Picked up a Kawa Eliminator
 

Local craigslist ad. 2006 model with 215 total miles, paid $1700 including a nice helmet.

Miles are not a misprint, bike looks brand new, always stored inside a garage.

regards
Mech

sweet :) Make sure to give yourself time to acclimate to this new level of exposure/performance.

Cool! :cool:

Three years ago, at the ripe young age of 49, I bought my first motorcycle, a 2004 Kawasaki Eliminator 125cc bike. I loved the way it sat, looked, it's 70+ mpg fuel economy. Great bike around town for one person.

Mine ran 58 mph on level ground on the throttle stop. I wanted to use it as my daily commuter, and did for 2 months, before moving up to a 250 Ninja. (I have two hills that reduced my top speed to 50 MPH, if I was hugging the gas tank. :( ) Lots of fun for cruising around on though, if you're not on an open two lane highway.

Old Mech -

Is that my favorite 125CC version? Pictures please!

CarloSW2

Vehicle Picture

Here is a pic, same color as mine.

regards
Mech

Cool!

I have two motorcycles that I use for commuting to work, and prototyping parts on. Both are MPG-oriented, with a little more performance orientation on the Ninja.

I also used the Eliminator to teach my wife and kids how to ride. Family fun FTW! :thumbup:

Clearly the 125cc is great for mileage, low cost, and user friendly. The lower seat height and upright seating position is a plus for those of us over 50. The task is getting the air drag down using a streamliner shell. See craigvetter.com for the upcoming Gather of Streamliners event at Mid-Ohio.

Even if you don't go full-streamliner, you can improve the aerodynamics to make it comfortable enough for 55mph. I love my Eliminator, and ride it in cool weather. It gets 78mpg.

Full mods list is:
Billet aluminum torque rod (lighter weight than OEM steel piece)
PMP 42 tooth rear sprocket (light weight and higher potential top speed)
billet aluminum front engine brackets (weight reduction)
Slipstreamer windscreen (aero)
midsection aero shields (aero, and helps keep legs warm riding in cold weather)
HID headlamp (lower electrical load- 35w vs 55w)
aux. fog/driving lamp (safety- wired to be ON w/ headlamp during HIGH beam)
turn/run/brake control module (LED compatability, safety)
LED turn/run/brake + LED license lamp (safety, lower electrical load)

I plan on adding rear fender skirts soon to cover a little more of the rear wheel, and seeing where else I can make it a little more slippery (or at least a little less brick-like).

Don't forget the tail box to smooth out the flow behind the rider. Disc style wheel covers on the rear can reduce drag too.

Finally got my license after recovering from 2 hernia surgeries.

142 miles took 1.8 gallons for 90 MPG.

60 miles of that was driving around my neighborhood and practicing for the license, all in lower gears stop and go, never over 25 MPH.

Yesterday I drove from the DMV to lunch then hit the holiday traffic with some of my usual route lights taking 10 cycles for the 1 mile backup of traffic to clear that single light. 46 lights on my normal route. Interstate was crawling, bumper to bumper for 10 miles.

I used all of my local knowledge going back to 1966, driving through a lot of neighborhoods I usually never drive through to get around the blockages.

Had a nice ride today to Surry Va, took the Scotland Neck ferry from Jamestown south over the James river, out in the country.

I think 100 should not be a problem when things get back to normal ;).

regards
Mech

If you got 90 with half the tank being "learning", I would probably make my baseline 100. :turtle:

It takes some practice to get this bike off from a light at a speed that does not frustrate other drivers. More like a WOT drag race, but to be expected when you are pushing 500 pounds with 12 horsepower.

Nice thing around here is many of the roads have bike paths on the shoulder, so you have an additional escape route if someone swerves into your lane.

I have had it to 62 MPH on a flat stretch, which seems to be about as fast as it will go. Very toss able with excellent brakes. Drove over 240 miles over the last 3 days. By the end of today I will probably get another fuel refill to see what the mileage looks like.

Thinking about selling the Insight and keeping this bike and my VX. Haven't driven the Insight in a week.

Funny thing is it seems like people are less prone to tailgating you on a bike. Maybe it's 6feet and 205 pounds, and the snow white goatee that gives them the impression that some respect might be appropriate.

Loads of fun and so far not even a single close encounter of the moron kind. I guess my driving techniques are a factor, since I already assumed stupidity was the norm on the roads around here.

Its fun to cruise at lower speeds. Coasting still works fine when the light ahead is red, but I think pulse and glide is a waste with the aero drag. Other bikers seem to think I will abandon the Kawa for a bigger bike shortly, but after driving the Insight and VX for over 55,000 miles, I am getting used to lower levels of acceleration, and the changes in driving technique you must employ when you can't just mash the gas and blast out of harms way.

New battery, oil change, headlight adjustment, and the power is improving as I get used to the dynamics of a small displacement engine.

Think I'll go wax the painted surfaces ;).

regards
Mech

90mpg, on a 125cc, whilst learning :eek: thats great.
*Checked picture of it*
. . .
I want one.

And only with a shade over 15hp too(according to wiki).. Impressive.

yeah, eliminator 125s are great. i am getting one in the spring for my commuter. my vulcan 500 isnt bad, but it could be better. its still fast though:D.

I got about the same results on my MC-05-127 (essentially also a 125cc).
60MPH tops, and the choke can be used to ride it in the correct A/F ratio, or run it leaner or richer.

I got 120MPG out of mine once, but acceleration sucked.
Then I switched back to a bigger rear sprocket, and the Roketa bike had a good 105MPG constant (save for longer highway rides).
The rokkie only has 4 gears tho...

My rebel 250 also gets 80MPG stock with 50% highway top speed, and 95MPG without. Stock sprockets on the Rebel are 14/33t I believe. I run a 15/25t. about as low as one can go.
If I put a 15/27 or 15/26t sprocket, I can achieve higher top speeds, but I'm content with how it rides with a 15/25 in 5th (rides butter smooth between 35-42MPH).

They have a BBK for the eliminator. A 175cc kit, that can gain 5-10MPH; is more efficient and should get you very similar MPG results, because it's lighter weight aluminum, piston and smaller tolerances..