So sick of labels. 50hp on a bike is plenty of get up and go. No need to call it a beginner bike. It's simply a motorcycle. Comfort is the main factor in buying a bike. If it's not comfortable, it's not safe and you won't ride it.
Its just slow! Let's he honest. I recently bought a rebel 500 similar bike/power, my first bike actually. I found it underpowered after less than a week swapped for a rebel 1100.
New Vulcan S rider, for over a year now. Selected the 650 based on its 61HP capacity - good for high speed Texas highways when needed - yet forgiving delivery and clutch, and also being enough power "to grow in to". Thusly eliminated the 250-400 displacement bikes like this one. My recommendation for "beginners" is to start with the easy-to-ride yet power-to-spare Vulcan S.
Yep, the wife has a 2018 Vulcan S, great bike and will get up and go when needed. This new cruiser is not really necessary unless it is half the price.
My friend got this bike the other day after showing him reviews on the S. I rode it home for him since he didn’t feel comfortable taking the freeway yet. What a joy it was to ride! It has the attitude of a sport bike with the look and ride feeling like a cruiser. Shifting was smooth. Neutral is soo easy to find thank God. I swear it felt just as light as my mt-03. Love how quiet it is when compared to my roadking…almost wouldn’t mind trading in and switching lol.
@@gihfjtuena779 Do your research, Mo! I am correctamundoe. And why does it matter to you? RU-vid wants to know! Please reply expeditiously, this time using spell check!
Gotta disagree on the Vulcan love. I love my Vulcan S 650. Plenty of power, looks good, pretty good after-market support. Helps that it was my first bike and it makes me feel fairly powerful without fear of my life.
My first bike was a Vulcan 750 and 1995 and they just don't make a bad Vulcan they're all great bikes but a 400cc and they got the balls to call it an eliminator is sac relig
@@johnkennedy3531 What do you mean sacrilege? Eliminator 400 has always been a thing in Japan for literal decades until they disappear in early 2000s, especially due to 2007 Emission Regulation in Japan.
I've owned both. The Vulcan does have more torque, but it's also a hundred pounds heavier. Top speed on the Vulcan is about 105mph or so. The Eliminator is about 110mph. I think it's more the riding style. The Eliminator is more sporty tbh than the Vulcan.
Great video, here in Brazil, people are eagerly anticipating the arrival of a motorcycle like this due to the lack of supply from manufacturers, Meteor 350 (Royal Enfield) is dominating the Brazilian market in this category.
I pulled up next to a Vulcan S a few months back. It was brand new and I thought it looked great. It is a Japanese cruiser that is not a try hard to be an American cruiser (although the tank is a little bit V-rod). Good choice of bike mate.
Glad to hear you’re loving the Vulcan! It’s not really my speed but as I say here that doesn’t mean it’s a bad bike. What’s your favourite thing about the Vulcan?
@@Kwackajack I live in India where the only two choices I had for Cruisers in this segment in 2018 were Harley Street 750 (discontinued now) and Vulcan S (both priced around 10K USD).. I picked Vulcan since I’m not a Harley fan boy.. Honestly, I like its looks and the attention it gets here in India (which ironically is the world’s largest two wheeler market, but mostly with sub 200 CC motorcycles) !
The eliminator 400 has lot more tech and options not found on the vulcan 650 unfortunately. I wish they'd update the vulcan 650 with cruise and cameras and safety tech.
Yes, I would def get this, or at least consider it along with the Rebel. Totally agree on the Vulcan S. Great specs and value, Ergo Fit for smaller riders is great, but style never won me over. This Eliminator has the more raw, no- nonsense look I prefer. Really hope they bring it to the US. My 1st time hearing of this bike so thanks for the vid!
This will sell more in Asian markets.... India, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, etc., where traffic is more condensed and bike agility is a must. Better gas mileage is also a plus. This will also affect the market for the Vulcan 650 and not so much for Honda Rebels 300 and 500. I am in the market for a Cruiser bike when I retire in Philippines. I am currently leaning towards getting a Vulcan S 650 vs. Rebel 500. But if this will be available then, I might get this one instead because it will be a better fit for the driving / riding conditions in the Philippines.
I just sat on one at the dealership and I got to say the videos don't do it justice! I wanted to get the rebel 500 for a while now..until I seen and sat on the kawa..This bike looks aggressive and better than the rebel! Looks a lot bigger than a 450cc...can pass for an 800cc..it is NICE 💯
I just got an eliminator 450, love it, totalled my v900 classic. the 6 speed transmission is great, the 900 was only 5 speed, I got the baron pulley upgrade which helped, but this little bike is way faster, and habdles great. Just need a few upgrades like floor boards, better mirrors, bags, sissy bar, windashield maybe some mini apes. It is so quiet tooall I hear is the wind. I put my train horn on it I took from my 900.
I agree about the Vulcan 650, which I find weird-looking, and with motorcycles, we all want something we like to look at. I can easily see myself on what, in the U.S., is going to be the Eliminator 450.
Thank you for another GREAT review! I think this bike COULD be great. It's a LITTLE heavy and needs to drop 10kg (or 20 Lbs). Additionally, it needs a bigger fuel tank: at least 18 liters, better would be 20. Then, it would be perfect (with after market screen and saddle bags!).
god no - I have a Vulcan S - better in every way than this and has forward controls like a cruiser should have. Some newer tech on it wouldn't kill though...... what we really WANT is the rumoured Vulcan H2
I think the timing is bad for Kawasaki on this one. The Rebel 500 is already established and Royal Enfield just launched the Meteor 650. With the Harley Iron 883 leaving the market I think the Meteor will knock it for a six in the Australian, European and US markets. I don't think the Eliminator will even sell well in the Asian markets up against the Honda and Enfield. I am not having a go at the bike, I am just saying that the timing of the entry is wrong.
