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gotta check out the kle500
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2001 4:09 pm
by bkowalchuk
Looks like an EX500 engine?
http://www.bikez.com/bike/index.php?bike=19819
Where in the hell can you get one of this things? Seems to me there
are lots of cool bikes available elsewhere that should sell well in
North America. Check out the front disk. Would it fit on a KLR? The
forks look familiar.
gotta check out the kle500
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2001 4:18 pm
by gpokluda
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "bkowalchuk" wrote:
> Looks like an EX500 engine?
>
>
http://www.bikez.com/bike/index.php?bike=19819
>
> Where in the hell can you get one of this things? Seems to me there
> are lots of cool bikes available elsewhere that should sell well in
> North America. Check out the front disk. Would it fit on a KLR? The
> forks look familiar.
This bike has been around awhile. It was brought to the States by
Kawasaki for evaluation by the motorcycle press in 1996. Of course
the press couldn't figure it out and panned it, especially Dave
Edwards and Peter Egan, who thinks that only motorcycles from Bavaria
and Italy should be allowed.
Gino
gotta check out the kle500
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2001 6:59 pm
by dooden
No S--T !! What country is that bike made for ?
Looks nice... 48 HP looks nicer too.. Check out the dry weight 399 lbs
I like the look of that bike alot.
Duden
A15 Pilot
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "gpokluda" wrote:
> --- In DSN_klr650@y..., "bkowalchuk" wrote:
> > Looks like an EX500 engine?
> >
> >
http://www.bikez.com/bike/index.php?bike=19819
> >
> > Where in the hell can you get one of this things? Seems to me
there
> > are lots of cool bikes available elsewhere that should sell well
in
> > North America. Check out the front disk. Would it fit on a KLR?
The
> > forks look familiar.
>
> This bike has been around awhile. It was brought to the States by
> Kawasaki for evaluation by the motorcycle press in 1996. Of course
> the press couldn't figure it out and panned it, especially Dave
> Edwards and Peter Egan, who thinks that only motorcycles from
Bavaria
> and Italy should be allowed.
>
> Gino
gotta check out the kle500
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2001 9:25 pm
by Bill Pratt
Honda had the same problem with the Tran-Alp. The European markets like the
bike. The KLE500 is almost a clone of the Honda TA.
Bill Pratt, Mill Creek, WA
STOC #117, 97 ST1100 ABS, 97 KLR650
http://www.billpratt.com
"No matter where you go...there you are"
----- Original Message -----
From: "dooden"
To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2001 4:59 PM
Subject: [DSN_klr650] Re: Gotta Check out the KLE500
> No S--T !! What country is that bike made for ?
>
> Looks nice... 48 HP looks nicer too.. Check out the dry weight 399 lbs
>
> I like the look of that bike alot.
>
> Duden
> A15 Pilot
>
>
>
> --- In DSN_klr650@y..., "gpokluda" wrote:
> > --- In DSN_klr650@y..., "bkowalchuk" wrote:
> > > Looks like an EX500 engine?
> > >
> > >
http://www.bikez.com/bike/index.php?bike=19819
> > >
> > > Where in the hell can you get one of this things? Seems to me
> there
> > > are lots of cool bikes available elsewhere that should sell well
> in
> > > North America. Check out the front disk. Would it fit on a KLR?
> The
> > > forks look familiar.
> >
> > This bike has been around awhile. It was brought to the States by
> > Kawasaki for evaluation by the motorcycle press in 1996. Of course
> > the press couldn't figure it out and panned it, especially Dave
> > Edwards and Peter Egan, who thinks that only motorcycles from
> Bavaria
> > and Italy should be allowed.
> >
> > Gino
>
>
> Checkout Dual Sport News at
>
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gotta check out the kle500
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2001 11:58 pm
by Ryan Newman
>
http://www.bikez.com/bike/index.php?bike=19819
>
> Where in the hell can you get one of this things? Seems to me there
> are lots of cool bikes available elsewhere that should sell well in
> North America. Check out the front disk. Would it fit on a KLR? The
> forks look familiar.
WHOA!! That thing is sweet! I always loved the NX, and Transalp bikes, and
this is the perfect Kawi representative. I'd even consider trading my KLR in
on one.
