Honda CB 500 Hornet – your driving-school motorcycle for Class A2 in Munich
Rosenheimer Strasse, the light turns green, a clear lane opens toward Ostbahnhof. You ease out the clutch and the Hornet pulls away cleanly, no drama. That is exactly the feeling we want for A2 training: a bike that gives precisely the power your licence permits and leaves the rest up to you.
Why you learn in the Honda CB 500 Hornet
The CB 500 Hornet is a classic A2 machine (35 kW or less) in the truest sense — and that is exactly why it teaches you so honestly. From the factory it makes 35 kW (47.6 hp), precisely what the A2 class allows. There is no restricted version hiding extra power, no secret reserve: what you feel at the throttle is exactly what you are permitted to ride in the exam and afterwards on your own A2 bike. Many of our learners find that reassuring, because the machine stays predictable — the parallel-twin with 471 cc delivers its torque smoothly rather than in sudden bursts. You practise the friction point, lean angle and where to look on a motorcycle that neither overwhelms nor bores you. Once you hold the A2 licence, you sit on essentially the same type of bike again, with no relearning. That is the whole point: learn realistically, ride realistically.
Technology & equipment at a glance
| Power | 35 kW (47.6 hp) from the factory — exactly the A2 ceiling. You train from day one with the precise power you may legally ride later, with no restriction compromise. |
| Displacement / Torque | 471 cc parallel-twin, 43 Nm. The even torque makes hill starts and slow-speed drills on the training ground genuinely manageable. |
| Weight | approx. 188 kg ready to ride. A realistic exam weight: you learn to push, stand it up and balance at exactly the mass that awaits you in the practical test. |
| Seat height | 785 mm standard, lowered to 745 mm (4 cm drop). Shorter riders get both feet firmly down — relaxed practice at the lights instead of balancing on tiptoes. |
| Type | Naked bike, no fairing. Upright seating and a clear view ahead — ideal for cleanly practising where to look and the shoulder check. |
| Ergonomics | Upright, compact riding position. You keep an overview in dense Munich traffic and spot hazards early — anticipating rather than reacting. |
Assistance systems are a learning aid – you take the exam yourself.
What you may drive
This motorcycle is used for Class A2 training. The 35 kW from the factory match the A2 upper limit exactly, and the power-to-weight ratio sits within the permitted range — a genuine A2 machine, not a restricted big bike. A2 can be obtained from age 18; after two years on A2 you can upgrade to the open Class A with a shortened test. B197 does not apply here — that only concerns manual-gearbox competence within Class B (cars).
Locations & test area Munich East
One of our favourite drills sits on the Mittlerer Ring toward Ramersdorf: a tight roundabout with an acceleration lane right after it. This is where the predictable A2 power proves its worth — you meter the throttle cleanly through the roundabout, lean the bike confidently into the curve, then accelerate to speed under control, never caught out by sudden power spikes.
Locations: Haidhausen (Rosenheimer Str. 86), Giesing (Grünwalder Str. 12) & Haar (Münchener Str. 13).
Frequently asked questions
Is the CB 500 Hornet a restricted bike or genuine A2?
A genuine A2 machine. It produces 35 kW (47.6 hp) from the factory and needs no restrictor to stay within the A2 limit. So you ride with the full power allowed for your class from the start — exactly as it continues once you have passed.
I'm fairly short — can I get my feet down safely?
In most cases yes. Standard seat height is 785 mm and can be lowered by 4 cm to 745 mm. That lets shorter learners stand more stably at the lights and when manoeuvring — just mention it to us at the sit-test.
More vehicles in this class
Book your trial lesson in the Honda CB 500 Hornet
Experience this vehicle in your first lesson at all three of our Munich-East locations.
📍 München Haidhausen, Giesing & Haar