KLE pride!
 

Ok I am sick of being the the only KLE rider at every motorbike event i go to!
I know alot of you guys are not from Australia but i know there are some of you around! For the last 3 years, 3 superbikes and 3 moto GP's there has not been another KLE anywhere! Im talking about Phillip Island of cause. Where are you all?! I do apologise if you were there and i missed you but i had a very good look around!

Get out on your bikes guys! Awesome weekend by the way! Great racing, great weather!

Come on out Victorian and Australian KLE riders!

LEon

Well it seems I'm the only one who in the Sydney area who owns one of the old models ['94], might be the only one still on the road in Australia for that matter.

There is a later model one not far from me, but I've not yet met up with the owner even though we are both members on a couple of the same forums.

I'm hardly ever off mine now, my Wee-Strom is very neglected.

The KLE takes me everywhere, commuting, touring and day rides, dirt or tar. :scooter:

Ive only got the KLE atm, I wouldnt give it up for the world! My next buy is looking like a rs125 for the track. My buddy and i are getting one each.

Ock we should meet somewhere in the alpine region! Planning a trip north sometime mid year. SO far its me on a KLE and a mate on a DR650. Heading to brissy. Unless NSW is still under water of cause.

The rate this rain tonight is going we may well be underwater by the weekend. :stormy:

I'm west of Sydney, near Windsor [and all the good riding areas :scooter: ], pm me on ADV [Ockrocket over there] and let me know when you might be coming through.

Even if I am not from Australia, I just wanted to express my compassion:).

I am a KLE rider here in Central Europe and I also have the impression to be the only KLE rider on this planet. I see a KLE once every 3 or 4 months, even making me thinking if I bought the wrong bike:(.

If someone misses his/her KLE and is here in europe, pass by my place and take the bike for a trip... :) bier

cheers

I will let you know Ock!

Hey Micki! good to hear from you! I feel like that too! i have seen 2 other KLE's in Melbourne, Aust. But only parked in the city. You didnt buy the wrong bike buddy...everyone else is missing out! I might take you up on the euro KLE ride someday!

Cheers!

KLE500 RULES!

What I am finding frustrating is trying to get info on mods to the KLE 500, Just about any other bike I have owned there are people everywhere that have done alsorts of things to their bikes to get more out of their bikes, but when I ask a question about the KLE I hear nothing. Just saying

True, a lot of mods for KLE have to be of DIY nature or adopting parts from other bikes. But doing things yourself is very rewarding and 1 of a kind, so in some way you have a uniqe bike :thumbup1:

Micki,

I've owned my '94 KLE500 for almost a year now and have not seen one other on the road in that time.

Before I bought mine I saw a later model second hand KLE for sale at a dealership, it is the only other one I've seen "in the flesh" so to speak.

They rarely come up on the bike sales web sites as well.

I bought the right bike, it's just that no one else realizes it. :thumbup1:
:rofl:

I am still waiting for a sighting of another KLE in the UK, after 2 and 1/2 years!

I just bought a 2000 KLE400 here in Japan. It was one of three listed for sale in the entire country on a popular bike-sale site. Haven't seen any others yet but my bike won't be delivered from the dealer for another week or so. And then it will be :funmeteryes:

Heres some pride!
The Doctor is in. - YouTube

KLE
 

I Wish I still had mine:(.... the gear change was a little tough for my arthritic foot bone:(:( but it was a mega machine to ride everywere, and as said else where you made your own mods.... I had a spot/ driving light bar i made for it, cage drivers saw me coming:rofl:
TDMalcolm
now have a versys tourer.. nice gear box is better:thumbup1:

What concerns community and modifications there is a german forum Startseite - Twin500 - Forum.
It has been around for a while and people have done quiet some modifications. Although its in german you can either try with google translations or just ask me I will translate it for you.

Nevertheless tank modifications are rare everywhere (which would be my number 1 mod). I only came across only this italian guy and a german lady (+3litres) who made a mod on their tank.

Cheers

Hello Micki and others.
I am a new owner of a KLE500 too and am enjoying it very much. I have been riding for some 45 continous years and have owned, I think ( a quick count) yes only nine bikes but have ridden many more over the years. This bike is really a sleeper and I find it difficult to understand why it doesn't get better reviews. Having said that many journalists clearly often show their prejuduce and often don't review a bike for what it is designed to be.
The KLE has it's share of short comings but overall is a competent bike. I like this bike a lot.
I have been interested in this bike since a friend bought one new in 2007. I know Ock well, G'day Ock and when he also bought one and it was also time for me to sell my V-Strom, ( good bike but top heavy) I was happy to buy a good 2007 model from a German backpacker who was travelling back home.
I'll look in from time to time and inform you what plans I have for this bike. Nothing major at this time.
Cheers
Southern Cross

Welcome to the gang Southern cross! You have made a very good choice! I love my KLE to bits! Speaking of which its time to take it to bits. Enjoy!

