Kawasaki ZR550B Zephyr 550: history, specs, pictures


The Kawasaki ZR550B Zephyr 550 was a in-line four, four-stroke Road motorcycle produced by Kawasaki in 1990. It could reach a top speed of 137 mph (220 km/h). Claimed horsepower was 48.95 HP (36.5 KW) @ 10000 RPM.

Kawasaki-Zephyr-550.jpg
Kawasaki ZR550 Zephyr
Manufacturer
Also called Zepher 550, ZR 550 Zephyr
Production 1990 - 1999
Class Road
Engine
553cc Four-stroke inline-four cylinder. DOHC, oil-cooled, 2 valves per cylinder.
Bore / Stroke 58.0mm x 52.4mm [1]
Compression ratio 9.5:1
Top Speed 99 mph (160 km/h)
Horsepower 48.95 HP (36.5 KW) @ 10000RPM
Torque 29.5 ft/lbs (40.0 Nm) @ 6000RPM
Fuel System 4 30mm Keihin CVK30 carburetors
Air Filter K&N KA-0850 `90-99[2]
Spark Plug NGK DR9EA '91[1]
Battery YUASA YB12A-A '91
Transmission Gear box: 6-speed
Clutch: wet plate
Final Drive Chain: 520x108
Front Sprocket 16T
Rear Sprocket 41T
Suspension Front: 39mm Telescopic forks
Rear: Dual Kayaba shocks with preload and rebound adjustments
Brakes Front: 2x 300mm discs 2 piston calipers
Rear: Single 245mm disc 1 piston caliper
Front Tire 110/80-17
Rear Tire 140/70-18
Wheelbase 1435 mm (56.5 in)
Length 2080 mm (84.25 in)
Width 755 mm (29.7 in)
Height 1095 (43.11 in)
Weight 179 kg / 394.6 lbs (dry), 206.0 kg (wet)
Oil Capacity 3.0 L (3.2 US qt)
Oil Filter K&N KN-401[2]
Recommended Oil K-tech SAE 10W-40
Fuel Capacity 3.96 Gallon (14.98 Liters)
Fuel Consumption 4.12 liters/100 km (24.3 km/l or 57.09 mpg)
Related Kawasaki GT550
Kawasaki ZX550A
Manuals File:1990 Kawasaki ZR550-B2 owners.pdf
More Manuals

OverviewEdit

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 aluminum 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 returned to make just 37kW (49bhp).

EngineEdit

The engine was a oil & air cooled in-line four, four-stroke. A 58.0mm bore x 52.4mm stroke result in a displacement of just 553.0 cubic centimeters. Fuel was supplied via a double overhead cams/twin cam (dohc).

DriveEdit

The bike has a 6-speed transmission. Power was moderated via the wet plate clutch.

ChassisEdit

It came with a 110/80-17 front tire and a 140/70-18 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via 2x 300mm discs 2 piston calipers in the front and a Single 245mm disc 1 piston caliper in the rear. The front suspension was a 39mm Telescopic forks while the rear was equipped with a Dual Kayaba shocks with preload and rebound adjustments. The ZR550 Zephyr was fitted with a 15 Liters / 3.9 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 179 kg / 394.6 lbs.


PhotosEdit

SpecificationsEdit

Make Model Kawasaki 550 Zephyr
Year 1991
Engine Type Four stroke Transverse four cylinder. DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder.
Displacement 553 cc / 33.7 cu-in
Bore X Stroke 58 x 52.4 mm
Cooling System Air cooled
Compression 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 Tire 110/80-17
Rear Tire 140/70-18
Dry Weight 179 kg / 394.6 lbs
We -weight 206 kg / 454 lbs
Fuel Capacity 15 Liters / 3.9 US gal

1990Edit

 
1990 Kawasaki ZR550-B1



  • 553 mL
  • 4-stroke, dcylinder, DOHC, Air-cooled
  • 6-speed, Return Shift
  • Color : Candy Atlantlc Blue, Candy Cardinal Red
  • Beginning Engine No. : KZ550DE060001
  • Beginning Frame No. : JKAZRFB1()LA000001
  • Parts Catalog No. : 99961-0310
  • Owner's Manual No. : 99920-1519-01
  • Service Manual No. : 99924-1363-02

1991Edit

 
1991 Kawasaki ZR550-B2
 
1991 Zephyr ZR550-CAN
 
1991 Zephyr ZR550-CAN



  • 553 mL
  • Color : Same as ZR550-B1
  • Beginning Engine No. : KZ550DE0600001
  • Beginning Frame No. : ZR550B-004001,
    • (AU)(Canada)(US)JKAZRFB1()MA004001
  • Parts Catalog No. : 99917-1453-01, (Canada)(US)99961-0310,
    • (0)99917-1452-01
  • Owner's Manual No. : 99922-1575-01, (Canada)(US)99920-1534-01,
    • (West Germany)99923-1291-01
  • Service Manual No. : Same as ZR550-B1

