Kawasaki Zephyr 550 vs Yamaha Rd 350
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Zephyr 550 vs Yamaha Rd 350. 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. Yamaha Rd 350: 39 hp @ 7,500 rpm hp, 166 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 161 km/h, Motoryk rating 8.0/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Kawasaki Zephyr 550
Yamaha Rd 350
Horsepower (hp)
50 hp
39 hp
Torque (Nm)
44 Nm
33 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
161 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
198 kg
166 kg
Type
Classic
Classic
Horsepower
50 hp @ 9,000 rpm
39 hp @ 7,500 rpm
Torque
44 Nm @ 7,500 rpm
33 Nm @ 7,000 rpm (estimated)
Top Speed
175 km/h (estimated; note: may vary slightly by year and condition)
161 km/h
Weight
198 kg (wet/curb weight)
166 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.0–6.5 L/100km (approx. 15–20 km/L typical real-world average)
5.0–6.5 L/100km (approximately 15–20 km/L, estimate based on typical two-stroke usage)
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
Yamaha Rd 350
8.0/10
"A thrilling classic, but only buy one already sorted."
Pros
+Screaming two-stroke power delivery
+Incredibly light and flickable
+Strong vintage community support
Cons
−Neglected examples are common
−Fuel economy genuinely awful
−Constant jetting attention needed
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
