BMW R 1150 GS Adventure versus Kawasaki Eliminator 500

BMW R 1150 GS Adventure

Adventure

Kawasaki Eliminator 500

Cruiser

In our series of used motorcycle tests, a classic is due today: The BMW R 1150 GS. The bike was provided to us by a visitor, it is in absolute top condition. This GS series was built between 1999 and 2003 – what can it do today... weiter

BMW R 1150 GS

Gallery

Cheap cruiser from Japan for only 6,500 euros

With the new Eliminator 500, Kawasaki wants to wrest market share from the successful Honda CMX 500 Rebel. The new "Elli" is very inexpensive and correspondingly simple in design. That you can still have a lot of fun with her... weiter

Kawasaki Eliminator 500 im Test

Gallery

Year of construction / RRP / Test report

Built von 2005 bis 2005

Built von 2024 bis 2024~

RRP

RRP 6.495 €

Ausführliches Test-Video von Motorradtest.de

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Competitors

Pros:

Comfort
Processing
Off-road capability

Pros:

very light cruiser
Low seat height
Easiest manoeuvring
Simplest operation
living engine
cheap fun bike

Cons:

High weight

Cons:

sometimes rather simple materials
Lever not adjustable
old-fashioned cockpit
restrained sound

Dimensions & Weight

Wheelbase: 1.501 mm
Length : 2.180 mm
Seat : 900 mm
Weight : 287 (max: 460 ) kg

Wheelbase: 1.520 mm
Length : 2.250 mm Height : 1.100 mm
Seat : 735 mm
Weight : 176 (max: 357 ) kg

Engine

Motor design: Boxer 4-stroke 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 1.130 ccm
Hub: 71 mm
Hole: 101 mm
Cooling: Öl-Luft
Drive: Kardan
Aisles: 6

Motor design: Four-stroke in-line two-cylinder 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 451 ccm
Hub: 59 mm
Hole: 70 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6

Performance

Maximum speed: 192 km/h
Performance: 85 HP at 6.750 U/Min
Torque: 98 NM bei 5.250 U/Min

Tank contents: 22 Litre
Consumption: 5 l

Maximum speed: 169 km/h
Performance: 45 HP at 9.000 U/Min
Torque: 43 NM bei 6.000 U/Min

Tank contents: 13 Litre
Consumption: 4 l
Reach: 342 km

Chassis

Frame type:
Tubular space frame (steel)

Front suspension:
Telelever (travel 210 mm)

Rear suspension:
Central strut (travel 220 mm)
Rear suspension:
Paralever single-arm swingarm

Tyres at the front: 110/80 B 19 TL
Rear tyres: 150/70 H 17 TL

Frame type:
Tubular space frame (steel)

Front suspension:
41 mm telescopic fork (travel 120 mm)

Rear suspension:
Stereo shock absorbers, adjustable spring base (travel 90 mm)
Rear suspension:
Two-arm swingarm

Tyres at the front: 130/70-18M/C 63H
Rear tyres: 150/80-16M/C 71H

Brakes

Front brake
Double disc brakes (∅ 305 mm) Rear brake
Single disc (∅ 276 mm)

Front brake
Single disc brake, double piston caliper (∅ 310 mm) Rear brake
Single disc brake, double piston caliper (∅ 240 mm)

Cheap never, well mostly

MW driving has never been a particularly cheap pleasure. Although many specimens are around 20 years old and have collected correspondingly many kilometers, these GS are still not a bargain. It must be at least 5,000 euros, top-maintained specimens like our test bike like to scratch at the five-digit. You can understand this: The BMW R 1150 GS, if you don't catch a rocked-out model, is an almost ideal companion for the very big tour.

If you can do without cornering and agility, the GS is the ideal travel moped, where the road can be three steps below perfect.
As I said, a buddy for the good and the bad days.

Conclusion - what sticks

Man, Eli is really a lot of fun! As soon as you sit on the bike, you forget about A2 performance, non-existent technology and the simple construction of the cruiser. On the contrary, the reduction to the essentials is even what makes the Eliminator 500 so charming. It rides well and everyone, really EVERYONE - whether small or big, man or woman or anything in between - will feel safe on this machine and get off with a big grin. As I said, a real fun bike!

The test machine was provided to us by Heller & Soltau in St. Michalisdonn . Eli will be there as a demonstrator and is looking forward to lots of test riders. We can only encourage you to do so, even if an A2 bike might not even come to your mind at first. The new Kawa cruiser is really fun! Maybe even as a second machine? Let's go to St. Michaelisdonn to Heller & Soltau!