XZ 550

1985 Yamaha XZ 550 Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Engineered by Yamaha for the touring motorcycle segment, the 1985 Yamaha XZ 550 pairs a 553 cc (33.7 cu in) liquid-cooled v2, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 50 HP (36.5 kW) at 9,000 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-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 XZ 550 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 17-liter (4.5 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 178 km/h (111 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Yamaha archive, this model family spans 5 indexed model years from 1982 to 1986, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.