Kawasaki ZL900 information

Kawasaki ZL900

Introduced in 1985 the shaft driven six speed ZL900 Eliminator custom was both stylish, and with a 105bhp @ 9500 rpm, was quick as well!

The DOHC four valve liquid cooled engine with six speed box propelled this 238kg machine to 134mph, with a 0-100 KPH in just three seconds! Not bad for a custom cruiser.

Only produced for 2 years (1985 and 1986), the ZL900 evolved from the legendary Kawasaki Z1. The ZL900 was designed to evoke images of the wildly successful Z1 drag bikes, with a bobbed rear fender, short travel fork, large rear tire, fat chromed mufflers, a small fuel tank and low straight handlebars.

The ZL900 engine was a transplanted and slightly modified version of the liquid-cooled ‘Four’ introduced in the 1984 Kawasaki ZX900 Ninja. Kawasaki used smaller 32-mm carburettors, different timing and camshafts with less duration. This gave the engine a dramatically different personality, trading the Ninja's high-end surge for low-end grunt and meaty mid-range torque that was more suitable for a cruiser.

The Kawasaki Eliminator was considered a "giant killer", and is still considered to be ahead of its time even now some 20-plus years after its initial introduction.

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Kawasaki ZL900 photo

Kawasaki ZL900

Kawasaki ZL900

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Kawasaki ZL900 owners

Here is a list of machines proudly owned by our community members, that are the same or similar to this machine.

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other info

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