As luck would have it, I accidentally came across the kawasaki ER500 recently, and thought this seemed a good choice as it has a low seat option. The KLE is too high for me, but if you have no problems with that I see no reason at all why you should not be completely happy with it. And at 65mpg plus being less than 1/4 the price of some others you should be laughing all the way to and back from the bank :)

I've also just come back from Italy (from London, not Greece though) and I've had exactly the same experience except for the floaty front end. Yes, the front brakes are crap and after 11 hours in the saddle, your arse goes completely numb. I have to say, it is really, really uncomfortable over long distances, although you do strangely get used to it. I recommend that you take up smoking and stop every hour or so for a fag, water and map break as I did. Fuel economy was fantastic on longer runs and I was easily getting 250 kms from 11 litres just by keeping it planted around 4-5000 rpm. Also, the torque delivery was perfect for twisty mountain roads; I barely had to shift gear at all, especially on the downhills. When I get some more pennies, I'm fitting a scottoiler and a more comfortable seat. I may also look into getting a double disced front wheel and trying that, although it would ruin the bike off road.

BTW: I've also read very confusing power figures. 44bhp seems about right for my model.

PS: 130kph is 80mph. That's about 6,000 rpm in 6th and a comfortable cruising speed. It was also just shy of the top speed of the bike loaded up with my expandable panniers.

KLE brakes?
 

Hi All,

I'm writing from Cambodia where I just bought a second hand KLE 400 (Yes 400. It's an import from Japan) I believe it's a 2000 model (green/grey with white, there was also a "purple" model with older looking instruments in the shop, they claimed that one to be a 1998 model) and according to the taco, it's only done about 3,500 Km and looks like new.

To my surprise I have found the KLE to be better than expected. It is perfect for the riding conditions here, which are rough pot holed roads full of chickens, cows and everything else you can think of. It is a common occurrence to be literally pushed off the road by the insanity of "drivers" here and the KLE handles it well. I haven't done any trails yet but I've found the KLE to handle sections of road works and dirt roads with a sure footing.

I also find the front brakes to be too soft and I'm wondering if anyone out there can recommend a brake pad that works? I will have to import it specially, so I want to be sure it is worth the trouble.

Also I'm getting a really annoying vibration right at 3000 rpm. I'm thinking it might just need the carburettors balanced. Any suggestions? Above 3000 it runs smoothly and performs best above 5000.

Cheers.

I used Ferodo brake pads - the hardest composition (racing or something like that) - brakeing was violent and in city wea annoing .... and now I use Goldfren - a middle range in composition not to soft and not to hard .... it works good. My only problem was with race ones from Ferodo because thy altered my brake disk.

About vibration at 3000 rpm .... depends ... compairing with wich bike? Mine vibrates too on first gear and on second at 2000-3000 rpm when I start runing and on 3rd gear or high at 2000 because is not the right turation for KLE.

I don't want to be an expert or to pretend to be one ..... but KLE has low power on low rpms .... in higher rpms has plenty of power. KTM instead - or maybe the one that I know has thisi thing :confused1: - has higher power on low rpm than on high rpm.

Maybe is a normal vibration for a KLE .... I ride at 4000 rpm and at 4500-maximum 5000 I change the gears but it happend to be in situations that I preffered to get to 7000 rpm (because I needed power) rather than to change the gear and return to 4000.

regards


P.S. - You have to keep in mind that it has a twin engine with an vertical alignment and on normal operation without acceleration it should have 1200 rpm

"....KLE has low power on low rpms .... in higher rpms has plenty of power"

I think you are right. I'm used to riding a 4 cylinder 750. The KLE does fine in higher revs so I just have to get used to riding a low torque bike.

Thanks for the tip on the brake pads. I will look out for the Goldfren pads.

Cheers,

Peter

I don't say that those are the best brake pads but are not expensive and offer a great value for money. To be honest if I had money I would buy a Brembo brake system. So I only shared my small experience with brake pads on KLE. If you want I have the Goldfen catalogue on pdf so I can give it to you.

Regards

If you can pass on the catalogue that would be great. I understand they may not be the best pads but I'm willing to look at anything right now.

I may be in Australia soon so I will also go into a Kawasaki dealer and talk with them.

Cheers,

P

Here is the latest catalog from the producer ....
http://www.goldfren.cz/_download_cat...talog_pads.pdf
there you will find codes for your bike and specifications .... breakepads for KLE are 013 and 084

good luck on your search

I have just taken delivery of my KLE500 and find the top speeds mentioned here as strange. Mine now has 200km , yes that is right 200km, on the clock. Took it out on a 190km run today and clocked 175km/h. She runs 160km/h at 8000 revs and is happy to do it (that while sitting upright)- she just purs along wile running rock solid - no floating at all. The wind conditions were far from ideal.

Ronepaulsen,
Are you happy with your running in procedures for your engine?
Dave

Nothing wrong with the kle at all. However if you do not intend going offroad (much) the er500 is a fine road bike. The reason the bike mags dont like them is because they not the fastest shiniest bike on the planet, and are affordable by the masses. To them it is like being asked to road test a 1600 mondeo, instead of the porsche they wanted to play with. Mondeos make better transport even if they lack the glamour :) They (kle/er500) do have a reputation for reliability and cheapness to run. Never pay any attention to some bike mags critcism or other wise of a bike they rode and did not pay for out of their own pockets.
To put them in perspective, a er500/kle perform as well as a sports 500 from 40 years ago and will have a top speed of close to 100mph. Fast enough for you to lose your licence when you get one. However, I would reccomend you take a course and pass your test before laying out cash for a road bike. Then spend a few weeks riding around a grass field seeing how to corner fast and slow. Ideally with a borrowed 'rat bike'.

Well said!!!!!!!!!
 

Quite agree! I wish more people would say this and then the journos might do a better job of critiquing insteed of looking at where their next advertiser is coming from - the whole corporate "thing" has gone much too far; actually that is why websites such as this are so very, very useful!!!:thumbup1:

Dave

can"t anyone help me i bought a kle my first bike and it vibrates like hell is this suposed to hapen whit the kle?

When does it vibrate? The KLE will vibrate quite badly if using low revs and a high gear. Try more revs and more clutch.

it vibrates at 4,500 or over 8000