1992Edit

 
1992 Kawasaki ZR550-B3



  • 553 mL
  • 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, Air-cooled
  • 6-speed, Return Shift
  • Color : Candy Atlantic Blue, Candy Cardinal Red
  • Beginning Engine No. : KZ550DE060001
  • Beginning Frame No. : ZR550B-012001,
  • (US)JKAZRFB1()NAO12001
  • Parts Catalog No. : 99917-1452-03, (Europe)99977-1453-05
  • Owner's Manual No. : 99922-1622-01, (West Germany)99923-1374-01
  • Service Manual No. : 99924-1135-02


1993Edit

 
1993 Kawasaki ZR550-B4



  • 553 mL
  • 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, Air-cooled
  • 6-speed, Return Shift
  • Color : Luminous Vintage Red, Pearl Boulogne
  • Beginning Engine No. : KZ550DE060001
  • Beginning Frame No. : ZR550B-022001
  • Parts Catalog No.:99917-1453-05
  • Owner's Manual No.: 99922-1658-01, (West Germany)99923-1335-01,
    • (France)99947-1121-01
  • Service Manual No.: 99924-1136-02

1994Edit

 
1994 Kawasaki ZR550-B5



  • 553 mL
  • 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, Air-cooled
  • 6-speed, Return Shift
  • Color : Luminous Vintage Red, Pearl Boulogne, Pearl Purplish Black Mica
  • Bqinning Engine No. : KZ550DE060001
  • Beginning Frame No. : ZR550B-030001,
    • (US)JKAZRFB1()RA030001
  • Parts Catalog No.: 99917-1452-03, (Europe)99917-1453-05
  • Owner's Manual No.: 99922-1697-01, (West Germany)99923-1360-01,
    • (France)99947-1121-01
  • Service Manual No.: 99924-1136-02


1995Edit

 
1995 Kawasaki ZR550-B6



  • 553 mL
  • 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, Air-cooled
  • 6-speed, Return Shift
  • Color - Pearl Purplish Black Mica (20), Luminous Vintage Red (P5), Pearl Boulogne (VG)
  • F No. - ZR550B-036001
  • Engine No. - KZ550DE060001
  • Parts Catalog No. - 99917-1453-06
  • Owner's Manual No. - 99922-1738-01, (DE) 99923-1396-01,
    • (FR) 99947-1170-01
  • Service Manual No. - 99924-1136-02


1996Edit

 
1996 Kawasaki ZR550-B7



  • 553 mL
  • 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, Air-cooled
  • 6-speed, Return Shift
  • Color - Pearl Purplish Black Mica (20), Olar White (F1), Luminous Vintage Red (P5), Pearl Boulogne (VG)
  • F No. - ZR550B-041001
  • Engine No. - KZ550DE060001
  • Parts Catalog No. - 99917-1730-03
  • Owner's Manual No. - 99922-1782-01
  • Service Manual No. - 99924-1136-02

1997Edit

 
1997 Kawasaki ZR550-B8



  • 553 mL
  • 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, Air-cooled
  • 6-speed, Return Shift
  • Color - Pearl Purplish Black Mica (20), Luminous Vintage Red (P5), Pearl Boulogne (VG)
  • VIN No. - JKAZRFB1vVA045001
  • F No. - ZR550B-045001
  • Engine No. - KZ550DE060001
  • Parts Catalog No. - (EUR) 99917-1730-03, (AU) 99917-1731-02
  • Owner's Manual No. - (AU) (EUR) 99922-1844-01, (DE) 99923-1452-01
  • Service Manual No. - 99924-1136-02

1998Edit

 
1998 Kawasaki ZR550-B9



  • 553 mL
  • 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, Air-cooled
  • 6-speed, Return Shift
  • Color - Pearl Purplish Black Mica (20), Luminous Vintage Red (P5), Pearl Boulogne (VG)
  • F No. - ZR550B-050001
  • Engine No. - KZ550DE060001
  • Parts Catalog No. - 99917-1730-03
  • Owner's Manual No. - 99922-1898-01, (DE) 99923-1482-01
  • Service Manual No. - 99924-1136-02



In MoviesEdit


ReferencesEdit

  1. 1.0 1.1 1990 Kawasaki EL250E owners manual. Kawasaki. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2019 K&L Supply Co Catalog. K&L Supply Co. 2019.