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That makes a lot of sense, Kyle. The TW is an excellent bike to learn on, partly (I believe) because it looks so approachable - so friendly. I actually rode in Vermont once. I bought a Honda Interceptor just across the border in Claremont, NH, and rode through Vermont on my way home to Pennsylvania. That's a stunning state. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

Hi Keith, I no longer have the TW (even today, I can't understand why I traded it in rather than just hanging on to it), but I've wanted to make a video about it for quite awhile. Most of my videos are recorded while I'm riding; this one was not - it is voiceover. I literally spent a month on this trying to get it right, in that I wanted to convey in a light-hearted way that this motorcycle is one of the crudest motorized implements ever made, but it's so cheerful, friendly, willing, reliable, and flat out fun that it completely wins you over. The Enfield, by the way, is the classiest motorcycle on the planet; I have no doubt about that. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

That's actually a pretty good joke, Fairwind. You are not alone; I think that adrenaline/endorphin cocktail you experience on a bike tricks a lot of us. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

Perfect first bike, AmericanRider. If you were like me when you were younger, you probably acted like a complete animal on a motorcycle, and hey, puttin' the whip to 13 horsepower still keeps things relatively sane. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

Hi Raymond, I had to look up the 2004 to see the color scheme; you got one of the best. The TW gets under your skin. It's such a friendly, upbeat, dependable motorcycle that its many flaws become endearing rather than annoying. I think that's the key to the widespread dedication to the bike. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

😆changing teeth changes speedo calibration

@AmericanRider1881 no it doesn't. Maybe if you change front tire size... 😎

I have no doubt that you do, Brent. Of all the motorcycles that I've let go over the years, I regret letting the TW go more than any of them. I think about buying another one almost daily. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

Excellent! The Eliminator is such a great choice for such a wide range of people that I can't fathom it not being a runaway hit. I'm glad you're having fun on it. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

That's great, James! Kawasaki should be selling these Eliminators by the truckload. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

I whole-heartedly concur, Shop970. I can get something via FedEx from India faster than I can get something from Indiana. I"m very sorry to hear that you haven't experienced The Smell of Happiness yet; keep trying, as it is both soothing and healing. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

@FGRides I haven't got any leather or canvas yet. But a low rider seat. Heel toe Shift . & springs. For 1/2 the cost of just a new seat$ You went to the full touring seat. Same handlebar.?

The seats make me crazy! I love the low rider and the touring seats, but I think the bike looks best with the standard seat. I regularly switch between them, but never let the standard seat on for more than 1 ride; I'm always reminded of why I have the other 2. I did not change the handlebar, but did put YSS shocks on that are 20mm shorter than the standard shocks. The sad truth is that I just like messing around with the bike!

@@FGRides thanks ! That's interesting to me. Considering I shouldn't be making any changes to a new bike. I'm sure it's fine the way it is. For a near 6 ft. Person. I have a whole 200 miles on it so. . . No idea yet of searching for Changes! If I had the money .yes. I would be having lots of typical add ons..including new 50/50 tires. My scooter has pull back handlebars. More comfortable. But I'm sure I should tell myself to just ride it! Very easy to get used to. Even as a senior. I like it. Same bike as yours. Halcyon green. . An upgrade from a 150cc scooter! Is more than I could ask for really. Haven't even wound it up yet. Break-in. Runs well in Oregon. Very pleasant to have someone in the U.S.. that enjoys tinkering. I have to be happy with being able to just ride it. A Rear rack. & a new seat.

Hi Shop970, Do you mean that you just took your air filter cover off? If so, I guess that's one very expedient method for improved breathing. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

@FGRides I'm just kidding.. side cover too! Interesting to see what zero restrictions would show! It's an enjoyable bike. . . not made for speed. Yours is a good view of the upgrade! I'm at low altitude. Plenty of air! I can see it helping in different conditions.

