Kawasaki’s teaser campaign, built around the slogan “Life’s a Rally. Ride it.” and the promise of a new KLE middleweight adventure model with real off-road chops, has created a wave of anticipation not just among loyalists of the brand, but the broader community of off-road loving adventurer riders. 

And now, with a fresh teaser video making the rounds, that buzz is only growing. The 30-second clip opens with the evocative line: “Where the pavement ends… the rally begins,” followed by “Est. 1991,” a clear nod to the original KLE 500 adventure bike’s debut — a popular overseas model that never made it stateside.

Though the bike itself remains shrouded in mystery, the video shows white bodywork on a dual-sport machine carving through dirt, gravel, forest tracks, and mountainous terrain—complete with knobby-style tires, spoked wheels, and a Kawasaki green frame peeking through the dust.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this new model teased. Kawasaki’s mystery ADV was first seen at EICMA 2024 with a cryptic display: a 21” spoked off-road wheel bursting out of a crate, flanked by the same slogans in this new video “Life’s a Rally. Ride it.” and “KLE Est. 1991.” Also visible upon close inspection were a set of hand guards, a single front disc, a set of 43mm USD forks and what looks like a rally-style fairing. From the exhaust headers exiting the engine, we can also tell it’s a twin-powered machine.

So far, Kawasaki hasn’t officially given the bike a full name, but all signs point to a new KLE 500 based on the current Ninja 500 platform. From the engine noises in the video, it’s clearly a twin-powered machine that could be either the Ninja 500 or Versys 650 platform. The fact that the internal code for the Verysys 650 is already KLE650, makes it unlikely they’ll be using the Verysys 650 platform. The single front disc brake and smaller-gauge header pipes also suggest a smaller displacement engine that is likely a 500cc or less. 

The original KLE500, first launched in 1991 and last sold in 2007, was powered by a 498cc parallel-twin (shared with the original Ninja 500), sporting around 45 horsepower and a wet weight around 423 pounds riding on a 21” front and 17” rear spoked wheelset with 8.6 inches of suspension travel. While innovative for its time and lauded for reliability, the bike was criticized for being on the heavy side, its overly soft suspension, and fragile bodywork when dropped in the dirt. With the resurrection of the KLE 500, Kawasaki now has an opportunity to not just play on nostalgia but also correct some of the original model’s weaknesses by delivering on the ADV community’s current expectations for an off-road capable machine.

For a long time there’s been pent-up rider demand for versatile, lightweight, dirt-capable adventure bikes in the 400–500cc segment. This new KLE model seems poised to target what is quickly becoming one of the most competitive ADV categories with new entries from KTM, Royal Enfield, CFMoto, BMW, and more. 

Using the same 451cc parallel-twin engine found in the current Ninja 500, this new KLE 500 might produce somewhere in the range of 50 horsepower and 32 ft-lbs of torque. Reviews of the same engine in the Ninja report a torquey bottom end, easy-shifting six speed, and excellent fuel efficiency—all crucial characteristics for long-range travel and off-road exploring.

We can only hope Kawasaki keeps the weight down below 400 pounds like they have with the current Versys-X 300, which this new KLE model is likely to replace. The current Versys-X hasn’t received a major update since its introduction in 2017 and is based on the old Ninja 300 powerplant. We always wondered when this model would get the displacement upgrades of the Ninja 400, and then the Ninja 500, but they never materialized.

If it gets at least the 8.6″ of suspension travel of the original KLE 500, along with some adjustability, and rides on a modern 21”/18” wheelset, it could offer solid off-road performance in the category. The current MSRP of a Ninja 500 is $5,399, which means a starting price for this new KLE 500 in the range of $7,000 is definitely a possibility. A twin-powered 500cc adventure bike with this combination of characteristics could be a compelling choice in this ever-more competitive segment. 

All signals indicate that a production-ready KLE 500 will make its public debut next month at EICMA in Milan, continuing the brand’s tradition of international model rollouts at Europe’s largest motorcycle expo. With model rollout expected in spring 2026, Kawasaki will have a window to distribute the bike just before the peak riding season. Let’s just hope we Americans don’t get left out in the cold again and this bike goes worldwide.