Ryan
gotta check out the kle500
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 1:59 am
by RM
On Thu, 27 Dec 2001, dooden wrote:
>Looks nice... 48 HP looks nicer too.. Check out the dry weight 399 lbs
>
>I like the look of that bike alot.
...and six(!) gears!
gotta check out the kle500
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 5:02 am
by Ted Palmer
Ryan Newman quoted bkowalchuk:
>
> >
http://www.bikez.com/bike/index.php?bike=19819
> >
> > Where in the hell can you get one of this things? Seems to me there
> > are lots of cool bikes available elsewhere that should sell well in
> > North America. Check out the front disk. Would it fit on a KLR? The
> > forks look familiar.
>
> WHOA!! That thing is sweet! I always loved the NX, and Transalp bikes, and
> this is the perfect Kawi representative. I'd even consider trading my KLR in
> on one.
Too bads some of the markets of the time didn't share your views.
The KLE500 was sold here in Oz for a short time back the early
nineties, and sunk almost without a trace. I'm actually surprised
that the KLE is still being made.
The engine was from the GPz500S twin, and that may be one of the
KLE's shortcomings. A few more cubes would have useful, maybe about
100cc or even 250cc more would have given the bike more presence.
I guess that the KLE wasn't a radical improvement enough over the KLR
to justify the price.
The KLE is heavier and has a smaller tank (compared to the A-series
tank, that is), and more complicated.
The bikez.com site lists the KLE as a "enduro/offroad", but just look
at the front mudguard, the suspension travel and ground clearance and
it would appear that bikez.com are being more than a little optimistic.
Whether the KLE is Kawasaki's halfhearted answer to Honda's Transalp
or Africa Twin is left for the reader to decide.
Mister_T
Melbourne Australia
gotta check out the kle500
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 5:07 am
by Ted Palmer
RM wrote:
> On Thu, 27 Dec 2001, dooden wrote:
>
> >Looks nice... 48 HP looks nicer too.. Check out the dry weight 399 lbs
> >
> >I like the look of that bike alot.
>
> ...and six(!) gears!
Don't get too excited until you see the actual ratios.
Mister_T
Melbourne Australia
gotta check out the kle500
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 10:00 am
by bsetliff
>> Where in the hell can you get one of this things? Seems to
>> me there are lots of cool bikes available elsewhere that
>> should sell well in North America.
Tell me about it. Its the same with sports cars - there are alot of
awesome Japanese sports cars that we dont get here in North America.
And sometimes we'll get the car, but it'll be a watered down version
of what they get elsewhere in the world.

breaking in a new klr
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2001 6:21 pm
by Conall O'Brien
>From: ridinghome@...
>To:
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [DSN_klr650] Breaking in a new KLR
>Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 01:24:31 EST
>
>Hello KLR listers,
>
>I've been checking out the on-line wisdom for a few months now, and since
>acquiring a new A16 have buying a few odds and ends.
>
>So...what's the conventional wisdom on break in? I've been checking out the
>local two-lanes and gravel roads, 2k to 4k rpm, no steady speeds, no hard
>running, up to 250 miles now.
>
Hi,
Just signed back on the list. If they can't agree on a economic stimulus
package for the american economy to help out a poor unemployed hi tech
worker like myself I'll just go spend my dollars in Baja , and that's what
I'm doing. Internet is all over mexico now.
Sorry for the sidetrack...
Anyway if you're running in the gravel and dirt you'll want to check your
air filter frequently. I keep a spare twin air filter so I can swap out the
filter without any hassle.
Short story about my Xmas day. I was having breakfast at Serinidad (sp?) in
Mulege and I met a Chuck somebody from Georgia who was on a Triumph Tiger.
I was checking out his bike when I noticed a sheet metal screw in his rear
tire. After alerting him Elden removed the screw without any further damage
to his tire (tube). He was very thankful. Turns out Chuck was the CEO of
Triumph motorcycles on vacation. He's a good guy and I may be considering a
Tiger in the future.
Adios amigos,
Conall
Will centerstands soon be standard equipment on the Tiger?
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