Yamaha Road Star 1700 vs Kawasaki Eliminator 500
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Yamaha Road Star 1700 vs Kawasaki Eliminator 500. Yamaha Road Star 1700: 61 hp @ 4,000 rpm hp, 309 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.8/10. 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
Yamaha Road Star 1700
Kawasaki Eliminator 500
Horsepower (hp)
61 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
127 Nm
44 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
309 kg
195 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
61 hp @ 4,000 rpm
60 hp @ 10,000 rpm
Torque
127 Nm @ 2,500 rpm
44 Nm @ 8,500 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h
175 km/h
Weight
309 kg (wet/curb weight)
195 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
7.5 L/100km (approx. 13.3 km/L) — best estimate based on typical real-world reports
5.5 L/100km or approximately 18 km/L (typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Yamaha Road Star 1700
7.8/10
"A tough, characterful cruiser that rewards patient, attentive buyers enormously."
Pros
+Legendary engine reliability
+Massive low-end torque
+Parts widely available cheap
Cons
−Genuinely heavy at 310kg
−Stock rear shocks terrible
−No ABS on any model
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.
