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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 | 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 | Suzuki's Bandit. It used the air-cooled engine from the [[Kawasaki ZX550A|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). | 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). | ||
==Engine== | ==Engine== |