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Difference between revisions of "Kawasaki Z500/Z550"
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'''Living with the Z500/Z550''' These make excellent city bikes, very easy to manage at parking speeds and very agile in urban traffic. They have safe, neutral, tossable handling and a flexible engine, making them fun to drive without being too intimidating for first-time riders. These machines are also very easy to work on, with ample engine access, a simple electrical system, and a very reliable drivetrain. | '''Living with the Z500/Z550''' These make excellent city bikes, very easy to manage at parking speeds and very agile in urban traffic. They have safe, neutral, tossable handling and a flexible engine, making them fun to drive without being too intimidating for first-time riders. These machines are also very easy to work on, with ample engine access, a simple electrical system, and a very reliable drivetrain. | ||
Earlier models suffered from inadequate brakes and bad clutch cable routing; these issues were resolved with the 1981-on models, which also featured a simplified clutch cable and electronic ignition. Despite these constraints the original Z500 model was a road-going race bike with a free revving engine, triple disks and it's own race series. Britain's best known formula one champion | Earlier models suffered from inadequate brakes and bad clutch cable routing; these issues were resolved with the 1981-on models, which also featured a simplified clutch cable and electronic ignition. Despite these constraints the original Z500 model was a road-going race bike with a free revving engine, triple disks and it's own race series. Britain's best known formula one champion Damon Hill began his racing career riding a Z500 in competition. | ||
The Z500/Z400/Z550/GPZ550 series developed into the GT550 shaft drive and eventually the 1991-on Zephyr (ZR550) models. With a twenty two year model run in various incarnations they have gained a reputation for reliability and longevity reinforced by numerous examples of GT550 courier bikes covering in excess of a quarter of a million miles despatching in London. | The Z500/Z400/Z550/GPZ550 series developed into the GT550 shaft drive and eventually the 1991-on Zephyr (ZR550) models. With a twenty two year model run in various incarnations they have gained a reputation for reliability and longevity reinforced by numerous examples of GT550 courier bikes covering in excess of a quarter of a million miles despatching in London. | ||