Adventure incoming! Kawasaki tease new twin-cylinder KLE model at the Eicma trade show in Milan

Kawasaki have used the 2024 Eicma trade show in Milan to tease what appears to be a new range of twin-cylinder KLE 500 adventure models.

The Japanese brand have flown fairly under the radar this show season, launching an updated Z900 family, plus a larger Versys 1100 and Ninja 1100SX – however many of their European market machines have gone almost unchanged into 2025.

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Despite this, lurking in the corner of their Italian show stand, sat a subtle teaser for a new line of KLE models – using a blacked-out box structure to obscure an incoming upright adventurer.

With much of the bike hidden from view, only the front wheel and forks, plus the very front of the engine was on show – with the top of the rider then sticking out wearing heavily off-road orientated clothing.

Although no accompanying information is available, the engine appears to be a parallel twin, with the 21in front spoked wheel set-up sporting only small single disc and relatively basic, but long-travel upside-down front forks. There’s a Nissin front caliper appearing to feature ABS, too.

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A closer look down the inside of the wooden crate shows a glimpse of the overall narrow proportions, plus a large front radiator for liquid cooling.

Images on the side of the box for country roads, inner city, and desert riding could also indicate a range of model variants are on the way, or that the new bike will offer versatility for a number of riding scenarios. Alongside the images, the box featured text stating: “Life’s a rally. Ride it. KLE, est 1991.”

This 1991 makes reference to the original KLE 500, which borrowed a parallel twin motor from the GPZ500S to produce a gentle, go-anywhere package.

Kawasaki now happen to have another 500 range available today, with both the Ninja 500 and Z500 powered by an A2 licence friendly 451cc parallel twin lump.

It’s also employed by the Ninja 7 Hybrid and the Z7 Hybrid.

Given the small single front disc, and the current strong appetite for smaller, more manageable adventure motorcycles from the market, it stands to reason that this new mystery machine will also find a home on that platform.

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It would also fill a hole left by the Versys X-300, which has now left the UK after first appearing in 2017.