I'm glad that you were kidding! Sometimes I get whacky comments and I'm just not sure what to make of them, but I always respond because I truly appreciate the active participation - even when I get the occasional hostile comment. Still, I have to throw the keyboard into "Neutral" when responding, if you know what I mean. Thank you, @shop970 George

This is a great comment, Mr. Slayer. Are you talking about the Chrome models specifically, or across the range? I think that if the Chrome Bronze had black side covers and fork covers (like the Chrome Red), I wouldn't have given a second thought to the matter. But it's really the lack of consistency in regards to the Chrome Red model that bothers me. It's a stunning-looking bike as it is, but I wonder how the RE folks thought that it was okay to vary the theme between the Bronze and the Red, ya know? I don't have the same problem with the Stealth models because one of them is already black. I think it was a very good call not to put grey fork covers on the Gun Metal Grey model, though. Too much, too much, right? Thank you for watching and commenting! George in Pennsylvania, USA

Hi Wozza, I didn't de-cat the bike, and have no plans to do so; I like the sound of the stock exhaust too much to change it. I think it would be neat to get a Hunter and go berserk on that, though (I think I mentioned that before). Thank you for watching and commenting! George

Hi Evan, I have to admit that I'm sort of glad I'm not the only one who had a problem with fitment of the kit, but I'm also sorry to hear it; that's just a dreadful feeling when something's supposed to be a straight forward swap, and it's not. I (probably!) won't be fitting the de-cat to the Classic, but I keep thinking that it would be fun to get a Hunter and go berserk with the performance mods. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

I honestly don't know, Nishica, but I don't think BMC has the air filter cover that makes the DNA so effective. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

So here's the thing, Alex. I don't have any way to tell if the bike is running hotter, but I've thought about it quite a bit, and remain just slightly conflicted. Since there is a modest increase in performance, there must be more heat generated, but also since there is a modest increase in performance, there must be more fuel being squirted into the mixture, which would reduce the heat of the engine before combustion occurs. (These are just my thoughts - I have no stoichiometry to back them up, because stoichiometry sucks, of course.) There seems to be a slight increase in fuel consumption. I usually fill up after the Trip F comes on and the odometer starts to clock upwards. My best tank was 86 MPG (achieved during break-in), and my worst tank was 72 MPG (right after I installed the DNA, but the tank included the only highway running that I've ever done on the machine), but since then has been closer to 80 MPG. In any case, if I had any sense that I was doing harm to the motorcycle, I would immediately remove the DNA kit, and would never have recommended it on the channel. Thank you for watching, and for your kind comments! George

The Classic is definitely a lead sled for a 350cc motorcycle. The low seat height of the Eliminator was probably the first thing that piqued my interest in it. I'm 5'9", but I'm built like Yosemite Sam; mostly torso with sawed off legs. I have another motorcycle that's only 1" taller than the Classic, but it feels 3" taller. I haven't ridden it since June of 2023. I completely understand!

Would you be willing to send me a couple of photos of your TW? I might be able to use them in the video. fgrides@gmail.com. If not, that's fine, too. I appreciate you leaving comments! George

Hi shilohsamgary, I'm glad to hear that you bought, and are enjoying, an Eliminator! I'm going to try to finagle a ride on one of them this year. I saw that you have a playlist for the Yamaha TW200 on your channel. I'm actually in the middle of making a video about the TW that I owned for a year and a half. Trading it in is probably my biggest motorcycling regret. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

I always thought it would be neat to ride one of those big 2 strokes from the 70's, but I've never had the opportunity. Thank you for the comment!

I love the nutty things we motorcycle enthusiasts do just to ride. Ohio in January? No problem, right? Thank you for the comment.

Hi Wallace, I whole-heartedly concur that the Eliminator is a fabulous bike. I remain infatuated with them. It boggles the mind that this dealer couldn't sell even 1 of them over the course of a year, and I was trying to figure out why that was so. I think a large part of it might have been the attitude of the staff at the dealership, which is approaching criminal, and the other major factor is the some folks feel that they might be made fun of by their peers if they ride a bike with a lower displacement. I would say, "Get the bike, ditch the peers!" Thank you for watching and commenting! George

Oh, Wally... Did it somehow escape your attention that he's not criticizing the Eliminator - that, in fact, he likes that bike? His question was in no way a criticism, it was in regards to the fact that the local Kawasaki dealership hasn't moved a single one of them, even with huge markdowns. As for "who's buying Royal Enfields, well... They've doubled their sales here in the U.S. EVERY YEAR for the last several years, so... And, additionally, they've been making bikes since 1901 without EVER ceasing production, so while YOU might not be buying them, plenty of folks are.

That's a great question, actually. Other than Moron#1 (me!), who is buying them? I think I will make that a topic for a future video. I'm wondering if you've ever ridden a Royal Enfield - I think it's something that every motorcycle enthusiast would find enlightening, as the motorcycles makes a bunch of synapses fire simultaneously, while also inducing a craving for curry in any form. Thank you so much for 2 comments; that's very good for the channel. Ride safe on that awesome Eliminator!

