Kawasaki KLE 500

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Kawasaki
Kawasaki KLE 500 2005 lato.jpg
Bj. 2005, type LE 500 B
KLE 500
Manufacturer Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Sales description KLE 500
Production period 1991 to 2007
class motorcycle
design type Travel enduro
Motor data
Liquid-cooled in- line engine with two cylinders
Displacement  (cm³) 498
Power  (kW / PS ) 33/45 at 8300 min -1
Torque  ( N m ) 41 at 7500 min −1
Top speed (  km / h) 160
transmission 6-speed
drive Chain
Brakes 300mm front disc brake, 230mm rear disc brake
Wheelbase  (mm) 1500
Dimensions (L × W × H, mm): 2215 × 880 × 1280
Seat height (cm) 85
Empty weight  (kg) 205 (fueled)
successor Kawasaki KLE 650 Versys

The Kawasaki KLE 500 is an all-terrain motorcycle from the Japanese vehicle manufacturer Kawasaki . The travel enduro was presented to the press at the international two-wheeler fair IFMA in Cologne in 1990 as a "moderate fun bike" and was manufactured in Japan until 2007 .

Version history

In 1991 the KLE 500 (type LE500A) with a nominal output of either 27 or 50 hp at a price of 8810 D-Marks premiered. Two years later, Kawasaki revised the gearbox in order to prevent gear stages from jumping out of their own accord. In 1994 there was a subtle model update with a redesigned upper part of the fairing, a more comfortable padded step bench and a more steadfast timing chain tensioner.

In 1996 the carburetor, the air filter and the muffler were revised in order to comply with the lower noise and exhaust gas limits, so that the rated power was reduced to 48 hp. The transmission has been translated longer. A year later, a secondary air system was introduced that is controlled by the negative pressure in the intake duct and allows fresh air to flow into the exhaust manifold. In 1999, the rear fender extension was omitted and the straps for the front passenger were replaced by handles. In 2003 permanent dipped headlights were introduced and the following year the LE 500 A model was removed from the range.

In 2005, the successor model LE 500 B1H / B1P made its debut, a revised version with redesigned cladding and double headlights. The exhaust system had a Euro-2-compliant, uncontrolled catalytic converter, which reduced the rated power to 45 hp. The cockpit and the seat were modified and the fork revised. Visually, the design was based on the naked bikes Kawasaki Z 750 and Z 1000 , whose lamp mask with double headlights was adopted by the KLE. The cover of the disc brake was omitted for better airflow cooling. Two years later, production was finally stopped in favor of the successor, the Kawasaki KLE 650 Versys .

construction

drive

The liquid-cooled two - cylinder engine with a displacement of 498 cm³ comes from the Kawasaki GPZ 500 S sports tourer . The in- line engine generates a nominal output of 33 kW (45 HP) and a maximum torque of 41 Nm at a speed of 7500 min −1 . Thanks to the camshafts with modified timing , the KLE has 10 HP less power than the GPZ. The four valves per cylinder are controlled by two overhead, chain-driven camshafts via rocker arms. The two cylinders have a bore of 74 mm in diameter, the pistons have a stroke of 58 mm with a compression ratio of 9.8: 1.

The motorcycle accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 5.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 168 km / h. From a speed of approximately 10,800 min -1 sets rev one.

The consumption fluctuates between 4.8 and 7.1 liters of fuel per 100 km and enables a theoretical range of only 150 to 200 km.

landing gear

The chassis is built on a double-loop tubular steel frame. A two-arm swing arm made of steel with a central spring strut with a lever system guides the rear wheel, a conventional telescopic fork guides the front wheel. The steering head angle is 63 degrees, the caster 105 mm. The translation is done by a claw-shift gearbox with six gear stages, a mechanically operated multi-disc clutch in an oil bath separates the engine from the gearbox.

In the secondary drive, an O-ring chain connects the drive pinion to the gear on the rear wheel. The maximum load is 175 kg, the permissible total weight 380 kg.

Braking system

A floating disc brake with a diameter of 300 mm and a two-piston brake caliper decelerates on the front tire, while a disc brake with a diameter of 230 mm and a single-piston floating caliper at the rear.

