TOPIC:

Thanks Justin!
Unfortunately, don't know anything about ZX600, other than they were based on the KZ550/ZX550. I do recall that I heard the cylinder spacing is the same and they can share exhaust headers, which would support the likelihood the cylinder spacing is the same.

The only thing I know about the ZR550 is that the cam specs are the same as the early gpz550's (D and H models). The ZR550 used lower compression pistons, but used larger carbs, than the gpz550's.

Details on my cam page.

loudhvx wrote: Unfortunately, don't know anything about ZX600

He was asking about the ZR400-G, which is allegedly a sleeved-down KZ550...

Googled some pics, this thing sure looks like a 550.

www.bikepics.com/kawasaki/zr400/85/pics.asp

Yeah, forgot. I know even less about a ZR400G.

Those photos are what other parts of the world got as a ZR400??, but I think that bike was much more closely based on the KZ550H Gpz models. 2-valve, shim under.

I think the ZR400G (Zephyr X) is actually a much newer style motor, though I'm surprised to hear it has 4 valves, but it appears it does by those links, and the description "DOHC4" in my Kaw Magazine from 2006. The rest is in Japanese. The 750 and 1100 are listed as "DOHC2".

guitargeek wrote:
loudhvx knows a great deal about 550s.

Yeah, that cams webpage is amazing. Found it some time back researching this stuff. Thanks for posting that loudhvx, nice resource.

I don't think those engine pics are from the Zephyr zr400 (either the C (8v) or G (16v) model). I do remember reading about a mid-eighties zr400 but I can't find the website. The Zephyr zr400C wasn't released until 1989 and it looks quite different (see the first link in the original post).

Apparently there are a bunch of laws that favor smaller engines in Japan so they go to extraordinary efforts to wring what they can out of their 400's.

I've been getting most of my info about this bike using Google translate and looking at Japanese sites. Kind of works. Sure would be nice to have someone who reads Japanese in the conversation.

Zaddict wrote: I don't think those engine pics are from the Zephyr zr400 (either the C (8v) or G (16v) model).

What's this one?

blogs.yahoo.co.jp/nevermore8021/folder/239235.html

Apparently there are a bunch of laws that favor smaller engines in Japan so they go to extraordinary efforts to wring what they can out of their 400's.

My buddy moved to Thailand, where people give you funny looks if you're on a 400 four, which is referred to as a "big bike". They wonder why you would need all that power, like you're some kind of marauding barbarian. My friend is a big ol' west Texas boy, so his Suzuki Bandit 400 looked like a toy. Monkeys and footballs come to mind...

I've been getting most of my info about this bike using Google translate and looking at Japanese sites. Kind of works. Sure would be nice to have someone who reads Japanese in the conversation.

I've often thought the same!

4 cylinder / DOHC 4 valve air-cooled, 4-stroke, parallel

From here: www.sho-net.com/kawasaki-fainals/ZEPHYR/1.html

Oddly, I haven't found anything about the ZR400G on Kawasaki.com...

How 'bout these, Lou? Can you tell anything from these small photos?

Hey, lookie here, I found a place to get a used Zephyr X engine. Might not be obvious that's what this is without translating the page, and it's still not exactly clear what shape it's in, but it's definitely the right motor. Would be a whole lot cheaper going this route than buying separate head, cams, valves, etc. This one is about $500. Shipping might be outrageous though.

www.jauce.com/auction/r114589712

Justin, I'm not sure, but I would say there are sort of 3 categories of the ZR line that I am vaguely familiar with (outside of the 4-valve aspect).

There is the early one you posted which has a 82-83 KZ550H mono-shock Gpz motor and chassis. The KZ/ZX cam ends had half-circles.

Then there is the 1989 to early 1990's ZR550B Zephyr type, and I think the ZR400C Zephyr, which has the newer style motor identified by the prominent, round cam end plug, and the chassis has the 5-spoke wheels where the spokes are not radial, but tangential to the hub.

Then there is the 4-valve ZR400G, which has the newer style motor, and the chassis is almost the same in casual appearance, but the wheels are 3-spoke, where the spokes are radial. The brakes are also bigger.

Of course, chassis changes and engine changes may not have coincided, so there could be a lot of overlap on the types.

Zaddict wrote: Hey, lookie here, I found a place to get a used Zephyr X engine. Might not be obvious that's what this is without translating the page, and it's still not exactly clear what shape it's in, but it's definitely the right motor. Would be a whole lot cheaper going this route than buying separate head, cams, valves, etc. This one is about $500. Shipping might be outrageous though.

www.jauce.com/auction/r114589712

From what I've read, I don't think the ZR400C had 4-valves. That auction says ZR400C, but then look at the strange valve cover. It appears to have plugs for adjusting lash screws. I don't think a two-valve head would have lash screws. Maybe it's for measuring lash without removing the valve cover, but still uses shim-under, so you have to remove the cover to adjust the lash? Not sure.

This link lists the ZR400C as 2-valve, and the ZR400G as 4-valve which gets the Zephyr"x" designation.
ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AB%E3%83%AF...95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%BC

This one is about $500. Shipping might be outrageous though.

Hmmm... I wouldn't call that a great price, but I have more time than money these days, and tend to do things on the cheap.
I suppose you could recoup some of the expense by parting it out on eBay.