Rare inline-four 497cc variant (ZX500A), distinct from the twin-cylinder GPz 500S
Retains its factory twin exhaust system, which the vendor notes most examples have lost
Unmodified bodywork and fairings in factory Firecracker Red and Ebony Black
Austrian grey import, now UK-registered
Described by the vendor as a survivor bike in original condition
Advisory-free MOT to March 2027
The Appeal
The Kawasaki GPZ 500R (ZX500A) is such a rare machine that many enthusiasts don't even know it exists. Sharing its chassis and sharp-edged styling with the iconic GPZ 600R, it was built with a 497cc liquid-cooled, 16-valve inline-four to satisfy taxation classes in continental Europe and Japan. It is a world apart from the twin-cylinder GPz 500S that most riders associate with the name, and surviving examples in original specification are notably scarce.
This launch-year 1987 example, originally supplied in Austria and now UK-registered, presents well for its age. The vendor states that the bodywork remains entirely original, with no aftermarket modifications, fairing cuts, or resprays, just honest factory red and black. It also retains its period-correct twin factory exhaust system, a component the vendor notes was routinely discarded in favour of aftermarket alternatives during the 1980s. With 36,375 km on the odometer, it shows only minor age-related patina, and the vendor reports that it starts cleanly and runs well. It has a current MOT with no advisories and is reported road-ready.IMG_20260802_142929770 Jim Mounter.jpg4.47 MB
Key Information
Mileage: 36,375 km (~22,600 miles) indicated
Country of origin: United Kingdom (imported from Austria)
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