The Kawasaki KLE500 weighs 194kg wet, has a seat height of 870mm and 185mm of ground clearance, and makes 45.4hp. Expect about 71 mpg (claimed), for a range of around 248 mi (claimed) from its 16-litre tank.
6/10
Holloway Green Lane Score
A simple, affordable A2 adventure bike that copes well with typical byways but grounds out on its sump guard when the lane gets rocky. Rider ability, terrain, weather and tyre choice still move the real answer more than the bike alone does.
£5,999New, OTR
194kgWet weight
870mmSeat height
~248 mi (claimed)Real-world range
Holloway ratings
Four separate scores, not one blended number, so you can see what's actually driving it.
Beginner friendliness
4/5
Road usability
3/5
Technical off-road capability
3/5
Green-lane suitability
3/5
Full specs
Price (new, OTR)£5,999
Engine451cc
Power45.4hp
Torque42.6Nm
Weight (wet)194kg
Seat height870mm
Fuel tank16L
Real-world range~248 mi (claimed)
Economy~71 mpg (claimed)
Wheels (f/r)21" / 17"
Ground clearance185mm
Suspension travel (f/r)210mm / 200mm
ABSYes
Traction controlNo
Ride modesNo
Service interval7,600 miles
Licence requiredA2
Stock tyre sizes (f/r)90/90-21 / 140/70-17
Stock tyresIRC GP-410
Where the Kawasaki KLE500 sits
Wet weight against ground clearance for every bike in the finder that publishes both. Light and tall, top left, is where the easiest green lane bikes sit. Tap a dot to open that bike.
Figures are manufacturer claims. Clearance is measured differently by different makers, so treat small gaps as a draw.
Will your feet reach?
The Kawasaki KLE500 has a 870mm seat. Enter your inside leg for a rough idea of how much foot you'll get down when stopped.
A rough guide only. A wide seat needs more leg than a narrow one, the suspension settles 20 to 40mm under you, and boots add a little. Many bikes offer a low seat or lowering link. Sit on one before you buy.
Range against similar bikes
Real-world range from tank size and typical economy, against the bikes closest to it in weight and type. Out on the lanes, fuel stops are often further apart than on a road ride.
Range only. Hard off-road riding and headwinds use more fuel, so plan fuel stops with margin.
Tyres that fit the Kawasaki KLE500
It runs a 90/90-21 front and a 140/70-17 rear, on IRC GP-410 from the factory. 42 tyres in our Tyre Finder are made in at least one of those sizes, ranked by green lane score.
Sizes are for the standard UK model and can change between model years. Check the size on your own tyre sidewall, and ask your dealer before fitting a different size. Our size lists come from maker and retailer listings and can miss sizes, so a tyre shown for one end may still be made in your other size. Check the maker's size chart.
Kawasaki's 2026 KLE500 pairs the 451cc twin from the Ninja 500 with a 21-inch front wheel, a 17-inch rear and 210mm of front travel. Motorcycle News rated it 4 out of 5 and said that on the mud, gravel and grass of the British byway network it will get through most things, but may struggle on rockier routes. Visordown found it unintimidating on loose surfaces and easier for newer riders than a Ténéré 700. The all-or-nothing ABS and low ground clearance are the recurring complaints.
Pros for green laning
Manageable weight: 194kg and a low centre of gravity make it less intimidating on loose surfaces than a big adventure twin.
Real off-road wheel sizes: 21-inch front wheel with 210mm front and 200mm rear travel for gravel and mud.
Low price and A2 friendly: 5,999 pounds for the standard bike with 33.4kW suits riders on the A2 licence.
Cheap to keep: Motorcycle News lists an annual service cost around 250 pounds and a 7,600 mile service interval.
Cons and limitations
Ground clearance: Visordown and Motorcycle News both report it bottoming out on rocks and settling on the skid plate.
All-or-nothing ABS: it can be switched off at a standstill, but that disables both wheels, with no rear-only mode for loose surfaces.
17-inch rear wheel: the 140/70-17 rear limits aggressive knobbly tyre choice compared with an 18 or 19-inch rear.
Vibration and a short screen: Visordown notes buzz at higher revs and a short screen, which matters on long road links.
Before taking it seriously off-road: The SE or a bash plate for the standard bike, handguards, and a dual-sport tyre swap if you ride wet lanes often. Plan to avoid big rocky steps, where the low ground clearance shows.
Remember: a rank here assumes reasonable stock tyres and a competent rider in decent conditions. The right tyres, or the wrong weather, can move a lane from easy to genuinely hard regardless of what bike you're on. Check a lane's own difficulty and hazards on the map before you go, don't rely on a bike score alone.
Find where to actually ride it
Browse legal green lanes and byways across England and Wales, filtered by difficulty, on Holloway's map.
