Kawasaki KLE650: a touring-minded middleweight ADV on the 650 twin
Kawasaki has unveiled the KLE650, a middleweight flagship built for long-distance comfort rather than hardcore off-roading. It is the second KLE in the lineup in under a year, after the KLE500.
The engine is the same one used in the Ninja 650 and Versys 650: a liquid-cooled 649 cc parallel twin with a 180-degree crank. Kawasaki added an electronic throttle and retuned intake and exhaust to put peak torque in the low-to-mid revs. Official power is not out yet; going by other 650s, the author expects around 67 hp and 63.7 Nm.
The frame is a steel trellis, the KYB inverted fork has 210 mm of travel, and the new Uni-Trak rear gives 196 mm. Wheels are 21 and 17 inches on Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour tires. You also get cruise control, two-mode KTRC traction control, hand and engine guards, and a three-position windshield. The SE adds a quickshifter, a TFT display, USB-C and tubeless tires; the base bike has a 5-inch LCD.
- Brakes — 2x 300 mm discs front, 230 mm rear
- US arrival — around February 2027
- KLE650 price — $8,799
- KLE650 SE price — $9,999
This short post was prepared with AI assistance. A source link is provided below where available.
Source: New Atlas
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