebel, in my opinion. The Kawi's buzzy, high-revving engine isn't as smooth as the Rebel 500, but that could be tamed with different footpegs and overgrips for the bars. I don't know how the fuel economy compares between the two... that could be a great review challenge. 🤔 --QM

[@CiBi1968]

Welcome back Quasi.... not sure on the heel toe shifter ... or the vibes . But bike looks o.k 👌

[@weemark67]

Nice colour. And the screen, be decent too. No point selling my 500 Rebel for one. I do like your Rebel 1100. I know of a guy that got a dct NC750, found it easier to ride with the dct, due to his health issues. (Subject 017) think his channel is. Your vision mirror of the fly screen looks very helpful for better all round vision😊

[@VeeDubJohn]

Kind of repeating what others are saying, but good see you back on the bikes.

[@zorlacmc]

Good to see you back! Here in Australia the regulation is for zero tolerance under and up to 10% over for a speedometer, with most manufacturers aiming for ~5% to be safe.

[@QuasiMotard]

Greetings from the USA! I think the regs are similar here in the States regarding speedometer accuracy. I just find it odd that the Kawi is so far off while my Hondas (world bikes) are dead accurate within 1 mph of GPS at all speeds. Curious. BTW... do your toilets really flush anti-clockwise down under? Cheers, mate! 🤣👍 --QM

[@MrBiggles53]

For heel toe shifting you don’t need to get under the front shift lever, you just stomp on the heel shift lever…

[@TexOn2Wheels]

Snazzy looking bike, but I'm a Kawi fan boi.....

[@leeinwis]

I like any Jap bike.

[@fricekuo]

Damn! The bike is exactly what I'm going to build😂, except for the red net.

[@danasymosky5609]

Really cool looking bike! I like the looks of it much more than the Honda Rebel, but I still prefer Honda. Love the orange.

[@ExcelsiorDDZ]

I've ridden the 500 and found that bike to be bulkier and quite top heavy. AND the Rebel 500 has no gear indicator (at least the one I rode).

[@QuasiMotard]

@@ExcelsiorDDZ Agreed! The Eliminator's weight balance is better and the CG is lower than the Rebel. I also prefer the Eliminator's aesthetic over the Rebel because the Rebel's tank is HUGE and looks out of place. 😉👍 --QM

[@TheKittyClink]

GPS speed isn't the most accurate way to measure speed. There's a few conditions and geographic things thag can effect speed, where as location tends to be very accurate. I'm a pilot and I use GPS technology often. And not considered always reliable for speed. But still could be something with the bike. But keep GPS error in mind.

[@Chris64France]

I tried this bike yesterday and I loved it (engine, gearbox, lightweight, style, price). I think it would be better to install a output gearbox pinion + 1 tooth

[@QuasiMotard]

Agreed! I think a +1T countershaft sprocket would reduce the frantic buzz of the engine just enough to feel "normal". 😉👍 --QM

[@secretdaisy6484]

I like it. Still have my Ninja 500 🏍️. 👍☮️🌞🩵

[@MotoMuscleChick]

Love that orange!

[@fattywithafirearm]

The orange and black look sexy

[@trailguy]

I'm an orioles fan so it's doubly good.

[@equalfps]

you prefer this over rebel 500? great video!

[@QuasiMotard]

Thanks for the feedback! I think the ergonomics are better on the Eliminator, but I'm not sure how the buzzy handlebars and footpegs would compare over time. The Rebel 500's engine is considerably smoother, but it's ergonomics are tighter. The choice of the "better" bike boils down to whether you're commuting and riding around town (short trips) vs longer highway rides. The Kawi will probably work better for short trips, and the Honda better for longer highway journeys. 🤔 --QM

[@hankwojo]

Great video and review! I have a few thoughts. I have a 2023 Kawasaki Versys X300. My speedo has the same optimistic "feature" as the Eliminator. A few years ago I had a V-Strom 650 with the same "feature". My Honda machines appear to be more accurate in the speedo department. The engine in the Eliminator sounds real good at least in this video. I think it would be a great replacement for the 296cc twin that's currently in the Versys X300. BTW, my X300 is a real high rever also, but it appears to like it.

