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KAWASAKI Eliminator Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 9
First production year: 1985
KAWASAKI Eliminator 252 photo gallery

The Kawasaki Eliminator was a family of cruiser-type motorcycles manufactured in several versions with slightly different styles and different engine capacities. The Eliminator was manufactured from 1985 to 2007 and again from 2023.

The 1985 Eliminator and the 1986 ZL900 models were considered power cruisers. They were street replicas of a drag-style bike, packing a forward seating position, a close-ration transmission, and a final shaft drive.

In 1997, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Kawasaki Eliminator 252, a cruiser motorcycle with a low riding position and agile handling powered by a 252cc parallel-twin engine.

In the visual department, the bike was equipped with standard features, such as a round headlight, a teardrop-styled fuel tank, a two-piece dual seat, side-mounted rear shocks, a large muffler, and wire-spoke wheels.

In the suspension department, the 1997 motorcycle packed a conventional telescopic fork on the front and twin side-mounted shock absorbers on the rear, offering optimum suspension performance and handling.

As for the braking power, the bike packed a 226 mm disc tied to a single-piston caliper on the front wheel and a drum braking unit on the rear wheel, providing optimum braking performance.

The 1997 Kawasaki Eliminator 252 had its heartbeat set by a 252cc four-stroke liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that delivered 33 hp at 12,500 rpm and 17 Nm (12 lb-ft) torque at 9,900 rpm.

full description and technical specifications
KAWASAKI Eliminator 125 photo gallery

The Kawasaki Eliminator was a series of cruiser-styled motorcycles produced by Kawasaki in numerous versions since its introduction in 1985 as the Kawasaki 900 Eliminator. The first two versions, the 1985 Eliminator and the 1986 ZL900 were street replicas of a drag-style bike with a close-ratio gearbox, a forward seating position, and a shaft drive.

In 1997, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Kawasaki Eliminator 125, an entry-level cruiser motorcycle also used by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in their beginner riders course at the time. The bike was also known as the BN125 and was discontinued in the UK market in mid-2007.

The bike's visual department was characterized by a round headlight on the front, a high handlebar, a teardrop-styled fuel tank, a one-piece dual seat, a large muffler mounted on the right side, and chrome-plated wire-spoke wheels.

The bike's suspension system comprised a 36 mm telescopic fork on the front with 130 mm wheel travel and dual side-mounted shock absorbers on the rear with five-way preload adjustability and 60 mm wheel travel.

In the baking department, the bike packed a 260 mm disc tied to a single-piston caliper on the front wheel and a 130 mm drum braking unit on the rear, offering optimum stopping power.

As for the power figures, the 1997 Kawasaki Eliminator 125 had installed underneath its fuel tank a 124cc four-stroke air-cooled single-cylinder engine that delivered 12 hp at 8,500 rpm and 10 Nm (7.3 lb-ft) torque at 8,000 rpm.

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KAWASAKI Eliminator 250 photo gallery

The 1992 Kawasaki 250 Eliminator is a well built, if fairly basic, machine. Bodily, there’s plenty of chrome to keep shiny and, if cared for, it should last well. The Kawasaki 250 Eliminator's engine is superb at what it does and few owners have problems with it whilst the front brake is particularly adept.

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KAWASAKI Eliminator 250 photo gallery

In 1988, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer released the Kawasaki Eliminator 250, a lightweight sports cruiser with a long and low dragger style powered by a parallel-twin engine that started production in 1988 and superseded by the VN250 in 1997.

The bike was part of the Eliminator series that debuted in 1985 with the Kawasaki 900 Eliminator. The 1985 Eliminator and 1986 ZL900 models were the first two versions of the series and were street replicas of a drag-styled bike with a final shaft drive, a forward seating position, and a close-ratio transmission.

In the aesthetic department, the Eliminator 250 had fitted standard features, such as a round headlight, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a two-piece dual seat, side-mounted rear shocks, a fat silencer mounted on the right side, and three-spoke lightweight aluminum wheels.

The bike was built around a double cradle steel frame with a conventional telescopic fork on the front and twin side-mounted shock absorbers on the rear, delivering optimum suspension performance and handling capabilities.

In the braking department, the bike packed a single 226 mm disc tied to a single-piston caliper on the front wheel and a drum braking unit on the rear wheel, providing the stopping power needed.

As for the power figures, the 1988 Kawasaki Eliminator 250 had its soul brought to life by a 249cc four-stroke liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that delivered an output power of 33 hp at 12,500 rpm and 17 Nm (12 lb-ft) torque at 9,900 rpm.

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KAWASAKI ZL400 photo gallery

In 1986, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Kawasaki ZL400, a cruiser motorcycle manufactured until 1994, packing a GPZ400R four-cylinder engine with a milder tune and a final shaft drive like all versions of the Kawasaki Eliminator.

The bike was part of the Eliminator series of cruiser-style motorcycles that debuted in 1985 with the Kawasaki 900 Eliminator. The first two models, the 1985 Eliminator and 1986 ZL900, were street replicas of a drag-styled bike with a forward riding position, a close-ratio gearbox, and a final shaft drive.

