Found this....

[Feasty]

I haven't come across Kawasaki Zephyr's before but this looks a beaut!

Seen it on Autotrader after doing the usual dreaming searching for the next bike, what are your thoughts about it!

Kawasaki Zephyr ZR550 B2.
60,000 miles, 10 mths mot, new camchain, braided brake lines, hagon shocks, stainless road legal predator exhaust, 33bhp restrictor fitted. excellent runner, owned for last 2 years. Is garaged and well looked after. £900. ono
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[Richard_Schmid]

For a bike thats done 60K looks in good condition.

[ms51ves3]

Bit on the pricey side though.

Very low miles, £1200

30,000 miles, £500

[Endless Nameless]

I really like the look of Zephyr's. There's one just up the road from me in a similar paint scheme to the Z1's, it looks really nice.
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A2 passed 22/07/08; restriction up 22/07/10 (just so I don't forget)
'79 Suzuki GS550E. Yes, that's a GS550, not a GS500.
Supersports "In a video editing competition I'd kick your sorry ass"

[Feasty]

Do you think this bike is pretty fast? And what do you reckon it'd be like with the restrictors?

Obviously a lot quicker than my current XR125 either way I'm sure!!

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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[----]

[Finglonga]

Mate had one when they first came out years ago and they are slow and heavy and rot like mad if not cleaned regularly. They look good but there are better bikes out there.
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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[neatbik]

Didnt babyam have one? or am i thinking of somebody else...

[yambabe]

I have a 400 Zephyr which is basically the same bike but an import version with a (marginally) smaller engine in it - I think mine is meant to be about 45hp.

Paid similar money for mine but mine is a 94 model and had only done about 30000kms so much lower mileage.

Not had any major problems with mine so far (apart from it falling over cos of my stupidly short legs ), certainly no signs of rot or corrosion and although it's covered it lives outside all year round and is used all year round too. I've had it just over a year and only really cleaned it once, although I have been giving it a regular squirt of WD40 and waxoyl since about october! Mine has a standard exhaust not stainless, the one on this bike looks good.

Performance-wise it's certainly not going to scare you but power delivery is smooth, I've got a screen on mine and it will cruise happily on the motorway at about 80 with a bit of power left for overtakes, it's the first bike I've ever ridden at over 100 on (offroad of course ) but it's not too keen on steep hills!

Very good commuter cos it's narrow, light, and mine also has a very good clutch that isn't too hard.

Disc brakes front and rear are good, but the discs (especially the front) tends to rust up quite quickly when you're not using it every day and it's outside - soon weas off though!

Mine is due some attention shortly cos it does seem to run very rich and the mpg isn't as good as I expected, I get just over 100 miles to a 12-litre fillup which is about 38 to the gallon.

Plenty of bits about for them, and mostly fairly cheap too. Himself says not too difficult to work on although getting the airbox back on after doing anything with the carbs is apparently a bit of a pain.

Overall a good sturdy little bike if you get a good one and certainly the pictures make that one look OK and probably worth about what he's asking for it imo.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Forgotten Ron]

I had a 750 zephyr, great bike....eventually sold it, then bought it back, then sold it again when i got ma buell, but the guy who got it will give me first refusal on it when he wants rid, i would love to get it back....such a classy little bike, adequate in every respect n looks great from every angle...

Go fer it...(though my 750 was only £750 when i bought n sold it!!)

Later
Ron

[thegubner]

[yambabe]

It will indeed.

Identical size physically (550 engine goes straight in mine and vice versa) and a difference in power of less than 5hp iirc.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[zephyrgirl]

I've got the 750 Zeph.
Really nice bike, but I 'outgrew' it & bought an XJR1300.

My Zeph is a 1991 Atlantic Candy Blue with 30k on the clock.
Well loved & looked after and I've also got a customised seat (in addition to the original) that has 'Zephyr' embroidered into it.

I bought it as a 1st big bike after passing my test in May 2004 and it did me well 'til I got the XJR.

She is now sat forlornly in the garage and would exchange her for £700. (probably minus the custom seat)

The Zephs need looking after and have a rattling engine noise (not dissimilar to marbles in a washing machine) when cold, but as a good, hardworking, fun bike they are hard to beat!

PS The 1100's can work out expensive to keep on the road - 8 spark plugs FFS!?

https://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2005/01/11/bikepics-271718-full.jpg
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Fly away on my Zephyr?
I bloody wish.

[Feasty]

The other question is of course - would a 6'2 bloke fit on this bike comfortably!?


And zephyrgirl, your bike looks very nice too - I'm sorely tempted but the missus would kill me!!
(And I haven't got my test booked yet)
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[zephyrgirl]

6'2"?

Hmmm, well, I'm 5'8" and have both feet flat on the floor. To be honest the 550 Zephyr could well be a bit on the small side for you (as would the 750).

My husband is 6'2" and has enjoyed riding the Zeph as a fun bike and could well put up with it as a cheap runaround, but as a serious leisure bike it would have it's limitations.

It's easy to throw around in the corners, but will get a bit wobbly when you push hard and test it. (one reason why I got the XJR).
The riding position is very comfy and I have a lot less wind blast on the Zeph at 80-90mph than on the XJR at the same speeds.

You may be a tad cramped on the bike but nowhere near as squashed up as you would be on a sportsbike, or even something like an SV.

All I can say really is to find one, sit on one and if the bike fits...

You won't be disappointed, but as I said before, you may well outgrow the bike as your skills improve - at least your insurance will be forgiving & you get a chance to build up a good NCB for your next, more challenginging ride.

PS And for Christ's sake get your fekking test booked man!
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Fly away on my Zephyr?
I bloody wish.

[Feasty]

[kawashima]

Is 550 a bore-up of 400? I couldn't find wikipedia or specification of 550. Zephyr 400's bore is 55mm, stroke is 42mm. I didn't know about 550 till now. 400 owners will envy 550. We can't buy 550.

[kawashima]

Sorry I found it.
550's bore is 58.0mm, stroke is 52.4mm.
400's bore is 55.0mm, stroke is 42.0mm.
550 was more square size.