KLE250 - they do exist, even though there's not much info on the net. First time I saw one in Germany I thought: What the heck went wrong here? A small dirt bike with a twin cylinder engine and a fairing? Looked like the bike had an identity issue.
But much later in Thailand I talked to a thai guy in a repair shop who said he could "order" any bike I wanted. So I started thinking: a 250 is big enough for around here, but a single doesn't cut it. I want an enduro type bike for the local road conditions but also be able to do trips, so it needs to be able to go 130 km/h and have a small fairing. And suddenly it clicked and I remembered that weird bike I saw years ago - it would fit the bill quite well. Upright seating position, long-travel suspension, a Ninja engine with 35 horses at 10,000 rpm and a small fairing for touring. It even had a 19" front wheel (like the 650 V-Strom).
But then I decided on the VTR with the sexy trellis frame and a real neat V-Twin.
In a way those KLE types were the first "Versys". These bikes have been built since the early 90s, at least the KLE500. When it was time to update the engine, Kawasaki built the 650 twin and came out with the "Ninja". The Versys would be the KLE version, but a bit more street oriented, which makes more sense.
The difference between the KLE250 and a "Versys 250" would be an updated and slightly detuned Ninja engine, less revvs, more torque, with FI; stiffer suspension, better brakes, 17" front wheel, street rubber; smaller fairing, less weight, bigger tank.
Daewoo, I'm surprised both bikes are for sale in Australia. I've read some reviews and most are positive; the KLE500 is reliable, fun, lots of value for money. Not great looking and limited power, though. So the new Versys is a successful improvement, and the ground-up new design with the bigger engine makes it look like this type of bike was just invented. But it still carries the KLE designation.
Could you post the prices of the old KLE500 and the Versys? I wonder how much cheaper the old KLE500 is.
