The Kawasaki KLE500 faces the new season with a novelty that directly affects the driving experience. The Japanese brand incorporates the KLE500 SE Smartride at your range trail of medium displacement, a variant that introduces an automatic engagement clutch system to reduce effort in the most common maneuvers. The new configuration joins the standard and SE versions.
The main peculiarity of Smartride is that it does not convert the KLE500 on an automatic motorcycle. Kawasaki It integrates a small mechanical centrifugal clutch into the conventional assembly, so that the system automatically manages the connection and disconnection of the transmission when the pilot starts or stops. Thus, the need to operate the clutch lever in those 2 situations disappears.
The difference is especially interesting in urban traffic, where continuous stops and starts force the left lever to constantly work. It can also facilitate low-speed maneuvers and control in certain complicated steps off the asphalt, by reducing the need to adjust the friction point when starting off.
However, the rider maintains the usual control of the 6-speed gearbox. Once in motion, you can select gears like any other motorcycle with a manual transmission, using the shift pedal and lever when necessary. Obviously, the system does not depend on electric motors or electronic management to operate.
New Kawasaki KLE500 SE: Tubeless tires and new rear measurement
The other great novelty of the Kawasaki KLE500 SE Smartride 2027 is in the wheels. This version incorporates tires tubelessan especially practical solution for those who use the motorcycle to travel or explore tracks far from urban centers. In the event of a puncture, tubeless tires allow many punctures to be repaired from the outside, without having to remove the wheel. Not all damages allow this type of repair, but the solution can simplify interventions during a route and reduce complications associated with an unforeseen event.
Furthermore, as we mentioned before, Kawasaki modifies the size of the rear tire, which goes from 140/70-17 to 150/70-17. The “21-inch spoked front wheel” remains, preserving one of the characteristics that define the adventurous orientation of this trail. The new size at the rear also expands the choice when it comes time to replace the tires.
A set designed for road and track
Beyond these modifications, the KLE500 retains its approach as an accessible adventure motorcycle, with a design inspired by racing machines rally. The raised front, the large screen, the compact tank and the body shapes, with references to the motocross range KX of Kawasakidefine your image.
The chassis uses a tubular steel chassis designed specifically for the model. Its objective is to combine stable behavior on the road with an agile response when the asphalt disappears. The upright driving position and aerodynamic protection also seek to promote comfort during everyday commutes and long-distance trips.
The engine continues to be the well-known 451 cc parallel twin, with liquid cooling, which develops 45 hp at 9,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 42.6 Nm at 6,000 rpm. The combination of familiar mechanics, a lightweight chassis and new technology Smartride seeks, without a doubt, to expand the range of users of the KLE500. It can not only be attractive for those who want to travel and explore roads, but also for those who need a trail capable of functioning daily in the city without giving up manual transmission.
Kawasaki has announced that the new KLE500 SE Smartride 2027 will be available from January next year, initially in the color white Pearl Blizzard White. The price is still pending confirmation. The brand has already published official information about the model on its European website, although it is advisable to consult with Spanish dealers to find out the conditions.
