Beschreibung
The early 80s saw a number of developments in the bike world and Kawasaki were taking things forward with the GPZ 550. The bike represented a leap forward in technology and performance and the 550 was able to give some bigger bikes of the day a run for their money.
Power had been increased to a claimed 65 bhp yet the bike was still nimble enough to be agile and offered a range of attributes which made it a good all-rounder. In terms of development, the bike sat neatly between the earlier 500 and the 600 which would replace it, the 550 bowing out in 1984.
The engine still retained air cooling to keep a classic feel about it but the suspension had been radically changed into the Uni-Track monoshock system instead of the twin shock systems usually used. Coupled with alloy wheels the bike represented a natural development and, in its day, was widely accepted as the best middleweight on the market.
Later models incorporated additional warning lights and a fuel gauge in the tank which make the bike distinctive if somewhat unusual. The use of a nose-fairing and swooping panels gave the bike a distinctly sporting look and it must be said that the seating wasn’t really made for all-day riding.
Bright colours and swooping lines completed the period look and make the bikes stand out today as a reminder that back in the early 80s this bike really did turn heads.
They are certainly distinctive and grab attention for their rarity now. If you are looking for one check the Uni-Track system carefully as badly maintained ones can cause problems. A well looked-after motor is also essential as they run at quite a high temperature and frequent oil changes together with keeping the oil topped up will pay dividends.
Future
Very rare now in any condition good ones are even rarer. GPZ 550s don’t come into the same category as the late 70’s superbikes but they have a following and for those who had one, should bring back memories of a very capable bike.
Later models tend to have benefitted from developments and should be good for 50, 000 miles before any serious work is needed.
Our example has been kept in excellent condition and should be assured of its desirability if it is kept in the same condition. That should bode well for future values.