AGAG, Your name is exactly the sound I love to hear at the end of a date. Your comment is well-reasoned and insightful, and I thank you ever so much for posting it!

I genuinely love that weird smell now. Have you ever wanted to return an item to India? I had 1 item to return, and found out that I couldn't get it shipped to India from the United States for less than something like $150. This was AFTER I made the video, so it was too late to include that helpful information. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

@ Yes, I bought some pannier rails for my Meteor but one of them didn’t fit properly , could only get 2 of the 3 fittings to line up on the bike Company said I could send it back but couldn’t do with all the hassle of repackaging it so I bodged an extension bracket for the misaligned fitting to connect it.

You know what's funny, pianoboogieman7290? That is exactly why I removed it and went for a long ride with the stock setup back in place; I was terribly worried about being hounded by solicitors! Seriously, though, I'm a guy that does not like to modify vehicles in any way that affects performance, yet this DNA filter kit somehow improves the bike while allowing it to completely retain its character. It's an amazing thing, especially for the price. Please let me know what you think of it after it's fitted. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

Little Meaty must be the best name for a Meteor that I've ever heard! I admit that as I age, I also get a bit anxious at higher speeds, especially here in north central Pennsylvania, where the deer fling themselves onto the roadway with wild abandon. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

Yes, John Smith; I couldn't recommend if for somebody who plans to ride it primarily on freeways. I've ridden mine approximately 30 miles in total on freeways, and it was fine, but neither of us really felt comfortable. It is an exceptional choice for anybody that routinely avoids freeways, though. Thank you for watching and commenting! I love Canada. George

Now I understand the text message, AGAG. Daphne, I think after the character on Frasier, but I could be wrong about that. Poor, abandoned Daphne. You should listen to "Fight Song" and resolve to find her. Thanks for watching, brother! George

@FGRides seriously?? It was from a Jeremy Clarkson book!

Look, I don't have the priapismic memory (or whatever they call it) like you. In fact, when I wake up every morning, the slate from the previous day has been pretty much wiped clean. You should have complimented me for remembering "Daphne". Still, you should work on a plan to get her back. Wouldn't that be glorious?

Hi Brett, As in Bam A Lam?!!! That's awesome. I think about these motorcycles exactly the right amount of time (which most people would characterize as "far too much"), and one of the things I ponder is if I would change the way I ride simply due to the variation I'm on. I always think that I would be tempted to flog the Stealth Black because it would make me feel like a badass. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

Thank you for the comment! Those bags make me laugh. I bought them from India on ebay because the ad said "The smell will go away after a few rides out", (which is the best selling line I've ever read), and then I bought the Interceptor badges to put on them, not realizing that the badges were so big in comparison to the bags, but they just fit, so I put them on anyway, and it reminds me of one of those outrageous wrestling belts. Yet, they are my hands-down favorite bags of any I have, or have owned. I love the way they look, and I'm glad that you agree with me. Take care! George

Thank you for the comment and subscription! I wasn't sure about the music, so I ran the opening and closing sequences by my wife and daughter (neither of whom would hesitate to tell me if something didn't seem ok to them), and they both approved, so I'll let them know that you liked it. I am a great admirer of the Chrome Bronze Classic 350, and I've often thought (though never tested the theory) that if I asked an AI source what motorcycle The Gods of Antiquity would ride, it would throw a picture of the Chrome Bronze on the screen. It's the Uber-Classic. Take care! George

Hi William, I must not have been communicating properly; easy to do when one is talking and riding a motorcycle at the same time. I think the Eliminator is a tremendously good motorcycle, and should be selling very well. (I'm still scheming to get one for myself!) Anything I said about it that was negative was an attempt to comprehend why this particular dealer hasn't sold any of them in the year that they've been on the showroom floor. I'm sure that the USB connection is high quality - the bracket that it's affixed to looks like it might be a shop class project, though. The quote about Trump didn't come from me; that was left in a comment by a viewer of the video. You won't find me commenting about Trump, or Harris, or Biden, et al. in any of my videos. (Thus far, anyway - it could happen, but I'm not a partisan man, and certainly don't want a partisan channel.) I don't think that any of them have any interest in motorcycles, anyway. What I DO think is great is that you watched the video carefully and left a comment. I appreciate it more than I can tell you. Also, I think it's fantastic that you have a Continental GT535 - that's one of the Enfields that has captured my fascination. Thank you and take care, my friend! George

