Kawasaki has added a third version of its KLE500 adventure bike for 2027 in Europe. The new KLE500 SE Smartride pulls away from a stop and comes to a halt without the rider touching the clutch lever. It also rolls on wire-spoke wheels with tubeless tires.
How the KLE500 SE Smartride Clutch Works
Smartride 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.
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. 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 439 pounds, about 9 pounds more than the KLE500 SE in European trim. Apart from a European engine tune rated at 45 horsepower, the Smartride is essentially the same as the 2026 Kawasaki KLE500 SE we recently tested.
Three Edition Packages
Every 2027 KLE500 variant is also offered in three Edition packages built from genuine Kawasaki accessories. The Rally Edition adds an Akrapovič titanium exhaust, radiator cover, low passenger seat, and USB-C socket. The Adventure Tourer Edition comes with an engine guard and two 21-liter panniers with mounting frames. The Top Case Edition has a rear carrier with a top case and a USB-C socket.
Color and US Availability
The 2027 Kawasaki KLE500 SE Smartride comes only in Pearl Blizzard White. Kawasaki USA has not released any information on what 2027 KLE500 models we will be seeing. The 2026 KLE500 ABS ($6599 MSRP) and KLE500 SE ABS ($7499) remain on sale here.
Hello and welcome again to the Motos and Friends Podcast. This episode is brought to you by Leod Escapes.
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Aprilia is bringing a scooter to North America, and it’s one designed to appeal to adventure motorcyclists. The SR GT 400 is a mid-size scooter built around a steel motorcycle-style frame, a 399cc single, and off-road-ready hardware. It reaches US dealers as soon as this month. Don Williams and Kelly Callan spent some time riding the Aprilia and were surprised by what they discovered. Is this a real motorcycle or just a good-looking urban scooter?
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Cat McLeod is founder and owner of Leod Escapes, the ultimate tour company for sport-minded motorcycle riders. Cat talks to us this segment about some of his amazing European experiences and tours that include of course, riding some amazing MotoGP tracks on new BMW S1000RRs. If you like what you hear, now is the time to book your trip of a lifetime, so visit LeodEscapes.com to find out more.
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Our guest this episode is Terry Vance, the multiple Motorcycle and Motorsports Hall-of-Famer. Terry is of course the former professional motorcycle drag racer, team owner, and co-founder of the high-performance parts company Vance & Hines. Teejay Adams chats with Terry about his incredible career that includes being the first rider to hit 200 mph in the standing quarter-mile.
Having won this year’s MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers championship with Hayden Gillim riding the Vance & Hines factory Indian Challenger, and with Harley-Davidson’s recent withdrawal, Terry gives us his thoughts on where the series might go from here.
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