Kawasaki Teases All-New 2026 ‘KLE’ Adventure Bike

Kawasaki has released a teaser video hinting that a new adventure bike is coming, possibly reviving the KLE name for 2026.

After seemingly being postponed last year, Kawasaki has just reignited the buzz after dropping its biggest clue yet that a brand-new mid-size adventure bike is coming for 2026, thanks to a fresh teaser video on YouTube.

The short teaser, posted on Kawasaki’s official YouTube channel, shows an adventure-style motorcycle speeding through dirt roads, accompanied by the phrases “Life’s a Rally. Ride it” and “Established 1991, KLE.” Though details are scarce, the imagery strongly suggests that Kawasaki is ready to return to the dual-sport scene with a modern take on its classic KLE lineup.

This new teaser follows the mysterious display Kawasaki showcased at last year’s EICMA show in Milan, where a 21-inch spoked wheel with a dual-sport tire was poking out of a box. Front fairing and forks of an adventure bike were also revealed, hinting at a new off-road-oriented machine. With this latest video, it’s now almost certain that Kawasaki will officially unveil the bike at EICMA 2025 in November.

Watch the teaser below:

A return to the KLE legacy?

If you add these snippets of information together, it doesn’t take a genius to surmise what KLE model Kawasaki is reviving. Could it be the KLE500?

The original KLE500, apparently introduced in 1991, was driven by a 498cc parallel twin engine producing 43 bhp and 30.2 lb-ft of torque, which leaned more toward road touring but offered mild off-road ability. It was discontinued in 2007 and replaced by the far more road-focused Versys 650.

The new model looks set to carry that legacy forward, with Kawasaki seemingly emphasizing the word “Rally,” hinting at improved off-road performance. From the footage, it’s clear the bike can handle loose terrain and rough trails, positioning it closer to rugged mid-size adventure machines.

What can we expect?

Aside from the 21-inch front wire-spoked wheel and adventure bike front fairing and forks, the single front disc brake suggests a mid-capacity engine rather than a heavyweight setup. Speculation points to Kawasaki’s 451cc liquid-cooled parallel twin, the same engine powering the Ninja 500 and Eliminator, as the likely heart of the new KLE. This engine offers a balance of manageable performance, light weight, and reliability.

Although nothing has been officially confirmed, there's no doubt that a new KLE adventure bike is on the way. If the rumors prove true, it could mark the brand’s re-entry into the increasingly competitive mid-size adventure segment. We’ll likely get our answers at EICMA 2025, where Kawasaki is expected to reveal the bike and its specs. Until then, fans can only speculate.