Kawasaki Zephyr 550 vs Honda Cb550
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Zephyr 550 vs Honda Cb550. Kawasaki Zephyr 550: 50 hp @ 9,000 rpm hp, 198 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated; note: may vary slightly by year and condition), Motoryk rating 7.3/10. Honda Cb550: 50 hp @ 8,500 rpm hp, 208 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.8/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Kawasaki Zephyr 550
Honda Cb550
Horsepower (hp)
50 hp
50 hp
Torque (Nm)
44 Nm
44 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
198 kg
208 kg
Type
Classic
Classic
Horsepower
50 hp @ 9,000 rpm
50 hp @ 8,500 rpm
Torque
44 Nm @ 7,500 rpm
44 Nm @ 7,000 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h (estimated; note: may vary slightly by year and condition)
175 km/h
Weight
198 kg (wet/curb weight)
208 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.0–6.5 L/100km (approx. 15–20 km/L typical real-world average)
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Kawasaki Zephyr 550
7.3/10
"A trustworthy classic that rewards patient buyers who inspect carefully."
Pros
+Bulletproof air-cooled engine
+Simple carb maintenance
+Comfortable upright ergonomics
Cons
−Age-related neglect common
−Carbs need regular attention
−Brakes feel underwhelming
Honda Cb550
7.8/10
"A brilliant bike that rewards patience and punishes corner-cutters."
Pros
+Bulletproof engine when maintained
+Parts still widely available
+Flickable, confidence-inspiring handling
Cons
−Four carbs need constant attention
−Cam chain rattle gets expensive
−Good examples increasingly overpriced
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