Hi Disposalist, Congratulations on the Bullet! Which one did you get, and how did you decide? I have a friend planning to buy an Enfield, and he keeps waffling about which one to get, but seems to be leaning towards a Bullet, so we talk about the virtues of each version. Even I have trouble deciding which one I would get, though; probably the maroon one, and then buy a headlight visor for it, but my mind changes all of the time. I put the manual/document holder back in place. I did consider leaving it off, but after a quick examination decided that it doesn't restrict airflow any more than a very minute amount, if at all. Besides, it's a convenient place to store the OM and the legal documents. I also waited until @600 miles before I installed the DNA kit. My valves were tight, by the way, when I checked them at 300 miles, so even though I hear that RE has lengthened the mileage for the first service, I wouldn't recommend it. Thank you for watching and leaving a comment! George

And how, JJ Stuart! I've only ever ridden one true cruiser - a Honda Shadow 1100. A friend of mine bought it right after he had surgery, and so he couldn't ride it home. I rode it for him from Brooklyn to Suffern, NY, and it was truly an excellent bike, EXCEPT for the fact that any road irregularity was transmitted directly to my spine because I couldn't weight the foot forward pegs. I think the Vulcan 650 is just about tops for middleweight cruisers, but you're right - it still has those forward controls, which make no sense whatsoever on any motorcycle. After initially reading your comment, I looked at the website for the Toronto Royal Enfield dealer, and I saw that there were no Classic 350s in stock. That's a crime, really. The current Classic 350 is the masterpiece of Royal Enfield - I believe that they threw everything they had at that motorcycle, and it will go down in history as one of the few vehicles to be appropriately named. I treasure mine, and I'm sure that 100 years from now, they will be treasured by anyone fortunate enough to own one. (Mine is going to my daughter when I pass, meant to be kept in the family, like a Rolls Royce, if you can believe that for a bike costing less than $5000 US.) You owe it to yourself to somehow get a test ride on one of these works of art. That being said, the Eliminator is always in the back of my mind as a bike that I really, really want to own. The ergonomics, the power, and the styling are all top shelf. There is no better Kawasaki to be had - of this I'm sure. I like the RS models, but the footpegs just aren't right for me. I have a Benelli Leoncino Trail with the same problem (as well as seat height) that my wife thinks is neat, but I think I'm going to sell it in the spring. If I do, I'll probably find a lightly used Eliminator. Fantastic bike. Thank you for the detailed, well-written comment! When you get your motorcycle, please send me some photos at fgrides@gmail.com. Take care! George

Yes, ALL of those things about the Eliminator, @ragarse3 ! I think it's great that you referenced the battery thing - you're the first and only one to do that. Also, I've never met President-elect Trump, but I understand that he has very tiny hands, child-like, or elfin, if you will, so perhaps that signals the start of a general downsizing trend. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

@@FGRides ha ha nice one. We've got our own loons here in UK, but not quite so dangerous 🍀😂

Hi tiffinhappy, You bet it needs mirrors! I kind of like the way the stock mirrors look, but they're useless for anybody wider than a No.2 pencil. The Eliminator looks like the designers said, "Let's make a motorcycle that looks as though its primary objective is to complement bar end mirrors." Whoa! It's an awesome bike and I'm glad to hear that you're so happy with it. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

That's excellent, www.youtube.com/@5150show - I'm always happy to see another person joining the fold. I checked out your channel and it made me wonder if you ever read The Hammer of The Gods. I must have read that about 30 times when I was a teenager. I loved Led Zeppelin, and thought that was a great book, even if it was a little light content. Thank you for watching, commenting, and subscribing!