We already pay more for 2nd hand Vulcan S than new they disappear in minutes if priced well. There are plenty of first timers would love a lighter option, the Z400 can be a little high on the seat for under 5’ 4” people. So a cruiser style with same engine, which is more than enough for a beginner, will sell. The Honda is a little pricey too.
Same horsepower and weight as the rebel, can see who they are going after. I was not a fan of the vulcan s with forward controls, I'm a fan of the looks and ergos of the eliminator. Not going to trade in my bonneville for it but i like it.
I really want a Ninja 400, but in my country they are around €7500 (around 8300 dollars), and can’t find them cheaper anywhere. The cheapest i’ve seen was a used ninja 400 with 30.000km for €6000 (around 6615 dollars). Why is it that the ninja is so much more expensive in my country (The Netherlands)? The price seems way too high but there are literally no cheaper options.
Yep smaller cc engine and lightweight is the way to go. They are not difficult to ride and the performance is just enough to keep it for a while perhaps ever😊 cheers from Oz 🇦🇺
Yea US is an exemption hence they won’t get these mid small engines. As the man said ideal size for new and bikes that are lighter and easier to balance.
Kawasaki need to update the larger cruiser bikes, do away with the Harley ripoff styling and do a Honda style refresh. Also would love to see Kawasaki do a modern style parallel twin with 270 degree crank like Yamaha and Honda, Suzuki has just done this too with the GSX8s
What happened to you mate? Hope you are getting better. Im currently eyeing this bike for my girlfriend since i have a ninja 400. Though the specs are kinda bit conflicting because some indicate that its a 450cc ninja 400 engine. I hope it gets released here in the Philippines.
I don't think this bike butts heads with Kawi's other cruiser, the Vulcan you mentioned. Between the light curb weight, tucked under foot position, and more "mechanical" styling of the frame etc, I think the Eliminator is more of a naked hybrid rather than a true cruiser. For example, I would definitely consider this bike, but would Not consider the Rebel due to low seating and foot-forward orientation.
Looking to get back to riding after some time off. My little Suzuki GZ250 was the little engine that that tried....a few to many time😢 Standing at a whopping 5'4" I was looking at the z400, but I would be interested in comparing
Thanks nice video. Could please quit hammering that Marketing pitch : BEGGINER BYKES, how about if that mid zise is good for the rest of our lives? They want to keep us upgrading to a bigger is better forever. You got the point.
Not really sure about another “mini-cruiser”. A standard bike like the z400 is a better all-around bike, and learning to ride on a standard allows the rider to move onto any other type with a large degree of confidence.
Are cruiser style bikes cumbersome on twisty roads, compared, let's say, to a naked bike? Am I right in thinking they are designed more for long straight roads? I like the looks of a cruiser, but I like a quick, flickable bike. Thanks.
@@martinrea8548 cruisers are definitely NOT flickable! Quite the opposite. They are designed for stability and comfort. They are heavy and ponderous. Something like a Vulcan S might be a good compromise, as it is a sport bike made to look somewhat like a cruiser. But if you want a quick bike for playing on the curves a standard would be a good choice. They are basically sport bikes without the $$$ and easily broken body work. IfI could have just one bike it would be a dual purpose bike.
@@clydeosterhout1221 Thanks for that. I have a Honda Cb500f. It's great in the twisties, great fun moving from side to side. I wouldn't want to give that up, no matter how cool the cruisers look. 🏍
@@martinrea8548 I'm glad to hear that you love your CB500F! It's a wonderful bike. I'm struggling between picking the CB500f (great range with the MPG and big tank!) vs. the z400 (extremely light weight with GREAT power!). Any thoughts?
Yeah perhaps... But even if that does happen as soon as the bike hits the market and a few people have ridden them everyone will be whining "it should have a bigger engine. Why didn't Kawi put a blah blah blah engine in it instead of a 400/450 to compete with the Hondasakimahaki 500"??? Blah Blah blah.... always happens nobody is ever satisfied.
@@bultacowally No doubt some people love to bitch no matter what. Personally, I've had a blast on nearly every bike I've ever owned. (That '82 ironhead, total junk). I don't drool over what I don't have, when I could be enjoying what I do have. Cheers.
I would like to see this 400cc bike make it to the U.S. Right now Kawasaki's line up is all about the same old stuff. They need something new and exciting.
I disagree! This is like the only cruiser you can find with the ability to keep your feet under you. Maybe that makes it not a true "cruiser", but for many people it's a better ergonomic fit.
Am I the only idiot that was hoping to see a Vulcan H2? Don't get me wrong. The Eliminator sounds neat. But I just don't see the need for it. My wife's very first bike (and still current bike) is the Vulcan S, and it's been fantastic.
There is nothing about this that we need. We already have the Vulcan S 650. The last thing anyone needs, at least in the US, is a less powerful cruiser that can barely keep up with traffic. Especially now that Honda brought out the Rebel 1100, we would rather have a new Vulcan S 1000 or something equivalent as an upgrade to the 650.
@@frontdeskstaff9359 - It's about rider position, engine characteristics and economy - similar to sexual positions with different women. I can tell you've never had much sex (with women anyway).
