Eliminator 250

Hi Just got my L's on the weekend and I am looking at buying a
second-hand eliminator. Just had a couple of questions for anyone who
may have owned one:

Anything particularly bad about these (aside from the fact they're a
250...).

A dealer told me they get a govenor put in the engine, which hinders
their performance when they are shipped to Oz, but this can be removed
- no-one else I've spoken to has ever heard of this.

I'm commuting about 105 Kms a day in a 60 zone, and I want to be
comfortable, any comments.

 

I have a feeling im gonna get mentioned in this at some point.

Mike.S

 

On the contrary, that is if its an old Eliminator 250. The newer ones (circa 1997 onwards, give or take a yr)
use a V engine of some heritage i know not. not the gpx/zzr250 of yesteyear.

Mike.S

 

I have a 2003 Eliminator (VN250), which I bought brand new and I thoroughly
enjoy riding it.

The bike has reasonable pick-up, but obviously a pretty low top speed. Mine
has 180 on the clock, but I've only ever had it up to 130 - and with me on
it, that's no mean feat. Might reach 180 in freefall.

It's pretty responsive in the 90 - 110 range, which is good on the freeway,
and you should have no trouble in a 60 zone other than drifting over the
speed limit, which I find myself doing a bit.

It handles pretty well for a cruiser, although I don't have much to compare
it to, other than the CB250 I used at my learner course. I used the
Eliminator for my provisional licence course, and despite it being much
heavier, having a much longer wheelbase and lower road clearance than the
bikes provided to the other guys, I breezed through it, and got better
results than most of the group.

I commute about 80 Km per day through inner Melbourne suburbia and SE
freeway and have never felt uncomfortable. After about 180km continuous
cruising, my backside gets a bit sore, but that's probably more to do with
me being a fat bastard.

My only complaint is that the footpegs are not as far forward as I would
have liked and on long rides, my legs cramp up a bit, but nothing a quick
walk at the next servo hasn't been able to fix. That, and the horn sounds
really poxy.

I haven't heard of the governor of which you speak, and haven't had any
performance issues. It performs better than I had expected for a big bike
with a little engine under a fat bastard.

HTH

JP
2003 VN250 (stolen & found) --> 2003 FLSTFI (soon)

 

The older ones had the GPX/z motor, but the current models (I don't
know when they came in) have a V-twin in a pretty big frame. They
*look* very nice, but that's the limit of my knowledge of them.

As for what they're like to ride, I think MikeS, Tara and Dr
Blaxsliminator might be better sources? ;-)


BTH

 

Fairy Nuff. So, Mr. Original Poster, is it a parallel twin
one or a V-twin one?

-----sharks

 

Nice to ride, tracks dead straight, takes corners rather nicely (for my inexperienced self)
no real quirks. biggest danger in doing things wrong is yourself imho.

Short gear changes in acceleration, good for around-the-city commuting, but due to this
would prove a tad of a pain in anything longer than a putty rd trip or maybe even a trip
to canberra[1]. Other than that they are a nice bit of kit, very compact, and will treat you
well if you treat it well.. Might explain my $700 engine repair quote i got today for the
aftermath of totally confusing the timing from what i was told to reading the manual.

I like my bike, will prolly stay on it a while as the commute factor is enough to keep
her aside from the fact shes fun riding.

[1] if anything resembling a hill or headwind is involved.

Mike.S

 

The new Eliminators are very similar to the Honda V25/VT250C which is
very comfortable over longer rides (I rode my VT250C for a day ride
through the national park and then after coming home, hopped back on
it and rode to Canberra, and back the next day)

It will all come down to how comfortable _YOU_ feel on the bike. Sit
on a few models of various brands (same style) and various model
types. Also, you may want to look at bikes like the Yamaha XVS 650
which is now learner legal in NSW (not sure where you are). I test
rode one after my P's and it felt the same as my 250, just with less
gear changes.

Hope this helps

Andrew

VT250C -> M620ie Dark

 

I like my baby (1995 EL250 - older style).

She has quite a bit of kick for a cruiser, kicks the arse out of a CB (I got 130 up hill where the CB was
stuggling at 110). Once you have been riding for a little while they will start to feel very light. My only
comment would be, if you think you might like to ride something sporty (is GSXR type) afterwards, perhaps
consider something else. I rode a virago first day of my l's and the EL on the second and then bought one and
have been riding it for 2 and a half years. I recently rode a ZZR250 and thought I was gonna die, cos the EL
has a very LOW center of gravity. But then I rode a monster and that was fine. Having said all that I have
been told the ZZR is quite top heavy.

But the actual bike is great to ride. And allow 5 hours when you want to change the sprockets cos you have to
remove the entire exhaust system. (Not that hard, just time consuming).

Tara

 

True, it wasn't that hard for *you*! ;-)


BTH

 

Never mind BT, it's a perfectly normal symptom of old age.
There's probably nothing to worry about.

-----sharks
--
Nick 'Sharkey' Moore <> <http://zoic.org/sharkey>
"As she contemplated the setting sun, its dying rays casting the last of
their brilliant purple light on the red-gold waters of the lake, Debbie
realized that she should never again buy her sunglasses from a guy parked
by the side of the road." -- Malinda Lingwall, Bulwer-Lytton Contest 2003.

 

But if you _are_ worried, I've got about 4000 buts of spam
offering to help...

;-)

big

 

Iain Chalmers wrote in message ...
~

Buts?!!? I thought it was made outta' snouts and ears.....

[She came in through the bathroom window....]
CockerDoodle