Updated October 27, 2026, with US pricing, availability, and specifications.
Kawasaki is bringing the 2027 KLE500 SE Smartride to the US, making it the third version of the KLE500 adventure bike here. It pulls away from a stop and comes to a halt without the rider touching the clutch lever, and it rolls on wire-spoke wheels with tubeless tires. The Smartride sells for $7999 MSRP and reaches dealers in November.
How the KLE500 SE Smartride Clutch Works
Smartride, Kawasaki’s first self-engaging clutch, pairs two clutches in one assembly: a compact centrifugal “starting clutch” and a conventional wet multiplate clutch. The starting clutch engages as engine speed rises and releases as revs drop. This allows the rider to leave the transmission in gear at a stop, and simply roll on the throttle to go. There’s no need to feather the clutch when pulling away, and Kawasaki says the system makes stalling the engine extremely difficult.
Once underway, the KLE500 SE Smartride shifts like any other manual motorcycle, using the clutch lever and shift pedal. The lever still operates the multiplate clutch at any time, and because the two clutches work in series, the rear wheel is disconnected from the engine whenever either one is disengaged.
An engine-brake cam keeps the starting clutch engaged on deceleration until the bike is nearly stopped, so engine braking feels normal. If the rider stops in a higher gear, the dash prompts a downshift before pulling away. The clutch assembly is about 0.4 inch wider and 0.2 inch larger in diameter than a conventional one, and it adds roughly 2.2 pounds.
The system is entirely mechanical, with no electronics. That separates it from Honda’s E-Clutch, which uses electric motors to operate the clutch. Off-road riders who have used a Rekluse auto-clutch will recognize how it works on the trail. Rekluse uses centrifugal force to clamp the bike’s existing plates, while Smartride adds a separate starting clutch, and it comes installed from the factory.
Tubeless Tires, Longer Wheelbase
Tubeless tires are exclusive to the Smartride version, and they’re Dunlop Trailmax Mixtours instead of the IRC GP-410s on the other KLE500 models. A punctured tubeless tire can be plugged without pulling the wheel. The rear tire grows to a 150/70-17 from the 140/70-17 used on the other KLE500 models, and the 21-inch front wheel is unchanged.
The Smartride’s new hardware changes a few numbers. Wheelbase stretches 0.6 inches to 61.8 inches, rear wheel travel is listed at 7.9 inches instead of 7.7, and curb weight is 437 pounds, about 9 pounds more than the KLE500 SE. Otherwise, the Smartride is essentially the same as the 2026 Kawasaki KLE500 SE we recently tested.
Price and Availability
The 2027 KLE500 SE Smartride comes in Pearl Blizzard White or Metallic Bluish Green and sells for $7999 MSRP. That’s $500 more than the KLE500 SE ($7499) and $1400 more than the KLE500 ($6599). All three reach dealers in November.
Benda motorcycles are beginning to make a ripple on US shores with four intriguing and competitive models, courtesy of its partnership with Keeway Group. We were impressed with the Napoleonbob 500 and have now gotten our gloves on the persuasive, entry-level 2026 Benda Chinchilla 300, with its modest MSRP of $4999. It would be difficult to design a more welcoming entry-level cruiser than this easy-handling, visually appealing boulevard bobber. Editor Don Williams and Associate Editor Kelly Callan discuss the Benda Chinchilla 300 and how it actually rode for them.
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Our guest this episode is Jesse Merriman, Chief Technician for Jeremy McWilliams at the Arch Motorcycle racing project. Arch Racing was founded by Gard Hollinger and Keanu Reevs to compete in the Moto America Super Hooligan race series. Teejay Adams chats with Jesse about the Arch motorcycle and the challenges of extracting the absolute most from an air-cooled V-Twin racing engine and custom chassis.
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Here’s quick reminder to check out our monthly digital magazine. It’s filled with everything you want to read on motorcycling, including some things you’ve probably not seen elsewhere. It’s absolutely free and you will find it on the Apple App Store and of course on Google Play as well.
Don’t forget to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!
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