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Author Topic: KLE 500 Dakar Rally  (Read 2245 times)

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Offline sidetrack

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KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« on: August 22, 2018, 09:57:14 pm »
Two years after the KLE was launched a team of Italian riders entered one in the 1992 edition of the Dakar Rally. They finished no problems.
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Offline gser

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Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2018, 08:43:56 am »
WOW !
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Online dirtyXT

Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2018, 08:47:15 am »
 :thumleft: nice! back when men were men and bikes were hard.
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Offline Edgar

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Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2018, 08:48:24 am »
Now that is quite amazing, but you can see a lot of changes were made to the bike. Still that is impressive :thumleft:
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Offline Fuzzy Muzzy

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Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2018, 08:59:39 am »
Thats impressive because a KLE500 and any kind of deep sand dont mix.. ever

Except in this case..
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Offline Buff

Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2018, 04:59:31 pm »
Quote from: Fuzzy Muzzy on August 23, 2018, 08:59:39 am
Thats impressive because a KLE500 and any kind of deep sand dont mix.. ever

Except in this case..

I guess someone forgot to tell them that  ;) ;D
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Offline Skeltonsc

Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2018, 08:21:53 am »
I wanna know where they got the Fuel tank,  :deal:
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Offline Fuzzy Muzzy

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Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2019, 03:52:29 pm »
Quote from: Buff on August 23, 2018, 04:59:31 pm
Quote from: Fuzzy Muzzy on August 23, 2018, 08:59:39 am
Thats impressive because a KLE500 and any kind of deep sand dont mix.. ever

Except in this case..

I guess someone forgot to tell them that  ;) ;D

I took the KLE through a bit - o - sand on the weekend

I have no idea how those okes rode through sand.. its frankly impossible unless those bikes were heavily modified , ill bring the KLE to Atlantis one day and you try it, it sinks like a Trawler in a U boat convention.  :laughing4:
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Offline katana

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Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2019, 07:02:43 pm »
Quote from: Fuzzy Muzzy on April 09, 2019, 03:52:29 pm
Quote from: Buff on August 23, 2018, 04:59:31 pm
Quote from: Fuzzy Muzzy on August 23, 2018, 08:59:39 am
Thats impressive because a KLE500 and any kind of deep sand dont mix.. ever

Except in this case..

I guess someone forgot to tell them that  ;) ;D

I took the KLE through a bit - o - sand on the weekend

I have no idea how those okes rode through sand.. its frankly impossible unless those bikes were heavily modified , ill bring the KLE to Atlantis one day and you try it, it sinks like a Trawler in a U boat convention.  :laughing4:
Plan it already...  I will join you on the XR
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Online Vintage_Mania

Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #9 on: April 09, 2019, 07:08:44 pm »
Quote from: sidetrack on August 22, 2018, 09:57:14 pm
Two years after the KLE was launched a team of Italian riders entered one in the 1992 edition of the Dakar Rally. They finished no problems.

There was definitely more than one.....



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Online Vintage_Mania

Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #10 on: April 09, 2019, 07:13:41 pm »
Some more...








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Offline Shaun500

Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2019, 11:15:22 am »
That's quite impressive for the humble KLE. The extra fuel carrying capacity is interesting. It's looks like they had custom conformal fuel tanks in the side covers and fairing.
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Offline sidetrack

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Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2020, 09:25:58 am »
The idea behind the KLE is brilliant. Low maintenance 500cc twin with 21 inch front. Almost a dream come true in the modern age where none such bikes exist. My main gripe with the one I owned was the rather poor ground clearance, soft forks and it could have done with a bit more power. Kawa should build a modern KLE  8)
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Offline Skeltonsc

Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #13 on: February 25, 2020, 09:35:44 am »
I agree 100%

I have sorted the ground clearance on mine 50mm lift, forks are alright with a little air.

would love some more power, but I would not swop my KLE for the world

No shims to worry about.

If I had to upgrade I would source a Versys engine and fit that.
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Offline sidetrack

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Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #14 on: February 25, 2020, 09:45:19 am »
Quote from: Skeltonsc on February 25, 2020, 09:35:44 am
I agree 100%

I have sorted the ground clearance on mine 50mm lift, forks are alright with a little air.

would love some more power, but I would not swop my KLE for the world

No shims to worry about.

If I had to upgrade I would source a Versys engine and fit that.
Yip Versys engine would rock  :thumleft: Trying to think if I had the grey market 400 or proper 500. Sure it was the 500 but was the pre face lift model.
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Offline Skeltonsc

Re: KLE 500 Dakar Rally
« Reply #15 on: February 25, 2020, 09:47:41 am »
Quote from: sidetrack on February 25, 2020, 09:45:19 am
Quote from: Skeltonsc on February 25, 2020, 09:35:44 am
I agree 100%

I have sorted the ground clearance on mine 50mm lift, forks are alright with a little air.

would love some more power, but I would not swop my KLE for the world

No shims to worry about.

If I had to upgrade I would source a Versys engine and fit that.
Yip Versys engine would rock  :thumleft: Trying to think if I had the grey market 400 or proper 500. Sure it was the 500 but was the pre face lift model.

I just cannot get over the prices of bikes these days, I could never spend R200k on a bike that I would probably drop anyway  :deal:

I sold my Dl1000 simply because I enjoyed riding the KLE more
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