[@QuasiMotard]

Thanks for the feedback, Henry! I've noticed the same speedo behavior with all of my Hondas... nearly identical to GPS speed in all cases. I'm curious to know if the odometer is also optimistic. That would be a Bad Thing in my opinion because it would depreciate the vehicle faster than necessary, and mileage also affects some insurance premiums. Just a thought. The Eliminator 450's engine sounds good, but I think an aftermarket exhaust would make it sound a bit less like a sewing machine. Otherwise, this new 450 feels more lively in the low and midrange than the original 400; it feels like it has more torque than the Ninja 400 and Z400 that I rode previously. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@hankwojo]

@@QuasiMotard I always ride with my Zumo XT aboard. Not necessarily to get me to a destination, but to use it as a reference to get an idea of where roads go that I see on my current ride. Also if the ride was really interesting, I download the GPX file and peruse it on a map. But the main point here is I always reset trip 2 on the Zumo before I leave the house and compare the Zumo trip 2 to the bike speedo trip 2. Even though the speedo mph was off, the odometer was within a mile or two. I considered that close enough. The same with my KIA Sportage. The Kia speedo matches the Zumo speedo. However, there is a miles or two difference in the odometer readouts. I'm talking all day rides here in both cases, at least 150 miles or so. I think the odometer readings for both the car and bikes are close enough.

[@suzyamerica4679]

My gen1 Versys 650 has the same "feature". Going +1 on the front sprocket made the speedo dead-on (as measured by GPS) but now the odo is off.

[@hankwojo]

@@suzyamerica4679 Which way is the ODO off? Are you clocking more miles than you have actually gone or less?

[@suzyamerica4679]

@@hankwojo It's now showing fewer miles than it should be, so I have notes in the maintenance log and correcting to actual mileage. Also it has a replacement engine so I'm keeping a mileage track for that too :) However the speedo is now dead-on and I love that part of it. Tires are PR4s.

[@cristianeastfelga7192]

So cool this motorcycle! I got one! Where could I buy this bubble motorcycle?

[@mlbabineaux]

Speedo on the CB1100 is dead nuts on.

[@QuasiMotard]

Yep, all of my Hondas are dead accurate within 1 mph of GPS at all speeds. 😉👍 --QM

[@hvymax]

I had to put a 600lb spring on my KLR and raising links to get it where I needed it.

[@PeterCichoszewski]

if I recall for XT250 ( my bike atm ) the speedometer error in north americam model is 10% due to drint sprokey being 15 as in asia they get 16 tooth front sproket as we are bigger here on avrage and trhey felt it needs more pulling power ( but not speed? ) . Maybe same for other bikes. My Grom also 10% spedo error. Yahama R3 was 8%. KTM Duke 390 was spot on. A VanVan 200 was 1-2% off .

[@QuasiMotard]

Yes, that's correct. My 1008 Yamaha XT250 speedometer was about 6-8% optimistic with the 15T front sprocket. I installed a 16T sprocket, and the speedometer is now within 0.5 mph of GPS. 😉👍 --QM

[@HyllustheBarbarian]

It's a nice looking bike but I thought speedo discrepancies were problems for Chinese made bikes. Never thought Kawasaki would have these issues. I do like that windshield though. Wondering where Kevin got it or was it included when he purchased the bike? Good stuff.

[@QuasiMotard]

All of the accessories are from T-Rex Racing in Dallas, TX. Kevin rode up to Dallas to visit their store in person. He installed the T-Rex windscreen, frame sliders, mini floorboards, and heel-toe shifter. 😉👍 --QM

[@gordorox7144]

my ninja 400 speedo is almost exactly the same off.

