Motorcycle specifications KawasakiKLE 500 SE 2026 The pocket raid

The new 500 KLE is much more than a comeback. It launches a whole new family at Kawasaki. Simply and poetically called Adventure. Very aptly so, because although the green brand has a renowned range of trail bikes with the Versys 650 and 1100, it had nothing for off-road/road use.
The studs have taken over the 500 platform to offer the public a machine with a rally-raid front end and a desire to tackle the undergrowth.

Those who knewthe old 500 KLE (from 2006), and even the original 1991 model, will be amazed. From a trail bike that was formerly half urban, half off-road, the Kawa now looks like a true adventurer, with a very vertical design and the look of a big raid bike. A Dakar poster must have been hanging on the main wall of the design office. Its triple headlight is reminiscent of the Z 900 and the new Z 650 S, and as our colleagues at Trail Adventure Magazine rightly pointed out, it has a slight resemblance to the Bimota H2 Tera —a striking reference.

The platform leaves the road

After the roadster and the sports bike, the 451cc twin-cylinder engine finds a new outlet in the KLE. Its power output is 45.4 horsepower at 9,000 rpm, as on the manufacturer's other 500cc models. The torque follows suit, with 4.3 mkg at 6,000 rpm.
The chassis, on the other hand, is in a completely different league. Its frame is much more complex and reinforced, so that it can withstand heavy shocks and rough terrain. It's as if the KLE wants to chase rocks rather than go around them. At the front, a large 43 mm inverted fork has 210 mm of travel, while at the rear, the shock absorber mounted on a progressive Uni-Trak linkage assembly slides over 200 mm.
With a diameter of 300 mm, the front brake is slightly smaller than on the manufacturer's other 500 models; however, the rear brake is larger at 230 mm. 10 mm lost on one side, 10 mm gained on the other.

These truly off-road-oriented features, its treaded tires, and its endurance-style spoked wheels (90/90-21 and 140/70-17) do not betray the plumage of this KLE. Its range does not end where the paved road ends; rather, that is where it begins. Just press the button on the switchgear to deactivate the ABS and the adventure can begin. With 16 liters in the tank, it can last a good while. That's 2 liters more than the Z and Ninja 500.
But the bike is heavy: 195 kilos fully loaded. Sure, that's less than the model from 20 years ago. But for this type of machine, it's still significant.

Its significant suspension travel logically results in a high seat height of 870 mm. It's not as inaccessible as a real enduro, but it's still significant. If necessary, the ERGO-FIT options allow you to have a lower, higher, more comfortable, or flatter seat. In short, more suitable.

Equipment in + mode

What comes as standard, however, is the windshield, which can be adjusted to three positions, from base to +27 mm and then +55 mm. The same goes for connectivity, allowing you to take advantage of the Rideology app. As this SE version is more upmarket than the standard KLE, riders can enjoy a larger windshield, hand guards, slim LED turn signals, a more robust engine guard, and a 4.3-inch TFT screen. This is a well-known feature, found on all 500 SE models and previously tried and tested on other Kawasakis. The basic 500 KLE makes do with an LCD screen, which is quite good, actually.

The new Kawasaki 500 KLE arrives in a segment that is in full swing. The competition is quickly positioning itself with the convincing CFMOTO 450 MT, the surprising 390 Adventure R from KTM, not to mention the renowned Royal-Enfield 450 Himalayan. It's the CRF 300 Rally that will be left behind.

M.B. - Manufacturer photos