Sport Tourers
1997Kawasaki GPZ 900 R
29 fields on record
The 1997 Kawasaki GPZ900R is a later example of Kawasaki's famous Ninja, built for Japan with a 908cc liquid-cooled inline four. It has a six-speed gearbox and a 22-litre tank.
- Capacity
- 908.0 ccm
- Engine
- In-line four, four-stroke
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Dry weight
- 228.0 kg
- Seat height
- 790 mm
- Power
- 108.0 HP (80.5 kW) @ 9500 RPM
What’s new for the 1997 Kawasaki GPZ 900 R
vs the 1992| Spec | 1992 | 1997 |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 115.0 HP (84.6 kW) @ 9500 RPM | 108.0 HP (80.5 kW) @ 9500 RPM |
| Top speed | — | 248.0 km/h (154.1 mph) |
| Dry weight | — | 228.0 kg (502.7 pounds) |
| Wet weight | 257.0 kg (566.6 pounds) | not listed |
| Seat height | — | 790 mm (31.1 inches) |
| Front suspension | — | 41mm Telescopic forks, air assisted four way anti dive. |
| Rear suspension | — | Uni-Trak air assisted, single shock, 4-way adjustable damping. |
| Front brakes | Dual disc | 2x 300mm discs 4 piston calipers |
| Rear brakes | Single disc | Single 250mm disc 2 piston caliper |
| Wheelbase | — | 1425 mm (56.1 inches) |
How it rides
Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested- Best for
- Designed as a fast, comfortable sport tourer that blends highway-eating speed with day-to-day usability.
- Built for
- A charismatic, iconic 1980s-90s superbike-turned-tourer with strong midrange power, a relaxed but sporty riding position, and long-legged stability.
- Not ideal for
- Not a good fit for off-road use, novice riders, or anyone seeking a lightweight, flickable city commuter.
Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.
Will it fit you?
Worked out in your browser - nothing is sent to usReliability & safety
Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaintsBike Reliability
How the score works →71
out of 100Good
The 1997 Kawasaki GPZ 900 R passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 87.3% of the time, 5.1 points above expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 71% of models.
All years of this model: 46 / 100 (average) from 11,171 tests.
87.3%Passed first time
9.7%Failed outright
3.0%Fixed during test
15,000Typical miles
134Tests
Pass rate by miles ridden
All years of this model.
Score by year first registered
38
42
49
56
39
44
49
40
52
72
64
71
'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'96'97
Against its rivals · ranks 6 of 6
| # | Model (all years) | Score | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda VFR800 | 77 Good | 130,413 |
| 2 | Yamaha XJ 900 S Diversion | 59 Average | 26,086 |
| 3 | Yamaha TDM 850 | 56 Average | 21,130 |
| 4 | Triumph Sprint 900 | 55 Average | 6,555 |
| 5 | Ducati ST2 | 49 Average | 6,444 |
| 6 | Kawasaki GPZ 900 R | 46 Average | 11,171 |
Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.
From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.
Engine
- Capacity
- 908.0 ccm
- Power
- 108.0 HP (80.5 kW) @ 9500 RPM
- Engine type
- In-line four, four-stroke
- Power/weight ratio
- 0.4737 HP/kg (dry)
- Bore x stroke
- 72.5 x 55.0 mm
- Compression
- 11.0:1
- Cooling system
- Liquid
- Fuel system
- Carburettor
- Starting
- Electric
- Ignition
- Battery ignition, full electronic!
- Torque
- Not on record - add it
Transmission
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Transmission type
- Manual
- Final drive
- Chain
Performance
- Top speed
- 248.0 km/h (154.1 mph)
Dimensions & weight
- Wheelbase
- 1425 mm
- Seat height
- 790 mm
- Dry weight
- 228.0 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 22.00 litres
Chassis & suspension
- Frame
- Iron, Double cradle frame
- Front suspension
- 41mm Telescopic forks, air assisted four way anti dive.
- Rear suspension
- Uni-Trak air assisted, single shock, 4-way adjustable damping.
- Trail
- 91 mm
Brakes & wheels
- Front brakes
- 2x 300mm discs 4 piston calipers
- Front brakes diameter
- 300 mm
- Rear brakes
- Single 250mm disc 2 piston caliper
- Rear brakes diameter
- 250 mm
- Front tyre
- 120/70-17
- Rear tyre
- 150/70-18
Specs last verified against published sources: .
Compiled from manufacturer documentation and user contributions, corrected on an ongoing basis. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
What changed, year to year
Differences highlighted| Specification | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1997 | 1999 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 908 cc | 908 cc | 908 cc | 908 cc | 908 cc | 908 cc |
| Dry weight | 228 kg | 228 kg | — | 228 kg | 228 kg | 228 kg |
| Seat height | 760 mm | 760 mm | — | 790 mm | 790 mm | 790 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 22 L | 22 L | 22 L | 22 L | 22 L | 22 L |
| Bike Reliability ⓘ | 38 Below average | 39 Below average | 52 Average | 71 Good | Too few tests | Too few tests |
Illustrative - generated automatically by diffing the year records already on file, not a manufacturer-published changelog.
Rider Reviews
Common questions
What is the engine size of the Kawasaki GPZ 900 R?
The 1997 Kawasaki GPZ 900 R has a Capacity of 908.0 ccm (55.41 cubic inches).
What engine power does the Kawasaki GPZ 900 R have?
The 1997 Kawasaki GPZ 900 R has a Power of 108.0 HP (80.5 kW) @ 9500 RPM.
How many gears does the Kawasaki GPZ 900 R have?
The 1997 Kawasaki GPZ 900 R has a Gearbox of 6-speed.
How much does the Kawasaki GPZ 900 R weigh?
The 1997 Kawasaki GPZ 900 R has a Dry weight of 228.0 kg (502.7 pounds).
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