Kawasaki is set to revive the iconic KLE moniker after an 18-year absence. The Kawasaki KLE 500 was first introduced to the world in 1991, a versatile dual-sport adventure motorcycle designed to cover miles on the highway and conquer off-road adventures when required.
The original Kawasaki KLE500 was powered by a reworked version of the GPZ500’s 498cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke DOHC parallel-twin engine, tuned for smoother power delivery on long stretches of road and early peak torque during mild off-roading.
The KLE500 stayed around till 2007. Between 1991 and 2007, KLE500 received minor updates to keep up with the competition. Speaking of competition, sales-wise, the KLE500 wasn’t an overnight success, and even during its best years, it barely posed any challenge to the much more successful BMW GS models or the African twin from Honda, despite being a very capable motorcycle. But what it did achieve was a very cult like following during its time.
During its time away, the newfound affinity for the middleweight dualsport adventure motorcycle found a second coming, and every other manufacturer rode on the new wave and consolidated their position. While Kawasaki has a Versys in their stable, it is more of a tourer than an adventure motorcycle that can go anywhere.
So, Kawasaki has decided to bring back the KLE500 from retirement — better late than never. The 2026 KLE500 is back and ready to take the fight to the already established models in the segment, with modernised technology and engineering.
The Kawasaki Dual sports gets a tried and tested 500cc in-line twin-cylinder engine, which is seen on the Ninja 500 and Z900, where it has been received well by the riders and journalists alike. Although Kawasaki hasn’t officially disclosed the power figures for the motorcycle, it is expected to be around 45.4 hp at 8,000 rpm and 43 Nm of peak torque at 7,000 rpm.
The KLE500 sits on a purposely built steel trellis frame designed for rigidity and durability, which is suspended by a KLE500-specific KYB cartridge-type inverted front fork plus a New Uni-Trak rear suspension — offering a rich balance between stability and comfort.
The 2026 Kawasaki KLE500 comes with two variants — Standard and SE. The standard version gets an LCD TFT display that offers smart connectivity via the Rideology app, whereas the SE variant comes with an LED TFT display and a larger windshield, hand guards, and a larger skid plate.
The 2026 Kawasaki KLE500 has been launched globally with availability now in markets such as the United States, Europe, and other regions where Kawasaki has a strong presence.
