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Kle 500 should I do it? Kle 500 should I do it?
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
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  #1  
Old 6 Dec 2007
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Kle 500 should I do it?
Hi guys, I'm going to look at a 55 plate (2005) KLE this Saturday, anything to look out for? it's done less than 5k miles and the price is pretty keen.

Ive ridden the old style KLE, but not the new style with the 3 cats in the exhaust, I know it's down on power from the old model, but I want to get a newer bike to replace my 600 Tenere.

Anyone got any thoughts?

Pete
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  #2  
Old 6 Dec 2007
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I wouldnt
I would keep the Tenere. Personally.........
but then I am 6'2" and 21 stone! so a one of these would be no good!
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  #3  
Old 7 Dec 2007
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Just bought a 2006 model with 135miles on it for silly cheap money (£2300 inc luggage).
Yes it is a tad sluggish, but I have a fast bike for going fast on. it will keep up with traffic, ride over rough roads, and commute with ease.
The brakes are a bit soft, and the suspension is not up to modern offroad standards.

If you want a good value road bike, capable of going down tracks, and "an all purpose bike" great. Not as tough as a tenere admittedly.

It is a budget bike, but at a price which makes it worth a look.

You always ditch the exhaust for a produro one, and fit gpz cams
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  #4  
Old 7 Dec 2007
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Kle?
Hi Besspete, I got mine in may 07, done just under 4500miles trouble free miles in all weathers, as the others have said regarding brakes seat etc, yes this is true, but, not a reason to ignore it! they're reliable, easy to work on by most mechs (inc yourself!) so are cheap to service /insure and run ( mine does 60+ to the gallon av on all types of road) and there is quite a lot of stuff to improve them inc RTW kit ..so you pays your money ...etc,
TDMalcolm
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  #5  
Old 7 Dec 2007
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I bought my 06plate kle as a winter hack/everyday bike to keep milage down on my fireblade.

I did not expect much from the kwak but was blown away by how much I liked riding it. After 6 months, the sportsbike rider that I am sold his beloved fireblade and now just has his kle.

It just does all I ask from it, apart from tear my arms off! But with all the speed cameras and the standard of driving arround now, It makes good sense.

It aint great in any area, but in value for money terms...it a winner!.


Roy
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  #6  
Old 7 Dec 2007
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good to go
I bought 2 one for me and one for the wife, went to the Horizons Unlimited Mountain Madness meeting on them earlier in the year, travelled from nottingham UK through france , over the pyrenees to andorra, spent two days right up in the mountains as high as you could go, then travelled back to nottingham. both bikes did not miss a beat, We went with two other guys one on a BMW 1200 gs and the other on a KTM 990 adventure kept up with them (just) also had some proper trail bikes there and we kept up with them easily on any of the trails. Cruised the motorways at 80 mph, plenty for us both, only one real problem is 15 litre tank, but we got two 2 x 2 litre bottles each as a reserve but never used them, did about 2,500 miles altogether in one week. fantastic value. for pictures go to
Home - forum - ride reports and pictures then humm spain 1 & 2 you will not find a better bike FOR THE MONEY
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  #7  
Old 8 Dec 2007
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No problems with KLE500
Hi, I was tempted by the KLE500 this year price was very good so purchased it, apart from the rear tyre wear rate and the seat " I am 6 foot 2" I have had no problems with it I have fitted transenduro hard luggage on it and will change the tyres to distanzia's soon.
Spares on ebay seem cheep, purchased a seat for £4 that is going to be modified and recovered to get over the lower section on the original one, see if you can get a test drive and then decide, I understand that the engine is bullet proof, went to NEC with my son on his R6 and we did make progress on the M5 so cant see a reason to not get one.

Cheers John
Last edited by g4wod_john; 8 Dec 2007 at 21:56.
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  #8  
Old 9 Dec 2007
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Nice pics Ash & Deb,

Just going off subject for a mo, wot handguards have you got there, are they better/easy to fit and do you have a link where I can get em?


regards
Roy
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  #9  
Old 10 Dec 2007
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Hi Ash and Deb

Great pictures, now I want/must go, but same as the previous post, what model are the hand/lever guards. Have they got the metal/alloy that protects the levers incase of a drop or are they just plastic handguards.

regards richie
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  #10  
Old 10 Dec 2007
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Hi Ash "n" Deb, Gr8t pic's... what i'd like to know is how you got the soft panniers on and off the bike without removing the seatjust stopped my otherhalf from getting me soft pans 4 xmas cause of this prob:confused1:
TDMalcolm
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  #11  
Old 10 Dec 2007
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Acerbis/Rally Brush
Quote:
Originally Posted by royzx7r View Post
Nice pics Ash & Deb,

Just going off subject for a mo, wot handguards have you got there, are they better/easy to fit and do you have a link where I can get em?


regards
Roy
Hi Roy, I know this one. Make:ACERBIS Model: Rally Brush(nylon composite)
Mounting instructions available on http:Acerbis New School

This product is available in UK at http:Demon Tweeks Motorsport, Motorcycle, Modifying, Parts and Accessories
Go on homepage>motorcycle>mx & off road>bodywork>plastic & protection.
Hand guard cost £19.95, Mounting kit cost £13.95, Spoiler "that sits on top of the handguard when the weather gets tough", cost £12.95
More models are available: Rally Dual sport, RallyII (nylon composite), Rally Pro (nylon composite injection molded in aluminium),
Mounting instructions available on Rally Pro/Minnicross Rally mounting instructions
I hope this helps. Richard
Last edited by voleurs; 16 Dec 2007 at 22:13.
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  #12  
Old 12 Dec 2007
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handguards
hi royzx7r & Ritchie 1 make as stated , these are the plastic only ones, (no alloy bar ) they are a bit fiddly to fit as i had to drill out the inner part of the handle bar to make room for the bolts on the ends, also these do not come with the metal connectors which attach to the handlebars further in, if i do them again, i will buy the metal version, also we have oxford heated grips so had to be careful

Ted the answer to your question - Those particular oxford bags have three straps at the top the centre one is supposed to go under the seat , but we found that if you put the last strap through the hand holds of your carrier , and the other two on top, then there are two straps at the front of the bags which attach to the frame just below the side pannels, they are perfectly secure hope this helps Ash
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  #13  
Old 15 Dec 2007
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Thumbs up kle screens
hi bikes looked good,just got a new kle my self think it great.but could u tell me what screen u had on the spain trip and what shop u got it .
with thank robroymc .


























will not find a better bike FOR THE MONEY[/quote]
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  #14  
Old 16 Dec 2007
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A few people go for the mra touring screen with adjustable wind deflector but they are quite expensive at 80 odd quid.

I settled on a screen from Busters Motorcycle Accessories

It looks just like the standard one but is taller and works fine. £33.00.



Its all a question of taste!.

Ive just got my engine bars(an early x-mas gift from the wife) they look well cool !!!.


All the best
Roy
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  #15  
Old 17 Dec 2007
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Thumbs up screen
thanks royzxr7
sounds like i am going down the same road as u .
i have a fzr 600 as well as kle and have never used since got the 500
havent had chance to go to far still running in but been all round the lakes and passes round here and find the bike very usefull.
so the trusted old yamaha will have to go .
screen wise i was after one like the one on the couples who both had kle on the trip to spain it looks a lot bigger.
can u put a pic of your bike with your new screen on
robroymc
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