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Kawasaki 550 Zephyr

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Make Model

Kawasaki 550 Zephyr

Year

1991

Engine

Four stroke Transverse four cylinder. DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder.

Capacity

553 cc / 33.7 cu-in
Bore x Stroke 58 x 52.4 mm
Cooling System Air cooled
Compression Ratio 9.5:1

Induction

4x 30mm Keihin carburetors

Ignition 

 
Starting Electric

Max Power

49 hp / 37 kW @ 10000 rpm

Max Torque

40 Nm / 29.5 lb-ft @ 6000 rpm

Transmission

6 Spee
Final Drive 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

179 kg / 394.6 lbs
We -Weight 206 kg / 454 lbs

Fuel Capacity 

15 Litres / 3.9 US gal
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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).