[@QuasiMotard]

@@gordorox7144 That makes sense... probably using the same parts bins for both bikes. I wonder if the odometer is inflated the same amount as the speedo (+10%). If wouldn't be too hard to check the odometer with a known length of road and verify with GPS. If the odo is also 10% optimistic, then the added mileage would cause the bike to depreciate faster, no? 🤔 --QM

[@javieralvarado5138]

@@QuasiMotard how did that windshield feel? Been looking to get it maybe and the floor board but after seeing your opinion on the boards maybe not 😂

[@BadHorsie2]

I would take that bike back to the Kawasaki dealer and have them fix that speedometer

[@ChaosAI24]

Well, in Europe most of the cars have a +5 - 6 km/h error, that would be 3.1 - 3.7mph.

[@ampm9771]

You cannot get your toe to the ground? how tall are you?

[@CB3Pete]

So waiting for the Q review on this ride .

[@QuasiMotard]

I'll try to do a more in-depth review and comparison for the Eliminator soon. Maybe we can do a 500-mile road trip to compare relative comfort and fuel economy against a Rebel 500 or another middleweight. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@chukwumanwabasili9864]

Just curious, where can I get the Windshield?, I recently got an eliminator and want a Windshield like that. Thanks

[@QuasiMotard]

You can find all of the product links in the video description! 😉👍 --QM

[@RebelCowboysRVs]

I would assume any bike that comes with ABS is using the ABS tone ring for the speedometer. At that point a transmission sensor is an unneeded extra part costing more money. Showing high is pretty common still today thought. The law allows it to be off in that direction but not the other. The Royal Enfield classic 350s are all off by 3 percent as I understand. I would bet all the RE models are. I assume they deliberately program that in to be sure its legal with any tire that fits the factory rims. That bikes error not being a percentage of speed though, I would think has to be deliberately programmed in. "Actual speed + 5mph =shown speed" code of some kind. Having an ABS ring made with 1 less hole in it is a custom option. No aftermarket company will supply that though. To much liability. The trip, being all digital, does not necessarily have the same error, but likely does.

[@rajeevwx]

Can you stand on the footpegs while riding?

[@QuasiMotard]

I'm sure stand-up riding could be done on the Eliminator, but it wouldn't be easy or comfortable. The footpegs are set somewhat forward and the handlebars are low, so that means you would need to pull yourself up using the bars... not ideal while riding. My Honda Rebel 1100 has a similar layout, and it's difficult to get up off the seat for big bumps. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@rajeevwx]

@@QuasiMotard Thank you so much for the answer, you're the best. One more question is- Does the handlebar/footpegs vibrate in low rpms? How is the engine vibration compare to Honda?

[@QuasiMotard]

@rajeevwx The Eliminator's engine revs higher and is a little buzzier than my two comparable Hondas (2013 CB500F and 2014 CB500X). I didn't notice the Eliminator's buzzy handlebars and footpegs until higher RPMs... it was very noticeable above 55 mph. Kevin (owner of this bike) replaced the footpegs with floorboards to give him more legroom. The factory pegs have rubber dampers/isolators to quell some of the vibration. He mentioned that he's unhappy with the buzz, so he might do something different for the footpegs. I think the Honda has a much smoother engine overall. The Kawasaki 450 feels livelier and wants to rev to the moon, whereas the Honda feels more relaxed. 😉👍 --QM

[@rajeevwx]

@@QuasiMotard Thank you for the honest review :)

[@trailguy]

so do all 2024's have the same speedo problem?

[@QuasiMotard]

Unknown, but I would assume that's the case. This bike is mechanically stock with only bolt-on upgrades so far. Kevin said he's on the waiting list for a speedo healer to fix the discrepancy. 😉👍 --QM

[@go5582]

hi handsome, what app is your friend using on his phone? is it a samsung or @pple?

[@ExcelsiorDDZ]

Android and the app is called DigiHUD.

