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
P122 RIDE REVIEW I 2026 KAWASAKI KLE500 the understanding that most KLE500 owners will likely spend more time on the pavement than on the dirt, which might explain the 17-inch rear wheel and an engine yanked straight out of a streetbike. I'd say Kawasaki checked all the boxes. It's an excellent perform - er both on and off the road, though it does have its limitations in the dirt— low ground clearance and whoops at speed come to mind; it's not a high- performance bike, and Kawasaki never said it was. Regardless, you get a very good, all-around motorcycle for a great price. And one that looks great, much better in person than on the internet. Of the two models, the standard and the SE, I'd seriously consider the $900 cheaper standard model. As nice as the SE's TFT dash is, I could easily live with the standard's LCD dash and the small windscreen, and I'd consider buy - ing the $150 skid plate and the $239 handguards separately, as the SE has, to save a few bucks. If you want all the upgrades the SE has, the extra $900 is well worth it. The KLE compares to only a few other motorcycles in its class; the closest is CFMOTO's Ibex 450. We reviewed the Chinese-built bike last year and found it to be a surprisingly good adventure bike, and it sells for approximately $100 less than the KLE. BMW's all-new and premium F 450 GS is expected to be available late this year. MSRP hasn't been announced yet, but we suspect it will be priced way out of the KLE's league. Other compa - rable models are all singles, like Royal Enfield's Himalayan and KTM's 390 Adventure R, which both sell for less. Anyone looking to enter the ADV market for the first time should check out the KLE500, even experienced riders seeking a solid ADV motorcycle without spending a fortune and with a brand name they know. CN 2026 KAWASAKI KLE500 ($6599) / KLE500 SE ($7499) Engine 4-stroke, parallel-twin Valvetrain 8-valve, DOHC Cooling System Liquid Displacement 451cc Bore x Stroke 70.0mm x 58.6mm Compression Ratio 11.3:1 Horsepower (claimed) 51 hp @ 10,000 rpm Torque (claimed) 31.7 lb-ft @ 7500 rpm Fueling DFI w/ 32mm throttle bodies Ignition TCBI w/ electronic advance Transmission 6-speed Clutch Assist & slipper Frame Trellis, high-tensile steel Final Drive Chain Front Suspension 43mm inverted telescopic fork, nonadjustable Rear Suspension Uni-Trak w/ adjustable spring preload Front-Wheel Travel 8.3 in. Rear-Wheel Travel 7.7 in. Front Tire 90/90-21 in. IRC GP-410, spoked wheels, tube type Rear Tire 140/70-17 in. IRC GP-410, spoked wheels, tube type Front Brake Single 300mm disc w/ 2-piston caliper and ABS (on/off switchable) Rear Brake Single 230mm disc w/ 2-piston caliper and ABS (on/off switchable) Instrumentation Full LCD / 4.3 in. TFT Rider Aids None Turn Signals Standard / LED Smartphone Connectivity Rideology The App, w/ voice command Handlebars Aluminum, fat-type / Aluminum, fat-type w/ handguards Windscreen 3-position adjustable / 3-position adjustable, 4.1 in. taller than standard model Rake / Trail 28.0° / 4.1 in. Ground Clearance 7.3 in. Seat Height 34.3 in. Protection Standard skid plate / Heavy-duty skid plate Weight, Dry (claimed) 383.7 lbs. (385.9 lbs. 50-state) / 385.9 lbs. (388.1 lbs. 50-state) Weight, Curb (claimed) 425.6 lbs. (427.8 lbs. 50-state) / 427.8 lbs. (430.0 lbs. 50-state) Wheelbase 61.2 in. Fuel Capacity 4.2 gal. Color Options Metallic Carbon Gray/Ebony / Pearl Blizzard White, Metallic Bluish Green Place of Manufacture Thailand