The Kawasaki KLE 500 is quiet. Maybe too quiet. This is obviously done intentionally, as the KLE 500 is a global market bike that needs to meet the emissions standards of multiple countries, and to accomplish this, well, it has to be a little choked up.
But if you’re looking to make a little more noise with your new Team Green adventure machine, SC-Project has you covered.
Headquartered and manufactured in the town of Cassinetta di Lugagnano outside of Milan, Italy, SC-Project is known for making some spicy exhaust systems and is heavily involved in professional racing, providing support for factory teams in MotoGP, Moto2, World Superbike, and the Dakar Rally.
For the KLE 500, SC-Project is offering three different exhaust systems, most of which are available in both titanium and carbon fiber.
The Rally Raid silencer is my personal favorite. It’s manufactured from titanium and features a round, 60 mm exit that gives the KLE 500 a Dakar vibe that just does it for me. The system is 4.6-lbs lighter than the stock exhaust and helps the 500 twin-cylinder gain of 1.2 hp at 8000 rpm, along with providing an improvement in power and torque delivery in the low and mid-range.
The MX silencer is more streamlined and is available in both titanium and carbon fiber. All the components are TIG welded, and like the Rally Raid system, it will shed nearly five pounds off the back of your bike. There’s a carbon fiber end cap that gives the KLE 500 “deep and dark tones in full compliance with Euro 5+ regulation,” according to SC-Project. Like the Rally Raid silencer, the MX iteration provides a power bump of 1.2 hp at 8000 rpm.
The third exhaust system available is the SC1-X, which SC-Project says “is designed to deliver lighter weight, unmistakable sound and technology,” for the new mid-sized ADV machine from Kawasaki. The silencer is made from carbon fiber and, like the other available exhaust systems from SC-Project, shaves 50% off the weight of the OEM silencer.
It also provides the same increase in horsepower and gives the KLE 500 a “strong and distinctive tone while remaining fully compliant with Euro 5+ regulations for legal road use.”
In all, these three silencers are similar, providing a slight increase in horsepower and torque, while simultaneously shedding nearly five pounds off the bike. So, it really comes down to your aesthetic preferences. Want that sleek, no-nonsense carbon fiber can? Grab an SC1-X for 570.00 € ($648 USD). Prefer the look of a slim, titanium exhaust system with a carbon end cap? The 550.00 € ($625 USD) MX silencer is for you. And if you’re like me, and want your KLE 500 to have that cross-country rally kind of look, the Rally Raid silencer 520.00 € ($591 USD) is the choice.
Honestly, you can’t go wrong. Because no matter which SC Project exhaust system you settle on, your KLE 500 is going to sound better and be a little lighter.
