|
Kawasaki 550 Zephyr

|
Make Model |
Kawasaki 550 Zephyr |
|
Year |
1991 |
|
Engine |
Air cooled, four stroke Transverse four cylinder. DOHC,
2 valves per cylinder. |
|
Capacity |
553 |
|
Bore x Stroke |
58 x 52.4 mm |
|
Compression Ratio |
9.5:1 |
|
Induction |
4x 30mm Keihin carbs |
|
Ignition /
Starting |
- / electric |
|
Max Power |
49hp 37 KW @ 10000 rpm |
|
Max Torque |
40 Nm @ 6000 rpm |
|
Transmission /
Drive |
6 Speed / chain |
|
Front Suspension |
39mm Telescopic forks |
|
Rear Suspension |
Dual Kayaba shocks with preload and rebound
adjustments |
|
Front Brakes |
2x 300mm discs 2 piston calipers |
|
Rear Brakes |
Single 245mm disc 1 piston caliper |
|
Front Tyre |
110/80-17 |
|
Rear Tyre |
140/70-18 |
|
Dry-Weight / Wet-Weight |
179 kg / 206 kg |
|
Fuel Capacity |
15 Litres |

The Zephyr 550 was the smallest of the Zephyr
range, and in some ways ahead of its time. Launched in 1991 as a stylish
naked retro roadster, it occupied a niche later made very successful by
Suzuki's Bandit. It used the air-cooled engine from the GPZ550, de-tuned for
mid-range power, with minor cosmetic changes. The elderly engine was
installed in a good-looking rolling chassis. A box-section aluminium
twin-shock swingarm used sports-style eccentric chain adjusters, while a
classically styled fuel tank and chrome-plated exhaust system rounded off
the handsome design. The Zephyr's straight-line performance was
disappointing though: the engine that produced 48kW (65bhp) in the GPZ550
was retuned to make just 37kW (49bhp).
|