CHASSIS The long-travel suspension also deserves a special mention. It was surprisingly firm while still soaking up rough roads, corrugations and gravel with ease, remaining composed and confidence-inspiring on sealed roads as well. The only time I made contact with the ground was when I bellied the skid plate over some large tree roots and deep, rutted sand tracks. Those are obstacles that have caught out plenty of other adventure bikes I’ ve ridden, so I certainly wouldn’ t consider that a criticism of the KLE( despite coverage of the issue seen online- Ed). Overall, the suspension and chassis strike an excellent balance between comfort, control and capability, encouraging the rider to keep exploring long after the sealed road ends.
VERSATILITY Perhaps what impressed me most was the bike’ s versatility. I genuinely think it would suit almost anyone. New riders will appreciate how forgiving and confidence-inspiring it is, while experienced riders will quickly discover just how enjoyable a lightweight adventure bike can be. It’ s proof that you don’ t need a 1000cc
machine to have a great adventure. By the end of my 500 kilometres, I found myself looking for excuses to take it for another ride. To me, that’ s probably the highest compliment I can pay a motorcycle— it simply made me want to keep riding.
THE SKINNY The KLE 500 SE is comfortable, economical, easy to ride and remarkably capable across a huge range of conditions. It would happily commute during the week, tackle gravel roads at the weekend and set off on a multi-day adventure without complaint. If you’ re in the market for a lightweight adventure bike, I’ d encourage you to take one for a ride. Whether you’ re new to motorcycling, returning after a break or simply looking for a machine that’ s light, capable and genuinely enjoyable, the KLE 500 SE deserves serious consideration. Sometimes the best motorcycles aren’ t the ones with the biggest engines or the highest specifications. They’ re the ones which leave you smiling every time you climb off. After 500 kilometres, that’ s exactly what the KLE 500 SE did for me.
KIWI RIDER 55