- KLE 500 name to make a comeback
- Likely to use the 451cc parallel-twin engine
- Expected EICMA unveil
A year after offering little more than a tyre teaser, Kawasaki finally looks ready to lift the lid on its long-awaited adventure machine.
That’s the growing consensus, sparked by a new video posted on Kawasaki Motors’ official YouTube channel titled “Life’s a rally. Ride it.” The clip showcases sweeping shots of a dual-sport or adventure motorcycle tearing up a rugged mountain dirt trail, accompanied by the tagline: “Where the pavement ends… the rally begins.” The video ends with an intriguing sign-off: “Est. 1991. Coming Soon.”
The messaging echoes what Kawasaki hinted at during EICMA last year, when its display featured an off-road tyre bursting from a crate beside the words “Life’s a rally” and “KLE.”
At the time, some speculated the new model would be called the KLE 650, overlooking the fact that the name already exists as the internal code for the Versys 650. While the Versys remains a capable all-rounder, it leans heavily toward road touring rather than serious off-road adventure. Meanwhile, its single-cylinder sibling, the KLR 650, has been missing from several international markets for over two decades.
That’s why industry watchers now believe the new model will revive the KLE 500 name, a bike first launched in 1991. The original KLE 500 was powered by a 498cc parallel-twin engine producing 43 bhp and 41 Nm of torque. It was discontinued in 2007, making way for the more road-focused Versys 650.
If speculation proves accurate, the upcoming model will use the same 451cc parallel-twin engine found in the Eliminator 500 and Ninja 500. In those models, the engine delivers around 45 bhp and 43 Nm of torque- figures that would make the KLE 500 both A2-licence friendly and highly versatile for global markets.
Kawasaki doesn’t often drop marketing hints without purpose, and after a year of repeating the word “Rally,” many are betting the final name could be Rally 500, or something similar.
Why the delay? That remains unclear, though development setbacks or strategic timing could be factors. With EICMA 2025 just weeks away, it now seems likely that Kawasaki will finally reveal its latest dual-sport contender to the world.
