By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Hyper Naked
Kawasaki Z H2 (MY2020) vs KTM 1390 Super Duke R (MY2024)
Kawasaki Z H2 vs KTM 1390 Super Duke R: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
From a lazy top-gear crawl, the Kawasaki Z H2's supercharger whistles as the throttle opens, and the pull doesn't stumble. Wind the KTM 1390 Super Duke R open and there's no nervous twitch from its front as the pace builds. The chassis holds its line through fast sweepers.
So which one do you buy?
The 1390 Super Duke R has the edge if…
Racetrack use
By a nose: 1390 Super Duke R
On a closed course, the 1390 Super Duke R edges ahead. What tips it: a sportier chassis and more suspension adjustment. Not by enough to settle it.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Edges it: 1390 Super Duke R
The 1390 Super Duke R nudges ahead once the pavement starts to wiggle. That comes from better suspension and more feel through the bars. Don't expect a night-and-day difference.
Daily commuting & city riding
Slight edge: 1390 Super Duke R
The 1390 Super Duke R makes slightly more sense as a commuter. It's down to lighter steering. Don't read much into a gap this small.
Character, looks and sound
Inches ahead: 1390 Super Duke R
For presence, the 1390 Super Duke R noses ahead. The reason: a purer look. Taste is personal, so don't let a small gap decide for you.
Which one's the smarter buy
Even on value
At these used prices, neither bike is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
Z H2
Under the Z H2's force-fed thrust, the inline-four runs smooth and tractable through town. There's real mass in the bike once it's fueled, and at high speed that weight keeps the steering calm. Over a bump, the high-spec suspension and steel trellis frame keep you trusting the bike. The blower chirps on every roll-off.
Nils rode the Z H2 in Austria in 2020 (NastyNils Testride).
1390 Super Duke R
Once the revs clear the cam switch, the 1390 Super Duke R's V-twin turns ferocious. Stability came in better than the aggressive character led you to expect. The bike looks extroverted and uncompromising, and the ride is exactly that. There's no snatch from the engine braking on corner entry as the revs fall. At speed, the bike steers in and tracks with real precision.
Nils rode the 1390 Super Duke R in Austria and Hungary in 2024 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 1390 Super Duke R makes more peak torque: 107 lb-ft (145 Nm) vs 101 lb-ft (137 Nm).
- The 1390 Super Duke R has the larger engine: 1350 cc vs 998 cc.
- The Z H2 has the larger fuel tank: 5.0 US gal (19 L) vs 4.6 US gal (17.5 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both miss here
Both of these get tiring on a long day. A proper tourer will treat you better on big miles.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Z H2
What owners say
Strengths
- Distinctive supercharger sound
- Excellent electronics package
- Surprisingly compliant road manners
1390 Super Duke R
Strengths
- Acceleration That Hits Hard
- Aggression You Can Manage
- Planted at Serious Speed
- Smooth Engine Braking
- Engine character: smoother and broader than the 1290
Trade-offs
- Wind Fatigue on Highways
- Wide Tank Limits Movement
- Electrical Fault in Testing
- Quickshifter Costs Extra
- Low-rpm fuelling abruptness
Known problems to check before you buy
Z H2
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
1390 Super Duke R
- Shift-cam (variable-valve-timing) sensor failure on the LC8 The sensor that monitors the position of the intake CamShift mechanism has been reported to fail on early-production 1390s. Symptoms include traction-control warnings, quickshifter warnings, an engine-warning light, and in some cases limp mode. This component is new with the 1390's LC8 — it does not exist on the 1290 — so the issue is platform-specific to this generation. Reports include failures from as little as 290 mi (470 km), 500 mi, and 430 mi (700 km). In one documented case, a replacement bike supplied to an affected owner exhibited the same fault, indicating a possible early-batch quality problem rather than a one-off defect.
- Oil temperature sensor fault triggering false TC / launch-control / ABS warnings Affected bikes display persistent warnings for traction control, launch control, and in some cases ABS; the oil-temperature display reads "---"; cruise control deactivates; on a cold start the oil-temperature reading shows 32°F (0 °C) while ambient temperature is materially higher. Errors clear after restart but recur. Owners report dealers replacing the oil temperature sensor under warranty, after which the fault is resolved on the affected unit.
- Cold-start stalling and snatchy fuelling at very low rpm Owners report that the 1390 stalls at intersections when cold and feels abrupt at very low rpm. Multiple aftermarket calibrations (BT-Moto Stage 1, OpenFlash, BoosterPlug) market themselves specifically against this behaviour, and at least one 2025 SDR EVO owner reports the cold-start stalling resolved after a Stage 1 flash. The pattern is consistent with Euro 5+ lean calibration on large-displacement V-twins and is not indicative of a hardware defect.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 2-year-old Z H2 with a 2-year-old 1390 Super Duke R.
- Z H2
- about $17,800
- 1390 Super Duke R
- about $17,700
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Z H2 | 1390 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.7 in (830 mm) | 32.8 in (834 mm) |
| Z H2 | 1390 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 998 cc | 1350 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | 75° V-twin |
| Power | 200 hp (147 kW) | 190 hp (140 kW) |
| Peak power at | 11,000 rpm | 10,000 rpm |
| Torque | 101 lb-ft (137 Nm) | 107 lb-ft (145 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 8,500 rpm | 8,000 rpm |
| Z H2 | 1390 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 39 mpg (US) / 6 L/100 km | 40 mpg (US) / 5.9 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 US gal (19 L) | 4.6 US gal (17.5 L) |
| Z H2 | 1390 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 | 200/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 57.3 in (1455 mm) | 58.7 in (1491 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Z H2 | 1390 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Control | Standard | Option |
| Steering Damper | Not offered | Standard |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Option |
| USB Charging Port | Option | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
