Kawasaki Zephyr 550 vs Yamaha Xs650
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Zephyr 550 vs Yamaha Xs650. 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 Xs650: 53 hp @ 7,000 rpm hp, 193 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 170 km/h, Motoryk rating 8.5/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Kawasaki Zephyr 550
Yamaha Xs650
Horsepower (hp)
50 hp
53 hp
Torque (Nm)
44 Nm
52 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
198 kg
193 kg
Type
Classic
Classic
Horsepower
50 hp @ 9,000 rpm
53 hp @ 7,000 rpm
Torque
44 Nm @ 7,500 rpm
52 Nm @ 6,000 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h (estimated; note: may vary slightly by year and condition)
170 km/h
Weight
198 kg (wet/curb weight)
193 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.0–6.5 L/100km (approx. 15–20 km/L typical real-world average)
4.5 L/100km (approx. 22 km/L)
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 Xs650
8.5/10
"The best vintage Japanese twin you can still reasonably find."
Pros
+Virtually indestructible engine
+Huge aftermarket support still
+Stunning parallel twin character
Cons
−Prices inflated by hipsters
−Many rough project bikes circulating
−Points ignition needs attention
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