[@hvymax]

Looks like a Mini Vulcan S.

[@victorherrero4790]

Nice bike and nice video! Between this one, the Honda Rebel 500 and the Royal Einfield meteor 650 which one is the best option?

[@QuasiMotard]

Howdy, Victor, and thanks for watching and leaving feedback! That's a tough question to answer because I haven't ridden the RE Super Meteor 650 yet. From my experience with the Rebel 500 and Eliminator 450, then adding the spec sheets for reference, I can say the following: 1. The Rebel 500 is probably the "better" machine in terms of refinement and longevity, but it's cramped ergonomics aren't great for riders over 5'10" tall. Honda is legendary for reliability and resale value, so it's hard to go wrong unless the bike doesn't fit the rider's physical attributes or their intended riding chores. However, the Rebel series (300/500/1100) are known for having rough rear suspension, so that's a sore spot for many owners. 2. The Eliminator 450 is the lightest and probably has the best ergonomics, but the overly-soft rear suspension needs help IMMEDIATELY. The Eliminator's engine is very peaky and buzzy, so it doesn't lend itself toward long-distance touring. The Kawasaki 452cc parallel-twin produces 6 HP more on the dyno (47 HP @ 10.5K RPM) compared to the Honda 471cc mill (41 HP @ 7.8K RPM), but that added power is all up top. The Rebel's engine makes more power and torque at lower RPM's, so it feels a bit less flustered and buzzy. 3. The Meteor 650 might be the most comfortable of the trio (won't know until I ride one). However, it's the heaviest by a long shot at 531 lbs; so that's 123 lbs more than the Rebel and 143 lbs more than the Eliminator (and still 22 lbs heaver than my Rebel 1100 DCT that has double the power). The Meteor's 650cc engine has the most torque, but it'll need it to haul the extra weight. 4. Horsepower and torque between these three isn't as big of a spread as you might think: - Rebel 500: 41 HP, 30 lb-ft torque (dyno test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJ-TiYejhpmKo7c ) - Eliminator 450: 47 HP, 29 lb-ft torque (dyno test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKqogGSBZ7CWjMk ) - Super Meteor 650: 46 HP, 39 lb-ft torque (manufacturer claim, expect -20% actual) Here are quick links to the bikes' spec sheets for reference: - 2024 Honda Rebel 500: powersports.honda.com/motorcycle/cruiser/rebel-500/specifications - 2024 Kawasaki Eliminator 450: www.kawasaki.com/en-us/motorcycle/eliminator/Cruiser/Eliminator/2024-eliminator#specs - 2024 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650: www.royalenfield.com/content/dam/royal-enfield/usa/motorcycles/super-meteor-650/royal-enfield-super-meteor-650-technical-specifications.pdf Cheers, and good luck shopping! I hope you find a good fit! 😉👍 --QM

[@victorherrero4790]

@@QuasiMotard hello!! Thanks for the detailed answer. It helped a lot. I an a "new rider"....been riding the last 4 years. My first bike was a Suzuki Vstrom 250, little Sport Touring bike with the Inazuma engine, it was a great bike to start. After riding on highway I realized that I needed more power for overtakes and hills so I sold it and went to buy a Suzuki Vstrom 650, a damn all around bike, enough power, reliable, amazing. I sold it cuz I needed money. Now I wanted a little cruiser / bobber mid engine bike and this 3 were on mu shortlist..I am 6 ft tall and around 185 lbs. A friend of mine told me just what you said that the eliminator and rebel were short and could make me feel cramped. So now I want back a Sport Adventure bike again...so I been checking reviews and videos for the Himalayan 450 and the Cf Moto MT 450 MT. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[@carlputnam7941]

How did your hand do with the clutch?

[@QuasiMotard]

My hand was fine on this short ride. The Eliminator has a slipper-assist clutch, so the lever action is very light. I'm unsure how I'll do with my other clutched bikes like the CB500X, Ducati Monster 1100 EVO, etc. Time will tell! 😉👍 --QM

[@MrMunchko]

shocks are fine check your rear tire pressure

[@danielschneider1663]

Could I get a link for the Wind Screen?

