Harley-davidson Softail Standard vs Kawasaki Eliminator 500
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Harley-davidson Softail Standard vs Kawasaki Eliminator 500. Harley-davidson Softail Standard: 68 hp @ 5,020 rpm hp, 298 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 177 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.5/10. Kawasaki Eliminator 500: 60 hp @ 10,000 rpm hp, 195 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.5/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Harley-davidson Softail Standard
Kawasaki Eliminator 500
Horsepower (hp)
68 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
145 Nm
44 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
177 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
298 kg
195 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
68 hp @ 5,020 rpm
60 hp @ 10,000 rpm
Torque
145 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
44 Nm @ 8,500 rpm
Top Speed
177 km/h (estimated)
175 km/h
Weight
298 kg (wet/curb weight)
195 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.2 L/100km (approximately 16.1 km/L) — estimated real-world average
5.5 L/100km or approximately 18 km/L (typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Harley-davidson Softail Standard
7.5/10
"A dependable, stripped-back cruiser that rewards practical buyers over posers."
Pros
+Milwaukee-Eight torque is addictive
+Bulletproof parts availability
+Solid chassis post-2018
Cons
−Stock seat is genuinely awful
−Rear suspension purely cosmetic
−Chrome pits without careful maintenance
Kawasaki Eliminator 500
7.5/10
"Smart, practical cruiser that punches above its modest price point."
Pros
+Bulletproof Kawasaki parallel twin
+Surprisingly nimble for cruiser
+Excellent real-world fuel economy
Cons
−Highway vibration above 75mph
−Budget non-adjustable suspension
−Cruiser aesthetics feel slightly costume
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
