A2-LEGAL CRUISERS
Affordable A2-legal cruisers pack plenty of style and substance
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£6506
(base model £6106) Kawasaki Eliminator 500 SE
● 451cc liquid-cooled DOHC 8v parallel twin
● 44.8bhp @ 9000rpm
● 177kg (kerb)
● £85 a month on PCP
£6799
(base model £6399) Honda CMX500 Rebel Special Edition
● 471cc liquid-cooled DOHC 8v parallel twin
● 45.6bhp @ 8500rpm
● 190kg (kerb)
● £89 a month on PCP
£6699
(plus £100 or £200 for colour options) Royal Enfield Shotgun 650
● 648cc air-cooled SOHC 8v parallel twin
● 46.4bhp @ 7250rpm
● 240kg (kerb)
● £88.42 a month on PCP
Whenever cruisers are discussed, thoughts naturally turn towards the established and often pricey offerings from America. Harley-Davidson and Indian dominate this segment and for good reason; they have both been at it for more than a century. But that’s not to say they have the entire cruiser market sewn up – far from it.
While it is true Harley’s Nightster and 107-engined models can be made A2-legal, prices of over £13,000 make them a fairly unrealistic option for many newer riders. And the same is true of the Indian Scout models, which can Continued over also be made A2-legal but likewise costs more than £13,000. Happily, for those on a restricted licence, a few non-American brands are ready to step in. And they are doing so with some very decent offerings.
Fresh this year are two new middleweight cruisers – the Kawasaki Eliminator 500 and the Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 - which join the segment’s established leader, Honda’s (slightly updated for 2024 with new paint options) CMX500 Rebel – and they all cost less than £7000. The Rebel has been Europe’s best-selling custom-style bike for the last two years running. But can the two new cruisers on the block threaten the Rebel’s superiority? When it comes to style, you have to say Honda must be getting a bit nervous.
Yes, the Rebel has gained a few new paintschemes for 2024 (the bike we are testing is a 2023 model SE) but on looks, both the Kawasaki and Enfield certainly run it close. Despite being more old-school in its appearance (Enfield call it ‘retro-futuristic’, a term which makes no sense at all) the Shotgun is classy and it is nice to see an air-cooled engine on display in a cruiser.
There are certainly areas you could pick fault with and corners have undeniably been cut here and there
