Kawasaki just removed the most annoying part of riding an adventure bike through city traffic. The 2027 KLE500 SE Smartride adds a mechanical self-engaging clutch that lets the bike sit stopped in gear at idle without touching the lever, and it takes the delicate feathering out of pulling away from a stop. Unlike Honda’s electronic E-Clutch, Kawasaki’s system is fully mechanical, a compact centrifugal clutch inside a conventional clutch assembly, and you still shift normally with the lever and pedal once you’re moving.
The rest of the bike carries over from the KLE500 SE, with one welcome addition: tubeless tires on the spoked wheels. The 451cc parallel twin makes 51 horsepower and 31.7 lb-ft of torque, the seat sits at 34.3 inches, and the spec sheet covers switchable ABS, a three-case luggage setup, an adjustable windshield, smartphone connectivity, and a heavy-duty skid plate with 8.3 inches of front travel and 7.7 in the rear. At $7,999, it also lands $200 under Kawasaki’s own KLR650 Adventure. It reaches dealers in November 2026.
