Honda CB500 Hornet vs. KTM 390 Duke

The KTM 390 Duke shows up as a cheeky and wild bruiser. It impresses with a technical fireworks display that has no equal in this class. The lean-angle-sensitive traction control and extensive electronics package clearly set the KTM apart from the competition. Its engine runs rougher and more aggressive, which particularly appeals to riders looking for a playful and dynamic bike. The lower weight reinforces this impression even further, since the 390 Duke flicks through corners like a weasel and delivers an extremely lively riding feel. However, it might feel a bit nervous for more cautious riders.

Honda CB500 Hornet The confident all-rounder

The Honda CB500 Hornet, on the other hand, presents itself as a cool and confident bike that looks noticeably cooler than older CB500 models. The Hornet's engine impresses with flawless running across a broad rev range and offers pleasant engine performance in every situation. This bike feels at home in every riding scenario and conveys a sense of stability and accessibility. Despite its higher weight, the Hornet is by no means sluggish and also shows itself to be agile, even if not quite as playful as the KTM.

Riding feel and handling

The KTM 390 Duke is the bike for adrenaline junkies and former supermoto or enduro riders who love an aggressive riding style. It favors an upright seating position and is extremely dynamic in corners. The Honda CB500 Hornet, meanwhile, offers a balanced and relaxed riding performance without losing any sportiness. It's the perfect bike for riders looking for a fully-grown machine with a pleasant overall package.

The Honda CB500 Hornet impresses with its parallel-twin engine, praised for its smooth running and even power delivery. With 48 hp, it edges slightly ahead of the KTM 390 Duke, which extracts 45 hp from its single-cylinder engine. In practice, the Hornet proves to be especially pleasant to ride in the low and mid rev range. The throttle response is described as smooth and precise, which particularly benefits beginners.

The KTM 390 Duke, on the other hand, presents itself as a lively character. Its single-cylinder engine is described as revvy, though with a rather narrow usable rev range. Some testers felt the engine setup wasn't optimal, which shows up as somewhat uneven power delivery.

In our rating table, the Honda scores markedly better in "Engine Comfort and Fueling" with 3.55 compared to the KTM's 9.09. The Hornet also leads in torque (Honda: 5.64, KTM: 8.91) and engine performance (Honda: 6.00, KTM: 8.18). These figures underline the testers' comments describing the Honda as more balanced and easier to master.

Which bike suits whom in terms of engine? If you're a beginner looking for a smooth, predictable engine character, the Honda CB500 Hornet is the better choice. More experienced riders, or those who prefer a sportier, more exciting character, might be happier with the KTM 390 Duke.

Chassis and handling:

The Honda CB500 Hornet is praised for its stable and comfortable chassis. Testers describe it as balanced and good-natured, which is especially appreciated on longer routes and under varying road conditions. The Hornet conveys a secure riding feel and remains stable even at higher speeds.

The KTM 390 Duke presents itself as the more agile and sportier bike. Its chassis is described as firm but precise. The low weight of just 162 kg (compared to the Honda's 190.5 kg) is especially noticeable in tight corners and quick direction changes.

The rating table clearly shows this difference: in handling, the KTM leads with 4.00, far ahead of the Honda's 5.82. However, the Honda scores well in stability with 5.45 versus the KTM's 8.91.

Which bike suits whom in terms of chassis? If you're mostly riding in the city and want an agile, easy-to-maneuver bike, the KTM 390 Duke could be the better choice. For riders who also cover longer distances and prefer more balanced riding performance, the Honda CB500 Hornet offers more comfort and stability.

Ergonomics and comfort:

The Honda CB500 Hornet is praised for its comfortable seating position. Testers describe it as upright and relaxed, which is especially appreciated on longer rides. Even taller riders find a pleasant position on the Hornet.

The KTM 390 Duke splits opinions here. Some testers describe the seating position as compact and sporty, which particularly suits smaller riders. Others find the position, especially the knee angle, somewhat uncomfortable over longer distances.

This is reflected in the rating table: in ergonomics, the Honda leads with 6.09 over the KTM's 7.18. The Honda's seat is also rated better at 4.64 versus the KTM's 8.64.

Which bike suits whom in terms of ergonomics? If you frequently ride longer distances or prefer a more comfortable seating position, the Honda CB500 Hornet is the better choice. For sportier-minded riders or those who prefer a more compact seating position, the KTM 390 Duke could be more suitable.

Electronics and equipment:

Here the KTM 390 Duke shows its strengths. It comes with an extensive electronics package, including an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), lean-angle-sensitive traction control, and cornering ABS. A quickshifter is also fitted.

The Honda CB500 Hornet offers a more conventional package with traction control and ABS. A quickshifter is not available.

This difference is clearly reflected in the rating table: for traction control regulation, the KTM leads with 4.88 over the Honda's 7.00. The KTM also scores well in traction control adjustability with 4.83 versus the Honda's 6.83.

Which bike suits whom in terms of electronics? If you value cutting-edge electronics and a wide range of adjustment options, the KTM 390 Duke is clearly ahead. For riders who prefer things simple and uncomplicated, the Honda CB500 Hornet offers a solid basic setup.

Conclusion and recommendation:

Both bikes, the Honda CB500 Hornet and the KTM 390 Duke, are excellent beginner models, though they set different priorities.

