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Duke 390 owner's take on the Honda NX500 after a 2 hr test ride

12th March 2024, 16:00 by Brij Gawde

Duke is a shockingly good tourer but my large frame & weight with Duke's aggressive rider triangle was taking a toll on me

BHPian suddensandy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello Friends, test rode the NX 500 last week, and here are my 2 cents on it.

For some context, I am the current owner of a Pulsar 150 DTSi with 1,20,000 kms on ODO and a Duke 390 MY2017 owner with 18,000 kms of which mostly is touring. Also own a Creta SX(O) at 18,000 & a past owner of an i20 Petrol Manual which I sold at 70,000 kms.

Why the test ride: Duke is a shockingly good tourer but my large frame & weight with Duke's aggressive rider triangle were taking a toll on me (aging probably?). Until recently the manic engine & the smile it always brought when you open that throttle made up for some discomfort but something's gotta give! So went looking for something comfortable that wouldn't break my bank account! I have already ridden the 390 ADVs and not going anywhere near the Himalayan 450.

So:

Test rode the NX500 and quite a long one at that. Was done via some contacts, an "I know a guy who knows a guy" type deal. And here is what I gathered (in no particular order) after riding for some 2 hours:

Lights, felt it was average but didn't ride in the dark. Will definitely need aux lights.
Suspension: the front was set perfectly, you can just go over anything on Bangalore roads with no fear. The rear needs some adjustments probably because of my excess weight.
The seat was superb, with very good cushion and my weight was pressing it down further. But Transalp seat was the best for touring (which I also tested rode albeit a short one).
Ergonomics: The upper body is set perfectly for handlebar position and reach. The cone set was of high quality making filtering very easy, I hit the Saturday morning traffic from Hebbal to Windsor Manor & bike was very nimble. A larger contact patch after tyre wears out may adversely affect this. Limbs/foot position was not great but not as bad as Duke 390. This was actually made worse by the foot peg width which was very thin, aftermarket foot peg is a must.
Radiator and clutch case heat was nonexistent even with the fan running. I couldn't tell when it was coming on. My Duke & 390ADV always do with the former ready to roast a kebab if you ride with shorts!
The switchgear was good quality & a step up from my Duke but not at Transalp level. The joystick was very easy to use and felt it would last. The indicator and horn are ultra pulta, and need getting used to.
100kph at 4300 rpm, this will easily give 30+ mileage, higher than my Duke.
Dunlop tyres were good but not exceptional. You can easily wear them out and switch to something better.
Surprisingly a good handler, even at fast bends kept a stable line and needed very few inputs to correct it.
NVH: superb, you can tour a full day without breaks if you have to, it's so good, but there was a small 500rpm band between 3500 to 4000 where there were light vibrations. I kept the bike on this rpm range to verify & felt it only on the handlebar ends (not on grips) and tank (not felt on the seat) but absolutely nothing on foot pegs. Don't know if this varies from bike to bike or is usual. Don't read this as a negative, NVH is this bike's USP.
Typical Honda build quality and the only eyesore is the front disk hydraulic hose exposed under the headlight cowl and above the front wheel mudguard. Average horn!
Clutch was like running your fingers in a pot of butter, exceptional! Because it's a cable clutch this may need maintenance to keep the feel. The test bike had run 700kms
Braking: The front Braking feel was superb, there's some front-end dive but not so much to cause anxiety. The rear is at an acceptable level. The rear brake pedal was very flimsy making the contact area small & hence the riding boot-feel was marginal but acceptable.
The windscreen is fixed but there was zero windblast for my height of 5'9". It was going above my SOL helmet. But shoulders and underarms do catch some air and help to cool down.
Head turner everywhere you go. The black doesn't even have the NX500 model badging, only the Honda logo. If you remove it then it's a mystery bike for the uninformed!
Must have accessories: foot pegs, radiator guard, and sump/engine guard. The design may be ugly due to the oil filter jutting out.
Engine could easily have been 55+bhp, purposefully de-powered to 47bhp I think for regional or regulatory needs
Cable accelerator but has dual cables to take care of backlash I think (mech engineers will know). Think of it like input delay due to slack.

In summary, Honda has a winner on its hands & the pricing has removed entry barriers for many people like me with aforesaid owner & riding history. Their service reputation is rock solid & 2 of my friends who own Hondas (Africa Twin & CB500X) show service bills that are less or equal to servicing a Maruti Suzuki SUV! I have put off my buying decision for a few months due to upcoming travel & office commitments but most likely buy one by the middle of this year, preferably in black.

Thanks & happy motoring!