@@FGRides it’s a brilliant biography. One of the best mate

Hi Glenn, I enjoy reading any comments, whether they are about my videos or the videos of others', but this one has to be the best one I've gotten so far. I think it's because you thanked me and complimented the PA countryside. I always leave a comment on a video that I enjoyed, and always thank the creator for the video because - let's face it - these things are a labor of love and wanting to share, and a fair modicum of effort is required just to get 1 presentable clip. The PA countryside is stunning to me, and the star of the show, regardless of what I'm yammering on about. Thank you for watching and commenting! Best wishes. George

Hi Aaron, I don't think you can go wrong with an Eliminator - I'm rooting for this bike to be a big hit, especially in the US where things have gone berserk. A lady started talking to me about my Enfield just yesterday after I pulled up outside a store. Her son, a brand new rider, had bought a big cruiser as his first bike, and almost immediately wrecked it at an intersection. Single rider crash - nobody else involved. He just didn't know how to ride the damned thing, even after taking the MSF course, allegedly. He might have avoided the crash if he had a more sensible bike to learn on. Also, you many want to consider one of the 350cc Royal Enfields; they are VERY friendly, forgiving motorcycles. I admit that I'm biased for the Enfields and the Eliminator! Thank you for watching and commenting! George

@@FGRides Kawasaki is really pushing it on Instagram. The desire to ride bug just bit me and so I've been following motorcycle accounts and it's clear they're pushing for the beginners market. I also have been looking at the Royal Einfields. It's the 350ccs that's turning me off from that one. I want a bike I can grow into. Nothing greater than 600. That's why the Eliminator appeals so much. Approachable with some room to grow. We'll see. Love the video. Learned a lot from it.

BluesmanJ, First of all, that dog you've employed as an avatar is a 10 out of 10! I absolutely love dogs that belong to other people. Secondly, I couldn't agree more about the Eliminator - I firmly believe it's one of the best motorcycles being sold in the USA these days, (along with the Enfields, of course!). Finally, I've never ridden an R6, but I only have to look at it to know that it would join the small group of my favorite bikes ever - I have no doubt about this. You've got a great stable, Brother. Thank you for watching and commenting! George

There's no better test than to have multiple bikes in the garage and look back over say a year how many times you've chosen to ride each.

That never occurred to me, Andy. I didn't even address that in the video, and seeing your comment makes me realize that I really SHOULD have addressed that. Thank you for watching and commenting - I know that you know how important that is! George

That's great, Ray! The SE is still my favorite. I've never ridden a Harley, but there are a couple that I think I would really like. I doubt that they would be any MORE fun than an Eliminator, though. If you send me a photo I will put it in a future video. fgrides@gmail.com Thank you for watching! George

Hi Drew, I'm very happy to hear that you bought an Eliminator - they are great bikes and one of the smartest choices on the market. ABS is essential! I don't think there's any reason under the sun for a large motorcycle manufacturer to sell any street motorcycle without ABS. Send me a photo and I will put it in a future video. fgrides@gmail.com Thank you for watching! George

That is a very good point, @decorbolton. I haven't examined the Vulcan S for fit and finish, but the base price is very close to the price of the Eliminator in SE trim, and you get an additional 200 cc of engine displacement. I would love to know the sales figures for both of them. Thank you for the comment!

That's great that you bought an Eliminator, Corey! I'm rooting for the Eliminator to be a big success. Send me a photo of it and I'll put it up in a future video. fgrides@gmail.com Thank you for watching and commenting!

If you find a good windshield for it let me know.

I am overjoyed to hear that you bought an Eliminator, Sharkymarky! When I talked about the USB mount and the muffler, etc. during the video, I was just trying to find reasons why people might be turned off. None of that turned me off; I still love the Eliminator and think about buying one. When the guy at the Kawasaki store told me that they hadn't sold even 1 of them, it kind of tore me up. Kawasaki built this wonderful machine and it should be a top seller. The only conclusion I can reach is that there is this cultural pressure here in the USA to either buy bigger, or be considered less than, ya know? So, good for you, getting the right bike for you. Shout it from the rooftops, buddy. Thank you for watching the video and thank you for commenting! George

@@FGRides well, don't think I was insulted or anything! :) The USB mount is in a bit of an odd place, and the muffler could be better tuned. You could be right about the lack of sales. Part of me wonders if it isn't a proof of concept type thing, and maybe they're about to run a line of bigger Eliminators like back in the 80s...

Please see comment from @peterrussell798 elsewhere in the sea of comments. Please note the major difference, though: motorcycle ownership is not a right enshrined in the Constitution, so if you're privileged enough to own a motorcycle, don't risk that privilege by using it to shoot somebody in the face. Thank you for your question. George

That's an excellent point, Peter! I'm glad that I didn't think of it while I was making the video, otherwise it might have been riddled with Bullet jokes... I have no shame. Thank you for commenting! George