Kawasaki ZR400X Zephyr

Kawasaki ZR400X Zephyr
Manufacturer	Kawasaki
Production	1998 - 00
Engine	Four stroke parallel twin cylinder. DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Compression ratio	10.3:1
Ignition	Full transistor
Transmission	6 Speed
Suspension	Front: Telescopic forks Rear: Dual shocks
Brakes	Front: 2x discs Rear: Single disc
Front Tire	110/80-17
Rear Tire	140/70-18
Wheelbase	1435 mm / 56.5 in
Seat Height	770 mm / 30.1 in
Weight	179 kg / 395 lbs (dry),
Recommended Oil	K-tech 10W-40
Fuel Capacity	14 Liters / 3.6 US gal
Manuals	Service Manual

Engine

The engine was a Air cooled cooled Four stroke parallel twin cylinder. DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder. The engine featured a 10.3:1 compression ratio.

Drive

Power was moderated via the Wet multi disc.

Chassis

It came with a 110/80-17 front tire and a 140/70-18 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via 2x discs in the front and a Single disc in the rear. The front suspension was a Telescopic forks while the rear was equipped with a Dual shocks. The ZR400X Zephyr was fitted with a 14 Liters / 3.6 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 179 kg / 395 lbs. The wheelbase was 1435 mm / 56.5 in long.

Photos

Overview

Kawasaki Zephyr 400 X

The Kawasaki Zephyr is a range of retro-styled naked superbikes, manufactured during the 1990s. All models were built by Kawasaki with air-cooled, transverse inline, dual-overhead-cam, four-cylinder engines. There were a number of Zephyr models available, in four engine capacities - 400, 550, 750, and 1100cc.

The 400 was produced for Japan due to the demand for 400cc motorcycles in that market. It was very popular. Many aftermarket parts were produced, with companies like Over Racing producing exhausts, swingarms, fairings and engine modifications.

Zephyr styling is roughly based on the old Kawasaki Z1, with twin shock rear suspension, a relatively upright riding position and air-cooled power units. The 400, 550 and 750 engines were developed from the old Z400/500/550/650/750/900 series. The 1100 engine is a re-engineered version of a liquid-cooled powerplant and is the only Zephyr built with two spark plugs per cylinder. The Zephyr offered the customer retro styling coupled with simplicity and reliability. Performance of the line was adequate for normal riding and the engines were tuned for low to mid range power.

The Zephyr started the Naked/Retro bike boom in the UK and Europe in the early 1990s and for a while moved Kawasaki to the 2nd best selling manufacturer of motorcycles in the UK Market.

The Zephyr Z750 engine reappeared in the late 1990s in the short lived ZR7.

The Zephyr 1100 had a Z1 restyle in its last year of sale including a return to wire wheels. Wire wheels also appeared on the 750. It was replaced in the Kawasaki UK range by the popular Z1100R styled ZRX1100 (later ZRX1200).

The ZRX series of motorcycles had a great impact on the growing market for retro style motorcycles, particularly in the United States. It was modeled after Kawasaki's superbike championship winning KZ1000R-S1 that propelled Eddie Lawson to Superbike dominance in the early 1980s and even spawned an international owners association known as the ZRXOA (ZRX Owners Association).{| class="wikitable" |- !Make Model |Kawasaki Zephyr 400 X |- !Year |1998 - 00 |- !Engine Type |Four stroke parallel twin cylinder. DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |- !Displacement |399 cc / 24.4 cu-in |- !Bore X Stroke |55 х 42 mm |- !Cooling System |Air cooled |- !Compression |10.3:1 |- !Induction |4X Keihin CVK30 carburetors |- !Ignition |Full transistor |- !Starting |Electric |- !Max Power |49 hp / 36.8 kW @ 11000 rpm |- !Max Torque |3.1 kgf m / 22.4 lb-ft @ 10500 rpm |- !Clutch |Wet multi disc |- !Transmission |6 Speed |- !Final Drive |Chain |- !Front Suspension |Telescopic forks |- !Rear Suspension |Dual shocks |- !Front Brakes |2x discs |- !Rear Brakes |Single disc |- !Front Tire |110/80-17 |- !Rear Tire |140/70-18 |- !Rake |27° |- !Trail |102 mm / 4.0 in |- !Wheelbase |1435 mm / 56.5 in |- !Seat Height |770 mm / 30.1 in |- !Ground Clearance |120 mm / 4.1 in |- !Dry Weight |179 kg / 395 lbs |- !Fuel Capacity |14 Liters / 3.6 US gal

|}