[@QuasiMotard]

All of the links are in the video description. 😉👍 --QM

[@Limewire1984]

Yea, when I'm on my Honda CB300F, I hunt for 7th gear all the time. Also, through no fault of your own, a lot of "issues" you have with this bike I think stem from the fact that you own a Rebel 1100. You're spoiled, so-to-speak. If you came from owning a Rebel 300, maybe even the 500, a lot of the issues would be a non-factor. I had a 300cc bike. Yes, it will buzz at highway speed. Yes, I wish I had another gear. Etc. I sold my CB300F to buy / upgrade to a Shadow Phantom [750cc]. I wanted the Rebel 1100, but the chain made me steer clear. I want a commuter with minimal maintenance, and the Shadow Phantom fits the bill. No, I don't need to go fast. Yes, I wish I had a 6th gear. A bigger tank? Maybe 5-gallon. And a fuel gage, haha

[@QuasiMotard]

Point taken, but I wasn't comparing the Eliminator 450 to my Rebel 1100. But remember that I have lots of other small-bore and middleweight bikes in my stable as well. My primary comparison was between the Eliminator 450 and the Rebel 500. I haven't owned a Rebel 500, but I've ridden them many times (500+ miles worth of seat time). I also own two of the CB500 series bikes (2013 CB500F and 2014 CB500X) which share the same engine as the Rebel 500. The Honda 500 engine is much smoother and feels more relaxed than the Eliminator. The Eliminator's ergonomics are significantly better than the Rebel 500, and its weight balance also feels better (lower). The Rebel's odd fuel tank has always looked out of place to me on the 500 and 1100, but the Eliminator's tank blends with the bike's lines better. I agree with you regarding the chain vs shaft drive. I wish that Honda had opted for shaft on the Rebel 1100, or at least a belt drive to reduce chain maintenance. The drawbacks for shaft drive are the loss of power due to the 90° direction changes and the "shaft effect" that can happen under loading/unloading the drive. Unexpected ride height drop in tight corners is no fun... ask me how I know! 😂👍 --QM

[@Limewire1984]

@@QuasiMotard I see. And yes, now that I'm giving it more thoughts, I do believe you own and operate a Cub. Also I would like to add that maybe the Eliminator IS NOT made for American highways. Perhaps the bike can excel on roads with lower speed(s).

[@johnravana3070]

3rd gear at 19mph? Huh? 🙄

[@tiffinhappy9744]

You are shifting to early. Red line is 11000

[@QuasiMotard]

Not my bike. It's rude to rag out your friend's bike... especially on camera. 😉 --QM

[@navimaclife]

🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@ibrahimbaydar8539]

Türkiyeye bu renk gelmiyor 😒

[@LuckyTown77]

So, 8% fuel economy fudge ?

[@QuasiMotard]

Good question! I wasn't able to test or verify the odometer accuracy. We might assume that the 10% skew affects the speedo and odometer, but that's not guaranteed. Testing with GPS and known lengths of road would be easy to do. 🤔 --QM

[@news603redux]

Fugly, looks ridiculous compared to the old Eliminators {I had one}. Stupidly expensive for what it is and those frame tubes under the tank look like crash bars on Indian bikes. Ugh.