Fuel supply

Two Keihin constant pressure carburettors generate the combustion mixture, which is ignited by a CDI-controlled spark plug. The manufacturer recommends the use of unleaded motor gasoline with a knock resistance of at least 91 octane. The fuel tank has a volume of 15 liters, of which 3.4 liters are in reserve.

Electrical system

The starter battery has a capacity of 10 ampere hours and supplies the electric starter . The alternator generates a maximum electrical output of 238 watts. The fittings include a speedometer and odometer , a rev counter and signal displays for the direction indicators , the high beam and warning lamps for engine oil and coolant.

Exhaust system

The exhaust gas aftertreatment was carried out from 2005 by an unregulated catalytic converter and complied with the limit values ​​of the EURO2 emission class . The two exhaust manifolds open into a stainless steel rear silencer on the upper right-hand side of the vehicle.

Market situation

Competitive models in the 1990s with comparable chassis geometry in the market segment of "fun bikes" with up to 60 hp rated power were the Aprilia Pegaso 650 (1992–2009), the BMW F 650 Funduro (1993–2000), the Honda NX 650 Dominator (1988– 2000) and the Suzuki XF 650 Freewind (1987-2003).

Reviews

“Equipped with a 21-inch front wheel and studded tires, as is typical for off-road vehicles, it does not look happy off-road: the weight is too high, the forks and shock absorbers are too poor. It also does not pass as a travel machine. The seat is too narrow and too soft, and the 15 liter tank limits the range of the thirsty bike to a modest 150 to 200 kilometers. "

- Uli Holzwarth : Motorrad , issue 10/2006

“The Kawasaki KLE500 is so thin and so uncomfortable that it's as if you had suddenly reverted to stone as his principle furniture. Thankfully an unhealthy appetite for petrol means you don't have to suffer it long. Higher speed braking on the Kawasaki KLE500 provides unwelcome excitement by a combination of a weak single disc brake, the soft suspension and woeful tires. Kawasaki KLE500 is good at U-turns and light trails, though. "

“The Kawasaki KLE500 is so narrow and uncomfortable, as if mankind had suddenly returned to stones as their preferred seating furniture. Thankfully, because of their unhealthy appetite for gasoline, it doesn't take long to endure. Braking at higher speeds creates unwelcome excitement due to the combination of weak disc brakes, soft suspension and deplorable tires. However, the KLE 500 is good for tight changes of direction and on easy dirt roads. "

- Motor Cycle News (MCN)

“The 500 is a robust and reliable fellow. Above all, beginners and those returning to the sport benefit from the uncomplicated nature of the KLE 500. Thanks to its wide handlebars and the upright sitting position, changes of direction are effortless, and the engine power is never overwhelming. "

- Christopher Ost : 2Räder, edition 06/2012

literature

  • Andi Seiler: Kawasaki: Motorcycles since 1965 (type compass) . Motorbuch-Verlag, 2007, ISBN 978-3-613-02727-5 , pp. 128 .
  • Kawasaki KLE 500: the chameleon . In: Touring Driver . Issue 4/1996, pages 34–41. ISSN  0933-4440

Web links

Commons : Kawasaki KLE 500  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Klaus Herder: Kawasaki KLE 500. In: Motorrad , issue 10/1996. April 29, 1996. Retrieved April 19, 2016 .
  2. ↑ a b Fred Siemer: Silent Stars. In: Motorrad , issue 8/1997. August 1, 1997, accessed April 19, 2016 .
  3. ↑ a b Review . In: Motor Cycle News . November 23, 2006. (English)
  4. ↑ a b Technical data . In: motorcycle . No.  10 , 2006, ISSN  0027-237X ( motorradonline.de ).
  5. ↑ a b Uli Holzwarth: Second- hand advice. In: Motorrad , issue 10/2006. April 27, 2006, accessed April 19, 2016 .
  6. ↑ Fred Siemer: Socially acceptable? In: motorcycle . No. 06 , 1997, ISSN  0027-237X ( motorradonline.de - comparison test of single-cylinder enduro bikes ).
  7. ↑ Christopher Ost: Enduros and supermotos up to 4000 euros ( Memento of the original from April 19, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . In: 2wheels . Edition 06/2012. May 3, 2012. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.motorradonline.de