Pros cons of a kawasaki Eliminator 125 for 1st bike?

[Henriettaah]

Fixed!

[Kal]

So's my cat.... please dont 'fix' me!!! Gratuitous nudity and thinley veiled sexual references will be all tht I have left!!!

[jmillheiser]

Wow last time I ever complain about prices over here lol. What you guys pay for a Kawi Eliminator is about what we pay for a GS500 or EX500.

The 125s that Kal and Henriettah have are probably a bit quicker than an EL125 as they are 2 strokes which have power figures more in line with a 4 stroke 250.

There was an EL 125 at my MSF course, good looking bike but VERY low to the ground and apparantly very easy to scrape pegs on. If you want an entry level cruiser look at the rebel, virago, Alpha GV250, or even a Vulcan 500 if you can afford it.

[ZooTech]

a 125cc streetbike anything more than a novelty or something to putt around on at the local campground

Mine's a 125

God you snob!

Oh, come now...don't get worked up into a tizzy!

We all know the streets of London are too small for a liter bike!

[Henriettaah]

The 125s that Kal and Henriettah have are probably a bit quicker than an EL125 as they are 2 strokes which have power figures more in line with a 4 stroke 250

Thats very interesting to know.
How do you define the BHP of a bike?
In the UK, we are restricted to the BHP we can ride until we pass certain tests. How likely is it you would be caught riding something out of your league - would you have to raise the suspicsions of your local bobby, by ragging a small bike with 'L's around more than it should be capable of?
(I'm presuming a BHP test is not standard with MOT's.)

In other words, what if my 125cc bike has a larger BHP than 14.6? And how would I ever know this..?

[flynrider]

Some manufacturers will include horsepower figures in their specifications. Others, like Kaw, do not. When a factory does give a figure for BHP it is usually taken from the crankshaft when the engine was on a test cell / dynomometer. Hence, the number will be optomistic (good for sales) in that it doesn't take into account losses in the final drive train. Real world HP measured at the rear wheel on a dyno will almost always be lower than published figures.

The best source for real world data on engine performance will come from motorcycle mags and sites that actually take the time to put new bikes on a dyno and publish the real world figures.

[shane-o]

The 125s that Kal and Henriettah have are probably a bit quicker than an EL125 as they are 2 strokes which have power figures more in line with a 4 stroke 250

Thats very interesting to know.
How do you define the BHP of a bike?
In the UK, we are restricted to the BHP we can ride until we pass certain tests. How likely is it you would be caught riding something out of your league - would you have to raise the suspicsions of your local bobby, by ragging a small bike with 'L's around more than it should be capable of?
(I'm presuming a BHP test is not standard with MOT's.)

In other words, what if my 125cc bike has a larger BHP than 14.6? And how would I ever know this..?

wow is your bike really 14.6 horse, nah it couldnt be could it ???? our ride-on lawn mower is 15 hp.

[Henriettaah]

Haha - yeh, funny!






That was meant to be a joke, right?

[jayhawk]

. It seems like a fairly good choice for a beginner like me. Anyone have anything against it or other bikes that might be a better fit. Oh and can a 125cc bike the the eminator do highway speed? Thank you


JWF

Actually it was reviewed a couple of years ago along with 250 cc Japanese bikes (honda, Yamaha, Suzuki) and fared well with those bikes.
It was among the recommended starter bikes. If it fits well and you know its limitaitions, why not?
Pete

[TorontoBoy]

The Kawi 125 Eliminator would be a great starter bike. There might also older cb125s from the 1980s still around. They can't go on the highway as after 60mph acceleration sucks, putting the rider at risk of getting run over by an SUV. Around town they're great. Easy to ride, easy to park, difficult to drop at a stop sign, and can get in the 50kpl/120mpg range. Cruise in the 60kph/40mph range with good accelaration. You can definately keep up with traffic and can even get speeding tickets if you're not careful.

Don't let "displacement creep" get to you. There are a slew of 125-200cc scooters coming across the pond to North America. Riders like the light weight of these bikes and ease of riding. If a 125cc bike fills 90% of your needs, why get a 500cc?