I am riding this 2025 Eliminator 500 since the beginning of December and can't wait for the hot season to hit some mountain pass!
How is it? I considered one for a hot minute
this post was submitted on 03 Feb 2026
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From an engine perspective, it depends on what's your use case, I am doing almost 0 highway but it is more than capable to do it, it's not lightning quick or brutal in acceleration, but if you turn the knob it WILL accelerate. I don't feel it "too much" uncomfortable like other cruisers I tried as the position it's a bit different but you have to try it yourself. Personally, going back, I would have tried also the Z650 R, but it's a totally different bike from every point of view and also it costs significantly more here. This has the same engine of the Ninja 500, that I never tried, but I am fairly confident that this can handle better lower engine regimes. It's comfortable, not too noisy also with the stock Arrow exhaust that is an optional. I think it's better than the Honda Rebel, but you have to try them.
Underappreciated bike IMO, looks stunning. Congrats!
It's a Ninja 500 as a cruiser. I like how it looks, but I can't get over the cruiser ergonomics.
It doesn't have cruiser ergonomics though. It's got a very standard riding position with mid controls and upright stance. It's like a mini Rocket 3 R
Coming from a smaller 125cc, that was a Scrambler, I can understand this, in the end as much as I love the Eliminator, probably the Z650 R, that was my 2nd option, I would really like to have both one day.....maybe....
Im glad more companies are doing the smaller displacement, modern design, parallel twin cruisers. They seem like they would be a great package but I've never gotten to ride one.
Imagine if Yamaha made one with the p-twin 700 they have. :O
I feel you pain man. I did a 100km ride last Saturday, it was sunny but it was freezing cold, half wet road, heavy jacket and pants, boots. It's been raining ever since.
Same, I ride all year round, but only because here in southern Switzerland is not too cold for the 5km commute I am doing, doing more than that in 1-2°C is difficult
Lol 25 years ago I was riding a 400 10 miles (16km?) (each way) to work in 20°F (so -6-7c?) weather... Just have to stay bundled up. I drew the line at snow.
I am lucky that below-zero temperatures are almost never seen here, but I mean, yeah, I don't think it's impossible, let me be clear. I just say it's more difficult, mainly I am a bit scared of ice in the road when it's really cold
I'm with you
With 16 I had such a 50ccm dirt bike (so nothing to compare to a real motorbike) and if missed the bus to school, I needed to drive with in those 25km
In spring and autumn this was fine, but in winter...
Once I just fell off it at the end of the ride, because I was too stiff to get move my legs accordingly.
As I was young and dumb, I obviously wore some jeans, but still, in low temperatures and shitty weather it just sucks to be that exposed to the elements
You made me remember when, at 17, I used to ride 12 km each way on my Fantic Trial 50 to go see my girlfriend at her parents' house. In winter, it was brutal, I was definitely not dressed for it.