Kawasaki KLE500 (1991-current)

I have done 123000km on my KLE500 (1994 model) in Africa,tank is a bit small for the long haul but still over 200km comfortably. It is NOT an uncomfortable bike, in fact I think very comfortable!Smooth and fast enough for touring, but also reasonable in the dirt.Certainly knocks the shit out of a BMW GS650 AND a lot cheaper!

MCN's terrible review of the KLE500 meant I dismissed it as a possible first big bike. That was until I saw one in the flesh and had a chance to ride it. The ride is soft, but I find that very comfortable. I find the handling is fine, but it is not a sports bike and I am not a speed freak. The brakes are not brilliant, MCN got that right. It will sit at 70mph on the motorwway perfectly happily. What it beats many other bikes hands down is coping with bad weather. Its low centre of gravity, wide handlebars and big wheels with dual purpose tyres mean you can ride in rain like there is none there. It is well equiped. I disagree about the discomfort of the saddle, it is not as bad as MCN make out, but I have added a gel seat pad. I am tall, so will eventually get the bigger screen as the standard one puts the air right into my face. Mine is 6 years old and apart from some pitting on the spokes people think it is brand new. There is no doubt that this bike, with a coat of protectorant spray will last for a long time. As a second hand bike it is very good value indeed. The engine is nosy and vibrates a lot and has limited performance. But it is in a lower tax band than most and by reputation is very reliable. I have no idea how MCN only got 35mpg out of it. I can only assume they drove it like it is a sports bike and want it to be a sports bike. Without trying I get 55mpg around town. I love its road presence due to its height and mean looking headlights. I have had cars pull in to let me passed where on the other bikes I have ridden they would have ignored me. Overall, as an analogy I would say that as the the BMW GS1200 is the Landrover Discovery of dual purpose bikes, the KLE500 is the Suzuki Jimny. Tough, cheap, characterful and capable of embarrassing much more exotic competition.

I have two of these kle's and one is standard, it's soft and bouncy with a crap front brake very low rear end and not the best thing to ride but not unpleasant. Now the other is completely different and has re-worked suspension front and rear, with gpz 500 wheels and good brakes but it keeps its standard looks as well as engine and exhaust and in this format makes riding a kle so much fun but i digress . It's engine is heavy for a twin but very reliable, this year i have covered 22.000 miles without a hick-up. Seating position is good but the seat can be bum numbing on motorways, with heated grips and a rack to boot value for money it's right in the ball park although it's big downfall for me is the finish, over time it starts to look tatty.If you are tall'ish and want good mpg bike that's a bit different (looks like it can do more than it can)this is for you. A word of warning don't travel over soft ground as the ground clearance is bad and if they get stuck they are heavy to drag out. Have fun.

I purchased the KLE 500 as my return to biking. I was attracted by the size (I am quite tall) and price (£2,750 new). I found the bike a little top heavy but soon got used to that. It was certainly powerful enough for me and the styling was great but that is a personal thing. On the downside the seat wasn't long enough for a pillion and I ended up placing a pad onto the rack for the pillion to move back onto slightly. Also the front brake was very poor and caused a few heart stopping moments. But what finally did it for me was the seat. I could not believe how uncomfortable it could get. I tried cushions and pads to no avail and after one 4 day tour of the UK I eventually gave up and sold the bike. Shame really as other than the seat I would proably have liked the bike a lot. I am sure sintered pads and new brake hoses would ahve cured the front brake problem.

I have to say that the KLE500 is a reasonable tool for commuting and Sunday rides into the country, and for the price it does what it says on the tin. However, it does have soggy front suspension that dives dramatically under braking, the brakes are a little too weak and unresponsive... and as for the seat, well I last about an hour on it before my bum goes to sleep and I have to get off an walk around a bit! I've found the performance to be adequate for my needs (I'm only a nervous newbie) and the economy is actually very good, as is the rediculously cheap insurance! So in summary, a great bike for those new to bigger bikes or those who want a general hack that does all the things you need it to in a reliable manner. Certainly no superbike, but you wouldn't want a trailie in that case anyway would you...?

This bike may not be to everyone's taste, but it's cheap, reliable and can be good fun if you wring it's neck. Naturally, if you're used to Fireblades and ZZR1400s, then 47 bhp isn't going to set the world alight, but if you live in London and only get outside of London occasionally, then it's near perfect. I travelled to Monza and back on mine and it never missed a bit or let me down. Good for pillions and the seat actually softens up considerably after a few thousand miles. Also, the wide bars mean you can just chuck around corners. The only criticisms I have are the crappy front brakes, the stock tyres and it's a bit thirsty. Other than that, a pretty good bike.