KAWASAKI ZL600 (1986-1994) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Kawasaki Eliminator was a series of cruiser-styled motorcycles made by Kawasaki in several versions since its introduction in 1985 as the Kawasaki 900 Eliminator. The first two versions, namely the 1985 Eliminator and ZL900, were basically street replicas of a drag-style machine with a close-ratio gearbox, a forward seating position, and a shaft drive.

In 1986, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Kawasaki ZL600, a cruiser motorcycle produced between 1986 and 1997 with the same slightly modified engine borrowed from the Kawasaki Ninja 600.

In the aesthetic department, the bike was fitted with standard features, such as a round headlight with the instrument cluster mounted on top, a teardrop-styled fuel tank, a two-piece dual seat, side-mounted rear shocks, large mufflers, and lightweight aluminum wheels.

The bike's suspension system comprised a 37 mm air-assisted Kayaba fork on the front with 137 mm wheel travel and twin adjustable shock absorbers on the rear with 89 mm wheel travel, offering optimum handling.

In the performance department, the 1986 Kawasaki ZL600 had installed underneath its fuel tank a 592cc four-stroke liquid-cooled four-cylinder engine managed by four Keihin carburetors, delivering 74 hp with a peak force at 10,500 rpm and 44 Nm (33 lb-ft) torque at 7,250 rpm.

The engine was coupled to a six-speed manual transmission that took the engine power and sent it to the rear wheel through a final shaft drive, pushing the motorcycle to a top speed of 182 kph (113 mph).