Comparing two lightweight adventure bikes for maybe riding a bit more in Corsica next year. KTM 390 Adventure and Honda NX500 are both light weight and offer more than enough power for local roads. Either way it’s a step up in comfort from a sportsbike, so maybe less tiring to ride but with a loss of precision and sense of the road surface. So I’m looking for light weight, low rider fatigue and manoeuvrability more than power.
The KTM 390 Adventure has by far the harder suspension so it holds the road more cleanly with more confidence on the curves and I think also has the edge on predictable braking in ordinary road situations. It’s anyhow 19 kg lighter kerb weight (177 kg) than the Honda NX500 (196 kg) and seems to have a lower centre of gravity. I could ride tight figures of eight in the car park with the KTM 390 better than with the NX500.
The NX500 smoothes the ride on the road so maybe less tiring on local roads. Both have the same wheel size (19” front, 17” rear). Honda’s twin cylinder engine on the NX500 invites lazy riding (so end up in the wrong gear) whereas you have to drive the KTM’s single more actively.
Honda’s tall twin cylinder 500 engine has long since been shaken down but so has the KTM 390 by now. The smaller engine would get revved more as it’s worth it to get the performance; Honda NX500 has such a smooth power delivery curve that it’s not worth revving it.
Both my boots touch the ground on the test NX500, not so the KTM 390 demonstrator, so I would have to get the springs replaced, which looses a bit of ground clearance, that’s not really an issue for my intended use.
On just a shortish couple of rides, the KTM is more fun so more rewarding to ride, the Honda more lush. I soon found I was enjoying making the KTM “sing”, particularly having swapped directly from my Ninja Z250SL, also single cylinder. I spent a lot of time on the NX500 wondering if an adventure-style bike has to be this boring to be less tiring to ride.
The NX500 doesn’t tire the feet with vibes on the pegs, the KTM 390 definitely has vibes. The screen on the Honda made a lot of wind noise and wasn’t compatible with the peak on my crash hat. The 390 Adventure has the edge on style.
No decisions yet, it seems there’s no shortage of stock of either.
Update
KTM are teasing a 2025 upgrade (KTM 390 Adventure R) to be launched at the winter shows, with larger wheels (21/18 inch), an enduro style front mudguard and other upgrades. So that explains the heavy discounts available on stock of KTM390-2024 bikes.
Thanks to Lloyds Honda in Carlisle and Triple D Motosport in Kendal for facilitating the test rides
Boustead Hill crossroads, Hadrian’s Wall path and Solway Firth.
A6 between Kendal and Shap summit
At the end of Anthorn WW2 airport runway, now LF, VLF and eLoran transmitters.
