2004 Kawasaki Eliminator Review

Kawasaki is aces when it comes to designing motorbikes for teens and nervous first-time riders. The 1004 Kawasaki Eliminator EL125 is no exception. The beautiful double-cradled frame surrounded in glistening chrome and steel can make a first-time rider into a hardcore motorcycle enthusiast before he even tries out the seat or starts the engine. You could accuse the Eliminator of being overly seductive if not for the fact that it more than lives up to the imagination it awakens in those who first behold its wonder.

Out of respect to first-time riders Kawasaki chose to make this mini-cruiser resemble the look and feel of the big boys that first-time riders imagine themselves graduating to at some point. Consider it Kawasaki's way of inspiring people as they dream of finding their inner McQueen, Brando, or Jimmy Dean coolness. Unlike the Kawasaki's starter dirt bike counterparts this machine comes in hot rod red instead of the lime green color heavily associated with motocross racing. Again it's a bold bike with a lot of ego which is great for riders who already have the confidence to match the Eliminator or those who will undoubtedly find that the bike's confidence is contagious especially since it all but drives itself.

The digital CDI starter fires the bike up for the road on the first try every time. The extra low seat makes it easy to handle and lowers the center of gravity of the rider for added stability. The motorbike's engine is designed to run efficiently at low to mid speeds. Although it’s capable of going down main roads, this bike should not be taken on the highway due to its size. It's perfect for cruising around the neighborhood, scenic drives, or short commutes to work. A full tank of gas will get roughly 300 miles keeping the cost to drive it very low compared to the big cruisers. The control instruments are mounted in the exact way the larger cruisers come which again is all part of the master plan to get everyone who rides the Eliminator to embrace the joy of motorcycling and never look back.

Keeping the mechanics simple yet effective helps to minimize the wear that mileage and age put upon other less-fortunate motorcycles. The single disc front braking system stops the Eliminator effectively enough on its own, though a rear expanding drum brake takes up some of the slack not only as a precaution but as a way of extending the life of the front disc. Keeping the bike ridiculously smooth and steady is a durable, 33mm telescopic fork suspension in the front and twin, five-way adjustable preload shock system in the rear. The planned longevity greatly reduces the risk element involved purchasing a used bike. Furthermore when the Eliminator has successfully given its owner the tools and skills to advance to a larger more powerful motorcycle it’s a cinch to trade in or sell outright. Though not everyone who's ever owned one can bring himself to part with the bike that turned him into a full-fledged biker. It takes up so little space that it can be stored until that motorcycle right-of-passage moment occurs to then be passed down to a son or daughter, a niece or nephew, or other close friend or family member eager to be the seasoned rider that the original owner of the bike had become.