The Kawasaki KLE 500 is quiet. Maybe too quiet. This is clearly intentional, as the KLE 500 is a global market bike that needs to meet the emissions standards of many countries, and to accomplish this, it will have to be off limits a bit.
But if you want to make a little more noise with your new Team Green adventure machine, SC-Project has you covered.
Headquartered and built in the town of Casinetta di Lugnano outside of Milan, Italy, SC-Project is known for creating 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.
SC-Project’s Rally Red silencer gives the KLE 500 the Dakar look it needed.
Photo by: RideApart.com
The Rally Raid silencer is my personal favorite. It’s constructed from titanium and has a round, 60mm exhaust that gives the KLE 500 a Dakar vibe that does it for me. The system is 4.6-lbs lighter than the stock exhaust and helps the 500 twin-cylinder gain 1.2 hp at 8000 rpm, as well as provide improvements 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 components are TIG welded, and like the Rally Raid system, it will shave about five pounds of weight off the rear of your bike. It features a carbon fiber end cap that gives the KLE 500 “deeper and darker colors in full compliance with Euro 5+ regulation”. According to SC-Project. Like the Rally Raid silencer, the MX iteration offers a power bump of 1.2 hp at 8000 rpm.
The MX exhaust system is neat and clean…and titanium!
Photo by: RideApart.com
The third exhaust system available is the SC1-X, which says sc-project Kawasaki’s new mid-sized ADV machine is designed to deliver “light weight, unmistakable sound and technology.” The silencer is made of carbon fiber and like other available exhaust systems from SC-Project, reduces the weight of the OEM silencer by 50%.
It also offers a similar increase in horsepower and gives the KLE 500 “a strong and distinctive tone while being fully compliant with Euro 5+ regulations for legal road use.”
Craving carbon? The SC1-X silencer is for you.
Photo by: RideApart.com
Overall, these three silencers are identical, providing a slight increase in horsepower and torque, as well as shaving about five pounds of weight from the bike. So, it really depends on your aesthetic preferences. Want that sleek, no-nonsense carbon fiber can? Get the SC1-X for 570.00 € ($648 USD). Do you like the look of a slim, titanium exhaust system with carbon end caps? The 550.00 € ($625 USD) MX Silencer is for you. And if you’re like me, and want your KLE 500 to have a cross-country rally look, the Rally Red Silencer is a 520.00 € ($591 USD) option.
Honestly, you can’t go wrong. Because no matter which SC Project exhaust system you choose, your KLE 500 will sound better and be a little lighter.
