Kawasaki KLE500 SE Smartride: The Adventure Bike That Starts Without the Clutch
Kawasaki's 2027 KLE500 SE Smartride adds a mechanical clutch assist to its 451cc adventure bike. What it does, the specs, and what we could not confirm.
Stop-and-go riding is where most adventure bikes get tiring. Kawasaki's answer for 2027 is the KLE500 SE Smartride, which adds a clutch system that lets you pull away and stop without working the lever. Here is what we know, and what we could not confirm.
What Smartride does
Kawasaki builds a centrifugal clutch into the normal clutch assembly. According to Gear Patrol's report, the starting clutch stays disengaged at idle, so the bike can sit stopped in gear without the lever pulled, and it takes up the drive as you open the throttle. It is entirely mechanical, unlike the electric actuators Honda uses in its E-Clutch system. You can still shift the usual way, with the lever and the shift pedal. Kawasaki says the system cuts the need for clutch use in city traffic and removes half-clutch control when pulling away.
The bike underneath
The base is the KLE500 SE, a small-displacement adventure bike. The engine is a 451cc parallel-twin that, per Gear Patrol, makes 51 hp at 10,000 rpm and 31.7 lb-ft at 7,500 rpm. Gear Patrol lists a 34.3 inch seat height, 8.3 inches of front and 7.7 inches of rear suspension travel, an adjustable flyscreen, multi-position seating, a heavy-duty skid plate, switchable ABS, smartphone connectivity and room for three-case luggage. The Smartride version also gets tubeless tires.
Why it matters
Clutch-free starts have been a feature of scooters for decades, and a few sport and adventure bikes now offer something like it. Making it mechanical keeps the weight, price and complexity down. For a commuter who wants an adventure bike that works well in traffic, it is a real argument. See more bikes in our new motorcycles roundup and the motorcycles section.
What we could not confirm
Gear Patrol reports a starting price of $7,999 and availability from November 2026. We could not verify that on kawasaki.com, which blocks our tools, and Kawasaki's European site lists the 2027 KLE500 SE and SE Smartride. Other reports we found say the Smartride may reach Europe first. So treat the price and the US date as unconfirmed until a dealer gives you the numbers. The picture here shows the white SE; the Smartride model's own press image is the lead image above.
Our read
If you ride in the city and want an adventure bike, the Smartride is the most interesting small bike idea this year. We have not ridden it; this is our read of Kawasaki's pictures and Gear Patrol's report. Browse more in the motors hub.
For a rally-style rival, see the Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally Heritage White.
FAQ
What is Smartride on the Kawasaki KLE500 SE?
A mechanical clutch assist. Per Gear Patrol's report, a centrifugal clutch is built into the conventional clutch assembly, so the bike can sit stopped in gear without pulling the lever. You still use the lever and the shift pedal to change gears.
How much is the 2027 KLE500 SE Smartride?
Gear Patrol reports a starting price of $7,999 and availability from November 2026. Kawasaki's US site blocks our tools, so we could not confirm that on kawasaki.com. Check with a dealer.
How much power does it make?
Per Gear Patrol, the 451cc parallel-twin makes 51 hp at 10,000 rpm and 31.7 lb-ft of torque at 7,500 rpm.