[@QuasiMotard]

I owned two of the old-school Eliminators (600 and 1000). Those were good looking and fun to ride, but the carburetors on mine were always finicky and difficult to keep in sync. At least this engine is EFI and more modern. Looks are always subjective. Even though I own the Rebel 1100, I think the tanks on the Rebel 500/1100 are ugly... like an afterthought. The Eliminator's tank blends into the lines of the bike, but I hate its chunky rear fender. Ups, downs... different strokes for different folks. Prices for ALL bikes are getting ridiculous these days, IMO. 😉👍

[@ELMASQUELAMONTA]

Terrible looking windshield

[@astro61362]

I really like the look of this bike and went up to the Yamaha dealer up here on 1960 in Northwest Houston and actually sat on it. It just felt to me like a Rebel and when I was bike shopping the Rebel was my first choice until I sat on it. I ended up buying a Royal Enfield Meteor 350 instead mainly because it fit me much better. I think the younger crowd is more drawn to this seating position of the Eliminator and the Rebel.

[@HenryWeems-kr9wr]

If you have enough nerve to ride on FM1960 you must have nerves of steel.

[@andregrastyan3403]

Hi. Good video thanks. I hope you are better now. I sold my Honda Rebel 1100cc DCT and got the new Honda Scrambler CL 500cc. I watched Life of Burch video on it. I love it a lot. I'm glad you tested this Kawasaki 450 because some people recommend it, but I think now the Honda Scrambler was the right decision for me.

[@QuasiMotard]

Thanks for the feedback! I think the Honda CL500 is a "better" machine overall compared to the Eliminator. The CL's ergonomics are neutral, and that 471cc parallel-twin engine is legendary with over a decade of service in multiple platforms. Just curious... why did you sell the Rebel 1100 DCT? Was there something in particular that didn't fit you? 🤔 --QM

[@andregrastyan3403]

@@QuasiMotard Thanks for your response. I agree. I finally saw the Kawasaki in the store. Looked a little cheep and hated the way the exost comes out from the engine. Very spaghetti messy design.

[@THR33SIXX3MPYR]

Hey Quasi, my 2021 Trail 125 was off by a similar amount on stock gearing, when I went one tooth lower in the front, it was even worse, showing 68 indicated at 62 mph

[@staffordvideoproductions5788]

Wow, what a great review. Nothing we’ve heard from the other corporate reviewers. Low geared, viby, rear suspension possibly needs jacked, speedo off by 10 percent, buzzy motor. Thanks for your analysis.

[@ExcelsiorDDZ]

I would classify it as a "City Cruiser" after riding it 1K+ miles.

[@jush7200]

My XMAX is also 5 mph optimistic lol 😆

[@kappusfarm1]

What windshield is that ? It looks great, I need one for mine.

[@charleshunt3806]

I forgot which direction it was but on my super cub, the Spomer was not accurate but then when I did the sprocket change that you did on yours, the speedometer was then accurate so that was cool but I really think having the speedometer go up to 80 miles an hour is very optimistic and I do not believe that I will ever get it there. I think the fastest I might’ve gone was 70 downhill. I know I have gone 65 but yeah 80 no

[@MotoDash1100]

Orange and black? Is Kawasaki going after Harley demographic now?

[@HenryWeems-kr9wr]

I found out that I prefer the mid range bikes ,more fun to ride than the heavier monsters I used to ride.

[@arthurbent5899]

Aside from gearing it could also be tire/ rubber size discrepancies.

[@gurbie]

“It just started flashing, so I should have enough gas”… Famous last words 😆

[@marchampson006]

Aaron is the speedo a cable or electronic type input! That is way out and if that run over here in England could land a ticket being that far out, Marc In Bletchley G6XEG

[@ExcelsiorDDZ]

Speedo is digital and will be getting a speed healer soon enough.

[@caseykolb1882]

Just ring the gears further. You seem to be short shifting. Remember, that's a sport bike engine

[@QuasiMotard]

This wasn't my bike... I was just test-riding it. It's rude to rag out a friend's bike. It's not like a dealership bike that you can redline, speed-shift, and then give back without remorse after the mechanical abuse. 🤣 --QM

[@AntipoloCarandRealty]

Why is GPS more reliable than speedometer? Speedo is directly measuring the wheel speed which is almost instantaneous compared to GPS where data travel is longer. Please explain.

