It’s already the end of December and things have been hectic the whole time.
Usually December and January are pretty relaxed, but it’s not turning out that way.
I’d like to ride more if I had the time,
but work is piling up, so I’m taking it easy with my own bike.
I managed to get it running before the year ended, so I think that’s good enough.
Once I move, I’ll be able to ride as much as I want. I’m looking forward to it! ♪
I’m going to introduce the GPz550 (pretty much stock) that I finally got running.
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To be honest, it gives the impression of a “full-flat tourer.”
I actually imagined a wild version of the Zephyr 550 that I own. However, the impression I got from riding it was
“very easy to ride,” and conversely, “not very Kawasaki-like, a bit boring.” That was the impression I got.
It seems to be well-balanced.
It feels a bit thin on low-end torque, but
the engine pulls smoothly all the way to the top, and the top speed should be enough to keep up with a liter car.
The brakes stop pretty well too, so “you can feel confident.”
The “AVDS” that I used to dislike isn’t actually that bad.
The front fork doesn’t sink more than necessary,
and the movement doesn’t feel completely locked, so there’s a planted feeling that turned out to be surprisingly good.
The rear is a monoshock, so the movement is pretty good. *Not yet serviced
The position, including the handlebar, footpegs, and seat, was particularly good.
You just swing your leg over and it fits. That’s the impression I got. *Varies depending on preference and body type
The height of the upper cowl’s windscreen is just right, and if you lean forward a bit, you get a wind-free zone.
I felt like this machine was designed to be ridden comfortably and confidently over long distances.
Front and rear 18-inch, slim tires are really refreshing.
For motorcycles from a bit earlier, it’s actually a pretty common size.
In this era of 17-inch fat tires, it was nice to return to basics with this classic look.
The synergy between the 550cc engine and the large-diameter 18-inch slim tires
is what I think makes riding it fun.
The tires are Michelin Road Classic (belted bias) front and rear.
*Front only is regular bias ( ；∀；)
I’ve only ridden about 100 kilometers so far, so I can’t be too confident,
but the handling is light and natural.
They look pretty cool too, so they’re worth trying out.
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Looking at it now, bias tire prices have gone up quite a bit.
Lately, radial tire prices are honestly getting crazy. . . . .
Front and rear brake disc sizes are not interchangeable: “260φ.”
The PCD, center bore, and number of holes are common Kawasaki dimensions.
However, the outer diameter is special, so there are no Kawasaki OEM or domestic reproductions.
The only one that exists is “EBC MD4099.”
EBC’s compatibility chart lists left and right separately, but “the part numbers are the same for both sides.”
In Japan, you can get them from Euro Direct or Monotaro.
Euro Direct also sells them on Mercari, so it might be worth keeping an eye out.
So the brake discs are special, but they are obtainable.
And if you get a bit more technical,
“AR 125 (1982-1994), ER 250 (1983-1988), GPZ 550 (1982-1983)” share the same ones, so
it might be fun to hunt for used ones from these models.
*I think you should check the brake thickness just to be safe.
The brake calipers are the legendary Tokico single-piston design at its peak.
These calipers are anodized, so they resist corrosion very well.
If you take care of them, they’re a brake you can enjoy for quite a long time.
If you’re looking for used ones, try to find ones that are nice and black.
For street riding with hard braking, the performance is more than adequate.
It’s not like it has incredible stopping power, but I think it’s necessary and sufficient.
Stainless brake discs pair best with sintered metal pads.
“Brake pads are common front and rear.”
Daytona 97161 has a sintered metal option.
RK817 only comes in semi-metal *seems discontinued?
The mounting bolts are Honda OEM and the bleeder nipples are titanium.
The bleeder nipple is M7-P1.00.
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Honda OEM “flanged lock nut”
GPz550 front axle shaft M14-P1.5
GPz550 rear axle shaft M16-P1.5
Small parts can really dress up the wheels, so give it a try.
I think you can get a lot of dress-up for under 1,000 yen.
The speedometer cable is discontinued. The Zephyr X version is compatible.
The original speedometer cable is discontinued.
The upper and lower mounting specs are standard, so I looked it up by length.
I found that the Zephyr Kai speedometer cable is a perfect fit!
Kawasaki OEM 54001-1012
Similar lengths are used in various places, so it’s helpful at times like this.
It’s strange that OEM parts exist but reproductions do too.
Maybe it’s treated as generic. . . .
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This is getting a bit long, so I’m planning to stretch it out for about two more installments. (*´ω｀*)
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