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Help advice/ Comparing the handling of two 80s/ 90s Jap four cylinders.

matty

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Can anyone offer their opinions please.
The 80s/ 90s Kawasaki GT550 shaft drive VS the Yamaha XJ900F or the 650/ 750 variants.
If these two old timers, in your opinion which of the two had the best as in best handling Frame /chassis set up geometry etc ?
 

Danno

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Only ridden the xj550 and xj1100 maxim. Liked both bikes. The 1100 was very smooth.
 

matty

Border raider.
Joined
Feb 8, 2022
Member Number
139
Posts
400
Location
England Scotish border
Only ridden the xj550 and xj1100 maxim. Liked both bikes. The 1100 was very smooth.
I have riden XJ900F built a cafe racer, the handling was not what i would class as inspiring, i still have several XJ900 f engines and lots of parts even a bare frame swing arm and stripped front forks. I however have a quite complete rolling with its own reg documents GT550 minus its engine, and today a tape mesure hinted one of the XJ900 motors would probably fit the Kawasaki frame.
Thinking if the GT550 was a decent handler i might just try shoehorning in the 900 yamaha motor. i never had a Yamasaki before.
 

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