BMW
Back in the 00s, adventure bikes were still very much a niche offering, with only a couple of manufacturers willing to build them. Most buyers gravitated towards lighter dual-sports if they wanted to do any off-road travel, and the rest would acquire a tourer, and only take the odd dirt road shortcut when left with no alternative. A certain TV show that featured a couple of riders taking their BMW GS adventure bikes around the world captured the imagination. Suddenly, the BMW GS became one of the most popular motorcycles of the decade, and other manufacturers needed a riposte.
Yamaha
From here, adventure bikes largely became bigger and less competent off-road, with most buyers demanding more features and more power. This trend came to a dramatic end with the introduction of the back-to-basics Yamaha Tenere 700. Several lightweight middleweight machines followed, but these bikes were still a handful for new riders or riders new to off-roading. This gave rise to the latest crop of highly competent entry-level adventure bikes. While initially targeted at new riders, more experienced riders have also recognized the value of a smaller, lighter ADV.
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The Kawasaki KLE500 Offers Impressive Versatility On A Budget
MSRP: $6,599
Riders on stationary 2026 Kawasaki KLE500 bikes, off-roading cinematic close-up shotKawasaki
For several years, Kawasaki limped along without a genuine adventure bike in the lineup. The Versys-X 300, Versys 650, and the KLE650 Adventure have been plugging this hole in a combined effort, but for the most part, Kawasaki was just sending customers away and effectively saying no to money. This is what makes the KLE500 such a significant model for the brand.
Other manufacturers have been building ADVs for decades now and have all that experience to fall back on. Kawasaki’s engineers certainly know how to build off-road bikes, and we all know how capable their street bikes are, but it is not easy to find a balance between these disciplines. While the KLE500 offers impressive versatility, it has also been heavily criticized, sometimes unfairly.
Powered By A Reliable Sports Bike Engine
Power: 51 Horsepower
Kawasaki
It is quite clear that Kawasaki made the decision to start with this engine and then build the bike around it. It is quite easy to see why this decision was made, because it has proven to be a reliable performer in every other bike it has gone into. It offers an almost ideal level of performance that will appeal to a wide range of riders. With it being a relatively free-revving parallel-twin, more experienced riders will find it engaging higher up in the rev range, while new riders won’t find it intimidating. It also offers decent mid-range performance, something that is important for off-road use. In so many ways, it is the ideal base to work from, but it is pretty clear that Kawasaki ran into some packaging issues along the way.
The Problem With Building An ADV Around A Street Bike Engine
Kawasaki
One of the main reasons adventure bikes are all a compromise is the fact that they are all effectively street bikes that still need to work off-road. These two disciplines are always fighting each other, and it is clear that while the marketing team wanted to sell this as an all-conquering off-roader, the engineers had different ideas. The engine sits unusually low in the chassis, and while this is great for weight distribution, it does nothing for ground clearance.
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Brings A Healthy Dose Of Japanese Pragmatism To The Table
The main reason most riders were a little put off by the Versys-X 300 was not that it was too small, but rather that it only offered around 7 inches of ground clearance. Now, with Versys in its name and a 19-inch front wheel, nobody really expected much from the little bike. We all expected more from the KLE, though. With just 7.3 inches of ground clearance, people were understandably left disappointed. It actually has more suspension travel than ground clearance, so it came as no surprise that the bike bottomed out on virtually every real-world off-road test that has been done since its launch. But, to get “hung up” (sorry, couldn’t resist) on this is to misunderstand the model.
Kawasaki
Its primary role will always be to be a good tourer, and the KLE500 is a far better tourer than the little 300cc Versys. It has a sporty steel trellis chassis, and the bike handles well, better than most middleweight bikes, thanks to its low center of gravity. Above all else, it is going to be more reliable than most of the other bikes competing in this space, say for the NX500, which is even more street-oriented. Realistically speaking, it will also cater to the needs of most riders off-road, too. While more competent adventure riders will quickly find its limits, the rest of us will be quite content with what it has to offer. The 21/17 inch combination is a little odd, but there are still enough tire options out there for these sizes.
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A Great New Bike That Really Can Do It All
Kawasaki
In terms of features, the base model KLE is relatively sparsely equipped, but its ABS system is at least switchable, which is more than we can say for some bikes. The lack of electronic features might count against it, but for those who just want a reliable, comfortable motorcycle that offers a modicum of off-road capability, this is ideal. It is not the lightest bike in this class, but it doesn’t need to be; it is light enough to use as a city runabout, and also light enough for a new rider to pick up after a minor spill off-road. What counts against it is the pressure of expectation. Ever since the Tenere 700 came out, adventure enthusiasts have been waiting for the next big thing. The KLE is not the next “big thing”, but it is a whole lot better than some would have you believe.
Chassis, Suspension, And Weight Specifications
Chassis
Steel trellis
Front Suspension
43mm inverted telescopic fork (8.3-in travel)
Rear Suspension
Bottom-link Uni-Trak with adjustable spring preload (7.7-in travel)
Weight
428 lbs
Source: Kawasaki
