Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1544513
P114 RIDE REVIEW I 2026 KAWASAKI KLE500 introduced the KLE500 to the media in Southern Utah, where we spent the day riding the SE model on a mix of pavement and dirt, covering 150 miles in pretty much one shot. The KLE is a wonderful motor- cycle on the pavement. I had no complaints. Despite its somewhat small windshield, it does a remark- able job of fending off windblast while keeping buffeting to acceptable levels. You can easily feel the engine's Ninja heritage; the KLE's somewhat revvy engine feels right at home on the pavement, deliver- ing good power without excessive buzzing or vibration. From St. George, I rode the KLE back home to Southern California, about 350 miles, in a little more than five hours, including two quick gas stops. It was a bomb run home, but the KLE performed flawlessly. Its happy spot was around 75 mph (around 6800 rpm), and it would ac- celerate quickly and easily to 80-85 mph when asked. It has more top speed left over, too. Back in St. George, a decent por- tion of the ride was on dirt, mostly on well-maintained, well-used roads that were dry, slippery and dusty. Again, the KLE performed well. Power delivery is extremely smooth, making it easy to control the rear wheel and keeping it from breaking loose when you don't want it to. Roll-on power is so smooth that you don't miss the lack of trac- tion control. You just don't need it. I wouldn't call the KLE exceptionally torquey, but it pulls nicely at low rpm and has a super-linear pow- LED blinkers and metal-reinforced handguards. The SE also comes in two color choices: Pearl Blizzard White and Metallic Bluish Green. The standard model is offered in just Metallic Carbon Gray/Ebony. KLE500, THE RIDE I'll get right to the good stuff first. Comfort. I'm assuming Kawasaki engineers figured out the perfect rider posi- tion for long-distance on- and off-road riding and then designed the KLE500 around that. At least for my 6-foot-1 frame, the KLE500's ergonomics are spot on, especially the footpegs, which sit right under you, the handlebars, which are positioned where they should be, and the seat, which is comfortable in both shape and texture. It's also narrow between your legs and very smooth, with no bulg- es or edges to snag your gear. Plus, seat height is not an issue for me; I could easily plant both feet on the ground. I appreciated all this on my first day on the bike. Kawasaki (Left) You've seen the KLE SE's TFT dash on other Kawasaki models. The standard KLE is fitted with an LCD dash. (Bottom) Low ground clearance is a bit of an issue, but both the standard and the SE are equipped with skid plates. The SE's is heavy-duty.