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 Post subject: Kawasaki KLE 500 - Does it make a good trail bike?
PostPosted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 8:55 pm 
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80 cc

Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2015 11:44 pm
Posts: 47
Does anyone own one of these?
I'm just wondering if it would make a semi decent green laner with a set of knobbly tyres on?
They can be picked up rather cheaply and seem to be reliable...


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 Post subject: Re: Kawasaki KLE 500 - Does it make a good trail bike?
PostPosted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 9:19 pm 
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300 cc

Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:37 pm
Posts: 570
had one on this years coast to coast on nearly road tyres as long as your not bog hopping ,stump jumping or any other extremes of the green lane experience it will perform just fine


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 Post subject: Re: Kawasaki KLE 500 - Does it make a good trail bike?
PostPosted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 2:35 pm 
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650 cc Monster

Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:08 pm
Posts: 4440
I don't think the bike in the pic is a KLE, which is a twin

http://www.visordown.com/reviews/motorc ... t/239.html

Someone entered one in the Dakar rally a few decades ago and IIRC got a top 10 finish.

But it's more a road commuter than a trail bike.

I'd look for something with one cylinder as a first trail bike...lightness and mild horsepower are your friends.

A Yam Serow or Beta Alp if you are short...any 'proper' trail bike if you are tall.

If you like Kawasakis look at a KLX 250.


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 Post subject: Re: Kawasaki KLE 500 - Does it make a good trail bike?
PostPosted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 2:46 pm 
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300 cc

Joined: Fri May 04, 2012 10:06 pm
Posts: 507
I think the bike in the picture could be a klx 650? Is the kle 500 not a single ? With a few mods it would be a fair bike on detain trails but not so good on the technical stuff. Not a lot of ground clearance


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 Post subject: Re: Kawasaki KLE 500 - Does it make a good trail bike?
PostPosted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 4:35 pm 
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650 cc Monster

Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:08 pm
Posts: 4440
Follow the link KLE = twin


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 Post subject: Re: Kawasaki KLE 500 - Does it make a good trail bike?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 7:18 pm 
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Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:39 am
Posts: 1713
Location: Kent
They to heavy and more an adventure style than a green laner. Great commuter but I wouldn't use one as a green laning bike


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 Post subject: Re: Kawasaki KLE 500 - Does it make a good trail bike?
PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 2:34 pm 
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200 cc

Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:47 am
Posts: 251
I'd suggest looking for something at least 60kg lighter, unless you anticipate covering a lot of road miles getting to the trails you want to ride, in which the compromise of a heavier bike becomes acceptable.


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 Post subject: Re: Kawasaki KLE 500 - Does it make a good trail bike?
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 7:45 pm 
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300 cc
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Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:43 pm
Posts: 625
Location: North Yorkshire
THis might be of intrest.

http://www.rally-raidproducts.co.uk/honda-cb500x-cb500f

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 Post subject: Re: Kawasaki KLE 500 - Does it make a good trail bike?
PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2015 4:17 pm 
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125cc

Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 9:47 pm
Posts: 145
rikidooos wrote:


There a lot of weight, around 190kgs :shock: nice comfy ride, not a lot of rear travel makes a nice distance / adventure bike.

By the look of the picture it's a mid 90's klr650 with the face lift plastics, makes a good long range trail bike, I've got a 89 model, quite often mixing it up with the 660's and 690's holds its own quite well.

If you have your heart set on a KLE500, they look the part, engine guard, high end pipe, hand guards, fork gaiters but looks can be deceiving and in the KLE's case they are, at 190kgs+ without panniers or spares.
The good thing is there is a few about, if it were me I'd be looking for a mid 90's model, but be aware that there were a popular dispatch bike so a few high millage ones out there.
They would be great fun on the big fast trails ( Salisbury plains etc ) shod with K60 or the like.


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