[@QuasiMotard]

Most modern motorcycle speedometers aren't directly measuring wheel speed. Instead, they measure countershaft speed (front sprocket shaft) and calculate ground speed based on known gear ratios and the tire circumference. If you change the gearing or tire diameter, then the indicated speed will be incorrect. This is also true for most cars/trucks, but automotive speedometers tend to be more accurate. Modern GPS units (and cell phone GPS receivers) are accurate to +/- 25 feet (horizontal) and 1 mph of actual speed; elevation is less accurate (+/- 150 feet) because the civilian data stream has an intentional skew to prevent misuse. A quick method to verify speed accuracy is to use more than one dissimilar GPS unit (e.g., a cell phone and a dedicated hardware GPS like a Garmin Zumo) to ratify against the speedometer. The GPS units will usually agree with each other within 1 mph, and the speedometer will be optimistic by 5-10%. Some manufacturers are worse than others, like Kawasaki and Yamaha... usually 5-10% optimistic. Honda tends to be accurate within 1% or 1-2 mph at freeway speeds. In the case of this Kawasaki Eliminator, the manufacturer has chosen to display the maximum deviation allowed by federal law (NHSTA and DOT regulations allow for -0% under actual speed and up to +10% over actual speed). Many owners of the Kawasaki Z400 and other similar bikes have reported identical skew in their speedometers. This is a common liability tactic for the manufacturer to avoid litigation in the event of speeding tickets or injury/fatality accidents (e.g., operator states that the speedometer showed a lower speed than actual). Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@AntipoloCarandRealty]

@@QuasiMotard Many thanks for this info. Really helpful! Cheers! 👍

[@AnthonyScottGames]

We need an in line 4. The real eliminator

[@leeinwis]

Wow that speedo is way off.

[@quanwick4516]

1+ tooth in the front will fix that speedometer

[@QuasiMotard]

Maybe... only if the speed pickup is on the countershaft output. If the speed is calculated with the ABS rings, then larger tire(s) might help. Otherwise, a speedo healer is the only option. 🤔 --QM

[@simontempler3239]

Bring back the 900 !

[@QuasiMotard]

Hmm... a reincarnated Eliminator 900 could be interesting if the price was reasonable. Should it have a big parallel twin, or the Z900RS inline-4? 🤔 --QM

[@simontempler3239]

The inline 4 of course ....there is already enough twins to go around.@@QuasiMotard

[@SillyGeeseINC]

Is his speed off, or are all of them off?

[@QuasiMotard]

I think all of the Kawi speedo's are optimistic. Several other viewers have commented about their Eliminators, Ninja 400's, and Z400's saying that their speedometers also read about 5-6 mph higher than actual. 🤷‍♂️ --QM

[@SillyGeeseINC]

@@QuasiMotard That's unfortunate

[@cristimercore3133]

where did u get the windshield for kawasaki eliminator 500? I can't find anything on net

[@ExcelsiorDDZ]

That was from T-Rex and is the tallest one that I know of at 16 ½"

[@takumisato7126]

Anybody know the 0 to 60 time on the 2024 Kawi Eliminator?

[@spasteroneill9636]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/maXLXoeXfd6Uj6c It's a German test channel, they always do acceleration tests 0-100 kph (100 kph = 62 mph), and they needed 5.25 s on the Kawa Eliminator 500.

[@takumisato7126]

@@spasteroneill9636 that's not bad at all actually

[@uilnosaj]

The fuel gauge is off too, it will go between full and half tank.

[@ExcelsiorDDZ]

The fuel gauge is effected by the tilt of the bike. It can say empty while on kickstand but have a 50% more when upright.

[@uilnosaj]

@@ExcelsiorDDZThis is not my first bike, the gauge read from haft tank to a full tank and a full tank to a half tank is too drastic. I do not park on a hill, even if the tilt is the issue, it should correct itself as soon as you right the bike. Not after you rode it for a good 30 minute. DOT will not accept this level of miss reading.