Kawasaki KLE500 - touring enduro in half a liter cubage

Modern motorcycles are usually divided into several categories. This is not the USSR, when all the bikes were classic road builders and were used in any conditions. Then there were also cross-country motorcycles, they were not sold to “civilians”, but were distributed among the special schools of the SDUSHOR.


Now you can choose a model to your liking, ranging from a sportbike, which has a place on the race track, ending with cruisers / choppers and hard enduros. There are also universal bikes suitable for long-distance travel.

Today we will consider a rather rare motorcycle in Russia - Kawasaki KLE500. In the touring enduro class, the model stands out. Firstly, it is equipped with an engine not for 650, but for 500 cm3. Secondly, the motorcycle became the debut SUV from Kawasaki.



Yes, there are crossovers in the world of bikes, they are convenient to move on roads with different types of surface. And there are real SUVs on which you can conquer almost any dirt.

The more passable the motorcycle is, the more inconvenient it is to travel long distances on it. No wonder the best "mud-mixers" are cross-country models. They are ordered to go to public roads.

History

The Kawasaki KLE500 appeared in 1991 as the manufacturer's answer to competitors' models in the touring enduro class. These are the so-called "SUVs" that allow you to drive on bad roads, but it is advisable not to turn into the mud. Much depends on the skill of the motorcyclist - some even manage to ride on the classic models with a working volume of 1,2-1,3 liters through the forests.



To moderate the frenzied nature of the power unit, it was deformed by 10 liters. With. - from 60 to 50 liters. With. It didn’t help much - the motor remained essentially sporty, loving high revs and coming to life after 5 on the tachometer. Only thanks to the volume of 000 cm500, the failure is not felt, especially by beginners who switched to Klekha from Chinese light enduros with their 3-200 cm270 “single-barrels”.



The motorcycle turned out to be successful - this is hinted at by the release, which lasts from 1991 to 2007. Then the model fell out of the race, giving way to Kawasaki Versys. The new bike received an engine, like most competitors in the class - 650 cm3.

Who is the model for?

The Kawasaki KLE500 is often bought by beginners, deluded by its pride in the touring enduro class. Yes, this is a Japanese motorcycle, but in terms of cross-country ability it is noticeably behind the Honda Transalp, not to mention the Aprilia Pegaso 650, and even more so the Yamaha Tenere.

On the other hand, not everyone needs a “rogue” to visit the most “bearish corners”. For rural roads, a motorcycle is enough, but it does not pretend to be more. There are other models for this, the same small “Goose” from BMW or the legendary Honda Africa Twin.

If you try to find a bike that is as similar as possible to the Kawasaki KLE500 in terms of cross-country ability and purpose, this is the Yamaha TDM 850. Despite a different weight category and external dissimilarity, these two motorcycles can be conditionally classified as a single class. Only Yamaha will also require a better physical shape from the pilot.



Due to his sporting past, he does not like the Kawasaki KLE500 engine to drive at low speeds, plus he needs gasoline at least 95th. The bike will also go to the AI-92, but the traction will noticeably decrease. And if you constantly save on fuel, then engine problems will begin.

It will sound funny, but the motorcycle seems to be specially designed for Russian cities, with their inadequately high “sleeping policemen”, curbs, patching in unexpected places and other joys of life.

Where to look and what to look for?

Finding a Kawasaki KLE500 is not difficult - they are available on specialized sites for used equipment sales. True, there are never more than 10 of them, but you can usually choose from 3-5 copies.

The cost depends on a number of factors:

✅ Year of release
✅ States
✅ Owner's greed

And the last point often prevails. For example, Kawasaki KLE500 can be purchased from 250 to 495 thousand rubles. The low popularity of the bike in Russia will give a reason to bargain with the owner. This also creates a number of difficulties when reselling a motorcycle - a buyer will have to wait a long time. Although, this is not a fact - sometimes such bikes go away in a couple of days.

But you can be sure that the condition of even the oldest motorcycles will be more or less good. The model does not pull on the role of a "pontor cutter", so it is unlikely that the engine was periodically twisted to the cutoff.



The first thing you should pay attention to when inspecting the Kawasaki KLE500 is the operation of the engine and gearbox. The motor here, despite its age, is liquid-cooled, so you have to inspect the system for leaks.

Attention should be paid to the radiator - whether it is partially soldered and on its external state. Finding a new part will take a long time, and the owner will not like the price.

The motor itself is reliable, does not differ in increased oil consumption. That's just age can make itself felt. When inspecting, you need to listen to how the engine works. It is a two-cylinder, so it’s easy to understand how many “boilers” are involved. The power unit should not “troit” and shake in the frame.

A cloud of smoke from the exhaust pipe is also a reason to refuse a purchase. The noise of the timing chain hints at the high mileage of the motorcycle - this is at least 50 km. If the numbers on the odometer are two times less, this is definitely an adjustment. The timing chain itself is considered to be designed for the entire life of the motorcycle - this is 000 km of run.



Brakes are one of the most important parts of a bike. The slightest malfunction in the system for the pilot can be very costly. The calipers should not hang out. If the brake discs are covered with rust, then they are not performing their function. Or it speaks of a motorcycle idle time, which also negatively affects the condition of consumables.

Attention should be paid to brake discs - they are expensive. The permissible minimum thickness is minus 0,5 mm from the new part.

The front brake is not informative enough compared to modern models, the rear brake, on the contrary, is sharp. We'll have to adapt - for this, a couple of hours of training in an empty parking lot will suffice. If the brake hoses on the motorcycle are still "native", it is recommended to replace them with reinforced ones.



The motorcycle is equipped with a regular windshield, but for pilots with a height of 175 cm it will not fully perform its functions. If you plan to often travel to "long-distance trips", then it is better for such people to replace the "windshield" with a tuning one, which is larger.



The Kawasaki KLE500 didn't become an off-road and rally star like the Honda Africa Twin. But this is good for the secondary market - the motorcycle is inexpensive. Like any Japanese technique, the bike is reliable, so do not be afraid of age models.

Kawasaki KLE500 is suitable for operation in rural areas, where the quality of roads is often disgusting. On this bike, you can easily drive along a forest or field path, but only in dry weather.

You should not expect off-road abilities from a motorcycle - there are models of a different class for this.