Z 550 GT

1989 Kawasaki Z 550 GT Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Positioned in Kawasaki's naked motorcycle lineup, the 1989 Kawasaki Z 550 GT utilizes a 553 cc (33.7 cu in) air-cooled in-line four, four-stroke layout. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 50 HP (36.5 kW) at 8,500 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 6-speed gearbox and shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 90.4 HP per liter, the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the Z 550 GT measures 221 kg (487 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.23 HP/kg (4.42 kg per horsepower). The 22-liter (5.8 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 177 km/h (110 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Kawasaki archive, this model family spans 8 indexed model years from 1983 to 1990, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.