In early 2023, Kawasaki surprised us all by setting foot in the entry-level cruiser segment. Out came the Eliminator, and it quite evidently took inspiration from the popular Honda Rebel 500. Now, Team Green is ready for round two, this time focusing on the beginner scrambler segment. Its weapon of choice would be a Kawasaki 400TR scrambler, which would lock horns with and follow the same path as Honda’s new CL500 (SCL500 in America). Here’s what you should know.
The Kawasaki 400TR Will Draw Inspiration From The New Eliminator
Just like the CL500 is based on the Rebel, the 400TR is expected to take heavy inspiration from the new-for-2023 Eliminator 400. A similar neo-retro aesthetic will be the biggest commonality between the two Kwackers, comprising a round LED headlight, alloy wheels, and old-school touches. The latter will include round mirrors, fork gaiters, and liveries reminiscent of the now-discontinued 250TR. In case you’re unaware, the 250TR is Kawasaki’s lightweight scrambler/tracker offering from yesteryears. It debuted in 1970 and stayed on sale till 2013.
Another noteworthy shared component will be the powerhouse. As the name suggests, the 400TR is expected to benefit from a 398cc, twin-cylinder mill straight from the Eliminator. Derived from the Kawasaki Ninja 400’s powerhouse, it produces near-47 horsepower and 27 pound-feet, both of which are good numbers for a scrambler. Interestingly, the Japanese bikemaker also has a 451cc Eliminator (for American and European markets) with 31.7 pound-feet. So if the TR sets foot in these places, it’d be even more powerful (read fun).
But Some Reminiscence Will Also Come From The OG 250TR
Aside from the aforementioned bits, the 400TR will differ from the Eliminator in other aspects. Here, the inspiration will probably come from the OG 250TR. The former boasted raised fenders, dual-purpose tires, and a ribbed flat seat, all of which are expected on the 400TR.
Similarly, the suspension (telescopic forks and dual shock absorbers) will be different too. Unlike the cruiser, these will have increased travel to bump up the ride height and ground clearance. What we don’t expect to change is the feature list. The Eliminator already promises more than the Rebel, so Kawasaki will probably plonk the same Bluetooth-enabled LCD on its scrambler. Thus, making it better equipped than the CL500.
The Kawasaki 400TR Could Come Next Year
Though these are rumors, they come from the very trustworthy folks at Young Machine. The publication previously predicted the Honda CL500 and the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR, both of which were on point. So we can’t help but expect a 400TR in the future, possibly in the first months of 2024. It’s worth noting the 1970 250TR also locked horns with Honda’s then-CL range, which makes the new TR an even more sensible project for Team Green.
Would you want an Eliminator-based scrambler? Pen down your thoughts in the comments.
Source
https://www.topspeed.com/is-a-kawasaki-eliminator-based-scrambler-coming-to-take-on-the-honda-cl500/