Thanks leonator. I'm already very pleased with the KLE, I knew I would be as a mate bought one new in 2007 and so I knew the bike. Also I know Ock well from the V-Strom forum.
I'm happy with the KLE's suspension, a little soft but still good in comfort for dirt and sealed roads. I know that I could take this KLE just as far into the bush as my recently sold 2004 R1200GS. I could take it, the KLE, further in the bush than the GSA which really is a PIG in weight but it's a magic bike on sealed roads. Totally different bikes of course but just for a comparison.

S.C.

As long as you ride the KLE sensibly it will do anything you ask of it. I have done 40000kms of road, desert sand, mud tracks, stone roads, single trail through forests and almost every other type of road you can find in eastern Australia. I have never had a problem. Finding a good luggage system has been the biggest problem. Still working on it.

It is a fantastic multi purpose motorcycle. I don't want to call it dual-sport but its almost there. I rode a 800GS a few months ago and it sh*ts all over the KLE. However $4k for the KLE with 10000kms on the clock. 800GS with 10000kms...I don't even want to think about it...

Also it is my first bike. I have only been riding for 3 and 1/2 years(started on a ct110 but lets not talk about that) I couldn't have picked a better first bike. Commuter bike that will take on anything that you throw at it. I wish Kawasaki would bring them back into production with a new 800 parallel twin. It would smash the ADV market!

What you say seems spot on to me. People always seem to fall into the same trap when comparing one thing with another. It is often (mostly) only that one is different to the other not having one as better than another. The KLE holds up very well considering it's old technology now and most of all it's only 500cc. I enjoyed my GS1200 very much apart from the sloppy driveline which felt like a very very loose drive chain.
Obviously on the highway the 1200cc will be a whole lot better than 500cc but off road with same rider on each, a hairs difference. But many (who haven't ridden both )will scoff. The GS800 is very appealing to me but now I'm in forced retirement I won't be buying one.m

Saturn 5

You can really make these KLE 500s go
 

I have now met a couple of guys that ride KLE's and have done allsorts of mods to theirs and they are getting some pretty serious performance out of these bikes, From changing their Carbies, Air cleaners, intakes, exhaust, fitting GPZ cams, They are getting some really good horsepower out of these bikes for money spent, and are leaving some quite well known dual sports bikes for dead for power to weight. Even the torque and ability to get them up on the back wheel. So I am making this my little fun project.:funmeteryes:

I have added 2900kms to my KLE since I bought it a couple of months ago and am very pleased with it.
I have transfered from my 650 V-Strom, which is now for sale, a throttle lock, the type you flick a little black knob with your thumb and a top box I had made in 3mm Aluminium 550X 320X 340. I love both these items for their great function.
I mentioned elsewhere that I removed the small airbox snorkel. I fashioned a small awning in thin metal sheet over the top to help keep out water off the exposed rectangular hole but as I half expected, the bike ran very sick. I quickly replaced the snorkel for alteration at a future date.
The other change I made was to release the tiny amount of air in each fork and gave each fork 4 pumps with a bicycle hand pump. As I said on the V-Strom forum NIVANA! Well very good anyway. What a quantum change. The forks are extremely comfortable, very compliant and track well, holding a line when punting a little harder than norm. Perhaps the spring rate could be increased but only 5kg or so.
And that's the only change so far BUT I expect to have a new KTM exe exhaust in the post this week!!! One cat down two to go. I was hopeful Barrett Exhausts could make up new equal headers for me but they are busy and said to phone them again in a couple of months.
Staintune on their site, claim a gain of 2HP for the exhaust and a loss of 4.1 kg. Not huge but handy.
I plan on some carby mods, not just jetting but handy, fairly easy changes to the internals for better air flo. I'm planning to also sell a Z650 I have restored to very good but not concourse condition and will keep just one bike. It may be the KLE in which case I'll be looking for at least 55hp but usuable mid range power. Not sure which way to go but possibly a Triumph 800 XC but don't say a word to my fair lady.