The Kawasaki KLE500 Rally is the most adventurous specification of Kawasaki’s lightweight adventure bike, aimed squarely at riders who actually ride off the tarmac. It builds on the standard KLE500 with protection, a freer breathing exhaust and ergonomic changes that pay off the moment the surface turns loose.
Power comes from the same 451cc liquid cooled parallel twin used across Kawasaki’s lightweight family, a willing engine with useful drive low in the rev range, which is exactly what you want when picking a line up a rutted track. The six speed gearbox is closely matched to that delivery, and the Akrapovic titanium exhaust fitted to this edition sheds weight high up on the bike while giving the twin a noticeably deeper voice.
Suspension is the KLE500’s strongest suit and this edition leans into it. The 43mm KYB inverted cartridge fork carries 210mm of travel with 200mm from the preload adjustable Uni Trak monoshock, enough to absorb the sort of impacts that would stop a road bike outright. The 21 inch front wheel on IRC GP-410 tyres rolls over obstacles instead of tripping on them, and the switchable ABS on the 300mm front disc lets you turn off rear intervention when you want the back wheel to lock and steer. Kerb weight is 194kg on a 1,555mm wheelbase, with an 860mm seat that gives a commanding view and easy standing room.
An assist and slipper clutch lightens the lever for long days and keeps the rear wheel settled on hard downshifts, while a 230mm rear disc with ABS completes the braking. The Rally package is the meaningful part. A skid plate shields the engine from rocks and ruts, a radiator cover protects the most vulnerable component on any trail ride, and the low passenger seat sharpens the riding position when you are up on the pegs. The USB-C socket and relay kit keep navigation running through a long day out. This is the KLE500 for riders who want green lanes and gravel in their weekends. See it at GT Motorcycles in Plymouth, serving riders across Devon and Cornwall, and speak to us about finance or book a test ride to feel the difference for yourself.
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