In the visual department, the 1986 Kawasaki ZL400 was fitted with standard features, such as a round headlight, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a one-piece dual seat with a passenger grab handle, side-mounted rear shocks, fat silencers, and three-spoke aluminum wheels.

In the suspension department, the ZL400 packed a conventional telescopic fork on the front and dual-side-mounted shock absorbers on the rear, offering optimum suspension performance and handling.

As for the braking performance, the bike was fitted with a single disc tied to a hydraulically operated caliper on the front wheel and a drum braking unit on the rear wheel, providing optimum stopping power.

The 1986 Kawasaki ZL400 had installed underneath its fuel tank a 398cc four-stroke liquid-cooled four-cylinder engine fed by four Keihin carburetors, delivering an output power of 54 hp at 12,000 rpm and 33 Nm (24 lb-ft) torque at 10,500 rpm.

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KAWASAKI ZL600 photo gallery

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).

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KAWASAKI ZL1000 photo gallery

In 1985, Kawasaki brought into the cruiser world the Eliminator series, comprised of multiple versions with slightly different styles and different engine displacements. The first two models, billed as power cruisers, were essentially street replicas of a drag-styled motorcycle with a forward seating position, a ZX900 close-ratio transmission, and a final shaft drive.

The engine of both motorcycles was the same unit that powered the 900cc Ninja motorcycles of the same year but with a different exhaust system and intake configuration. The Eliminator range was produced from 1985 to 2007 and again from 2023.

In 1986, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Kawasaki ZL1000, an evolution of the ZL900 model with a larger engine found on the ZG1000 Concours and 34 mm carburetors.

The ZL1000 featured a more conservative style than the ZL900 model, with an extended rear fender and a larger fuel tank. The ZL1000 was available from 1987 to 1988 and was sold only in the UK, US, and Australian markets. Some 100-hp versions were sold in France, Sweden, and Germany.

The bike's appearance resembled other ZL models, packing standard features like a round headlight with instruments mounted on top, a teardrop-styled fuel tank, a two-piece dual seat, large mufflers, and three-spoke aluminum wheels.

As for the power figures, the 1987 Kawasaki ZL1000 had its heartbeat set by a 997cc four-stroke liquid-cooled four-cylinder engine with 110 hp on tap at 9,000 rpm and 91 Nm (67 lb-ft) torque at 7,000 rpm.

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KAWASAKI ZL750 photo gallery

The Kawasaki Eliminator was a series of cruiser-styled motorcycles that debuted in 1985 with the Kawasaki 900 Eliminator. The maker launched several versions with different engine displacements over their production period and were manufactured until 2007 and again from 2023.

The first two versions of the Eliminator, namely the 1985 Eliminator and 1986 ZL900 models, were essentially street replicas of a drag-styled machine, packing a ZX900 close-ratio transmission, a forward riding position, and a final shaft drive.

In 1986, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Kawasaki ZL750, a cruiser machine sold from 1986 until 1989 as a mild-mannered version of its larger siblings. The bike had a similar style but a different engine displacement.

In the visual department, the bike was equipped with standard features, such as a round headlight with instruments mounted on top, a low, straight handlebar, a small teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a two-piece dual seat with a passenger grab handle, side rear shocks, fat mufflers, and three-spoke aluminum wheels.

The bike's suspension system comprised a 38 mm Showa air-assisted fork on the front with 142 mm wheel travel and twin Showa air-assisted shock absorbers on the rear with 106 mm wheel travel.

The 1986 Kawasaki ZL750 had installed between its wheels a 749cc four-stroke liquid-cooled four-cylinder engine that delivered an output power of 77 hp with maximum strength at 9,000 rpm and 66 Nm (48 lb-ft) torque at 7,000 rpm.

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KAWASAKI ZL900 photo gallery

The Kawasaki Eliminator was a cruiser-styled motorcycle manufactured by Kawasaki in several versions since its introduction in 1985 as the Kawasaki 900 Eliminator. The first two versions, like 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.

The Kawasaki ZL900 was introduced in 1985, evolving from the GPZ900R, and was available as the ZL900 A1 Eliminator in 1985 and ZL900 A2 in 1986. The bike was developed to resemble the Z1 drag motorcycles, with a short travel fork, a large rear tire, fat chromed silencers, a small fuel tank, a bobbed rear fender, and a low, straight handlebar.

At the time, the bikes were manufactured in Lincoln, Nebraska, for the American market. They were the first motorcycles in the segment that featured an in-line four-cylinder engine instead of a V4 configuration.

The bike's aesthetic department was represented by a raked-out front fork, a low handlebar, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a two-piece dual seat with a passenger grab rail, fat silencers, side-mounted rear shocks, and three-spoke aluminum wheels.

The 1985 Kawasaki ZL900 had installed underneath its fuel tank a 908cc four-stroke liquid-cooled four-cylinder engine fed by four Keihin carburetors, delivering 105 hp with a peak force at 9,500 rpm and 85 Nm (63 lb-ft) torque at 8,000 rpm.

full description and technical specifications