New Delhi: Kawasaki has launched the new 2026 KLE 500 in the US, and it will be introduced soon in other countries, including India. The bike brings back the KLE name after nearly two decades, last seen in 2007. It was first shown at EICMA 2024 in Milan, Italy. The KLE 500 is made for riders who want a motorcycle that can handle both city rides and off-road trails.
In the US, the KLE 500 is available in two variants including Standard and SE. The Standard version is priced at $6,599 (around Rs 5.8 lakh) and comes in a Metallic Carbon Grey and Ebony colour scheme. The SE trim costs $7,499 (around Rs 6.6 lakh) and is offered in Pearl Blizzard White and Metallic Bluish Green.
2026 KLE 500: Engine
Image from Kawasaki
The bike runs on a 451cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine, the same one used in the Ninja 500 and Eliminator 500. However, Kawasaki hasn’t revealed the exact performance numbers yet, but it’s expected to produce around 45.4hp and 42.6 N · m of torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox and comes with an assist and slipper clutch, which helps in smooth gear changes and prevents rear wheel lock during quick downshifts. The motor also uses a downdraft intake and lightweight pistons for better throttle response. A balancer shaft has been added to reduce vibrations during long highway rides.
2026 KLE 500: Design and Built
In terms of design, the KLE 500 comes with a rally-style look along with a compact headlight, a tall windscreen, and a slim fuel tank for better control. It uses a steel trellis frame for strength and stability. For suspension duties, it is equipped with a KYB inverted front fork and a Uni-Trak rear monoshock setup, offering good balance on rough terrains. The braking setup includes front and rear disc brakes with switchable ABS, which allows riders to turn it off while riding off-road. The adventure bike uses a 21-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear wheel, suitable for mixed terrain performance. Kawasaki has mentioned that the seat height stands at a fairly tall 860mm, while ground clearance is a relatively low 172mm
2026 KLE 500: Features
The 2026 KLE 500 gets a simple LCD instrument console that shows information like fuel level, gear position, and trip meter. It also supports smartphone connectivity through the Kawasaki Rideology app, which provides access to bike data, maintenance updates, route logs, and call or message alerts. The higher SE variant comes with a 4.3-inch TFT screen offering more detailed information, brightness adjustment, and light or dark display themes.