The Honda CB500 Hornet is recommended for beginners and returning riders who value a smooth, predictable engine character, high comfort, and stability. It's the ideal choice for longer distances and tours, offers balanced performance, and is excellently suited for everyday use. With its high-quality build and mature overall concept, it's a reliable companion for many years.

The KTM 390 Duke is the perfect choice for sportier-minded riders looking for an agile, lightweight bike. It offers an exciting riding experience, cutting-edge electronics, and is particularly well suited to twisty roads or reckless stunts. Its compact size and low weight make it the ideal choice for smaller riders or those looking for a particularly nimble bike.

In the overall ranking, the Honda CB500 Hornet achieves a better result with an average placement of 5.83 compared to the KTM 390 Duke's 6.63. This underlines the Honda's more balanced overall performance, while the KTM shines in individual categories. Ultimately, the choice between these two bikes depends on your personal preferences and intended use. Both offer excellent value for money and are outstanding entry options into the world of naked bikes. Both bikes have also proven themselves in testing compared to more expensive and more powerful bikes. They offer plenty of riding pleasure at a reasonable price.

Whichever bike you choose, both the Honda CB500 Hornet and the KTM 390 Duke will bring you plenty of joy and are ideal companions on your path to becoming an experienced rider. We recommend test riding both bikes to feel for yourself which one better suits you and your riding style. Because in the end, it's not just about the technology, but above all about the feeling and the fun you experience on the bike.

The helmets at the 1000PS Nakedbike Test

Keeping a cool head during this test was the HJC RPHA 71 Carbon. The helmet impressed the 1000PS crew with its pleasantly neutral aerodynamics, which ensures fatigue-free riding even over longer distances. Also worth highlighting is the effective ventilation performance and reliable heat dissipation on hot days. The Carbon model not only looks super classy, it's also noticeably lighter than the base version of the RPHA 71. The visor mechanism with an additional sun visor works flawlessly. The fit is comfortable, and the sizing covers a broad spectrum within the 1000PS editorial team - all our editors felt comfortable! We give it our recommendation.

https://hjchelmets.eu/products/rpha-71-carbon-solid

Our riding gear at the Nakedbike Test 2024

For this test, we were equipped by our clothing partner IXS with products from the current Sport Collection. Our 1000PS editorial team has trusted the Swiss brand for more than 10 years now. Besides the build quality, what we like about IXS is that they always work with high-quality materials and excellent fit. Even editors who don't fit the norm body type always find a well-fitting outfit thanks to the availability of long and short sizes. With advanced features like airbag systems and electronically controlled membranes, they aim to offer maximum safety and comfort. We like it a lot!

https://ixs.com/moto-sports-2024

The 1000PS crew at the Nakedbike Test 2024

• Video, Photo: https://www.instagram.com/motocinematica/
• Video, Photo: https://www.instagram.com/jakob.schabsi/
• Video, Photo: https://www.instagram.com/patbpixx/
• Editor: https://www.instagram.com/christophorvath/
• Test rider: https://www.instagram.com/mbbikeperformance/
• Test rider and YouTube English host: https://www.instagram.com/adamchadchild/
• Test rider and YouTube Poland host: https://www.instagram.com/marek.piechula/
• Test rider: https://www.instagram.com/named.aj/
• Test rider: https://www.instagram.com/turboschaaf/
• YouTube Italy host: https://www.instagram.com/weeeslyy/
• Test rider: https://www.instagram.com/kurtrubik/
• Test rider: https://www.instagram.com/ewaldbaumgartnerfahrtechnik/
• Test rider and host for German videos: http://zonko.at/
• Producer, host and test rider: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nils-mueller-doget-1000ps/
• Editor: Martin "Vauli" Vielhaber: More reports from Vauli

Our partners at the Nakedbike Test 2024

• Bike care: https://motorex.com/de-at/moto-line--5616
• Less luggage, still no stink! 1000PS trusts Bamigo

Our test routes - Bucklige Welt region

Riding in the Bucklige Welt offers an exceptionally appealing experience, underscored by the picturesque landscape of this region of Lower Austria. Characterized by gentle hills, expansive meadows and idyllic small villages, the Bucklige Welt is the perfect terrain for motorcycle enthusiasts who want to enjoy the beauty of nature as well as seek twisty riding pleasure. The varied routes lead through forested areas and past historic landmarks, turning every tour into a journey through the culture and history of the country. Riding is especially appealing in the spring and autumn months, when the landscape is bathed in a spectacular display of colors that stimulates the senses and leaves unforgettable impressions. This makes the Bucklige Welt an insider tip for bikers seeking the authentic and original.

1000PS Nakedbike Test 2024 - The scoring

In this test, we rode a total of 10 bikes in direct comparison, even though the bikes were in different displacement classes. Nevertheless, we rated the bikes using the same scoring scheme. The categories in the test protocol include aspects such as engine comfort and fueling, engine revviness, torque, engine performance, gearbox, quickshifter, clutch, traction control regulation, traction control adjustability, switch quality and control logic. Aspects such as stability, handling, precision, chassis quality and adjustment range, brakes, modulation and effectiveness were also rated. Each test rider gave their individual rating, which was then combined into an average value for each category and finally into an overall rating. The best bike in each category was rated "1", the worst bike in the category "10". For our readers, these tables are interesting for two reasons. On one hand, they can see in which areas individual bikes are above average and in which areas they are below average - always keeping in mind that the price and displacement classes are very different. On the other hand, you can click through all the reports and results here and directly compare your favorites - regardless of price and displacement class.